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 China, UNICEF strengthen cooperation on Indonesia's free meal program Xinhua) 09:06, January 15, 2025 JAKARTA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong met with Maniza Zaman, the UNICEF representative in Indonesia, to discuss the China-UNICEF cooperation on Indonesia's free meal program on Monday. Wang highlighted the agreement signed in December 2024 between the China International Development Cooperation Agency and UNICEF China on food supplementation and school feeding in Indonesia. He said this is the first cash-based aid project jointly implemented by China and UNICEF in Indonesia, further cementing China's commitment to supporting Indonesia's free meal program. "The agreement is a key element of the China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership, as outlined in the Joint Statement on Promoting Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a China-Indonesia Community of Shared Future," he said. Wang also emphasized China's steadfast support for the United Nations and noted that the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia would collaborate with UNICEF Indonesia to ensure the successful implementation of the program. Maniza expressed her gratitude for China's support and looked forward to strengthening communication and exploring further cooperation opportunities. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) (TBTCO) - So Giao dich Chung khoan TP. Ho Chi Minh (HoSE) a ban hanh quy tac moi cho bo chi so HOSE-Index, gioi han ty trong von hoa mot nhom nganh khong qua 40%, co hieu luc tu 30/12/2024. Cung voi trien vong nang hang thi truong chung khoan Viet Nam, nhung ieu chinh nay co the tac ong tich cuc en thanh khoan va vi the cua co phieu MSN cua Tap oan Masan. BEEAH, a sustainability pioneer in the region, has revealed comprehensive plans for the Middle Easts first commercial-scale, waste-to-hydrogen plant to be located in Al Sajaa, Sharjah. The project was revealed on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), said a Wam news agancy report. Being built in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and international technology partners Chinook Hydrogen from the UK and Air Water from Japan, the plant is expected to unlock a revolutionary new avenue for the production and application of green hydrogen for emissions-free energy production and hydrogen-fuelled mobility. The plant will leverage Chinook Hydrogens patented RODECS gasification and pyrolysis solution and Air Waters cutting-edge hydrogen refinement technology, producing fuel-cell grade hydrogen from various organic-based, including Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The resulting green hydrogen can be readily used in energy and industrial applications, or in hydrogen vehicles. The first phase is expected to be commissioned in Q2 of 2027, producing 7 tons of green hydrogen daily, amounting to an annual production capacity of 2,560 tons. In the process, the plant will also divert thousands of tons of waste every year, while preventing around 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the company said. In addition to green hydrogen, the plant will also produce useful by-products such as biogenic carbon dioxide, which can support the production of alternative fuels, and nitrogen, a valuable gas for an array of industrial applications. The breakthrough technology was first demonstrated in 2023 at a demonstration plant in Nottingham, United Kingdom, and then presented at COP28 UAE at the national pavilion in the presence of Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI. Eng Sharif Al Olama said: Energy diversification and hydrogen leadership are important priorities for our Ministry as part of the UAE Centennial Plan 2071 and the National Hydrogen Strategy. We welcome BEEAH and Chinook Hydrogens progress following the presentation at COP28 and look forward to future collaborations on this commercial-scale waste-to-hydrogen plant. The projects innovative process for green hydrogen production from waste has potential to significantly contribute to national priorities such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels and emerging as one of the global leaders in hydrogen production. The waste-to-hydrogen technology that will be used in the plant has been independently verified by international consultants and has received a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 6 and 7, indicating its readiness to be demonstrated in operational environments and larger-scale deployment. Following the first phase, BEEAH, Chinook Hydrogen and Air Water are planning to scale the plant and increase production capacity to 20 tons of green hydrogen per day. Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman, BEEAH, commented on the importance of the waste-to-hydrogen plant: We are proud to collaborate with MoEI our international technology partners Chinook Hydrogen and Air Water Inc. to realise the Middle Easts first commercial-scale waste-to-hydrogen plant. The plant will help us tackle the challenge of emissions on multiple fronts: unlocking the opportunity of emissions-free fuel for hard-to-abate sectors, supporting hydrogen-fuelled mobility, and increasing diversion rates of hard-to-recycle waste and thereby eliminating the associated landfill emissions. Our trials in Nottingham, UK, and the presentation at COP28 UAE demonstrated a breakthrough technology for hydrogen production. Now, we will be applying this at scale for the local context, contributing to the UAEs net-zero strategy and hydrogen leadership ambitions. Aligning with the National Hydrogen Strategy, the UAE aims to become one of the worlds leading hydrogen production hubs by 2031. BEEAH is continuing to explore ways to contribute to the national hydrogen ambition, from the first successful demonstration in the plant in Nottingham, UK, and presentation at the UAE Pavilion at COP28, to developing the commercial-scale plant in Sharjah along with its international partners. Global technology powerhouse Lenovo Group and Alat, a Saudi PIF company, have announced the completion of the $2 billion investment (via three-year zero-coupon convertible bonds) alongside reaching the strategic collaboration agreements that were initially announced in May 2024. The deal has received shareholders approval and all regulatory approvals required for completion. The strategic collaboration and investment will enable Lenovo to further accelerate its ongoing transformation, enhance its global presence, and increase geographic diversification of its manufacturing footprint. Additionally, Lenovo will build on its current MEA business and capture the significant growth opportunities in the MEA region, bring its world class supply chain, technology, and manufacturing capabilities to Saudi Arabia, and support the creation of 1,000s of new jobs. Following the completion, Lenovo will establish a regional Middle East and Africa headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh and a sustainable manufacturing facility in the kingdom to serve customers in the region and beyond. The factory will manufacture millions of PCs and servers every year using local research and development (R&D) teams for fully end-to-end Saudi Made products and is expected to begin production by 2026. The factory will join Lenovos extensive footprint of 30+ manufacturing sites around the world, spanning Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and the US. Additionally, Alat and Lenovo have entered a business development partnership which will leverage Alats extensive relationships in the region and local market insight. The RHQ will also invest in flagship retail space in the kingdom and expand investments in R&D as well as marketing and strategic partnerships in both KSA and the MEA region. Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo, said: Through this powerful strategic collaboration and investment, Lenovo will have significant resources and financial flexibility to further accelerate our transformation and grow our business by capitalizing on the incredible growth momentum in KSA and the wider MEA region. We are excited to have Alat as our long-term strategic partner and are confident that our world-class supply chain, technology, and manufacturing capabilities will be a benefit to KSA as it drives its Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification, industrial development, innovation, and job creation. Amit Midha, CEO at Alat, said: We are incredibly proud to become a strategic investor in Lenovo and partner with them on their continued journey as a leading global technology company. With the establishment of a regional headquarters in Riyadh and a world class manufacturing hub, powered by clean energy, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we expect the Lenovo team to further their potential across the MEA region. At the time the strategic collaboration and investment with Alat were announced in May 2024, Lenovo also announced its proposed three-year $1.15 billion Warrants Issuance to raise additional funds to support future growth and broaden its capital base. The Warrants have been fully subscribed, including 43 per cent subscribed by Lenovo leadership, demonstrating confidence in Lenovos ongoing transformation, global market leadership, and growth momentum. Lenovo is a US$57 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #248 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. - TradeArabia News Service Aramco, one of the worlds leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and Maaden, the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East and North Africa region, on Wednesday signed a non-binding Heads of Terms, which envisages the formation of a minerals exploration and mining joint venture (JV) in Saudi Arabia. The proposed JV would focus on energy transition minerals, including extracting lithium from high concentration deposits and advancing cost-effective direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies. Commercial lithium production could potentially commence by 2027. The proposed JV is expected to extend Aramcos capabilities into an adjacent sector, leveraging its technological innovation and skills in resource and data management. It would seek to unlock the potential of the kingdoms high-value mineral resources, with the aim of helping meet growing demand for lithium and other transition minerals both domestically and globally, said an Aramco statement. The JV is expected to further harness natural resources utilizing a wealth of subsurface data, as well as emerging technologies, to advance the kingdoms economic diversification and energy ambitions. There is significant potential for the extraction of energy transition minerals in the kingdom. For example, as part of its operations, Aramco has identified several areas with a high lithium concentration of up to 400 parts per million. The JV is expected to benefit from Aramcos significant expertise and operations, including the use of existing infrastructure, industry-leading drilling operations, and more than 90 years of geological data in its area of operations, it said. Nasir K Al-Naimi, Aramco Upstream President, said: This announcement reflects Aramco's focus on positively contributing to the global energy transition. The proposed JV will enable extraction of energy transition minerals, contributing meaningfully to the growth of more sustainable energy solutions while diversifying our portfolio for a lower-carbon future. We expect that this partnership will leverage the worlds leading upstream enterprise to apply significant low-cost advantages, industry experience, technological innovation, accumulated subsurface knowledge and an integrated supply chain ecosystem, with a view to meeting the Kingdom and potentially the worlds projected lithium demand. Darryl Clark, Maaden Senior Vice President of Exploration, said: Maaden has been undertaking one of the worlds largest single-jurisdiction exploration programs across the Arabian Shield, to unearth the estimated $2.5 trillion mineral endowment. This proposed JV would enable us to accelerate exploration of the Arabian Platform, combining Aramcos vast knowledge of the area with Maadens extensive mining and exploration expertise. Lithium is a fundamental component of the energy transition, essential for production in fast-growing sectors such as electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewables. The total global demand for lithium has tripled over the past five years, and its compound annual growth rate is anticipated to exceed 15% per annum through 2035. The JV could potentially help meet the Kingdoms forecasted demand for lithium, which is expected to grow twenty-fold between 2024 and 2030, supporting an estimated 500,000 electric vehicle batteries and 110 GW of renewables. The planned JV, which is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, was announced during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. - TradeArabia News Service The UAE's media landscape is undergoing a transformative shift. With 85% of viewers now choosing video-on-demand services over traditional television (1), we are witnessing not just changing preferences, but a complete transformation in how content reaches audiences. Gen Z, in particular, is at the forefront of this shift, with 44% already viewing traditional live TV as a relic of the past. This trend extends beyond viewer habits; its reshaping the industry itself. The UAEs video streaming market, valued at $1.7 billion in 2023, is set to quadruple to $7.1 billion by 2030[2]. Live streaming tells an equally compelling story, with revenues projected to surge from $3.77 billion to $14.64 billion in the same period. As digital consumption continues to grow, viewers are becoming more selective, expecting content that is not only high-quality but also relevant, instantly accessible, and compatible across all devices. For media companies, meeting these demands requires a fresh approach to content creation, management, and delivery. Need for scalable, adaptive media solutions This demand for high-quality, flexible digital experiences has outpaced the capabilities of traditional production methods. Todays audiences dont just want more content; they want seamless, high-definition experiences that are available instantly and tailored to their preferences. Media companies need to go beyond legacy workflows, adopting solutions that allow them to scale quickly, adapt to network conditions, and deliver consistent quality across platforms. Meeting these expectations requires more than simply upgrading equipment it calls for intelligent systems that can automatically adapt to changing conditions and local preferences. Here, AI and cloud technology play an indispensable role, offering the scalability, adaptability, and efficiency needed to engage modern audiences effectively. Alibaba Clouds solution for seamless streaming In response to these industry challenges, Alibaba Cloud has introduced its Intelligent Media Solution to support media companies in the UAE. This advanced, AI-driven solution provides a unified, automated workflow that simplifies every aspect of content creationfrom video analysis and script generation to multilingual subtitles and one-click video production. Supported by Alibaba Clouds proprietary multimodal AI and large language models, Alibaba Clouds solution enhances media processing and real-time communications by improving audio and video quality through noise reduction, echo cancellation, video enhancement and production. Specifically, it provides real-time transcription, translation, and interactive features like AR effects and virtual backgrounds, enhancing user engagement and experience. Additionally, it ensures content moderation, network optimization, and personalised insights through predictive analytics and real-time data monitoring. With its one-click video production feature, the solution provides a complete end-to-end framework for automatically and intelligently creating, processing, and delivering video content, making it easier for developers and businesses to launch and manage video-based applications without extensive technical expertise. Another standout feature is ApsaraVideo for VOD (Video on Demand), a comprehensive tool that optimises video processing and distribution. With high-speed Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), flexible media management, and automated quality checks, ApsaraVideo for VOD supports ultra-high resolutions like 4K playback. It also includes protective watermarks and utilizes Narrowband HD, a transcoding technology that reduces bandwidth usage without compromising video quality. This allows media companies to provide a secure, scalable, and visually rich viewing experience that resonates with audiences. For live broadcasting, ApsaraVideo Live offers high-definition streaming capabilities, integrating Narrowband HD to reduce bandwidth usage by up to 30% while maintaining superior video quality. AI-powered personalization features further elevate viewer engagement by delivering real-time content recommendations tailored to individual preferences. Together, the intelligent media solutions equip UAE broadcasters with a robust and flexible solution, enabling them to streamline workflows, enhance efficiency, and captivate audiences with tailored content. Local insight meets global innovation Transforming the UAEs media landscape requires more than cutting-edge technology it calls for collaboration that combines global expertise with local insights. Alibaba Cloud is working closely with local partners such as technology companies HCLTech and OneCloud Technology to to jointly deliver cutting-edge technology solutions in AI and cloud computing, empowering local businesses to innovate and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. These collaborations support the UAEs broader economic and digital goals, including those outlined in the National AI Strategy 2031, which emphasizes the importance of AI in building a knowledge-based economy. Creating what's next in digital media As the UAEs media sector embraces digital transformation, the integration of AI and cloud technology is revolutionising content creation and distribution. Alibaba Clouds advanced solutions empower media companies to meet growing audience demands, enhance operational efficiency, and expand creative possibilities. This approach aligns with the UAEs vision for an AI-driven economy, positioning the nation as a global leader in digital content and innovative storytelling. - TradeArabia News Service * Eric Wan is General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence [1] https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-united-arab-emirates [2] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/video-streaming-streaming-media-industry-market/uae Dubai's national airline Emirates marked a significant milestone this weekend by pressing its first Airbus A350 into commercial service, operating its inaugural flight from Dubai to Edinburgh, reported Wam. The aircraft, featuring Emirates' latest cabin products, is the first of 65 A350s joining the airline's fleet over the coming years. Emirates has configured its A350 to provide three cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats. In the coming months, Emirates will operate its Airbus A350 to eight more global destinations: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat, and Bologna. The Asean Travel Exchange (Travex), a major event for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, opened its doors today (January 15) in the Malaysian city of Johor Baru (JB) gathering more than 1,000 delegates from across the globe. Held under the theme 'Unity in Motion: Shaping Aseans Tourism Tomorrow', Travex was inaugurated in the presence of Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the head of JB government, and the Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre. Part of the Asean Tourism Forum 2025, Travex is a business platform designed for Asean buyers and sellers to connect with each other and explore a diverse range of destination products and services, said the event organisers. Speaking at the event, Ghazi said the Travex highlights Asean's spirit of unity in promoting the region as a global tourism attraction. "In Johor, we have a unique advantage as a bridge between Malaysia and neighbouring countries such as Singapore. This strategic position allows us to showcase not only the beauty of Johor but also the collective strength of Asean as a global tourism powerhouse," he said. Minister King Sing called upon Asean governments to jointly create a future where global travellers will be captivated and inspired by Southeast Asias breathtaking natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and inspirational stories. Travex runs till January 20. Buyers taking part in Travex can connect with over 100 Asean exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of destination products and services. It offers a unique opportunity for networking through pre-scheduled appointments that are essential to strengthen partnerships and explore new business avenues within the Asean tourism sector. Meanwhile, Asean sellers have the opportunity to meet and promote related tourism products and services to more than 300 buyers from around the world. The event also host discussions on trends shaping tourism in the region and future challenges. -TradeArabia News Service Visit Qatar hosted the Arabia Luxury Travel Show for the first time in Doha, which ran from January 12 to 15. Designed to strengthen Qatars position as a leading luxury destination in the Middle East, the event welcomed over 160 luxury tour operators and (MICE) Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions agents from key markets, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and the Baltic States. More than 50 distinguished hotels, destination management companies, and tourism boards from across the region including Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and the Indian Ocean participated in the event. Together, they highlighted the Middle Easts world-class luxury offerings, further solidifying the region as a hub for premium tourism. The four-day event featured a comprehensive agenda, at the events Host Hotel, the Ritz Carlton - Doha, including two days of one-on-one B2B meetings to facilitate important business engagements. The last two days were dedicated to networking events between buyers and exhibitors. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar, said: The Arabia Luxury Travel Show has provided Visit Qatar a platform to showcase Qatars unique luxury offerings to key international markets. By engaging directly with influential buyers and travel professionals, we continue to position Qatar as a leading destination for discerning travellers. This event aligns with our strategic vision to expand Qatars footprint in the global luxury tourism sector while strengthening our presence in key markets. The 2025 Arabia Luxury Travel Show covered key themes including luxury travel, as well as Dohas appeal as a family-friendly destination. The hosting of this event underlines Visit Qatars commitment to advance the countrys visibility as a global luxury hub, further solidifying the objectives of the Qatar Tourism Strategy. The participants had the opportunity to explore Qatar, visiting its vibrant souqs, world-class museums, immaculate desert, immersing themselves in the rich culture, and marveling at the stunning skyline.-TradeArabia News Service Hilton and the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) have partnered to create a content campaign to promote the diverse travel experiences tourists can enjoy in Saudi Arabia. The campaign features short films and photos promoting Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Ula, Makkah, and Madinah, bringing viewers to discover the country's distinctive destinations. The campaign builds on last year's successful partnership and is now being rolled out internationally across the Middle East, South Africa, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Hilton and STA signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 to explore cooperation opportunities to promote Saudi Arabia and attract visitors to the Kingdom, in line with Vision 2030. The content serves as a window that immerses visitors in Saudi experiences before their arrival, bringing to life the Kingdom's must-visit hotspots and the heart of its welcoming cities. It invites visitors to experience the very best of Saudi Arabia with Hilton, highlighting the global hospitality company's hotels across the country, including Waldorf Astoria Jeddah Qasr Al Sharq, Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences, and Conrad Makkah. Hilton currently operates 21 hotels in Saudi Arabia, including the recently opened Hilton Riyadh Olaya and The Hotel Galleria Jeddah, Curio Collection by Hilton. -TradeArabia News Service Donate but dont dictate is a maxim for donors. We have seen such being done as the giver A San Antonio trial is underway in a case involving a San Antonio woman who says she suffered second-degree burns after spilling hot barbecue sauce that she was served at a Bill Miller Bar-B-Q in 2023. A San Antonio woman is seeking more than $1 million in her lawsuit against Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. Mike Sutter/Staff Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is on trial this week in a case involving a San Antonio woman who says she suffered second-degree burns when she spilled hot barbecue sauce on herself. Genesis Monita, 19, sued the San Antonio restaurant chain for negligence and is seeking more than $1 million in damages for the harm and losses she said she has suffered. Monita and her sister had gone to the Bill Miller at Old Pearsall Road and Loop 410 to get breakfast tacos before heading to school on the morning of May 19, 2023. After purchasing the tacos at the drive-thru, Monita pulled over into a nearby parking space to eat them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She says the barbecue sauce was so hot that it caused her to drop the container, spilling the sauce on her upper right thigh. Bill Miller was negligent in giving her dangerously hot barbecue sauce, not providing her a container that was adequate to contain the condiment and failing to warn her that that the sauce was hot, Monita has alleged in her complaint. Bill Millers unequivocal policy is they will serve their sauce at 165 degrees, Lawrence Morales II, a lawyer representing Monita, told jurors during opening statements of the trial Wednesday in state District Judge Christine Horticks courtroom. Bill Miller violated their safety policy and allowed their barbecue sauce to heat up to a dangerous 189 degrees. The chain also violated its policy by serving the sauce in 4-ounce plastic cup rather than a Styrofoam cup, he said. A Styrofoam cup insulates heat much better than a plastic cup, he added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition, Morales said restaurants must warn customers if their food or serving containers are dangerously hot. In its answer to the lawsuit, Bill Miller asserted that Monitas own negligence was the proximate cause of the incident and may reduce or preclude her recovering damages. During his opening statement, Bill Miller attorney Barry McClenahan told jurors that the 165-degree temperature spelled out in its policy is a minimum temperature to comply with food safety rules. It doesnt have any policy that prohibits the sauce from being heated to 189 degrees, he said. What would we have warned Ms. Monita of that she did not already know? McClenahan said. She had the sauce a hundred times, and it was always the same temperature. He later said, At Bill Millers, the sauce is always hot, and our customers know that. And thats why its hot. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As for the plastic cups, McClenahan said the manufacturer says they are safe up to 230 degrees. Morales called Stacie Huser, Bill Millers personnel director who handles safety issues, as his first witness. He recounted for her a similar incident in 2021 involving a customer who also suffered second-degree burns from spilling hot barbecue sauce. Huser confirmed the restaurant did not change any of its policies as a result of either incident. How many more people have to injured, how many more people will have to be burned before Bill Millers will do something to make its barbecue sauce safe for its customers? Morales asked her. I cant answer that, Huser replied, before the judge called for a break. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The trial is expected to continue for the rest of the week. Monitas case brings to mind the infamous McDonalds case from 1992, when a then-79-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., widow was burned after spilling coffee on herself while holding the cup between her knees to lift the lid. Stella Liebeck suffered horrific burns over 16% of her body; 6% were third-degree burns, including to her groin, daughter Judy Allen told the New York Times Retro Report in 2013. Liebeck sued McDonalds, alleging the coffee was unreasonably hot and therefore unreasonably dangerous. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A jury awarded her $160,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages. The verdict sparked calls for reforms to limit damages in civil cases. The case ultimately was settled out of court for less than $500,000, a source told Retro Report. new beginning: Newly installed Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne, from left; Housing and Urban Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis; Social Development and Family Services Minister Donna Cox; MP, Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland; UDeCott CEO Tamica Charles-Phillips; National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds; Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh; and Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Stuart Young turn the sod for the assessment centre and temporary shelter for socially displaced people, on South Quay, Port of Spain, yesterday. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK Travis Peters, the culinary face of Tucsons popular Southern-fusion gastropub The Parish, has joined forces with Tucsons Detroit-style Transplant Pizza. Peters, who left The Parish in late September, is partnering with Transplants owners Travis and William Miller to reinvent some of the menu at the 3-year-old pizzeria. Travis really, really geeked out on the focaccia bread and nailed it so Im gonna focus on everything outside of the pizza zone, Peters said of his weeks-old role, which starts with reconsidering the sandwiches and appetizers. I think its going to be beneficial to have somebody to bounce ideas off of, which we havent had, Travis Miller said. Were bringing him on as part owner of the Transplant concept and the hope is to fold him into all of our concepts in the future. In addition to Transplant at 4605 E. Speedway, the Millers own Craft, A Modern Drinkery taproom next door at 4603 E. Speedway, and four locations of their nearly 13-year-old pizza and sandwich concept Serial Grillers 1970 W. River Road, 5975 E. Speedway, 7585 S. Houghton Road and 5660 W. Cortaro Farms Road in Marana. In late 2023, they added Mosaic Brewing when they took over the old Dillinger Brewing facility on North Oracle Road. Peters and Miller had been flirting for several years about collaborating, but the timing was never right, Miller said. When Peters left The Parish, it opened the door, he said. The opportunity arose where I could come in and really be a big part of it, said Peters, who brings to the table nearly 25 years of cooking in some of Tucsons most notable restaurants including Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress, the former Metro Restaurants (McMahons Prime Steakhouse, Old Pueblo Grille) and the Cajun/Creole restaurant Nonie. He and partners Steve Dunn and Bryce Zeagler opened The Parish in October 2011 and quickly gained a strong following among fans of Southern and Cajun/Creole cuisine. The restaurant won a handful of local accolades and landed on the Cooking Channel in 2017. In 2018, Peters won $20,000 on the Food Networks Guys Grocery Games with Guy Fieri. Miller said he is hoping Peters can shake things up at Transplant ahead of plans to grow the concept. Peters new menu that borrows from fine dining and quick service is expected to roll out in February. Peters said he has no designs on turning Transplant into a Southern restaurant, but Im definitely gonna use some of my history and Detroits background to have a little bit of that influence on that culture, he said. I think therell be some familiar flavors and things in there thatll jive with it. A 25-year-old woman was killed early Tuesday when the car she was riding slammed into a utility pole on Tucson's south side, police said. Montana Rose Lujan was a passenger in a 2008 Ford Taurus that crashed into a pole about 2 a.m. in the 5500 block of South 12th Avenue, north of West Drexel Road, Tucson police said in a news release. The unidentified driver, a 23-year-old woman, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, the release said. Investigators say the Ford was traveling north at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and crashed into the pole. Lujan died at the scene, the release said. Both Lujan and the driver were wearing seat belts. Police had not yet determined if impairment was a factor in the crash, but investigators say excessive speed is a known contributing factor. The investigation continues. 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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 Texas businessman Elon Musk has been sued by the U.S. regulator responsible for enforcing laws against market manipulation over his acquisition of Twitter, the social media platform now known as X. Jordan Strauss//Jordan Strauss/Associated Press file photo The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Elon Musk, saying the billionaire ignored a deadline to disclose his increasing ownership of stock in Twitter Inc. as required before buying the social media site. As a result, the SEC alleges, Musk was able to underpay by at least $150 million for shares he bought after he should have disclosed his ownership of more than 5% of Twitters shares. It said it harmed investors who would have been able to sell their shares at higher prices had Musks involvement been publicly known. He bought Twitter in October 2022 and later renamed it X. In July, Musk said he was moving its headquarters to Texas from San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Musk, whos also CEO of Texas-based companies Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, began amassing Twitter shares in early 2022. By March of that year, he owned more than 5%. When his stake reached that level, the complaint says, he was required by law to disclose his ownership but failed to do so until April 4, 11 days after the report was due. In a statement, the SEC said Musk saved at least $150 million at the expense of Twitter shareholders. In July, he said the late disclosure was a mistake and that he had misunderstood the requirements of the law. In December, Musk alleged the agency had sent him a settlement demand related to the missed disclosures. In a letter he posted to X at the same time, Musk attorney Alex Spiro appeared to claim the matter was politically motivated. In a statement Tuesday, Spiro said the lawsuit is an admission by the SEC that they cannot bring an actual case since Musk has done nothing wrong. He called the lawsuit a sham. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The SECs multi-year campaign of harassment against Mr. Musk culminated in the filing of a single-count ticky tack complaint against Mr. Musk under Section 13(d) for an alleged administrative failure to file a single form an offense that, even if proven, carries a nominal penalty, Spiro added. After Musk signed a deal to acquire Twitter in April 2022, he tried to back out of it, leading the company to sue to force him to go through with the acquisition. The SEC, which is responsible for enforcing laws against market manipulation, said that starting in April 2022, it authorized an investigation into whether any securities laws were broken in connection with Musks purchases of Twitter stock and his statements and SEC filings related to the company. Before it filed the lawsuit, the SEC went to court in an attempt to compel Musk to testify as part of an investigation into his purchase of the company. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in the District of Columbia seeks a civil penalty and for the billionaire to remedy his $150 million underpayment, ordering him to pay disgorgement of his unjust enrichment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Musk has a history of squabbles with the SEC. In 2018, the agency charged him with fraud over his claim in a Twitter post that he had Funding secured to take Tesla private at $420 per share. As part of a settlement over his improper disclosure, Musk and Tesla each had to pay $20 million fines and Musk agreed to step down as chairman of Teslas board. Since then, he has often criticized the SEC and recently elevated a call for defanging it. He is set to play a role in the incoming Trump administration as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency, a nongovernment group that will make recommendations on cuts to the federal government. 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. 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FranGlobal is the international business extension of Asia's leading franchising solutions firm - Franchise India Holdings Limited. FranGlobal Chairman Gaurav Marya expressed confidence in the brands appeal, citing the growing demand for cold beverages among the Indian subcontinents youth, who make up 50 percent of the 1.9 billion population. While traditionally known for hot tea, South Asia is gradually embracing coffee, creating a promising market for Three OClocks diverse menu, aesthetic spaces, and premium packaging. The first Three OClock store in India is scheduled to open in May this year, targeting major cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Expansion plans include strategic locations like shopping malls and airports, with a focus on refining products and training during the first year. Founded in Ho Chi Minh City in 2016, Three OClock currently operates 10 outlets with 24/7 service. Founder and CEO Thuan Nguyen called the expansion a strategic step to elevate Vietnams coffee brand on the global stage. Vietnam has made strides in franchising, with many international brands entering its domestic market. However, expanding local brands internationally remains challenging due to limited professional infrastructure and expertise in packaging and promoting franchises globally. Industry leaders like Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of Go Global Holdings, anticipated that by 2025, several Vietnamese brands will secure international franchise deals, contributing significantly to the national GDP. Franchising is seen as a key solution to adding value to Vietnams agricultural exports, particularly in coffee. While Vietnam ranks second globally in coffee exports, building strong, sustainable brands capable of attracting international investors remains a challenge for small and medium enterprises, she said. According to Technavio, the global franchise industry was valued at $2.92 trillion in 2023 and is expected to grow by 9.58 percent annually, reaching $4.38 trillion by 2027. In developed markets such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Asian nations like South Korea, China, the Philippines, and Malaysia, franchising contributes 3-10 percent to national GDP. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Foreign investors agree that setting up an International Financial Center (IFC) in Ho Chi Minh City demands a comprehensive long-term strategy, administrative reforms, and a transparent financial system to draw investments and foster trust. On January 4, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was present at a ceremony where the urban planning framework for Ho Chi Minh City for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050, was revealed. This framework includes plans for establishing an IFC. Among the attendees were key figures from Vietnam-based foundations, including Alexander Ziehe, chairman of the German Business Association (GBA), and Rich McClellan, country director of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI). "The atmosphere in the room that day clearly showed the government's strong commitment to this transformative project," McClellan said during an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. "The IFC isn't just symbolic; it's set to drive financial and economic innovation in Vietnam." TBI, which promotes cooperation between Vietnam and the UK, has been collaborating closely with various Vietnamese ministries. In July 2024, PM Chinh met with Tony Blair, former UK prime minister and executive chairman of TBI, to explore opportunities in trade, investment, and financial sector growth. McClellan described the establishment of the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City as a bold and timely vision. "Vietnam is at a pivotal moment," he remarked, highlighting the city's dynamic economy, strategic position, and burgeoning workforce as perfect for leading this venture. However, he pointed out that the success of the IFC hinges on a well-defined implementation strategy, phased development, and aligning Vietnam's financial systems with international standards. Strategic and structural requirements Ziehe described the IFC development strategy as highly promising. He emphasized the need for early involvement of the private sector and close collaboration among administrative bodies. The GBA, which has over 400 members, includes major German financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, Allianz, and HDI. In 2024, the association organized visits for German banks, venture capital firms, and insurance companies to explore Vietnams market potential. Many are still in a phase of observation, waiting for detailed information on administrative reforms and the establishment of financial centers, Ziehe noted. Rich McClellan, country director of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Vietnam. Photo: Supplied Every country has unique characteristics. According to Ziehe, Vietnam should leverage its manufacturing sector strengths to develop the IFC and offer complementary trade finance and sustainable development solutions. Examples from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai could provide valuable insights, but adjustments must be made to fit Vietnams specific context. McClellan also recommended adopting a hybrid model, one that combines the strengths of various successful IFCs while tailoring them to local conditions. He underscored the significance of creating sector-specific investment incentives, particularly for areas like asset management and sustainable development. "The key is to develop a practical roadmap for each phase of development, one that aligns with Vietnam's economic goals while remaining flexible enough to adapt to global market trends," McClellan stressed. Prioritizing foundational reforms Foreign investors agree that Vietnams financial industry must continue advancing with stronger policies and administrative reforms. Establishing the IFC could help resolve market challenges by creating an appropriate ecosystem to welcome international financial institutions and lead in liberalization, advanced financial governance, and global economic integration. For this to happen, the government needs to carefully review its approach to opening the country, creating a friendly environment for international talent and investors, Ziehe stressed, adding that foreign expertise will play a pivotal role. McClellan urged Vietnam to stay dedicated to strengthening core pillars such as the stock market, capital market, and banking system. Once these foundational aspects are secure, Vietnam can focus on niche areas like fintech, digital banking, green finance, ESG investment, and capital market innovation. These sectors will distinguish Vietnams IFC while aligning with global trends. Legal frameworks for currency conversion and capital flow movement should also be developed to ensure financial liberalization and foster trust in management systems. A successful IFC not only needs mechanisms to attract inflows but also requires transparent systems for capital outflows to ensure investor confidence, McClellan added. Danny Kim, an economist at Moody's Analytics who handles Vietnam forecasts, argued that the development of the IFC necessitates a phased approach, complete with clear long-term objectives and transparent financial regulations. He emphasized that finding the right balance between capital mobility and prudent financial oversight will pose a significant challenge. "The ambition exists, but turning that into success will require continuous effort and regulatory changes. Vietnam must also bolster its talent pool to meet the standards of an IFC and to compete with established financial centers," Kim concluded. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! A 21-year-old Norwegian woman has become the youngest person to ski alone and without assistance to the South Pole, only to find it "a little ugly" due to mankind's presence, she said Tuesday. Karen Kylleso completed the feat late Monday, 114 years after fellow Norwegian and polar explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole. Born on May 9, 2003, she covered the 1,130 kilometres (702 miles) in 54 days. "It's both fantastic and a bit strange," she told Norwegian television channel TV2. "I of course feel a sense of accomplishment and happiness, but I have to admit it's also a bit bizarre to leave this bubble that I've been in for the past two months," she said. The young Scandinavian dethroned Pierre Hedan of France, who, according to Guinness World Records, held the record for being the youngest person to reach the South Pole, solo and unassisted, at the age of 26. He set the record on January 7, 2024. Kylleso, who is 1.52 metres (nearly five foot) tall and weighs 48 kilogrammes (106 pounds), pulled a sled weighing 100 kilos, or twice her weight, in her bid to reach the pole. She arrived late on Monday night in temperatures of around -25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit). "I actually found it a little ugly when I got here," she told TV2. "After 54 days of beautiful nature, you arrive and there are buildings, machines. It just looks really out of place here," she said, referring to the US Amundsen-Scott research base. Kylleso, who trained for six years for the feat, had to slow down her pace toward the end of her exploit, suffering from what she believes was cold-induced asthma. Once she arrived at her destination, she said she asked for "pasta bolognese, a salad and vegetables", along with a can of soda and a glass of champagne. "It's a page written in polar history," her mentor, Norwegian adventurer Lars Ebbesen, told AFP. Kylleso was already the youngest girl to cross Greenland on skis, completing the feat at the age of 15, in 2018. "She had barely even finished crossing Greenland before she asked me: 'Do you think I can also go to the South Pole?'," recalled Ebbesen. Kylleso's father, Hakon Kylleso, credited his daughter's accomplishments to "a mix of good genes". "Her mother was an accomplished cross-country ski competitor when she was younger and I'm a hunter, fisherman and I love long hikes in nature," he told AFP. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store meanwhile hailed the young adventurer, saying she was "following in the trails of Norwegian polar heroes". On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the geographic South Pole, part of a tragic race against Britain's Robert Scott who died of exhaustion and cold on the return journey along with his four companions. Jakarta -- Scrolling on social media, Indonesian moviegoer Jessica Sihotang stumbled across a film depicting a fellow woman in her 30s struggling to make the dream of buying a Jakarta home a reality. Nearly two million like-minded Indonesians tuned in to watch the protagonist's house-hunting journey when "Home Sweet Loan" was released last year, the movie's producer said. Residents of the megalopolis of 11 million are finding it impossible to climb the property ladder, as space shrinks and prices rise, forcing them to seek faraway homes that come with arduous commutes. The movie sparked widespread chatter among Jakartans, as its main character's grievances resonated with their own long-held housing woes. "I can relate so much. I've been thinking about it for the past 10 years," said Sihotang. "I want to have my own house, but my savings have never been enough even just for the down payment," added the 35-year-old university admissions worker. Jakarta is where Indonesia's growing wealth gap is most evident -- with unofficial slum housing sitting below shiny new apartment complexes and skyscrapers. Less than two-thirds of Jakartans own a home, according to Indonesia's Central Statistics Bureau, the lowest figure compared to other provinces. Sihotang said she cannot afford a home within 60 kilometers (37 miles) of her job. "I have to find side hustles for additional income, or maybe try my luck for a few years abroad" before buying a property, she said. The price of a Jakarta house is on average 20 times higher than an employee's annual salary, a University of Indonesia survey in June found. As prices rise, middle-class residents of the megaolopolis of some 11 million are finding it impossible to climb the property ladder. Photo: AFP 'Makes me upset' Jakartans like Rizqi Arifuddin have resorted to buying a house in neighboring provinces. The office worker in one of Jakarta's main business districts commutes by train for an hour from his home in West Java Province. He then jumps on a motorcycle taxi for another half an hour to reach the office. "I can never afford a house in the city. Even researching the prices makes me upset," he said. With limited space available in the cramped capital known for its brutal traffic jams, prices have skyrocketed. Housing complexes are now being built further from the city to meet demand. "This is the reality, people are now competing for places which at least have access to mass transportation," said Yayat Supriyatna, an urban planner from Trisakti University in Jakarta. "Jakarta is not a place for the poor," he told AFP. Many Indonesians have to move far away from Jakarta's hazy skies to find an affordable home. Photo: AFP No 'peace of mind' Some Indonesians like Muhammad Faris Dzaki Rahadian and his wife have chosen to rent, rather than buy, a property close to work. "Even with our joint income, it is still not affordable," said journalist Rahadian, 27. "I don't think buying is a rational option." To address the housing crisis, the government will require employees from 2027 to contribute three percent of their salaries to a savings fund which they can use for housing. But it has angered Indonesians who think it won't be enough -- or that it could be taken from them by a government many distrust. "Who's going to benefit? It seems to me that people are getting constantly pressured," Supriyatna said. Despite the grim housing market, some are still holding on to their dreams. "Having a house, no matter how small is a symbol of peace of mind for me," Sihotang said. "It will give me peace when I'm old." Furious at the prospect of a US government ban on social media platform TikTok, American users have flocked to another Chinese-owned app in droves, many with a defiant message: "Take my data!" TikTok has become another battleground showcasing China-US tensions, with President Joe Biden's administration accusing the app of allowing Beijing to collect data and spy on users -- claims denied by China and TikTok's owner ByteDance. The United States passed a law last year forcing ByteDance to either sell the platform or shut it down by January 19. With that deadline looming, Xiaohongshu -- a lifestyle-focussed Instagram-meets-Pinterest alternative -- surged to the top of the Apple App Store downloads on Monday. The hashtag "tiktokrefugee" had more than 100 million views by Tuesday evening. "They are trying to ban TikTok because they said China is stealing information. They don't ban any American company from stealing our information," user penguinpepperpia, who has more than 264,000 TikTok followers, told AFP. The content creator downloaded Xiaohongshu rather than return to US platforms such as Meta's Instagram and Facebook, which they characterised as apps for "older people" that also "steal your personal information and sell it to other companies". "That is why many Americans don't care anymore and we would rather let China have our information," said the user. Other "refugees" shared similar sentiments. New Xiaohongshu user Adham said in a video posted on Monday: "I know our government is a little bit racist, but Chinese people, I love you guys. I don't care if you take my data. Take it." 'Deliciously ironical' The phenomenon showed how "foolish" the TikTok ban was, Milton Mueller, a professor at the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy who filed a brief in opposition of the ban to the US Supreme Court, told AFP. "It is deliciously ironical that the threat of a ban is backfiring so quickly, even before it is put into place," he said. "It does seem as if the TikTok ban is pushing users towards other apps that have a much less clear division between the Chinese Communist Party and the app itself," Duke University's Robyn Caplan said. Neither Xiaohongshu or ByteDance commented on the situation when asked. What the phenomenon showed was that the Biden administration's strategy towards Chinese technology of "small yard, high fence" was not effective, said the London School of Economic's Meng Bingchun. "The yard keeps getting bigger, and the fence is leaky," Meng said. "Worse still, in this case, those living within the fence can be migratory in the digital space." Short-term reaction? Until Monday, Xiaohongshu -- or RedNote in English -- was popular primarily among Chinese-speaking users. It boasted 300 million monthly active users at the end of 2023. Unlike TikTok's sister app Douyin or the micro-blogging site Weibo, Xiaohongshu skews heavily towards lifestyle content. It is seen as facing relatively less censorship than other platforms: users can be found posting LGBTQ content and discussing the merits of women remaining single, topics often considered sensitive in China. For "native" Xiaohongshu users on Monday, the influx of Americans was a head-scratcher but also provided an unexpected opportunity for cultural exchange. Some even asked for help with English homework. In public group chats on the platform, new users asked for translations of slang terms, as well as keywords to search for content they wanted. "It's funny and ironic that the Americans and the Chinese are meeting online under the circumstance that the US government is banning TikTok... similar to what the Chinese government has been doing for ages to American apps," 26-year-old Amanda Zhang told AFP. The part-time pet content creator, who studies in the United States, said she was worried the US government might move to ban Xiaohongshu too if it gained enough traction. It remains unclear what the long-term implications of the shift will be. Xiaohongshu's main challenge to retaining these new users is translation, Caplan said. LSE's Meng added: "My hunch is that what we are witnessing now is more of a short-term reaction than a long-term trend. "The question now is whether there will be a critical mass of these refugees to achieve the desired network effect for the platform, and whether Xiaohongshu will respond quickly enough to harness the new users." Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam on Tuesday afternoon warmly received Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Hanoi during his official visit to Vietnam. The two-day visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic ties and marks PM Mishustins first visit to Vietnam as head of the Russian government. The Vietnamese Party chief praised the visits significance, recognizing its importance in advancing cooperation agreed upon during Russian President Vladimir Putins state visit to Vietnam in June last year. Lam conveyed his appreciation for the valuable support and assistance of the people of the former Soviet Union and Russia today during Vietnams struggles for independence and its ongoing development. He reaffirmed Vietnams commitment to strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia across various fields in the years to come, emphasizing Vietnams view of Russia as one of the top partners in its foreign policy. Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam and Russian Prime Minister Mishustin agreed on key strategies to deepen the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Photo: Vietnam News Agency PM Mishustin expressed gratitude for the warm reception and relayed President Putin's invitation for To Lam to attend the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and to visit Russia in 2025. He lauded Vietnams socio-economic achievements and voiced confidence in its future progress under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. PM Mishustin also shared the outcomes of his same-day meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, spotlighting Vietnams efforts to resolve challenges and enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields. The Russian government leader acknowledged the complexities of the global and regional landscapes but reaffirmed Russias appreciation for Vietnams steadfast friendship. He underlined Vietnams priority status in Russias Asia-Pacific policy, particularly in Southeast Asia, and Russias commitment to expanding the comprehensive strategic partnership across all sectors. Both leaders shared updates on their countries and outlined major directions for furthering the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! China to take actions to safeguard interests against U.S. AI restrictions: spokesperson Xinhua) 09:07, January 15, 2025 BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes U.S. restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) exports and will take resolute actions to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press conference on Tuesday. The restrictions further tighten export controls on AI chips and model parameters, while extending extraterritorial jurisdiction. They create obstacles for and interfere with third parties engaged in normal trade with China, according to Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Guo said that the United States had generalized the concept of national security, politicized and weaponized economic and technological issues, and misused export controls to maliciously suppress China. He emphasized that these actions severely undermine market rules and the international economic and trade order, significantly affect the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and harm the interests of business communities of both China and the United States as well as various countries. "AI is a shared asset of all humanity and should not be a game for wealthy nations and individuals, nor should it be used to create new development gaps," Guo said. He criticized the United States for attempting to maintain its hegemony by introducing hierarchies in the field of artificial intelligence and for effectively depriving developing countries, including China, of their rights for technological progress and development. Guo described the U.S. AI policy as a "stumbling block" to other countries, which contradicts the common interests of countries promoting the responsible development of AI, raising concerns about the United States initiating a new Cold War in technology. He said that many U.S. technology companies and industry associations had explicitly opposed the measures taken by the Biden administration. "China is an active advocate and practitioner of global governance in AI," Guo said, adding that China has proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, promoted the adoption of a resolution on AI capacity building by the United Nations General Assembly, and established a group of friends for international cooperation on AI capacity building. He said China would continue to work with all parties to create an open, inclusive, universally beneficial, and non-discriminatory environment for the development of AI, ensuring that its benefits reach all countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In this 2020 file photo, Rafael Marfil stands in the front yard of the house he owns across from the Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in New Braunfels. He and other homeowners sued the city, alleging its short-term-rental ordinance is unconstitutional. Last week, a federal judge ruled for the city, but the fight is likely to continue. Tom Reel/Staff photographer In this 2020 file photo, Rafael Marfil stands in the front yard of the house he owns across from the Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort in New Braunfels. He and other homeowners sued the city, alleging its short-term-rental ordinance is unconstitutional. They plan to appeal a ruling dismissing their case. Tom Reel/Staff photographer The city of New Braunfels has won a yearslong legal battle with homeowners who challenged an ordinance banning short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. A U.S. district judge in Waco on Friday granted the citys motion for summary judgment, which amounts to dismissal of the case without a trial. The plaintiffs six individuals and a limited liability company have already given notice that they will appeal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are disappointed in the opinion, both for our clients and for property owners in Texas, said Chance Weldon, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs. Regardless how one feels about short-term rentals, the courts novel and flippant approach to property rights is a problem. The plaintiffs six individuals and a limited liability company sued the city nearly five years ago seeking a ruling declaring the ordinance, which went into effect in 2011, unconstitutional and unenforceable. Ryan Greene, an Austin lawyer representing the city, said the court affirmed that New Braunfels ordinance satisfies the requirements of the U.S. and Texas constitutions. In adopting its regulations, the City Council took into account the various interests of all City residents, and the regulations have worked well for City residents for over a decade now, helping preserve the character of New Braunfels long-standing residential neighborhoods, he said in email, adding that the city is prepared to continue defending its ordinance. The Citys right to adopt reasonable zoning regulations is well-settled, and the City will vigorously defend that right at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An investment Rafael Marfil, one of the plaintiffs, said he bought a single-family home near Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort as an investment despite the citys prohibition on short-term rentals. He hoped to get the ordinance changed so he could rent the home to park visitors. Both sides had filed motions for summary judgment last year asking the judge to rule in their favor. Municipal zoning should seldom be the concern of federal courts, the city said in its motion. The Citys local regulation is presumed to be valid and will be sustained so long as the classification drawn thereby is rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. It also said there is rational basis for the ban, including preserving the neighborhood character of single-family and two-family residential districts and minimizing nuisance-type behavior of tourists and other short-term visitors. The ban also reduces short-term rentals' negative impact on the availability of housing in the community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The homeowners, in their motion, argued the ordinance arbitrarily denies their property rights in violation of the U.S and Texas constitutions. They noted that virtually every court to review such bans have found them to be unconstitutional. In late 2023, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez granted Hollywood Park homeowners' request for a preliminary injunction that blocks the North Side suburb from enforcing its ban on residential property for less than 30 consecutive days while their case proceeds. The ruling only affects the plaintiffs in the case. The New Braunfels homeowners also argued that the ordinance is not rationally related to nuisance abatement, preserving residential character, " or related to housing affordability. U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, the judge in the New Braunfels case, said he found a rational basis exists for the citys ordinance as it relates to it wanting to preserve its neighborhoods residential character. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This Court clearly understands how short-term renters could affect the residential character within neighborhoods, specifically those which are zoned for single or dual family living, the judge said in his ruling. Earlier appeal In 2023, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to set aside Albrights ruling dismissing the case. The appeals court sent the case back to the lower court. The two judges in the majority ruled that based on the plaintiffs' lawsuits well-pled allegations, they were entitled to engage in discovery in an attempt to surmount the currently high bar for challenging local zoning ordinances under the Constitution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Weldon, a senior attorney with the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation whos representing the plaintiffs, criticized Albrights latest ruling given the appeals courts 2023 ruling. Vietnam-Russia relations step into 2025 with multiple key milestones, reflecting the long-standing bond between the two countries. The restart of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam and high-ranking diplomatic activities over the past year have been reinforcing the bilateral partnership. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Vietnam. This is his first Vietnam visit since assuming his post as Russian prime minister in 2020. The visit is expected to boost the comprehensive strategic partnership, paving the way for advancements in economy, trade, energy, and education fields. The Russian premier met Vietnamese Party chief To Lam, his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, and Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man on the same day. Frequent political dialogues at the highest level play a key role in the development of bilateral ties, said Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko. This was demonstrated through a series of dynamic diplomatic activities in 2024. Following the state visit to Vietnam of Russian President Vladimir Putin in June last year, the two countries have kept in close touch and held other high-ranking meetings, including a phone call between Party chief Lam and President Putin shortly after the former assumed his new post in August 2024. Besides, PM Chinh visited Russia in October, and NA Chairman Man paid a visit to Russia in September. During PM Mishustin's ongoing visit, the two nations reaffirmed their political trust and were committed to promoting dialogues at all levels. Notably, the leaders of the two nations underlined the importance of improving the efficiency in bilateral partnership in such priority fields as energy -- oil-gas, trade, science-technology and culture. Though two-way trade has shown positive growth, the two prime ministers agreed that there was still huge potential to be tapped. The authorities of both countries have been tasked with proposing breakthrough solutions to raise trade value, while addressing existing challenges in a way that ensures mutual benefits. Vietnam, Russia see nuclear power as a key field of cooperation The Vietnamese legislature passed a resolution to resume the nuclear power project in Ninh Thuan Province in December last year after an eight-year hiatus. This project has not only attracted international attention, but has also become a focal point in Vietnam-Russia cooperation. The Russian ambassador told a press briefing in Hanoi in late December that Russia was ready to cooperate with Vietnam in nuclear energy development by participating in the restart of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project. Over the past year, Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation and other Russian partners have shown their interest in the project, contributing to shaping energy cooperation between the two countries. PM Mishustin's visit is meant to further strengthen this commitment. During talks with Rosatom leaders on Monday, PM Chinh underscored that Vietnam expects Russia to not only support it with the development of nuclear power, but also help the Southeast Asian nation promote the nuclear science and technology sector for peaceful purposes. At their talks on Tuesday, the two prime ministers highlighted the significance of speeding up the construction of a nuclear science and technology research center in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. The project is expected to drive up Vietnams research capacity. PM Mishustin affirmed that Russia is willing to share its experience and technology with Vietnam in energy development. The world is facing several challenges, but the Vietnam-Russia relationship continues to maintain a special bond. During a meeting on Tuesday with the Vietnamese Party chief, Prime Minister Mishustin said that Moscow always cherishes the Vietnamese people's friendship and affection toward Russia. Vietnam is one of Russias most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia, he stressed. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! A massive fire, caused by an electrical fault, swept through a pig farm, killing 1,600 pigs and damaging equipment, resulting in a loss of nearly VND6.5 billion (US$255,557), in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on Sunday, local authorities reported on Monday. The administration in Ia Grai District, Gia Lai Province reported that the fire broke out at the farm of Hoang Van Tiep in Ia Chia Commune. Police in Ia Grai District uncovered the cause of the incident as an electrical fault. In addition to the 1,600 pigs, there was damage to equipment including ventilation fans, cooling systems, and odor filtration units. Leaders of the Ia Grai District Peoples Committee rushed to the scene to extend their sympathy to Tiep and tasked local police with handling the incident in line with the law. The district also asked the administration in Ia Chia Commune to assist Tiep in dealing with the aftermath of the fire. The natural resources and environment division in Ia Grai District has instructed Tiep to bury the pig carcasses to avoid causing environmental pollution. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin, signed a joint communique outlining the results of the latters official visit and witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements in areas such as science, information and communications, and culture following their talks in Hanoi on Tuesday. -- Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam gave a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin. Society -- Ho Chi Minh City was hit by heavy, prolonged rain late Tuesday afternoon, causing significant difficulties for commuters as they battled both the downpour and traffic jams on their way home. -- A representative of the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security reported on Tuesday that after half a month of implementing Decree 168, which introduces harsher administrative penalties for road traffic violations, nationwide traffic police have handled 174,653 violations, resulting in over 17,500 drivers licenses revoked, more than 50,000 vehicles temporarily seized, and nearly 12,700 drivers licenses with points deducted. -- A car collided with five motorbikes traveling in the same direction at the Dao Tan-Buoi intersection in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi on Tuesday afternoon, leaving two people hospitalized. After a quick check, police confirmed that the car driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. -- The Military Command of Bu Dang District in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam announced on Tuesday that they had coordinated the collection, transportation, and safe disposal of an unexploded wartime bomb weighing over 220kg, which was uncovered by a local man while digging a pond. Business -- Vietnamese investor T&T Group and consultants from Singapore proposed the development of a 3,400-hectare urban complex around Quang Tri Airport, integrating airport infrastructure, aviation industry facilities, and logistics at a working session with the Peoples Committee of Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam on Tuesday. -- Vietnamese property developer Novaland denied on Tuesday night reports that Bui Thanh Nhon had submitted his resignation as its chairman and also stepped down from the board of directors. Education -- Many international students joined the students, staff, and lecturers of Foreign Trade University in Hanoi to experience wearing ao dai (Vietnam's traditional long gown) and wrapping banh chung (square sticky rice cakes filled with mung beans and pork) in celebration of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) on Tuesday. Sports -- FIFA has lifted the ban on Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Clubs new player registrations after the team, playing in Vietnams top-tier V.League 1, settled its debt to Ghanaian striker Martin Dzilah. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! A pod of dolphins made a rare appearance off the coast of Ganh Dau Commune in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam on Wednesday morning, delighting tourists and locals. The dolphins, estimated to number over 10, swam leisurely and played near Thay Boi (Fortune-teller) Island, a scenic spot known for its clear blue waters and vibrant coral reefs. P.D., a local involved in tourism, shared that the pod was first spotted around 10:00 am by his friend visiting the area. The playful dolphins came close to Vinpearl Phu Quoc, drawing visitors who eagerly captured photos and videos to commemorate the moment. A 30-second clip of the dolphins, shared on a popular Phu Quoc Facebook community, quickly garnered attention, with many viewers expressing excitement and awe. According to the Kien Giang marine conservation management authority, the waters near Ganh Dau boast a rich marine ecosystem, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and an abundance of small fish, making it an attractive hunting ground for dolphins. A scenic view of Ganh Daus pristine waters. Photo: P.D. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thousands of motorcycles and cars were stuck in severe traffic congestion on Pham Van Dong Road, heading from Thu Duc City to Binh Thanh District due to the short duration of green lights on Wednesday morning. The duration of green lights at Pham Van Dong - Nguyen Xi Intersection in Binh Thanh District was shorter than that of the red lights, creating traffic jams during rush hours. Bui Tuan Hai, a 30-year-old resident of Thu Duc City, a district-level unit under Ho Chi Minh City, shared that a few months ago, he only waited through one or two cycles of the red light to pass through the intersection on his way to work in Tan Binh District. However, it has recently taken him four to five cycles to get through, while inching forward slowly. Sometimes, the green light at this intersection lasts only over 20 seconds, but the red light lasts twice or even three times as long. Vehicles are unable to clear the intersection, leading to traffic jams, he explained. This light cycle can be applied during non-peak hours, but it has worked ineffectively during rush hours, he said, suggesting that traffic police officers should be stationed to control traffic signals. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Binh from the Ho Chi Minh City Police Departments Road and Railway Traffic Police Unit told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the city is entering its peak travel period leading up to the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet), which is two weeks away, so traffic volume is expected to increase. Police officers have been implementing various measures to ensure traffic safety during this period. To ease traffic congestion, traffic police have deployed additional personnel at congestion-prone intersections, bus stations, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and along key national highways to regulate traffic and quickly resolve accidents. Traffic police officers have been closely teaming up with the municipal Department of Transport to review and adjust traffic light cycles at crowded intersections, as well as to install additional signs and right-turn signal arrows that allow motorbikes to turn right on red. Six rapid response teams have been set up in key areas, including the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and Cat Lai Port, to monitor and manage traffic efficiently, Binh said. The lieutenant colonel also encouraged residents to follow traffic safety and laws by staying in designated lanes, not running red lights, and avoiding driving on sidewalks. This would help enhance the city's appearance, reduce traffic congestion, and lower the number of accidents as Tet approaches. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many international students have had chances to dress up in ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long gown) and join interesting and exciting activities at their university in Hanoi to welcome the approaching Vietnamese Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet. On Tuesday, surrounded by schoolmates and teachers at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, overseas students indulged in a Tet experience program entitled Tet sum vay, Xuan binh an (Tet of reunion, Spring of peace). They wore ao dai, listened to quan ho (love duet) songs, arranged Tet five-fruit trays, wrapped banh chung (square sticky rice cakes), and practiced traditional folk games such as ca kheo (walked on stilts) and nhay sap (Cheraw dance) amid a vibrant and exciting festive atmosphere. Hortense (R, 1st, front row), a 20-year-old French student, and other international students wear ao dai during a Tet experience program at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 14, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre Hortense, a 20-year-old French student, shared that she has set up a schedule to celebrate Tet, which falls on January 29. Accordingly, she will visit attractions around Hanoi enjoying flowers and the jovial atmosphere in the Southeast Asian country. Hortense said she was told by Vietnamese classmates that Vietnamese people are busy shopping, buying foods and beverages before Tet, and that they will cook for family meals during Tet, when family members will get together. Hortense (R) and another international student practice the Cheraw dance during a Tet experience program at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 14, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre "Hearing this makes me eager to experience Tet and learn about traditional Vietnamese culture," Hortense said, adding that this was the second time she had worn an ao dai and it was very comfortable. I really love it and hope to have more opportunities to wear other styles, she said. Nathan Daniel Figueroa, a 20-year-old American student, excitedly took part in a contest with a team to arrange the Tet five-fruit tray. Louis Wald (L, 1st), a 20-year-old German student, practices wrapping banh chung during a Tet experience program at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 14, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre An indispensable part of the Vietnamese Tet celebration, the tray contains five different fruits depending on the region. It is usually placed on the ancestral altar of every Vietnamese family, showing respect for their ancestors and representing the homeowners expectations for the new year. On behalf of his team, Figueroa, who only arrived in Vietnam two weeks ago, made a vivid presentation about arranging their five-fruit tray. Figueroa said the idea of displaying the five-fruit tray was inspired by his visit to the Hoa Lo Prison relic site in Hanoi where he heard several stories about Vietnamese culture and history, including the significance of the five-fruit tray. Jakob Christoph Winkler, a 22-year-old German student, expresses his excitement after successfully walking a long distance on stilts during a Tet experience program at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 14, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre He was delighted to have a chance to celebrate Tet for the first time along with his classmates. His parents are planning to travel to Vietnam and the family will go to Ho Chi Minh City. Another international student, Louis Wald, a 20-year-old German student, was eager to learn how to wrap banh chung. He said that learning how to make this kind of cake, listening to its history, and understanding the meaning of each ingredient, made him feel more connected with Vietnamese culture. Two international students hold trau tem canh phuong (quids of betel with Phoenix wings) during a Tet experience program at the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 14, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Bao / Tuoi Tre I chose to study in Vietnam because it is a country that is developing and changing rapidly. I also want to learn more about Vietnamese culture, said Wald. Jakob Christoph Winkler, a 22-year-old German student, felt delighted walking a long distance on stilts during the program. He said he wanted to practice the skill after seeing Vietnamese classmates easily walk on four-meter-high stilts. Winkler added he would learn more about the cultural significance of this unique folk game. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! UK queer comedy Big Boys has announced its third and final season. The series stars Dylan Llewellyn and Jon Pointing as first-year university students who live together, set in 2013, told from the point of view of Llewellyns character Jacka semi-fictionalised version of Rooke, who narrates the seriesas he recovers from his fathers death and explores his sexuality for the first time. The comedy also features, Jon Pointing, Camille Coduri, Katy Wix, Izuka Hoyle, Olisa Odele, Harriet Webb, Annette Badland and Jack Rooke. Writer and creator, Jack Rooke, said: Ten years ago I took a rather ramshackle comedy-theatre hour about grief and friendship to a damp cave at the Edinburgh Fringe and never thought a decade later itd be a silly, sweet lil sitcom about a lads lad and a dweeby gay becoming best mates. My therapist (a close lesbian friend) suggested that Big Boys is subconsciously about me not being able to say a proper goodbye to certain people or periods of my life, and so to give this show a final send-off is a huge honour. Ive known the ending since the pilot, and I hope it still represents those first Edinburgh shows but also the collaborative genius of our incredible cast, crew and creative team. Ill be indebted to them always for giving me the funniest, happiest years making Big Boys 1-3. Thank you! Series three will see the gang enter their final year at Brent Uni, Peggy and Shannon embark on new romances and never-ending nappy changes, whilst Jack and Dannys friendship is tested to its limits as they realise proper adult life is coming. Big Boys screens in Australia on ABC Entertains. A new date is yet to be announced. Stan CEO Martin Kugeler will depart the streaming company at the end of the week, after three years in the role. Kugeler has been with Stan for a decade, first as Chief Financial Officer and Director Strategy, Sport, Business Development and Product before succeeding Mike Sneesby, initially in an Acting CEO capacity, in 2021. Yesterday Nine announced a restructure of its divisions appointing Amanda Laing as Managing Director of the Streaming & Broadcast division, which brings together Stan, 9Now, Broadcast Television, and Radio. Chief Marketing Officer Liana Dubois will also exit Nine at the end of the week. The Age reports Stans chief financial and strategy officer, Dan Taylor, will lead the streamer and report to Laing, who commences later in the year. Taylor has been with Stan since June 2022, previously in management roles with REA Group, Elara Group, Macquarie Group. The changes are part of Nines focus on simplifying their operating model and cutting costs. Stan recently moved into Nines headquarters in North Sydney. Nine Acting CEO Matt Stanton thanked Kugeler for his professionalism and dedication to Stan since its launch 10 years ago. Stanton is expected to be formally announced as CEO before the companys mid-year earnings call next month. SpaceXs Starship mega-rocket is shrouded in fog and clouds Tuesday evening as it is prepared for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica. Weather forced the company to put off plans for a 4 p.m. Wednesday launch. Its now set for Thursday. Eric Gay/Associated Press SpaceXs mega-rocket Starship is shrouded in fog and clouds as its prepared Tuesday for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica. A planned Wednesday launch was scrubbed due to weather. It's now set for 4 p.m. Thursday. Eric Gay/Associated Press In this image provided by SpaceX, the commercial space companys Starship 33 and Super Heavy Booster 14 is seen last week in final preparations for seventh test flight, which has been pushed to Thursday afternoon. Courtesy SpaceX BOCA CHICA BEACH Hoping for better weather Thursday, SpaceX on Wednesday postponed the seventh test flight of its Starship mega-rocket from South Texas. Rain and winds at the private space companys Boca Chica Beach launch site were the culprit, SpaceX said Wednesday morning on X. The launch had been set for 4 p.m. The high-profile flight of the redesigned Starship now is set for a 60-minute launch window that opens at 4 p.m. Thursday, when forecasts are calling for sunny but still breezy weather. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beyond being the first for the slightly taller and updated rocket system, the mission is to include a demonstration of Starships ability to deploy satellites. SpaceX also is attempting a second catch of the lower-stage booster by giant mechanical arms on its launch after it returns to Starbase a few minutes after liftoff. Heres what else you need to know. What about the weather? Wednesdays delay wasnt a surprise. Forecasts called for rough weather on the Gulf Coast and SpaceX had warned Tuesday it could complicate launch plans. Starship's seventh flight test is targeted to launch Wednesday, January 15, with a 60-minute launch window opening at 4 p.m. CT. The Starbase team is keeping a close eye on weather conditions https://t.co/QNCSPTewLA pic.twitter.com/gQrBBJbcEf SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 14, 2025 Thursdays forecast for Boca Chica Beach is looking a bit better for a launch, said Anthony Franze, San Antonio Express-News newsroom meteorologist. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After a cloudy start Thursday morning, skies are expected to start clearing during the afternoon, potentially becoming mostly sunny by the 4 p.m. launch window. No rain is in the forecast, either, he said. Wind could still play a factor, though. Wind speeds of 10 to 15 mph are expected at Boca Chica Beach during the launch window, with some slightly higher gusts possible. It was unclear whether Wednesdays rain and low visibility or winds that were forecast to gust up to 25 mph or both were to blame for scrubbing Wednesdays launch. Will South Texas hear sonic booms Thursday? In addition to to the roar of the launch, Cameron County has posted notices to warn area residents theyre likely to hear sonic booms from the flight test. The Super Heavy booster creates them as it slows while descending back to Starbase. The countys statement said residents and those in the nearby area may hear one or more sonic booms during the return to launch site about 10 minutes after liftoff. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The sonic boom does not present a health risk and what people experience will depend on weather and other conditions, it said. Whats the flight plan? Among SpaceXs top objectives for this test flight are attempting to land the booster at Starbase for a second time and demonstrating the crafts ability to deploy payloads to space. The company first landed a booster at the Starbase launch tower in October during Starships fifth flight. On an attempt during the sixth flight in November, SpaceX instead diverted the booster for an ocean landing off the coast of Boca Chica Beach. As it continues on the mission around the globe, the upper-stage Starship will attempt to deploy 10 Starlink satellite mock-ups similar in size and weight to the companys next-generation satellites. Theyre set to fly on the same trajectory as Starship and also land in the Indian Ocean. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Starlink is SpaceXs satellite communications network, which provides internet access to more than 4.6 million people around the world. Theres also a military variant called Starshield and talk of expanding the network to the moon and Mars. The flight will also be the first for an upgraded version of the Starship thats slightly taller than its predecessors and has redesigned forward flaps, propulsion systems and avionics. How can I watch? SpaceX said a live webcast of the flight will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff on the X social media platform @SpaceX or on the new X TV app. Its also available at the companys website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other space-focused outlets will be covering the launch on YouTube. Theres nothing wrong with a movie that exists to be beautiful. You take a lovely scenic location like the Canadian Rockies (Calgary and parts of Banff doubling for northern Montana), cast some handsome-looking leads, and stick them in immaculate period-appropriate clothing and by God, youve got the backdrop suitable for a sprawling epic like Jim Harrisons Legends of the Fall. While the story is compelling and most of the performances are solid, Edward Zwicks film is often far too content with simply being beautiful to be a true full-blooded frontier epic. After serving in the United States Army, Cornish-born Col. William Ludlow moved his family deep into the wild wilderness of Montana to raise his three sons Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Tristan (Brad Pitt), and Samuel (Henry Thomas). Free from the influences of society and government, the boys grow into men, each with their unique path to living. Alfred does right by God and Mans laws, Samuel is loved by all, and Tristan is the wild free spirit that refuses to be tamed. The familys enduring resolve will be tested by the Great War, the love of the beautiful Sussanah (Julia Ormond), and the pressures of society expanding into their frontier. Now to be clear, I dont think Legends of the Fall is a bad film, theres much to admire, but I dont feel its a great film. Its a beautiful film to look at, its an interesting film to watch, but its also a very flawed film. But Ill start with what I like. The first thing that stands out to me is the John Toll cinematography; every frames a portrait perfectly captured with some of the most beautiful mountainous country you can travel. Zwick might not be tackling big-scale epics these days, but he was a master craftsman when capturing a specific time and place as he did for Glory and The Last Samurai and this film is another impressive example of that talent. This film is also impeccably cast. Anthony Hopkins was just coming off his The Silence of the Lambs Oscar win and he plays the family elder haunted by his history perfectly. Henry Thomas exudes that sense of naive optimism indicative of a younger sibling while Aidan Quinn plays that stiff-uptight-upright do-no-wrong older sibling to the hilt. And then high on his star-breaking turns in Thelma and Louise and A River Runs Through It (less said about high-haired Johnny Suede the better) Brad Pitt channels his Hollywood bad-boy persona for the rebellious Tristan. And then you can't say enough about the range Julia Ormond brought to this film. My issue with the film, and its partly a feature of the original novella, is how segmented the narrative is, it doesnt leave breathing room for each era of this decades-long story. Told through the events laid out in letters, were never in one place for long. Were barely introduced to their home in Montana as children before they return as grown men before theyre off to Europe for the Great War. Because the story spans five decades, it has a lot to pack in restricted to a two-hour twelve-minute run time. If itd been longer, let the scenes take their time before rushing off to the next truncated multi-year period, I think the dramatic beats would have been more effective. The pieces work terrifically, theyre directed impeccably, but they just dont always knit together evenly. And from the number of scenes that were cut, I cant help but wonder if it was better for them to have stayed and slowed down the pace and let the story truly be epic. Then the other piece of the film that just makes my eyes roll is the numerous hunk shots of Brad Pitt. I get it, he was the handsome rising star, and he certainly grabbed the cameras attention, but what's here is overkill. You can have only so many pensive stares into the off-camera horizon with golden magic-hour lighting behind him. If you took a shot every time the characters stopped everything they were doing to watch Pitt ride into the scene on a horse, youd be drunk under the table long before the credits. So I admire a lot of Legends of the Fall, but I dont love it. I caught it in theaters as a kid (dragged by my older sister), and watched it many times on tape and DVD, but its only gotten so far in my estimation. With recent revisits on Blu-ray and now on 4K, Ive tapped out. I dont think Ill ever think of it any better. It's fine, it's entertaining, but that's it for me. I know many who love this film endlessly, I'm just not one of them I dont begrudge Legends of the Fall aiming for the scale of David Lean, but more me the story often turns into an undercooked David Lean Cuisine preserved on film with Oscar-winning Cinematography. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Legends of the Fall rides onto 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to celebrate its 30th Anniversary from Sony. Pressed on a BD100 disc for this single-disc plus digital release, the disc is housed in a standard black case with paper slipcover. The digital slip is Movies Anywhere compatible. The disc loads to Sonys standard static image main menu with the bonus features list along the right side of the screen. HA NOI The stock market retreated on Tuesday, pulling the VN-Index below the 1,230-point threshold, as liquidity dropped sharply and foreign investors maintained strong net-selling activity. On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index closed at 1,229.07 points, down 6.58 points, or 0.53 per cent. Market breadth leaned negative, with 188 declining stocks, 101 advancing and 64 unchanged. Trading liquidity fell sharply to approximately VN8.5 trillion (US$334.6 million), representing a 29.75 per cent drop compared with the previous session. The VN30-Index, which tracks the top 30 largest-cap stocks on the HoSE, also declined by 9.11 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 1,289.23 points. Within the VN30 basket, 20 stocks fell, seven advanced and three remained unchanged. Blue chips led the market's decline. The Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank For Industry And Trade (CTG) posted the steepest drop, falling 1.99 per cent and shaving nearly one point off the VN-Index. Other notable decliners included the FPT Corporation (FPT), which lost 1.69 per cent, and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), which fell by 0.76 per cent. However, gains in select large-cap stocks partially offset broader losses. The PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (GAS) rose by 0.75 per cent, contributing 0.28 points to the VN-Index. Additionally, the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (PLX) climbed 2.19 per cent, Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) gained 2.63 per cent and Viglacera Corporation - JSC (VGC) advanced by 3.46 per cent. Analysts from Viet Dragon Securities said: The market's attempt to recover failed as it retreated within the range of 1,2271,233 points, reflecting a cautious testing phase. The decline in liquidity compared to the previous session shows weak support from inflows, contributing to the markets subdued performance. Although the market is currently supported around the 1,227-point level, the lacklustre momentum suggests that it may require more time to stabilise and retest the support zone around 1,230 points, marking the lowest level of January 2025. This zone is expected to provide some support in the near term. Investors should continue to monitor supply-demand dynamics to reassess the market. It is advisable to maintain portfolio weights at reasonable levels to mitigate risks. Short-term buying opportunities may arise if there are strong support signals from inflows, particularly in stocks showing resilience near or at key support levels. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also declined, closing at 218.27 points, down 1.35 points or 0.61 per cent. Trading value on the northern exchange surpassed VN481 billion, with trading volume exceeding 32.9 million shares. Foreign investors extended their net-selling streak, unloading shares valued at VN629 billion on the HoSE and VN26.7 billion on the HNX. VNS HA NOI Trade co-operation between Viet Nam and the US presents both vast opportunities and significant challenges, as the latter enters a new phase with major adjustments to its economic and foreign policies, which are expected to have a wide-reaching impact on global trade and investment activities. Currently, the US is a leading trade partner of Viet Nam, while the Southeast Asian nation continues to attract high-tech investment from the US, particularly in sectors like microchips and semiconductors. According to statistics, in 2024, their two-way trade reached approximately US$132 billion. Of this, Viet Nams exports to the US amounted to almost $119 billion, up 23.3 per cent, and its imports exceeded $13 billion, up 7.3 per cent. As of November, the US had over 1,400 investment projects in Viet Nam, with total capital nearing $12 billion. Chairman of the US-Viet Nam Business Council Kevin Morgan said with the new US administration (the second term of President Donald Trump), while the specifics of the new trade and tariff policies remain uncertain, it is prudent for businesses to prepare and plan for various scenarios to continue operating effectively in the market. Experts argue that the changes in US trade policies will present both opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam whose participation in numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) has been a key factor in enhancing the competitiveness of its exports. However, the US complex legal framework means that the market poses inherent risks. To increase exports, Vietnamese firms should collaborate with importers and distributors in the US to explore flexible payment methods and risk-sharing mechanisms, particularly in the early stages of market entry. For agricultural and food products, businesses should consider investing in cold storage facilities to establish distribution centres at major US ports able to handle various product categories. This approach would help them reduce costs and have greater control over the supply chain when exporting to the market. Moreover, experts predict that the new trade policies might impact Vietnamese businesses in areas such as trade, tariff, technology, finance, and investment. As such, domestic enterprises, especially small- and medium-sized ones, need to stay abreast of emerging trends, develop appropriate plans, and strengthen connections to foster future business collaborations. VNS HA NOI The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) officially signed a loan agreement with Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) under the Private Sector Investment Finance (PSIF) project on Tuesday. This initiative, co-financed by the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), aims to enhance financial inclusion through digital banking in Viet Nam, with a total loan value of US$120 million. The project seeks to improve financial access for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and low-income individuals in Viet Nam by providing loans to TPBank, a domestic commercial bank, to expand financial accessibility for these groups. The loan will enable TPBank to extend credit to MSMEs and low-income individuals. Notably, at least 30 per cent of the loan value from JICA will be allocated to MSMEs through TPBank's digital banking channels. Additionally, at least 30 per cent will be directed to MSMEs owned by women or to female customers in low-income groups. This project aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9 and 17, which focus on economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, as well as partnerships. The initiative is part of the Financial Access for Inclusive Finance mechanism established in May 2023, underscoring efforts to drive sustainable and inclusive economic development in Viet Nam. VNS Inspiramo serves a hybrid of New York- and Sicilian-style pizzas. Paul Stephen/Staff Kevin Held gave San Antonio's food scene more questions than answers when he opened Inspiriamo Pizza Lounge at 4109 Fredericksburg Road near the Wonderland of the Americas shopping mall last year. A large sign outside the restaurant declares the low-slung building to be the home of "Rustic Alaskan Pizza." The Angelo's Special with a Sicilian-style crust at Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria is a formidable pizza with lots of toppings. Staff file photo Il Forno is one of the Top 10 Pizza restaurants in San Antonio, with great pizzas including the Margherita with mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. Mike Sutter/Staff Il Forno is one of the Top 10 Pizza restaurants in San Antonio. Mike Sutter/Staff The Austin-based brand Via 313 has brought notable Detroit-style pizza to San Antonio. Paul Stephen/Staff Via 313 has a location at 8435 Wurzbach Road, Suite 213. Paul Stephen/Staff Pizza-by-the-slice options at Capos Pizzeria on Broadway in San Antonio include the Capos Supremo, left, and classic cup-style pepperoni. Mike Sutter/Staff Pizza-by-the-slice options at Florios Pizza on Broadway near Alamo Heights include pepperoni and mushrooms, left, and the loaded Special. Mike Sutter/Staff A slice of Chicago-style pizza at Chicago's Pizza that has pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and sliced tomatoes. Staff file photo Chicago's Pizza is located at 5525 Blanco Road, Suite 115, and has been serving pizza since 1993. Staff file photo You'd be forgiven for any lack of familiarity with that particular style of pizza. Mainly, because it doesn't exist. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Held coined the term to describe the style of pizza he developed during a 15-year stint in Fairbanks, Alaska, but notes that the frosty tundra of the nation's 49th state didn't, necessarily, shape his brand of pie. "It's a hybrid between Sicilian and New York style," Held said. "It's the rectangle shape of a Sicilian, but instead of a thick crust or a deep dish or a crispy bottom, this is the rectangle, but it's a thin crust and it's soft." You won't find reindeer sausage or cured slices of seal on Held's pies. He sticks to classic toppings such as house-made pork sausage, pepperoni and a slew of vegetables, among other familiar fare. His tomato sauce, which is generously applied to each rectangle of pizza, is a bright and slightly sweet concoction passed down from his mother. Inspiramo serves a hybrid of New York- and Sicilian-style pizzas. Paul Stephen/Staff 52 WEEKS OF PIZZA: San Antonios best pizza, pizzerias and specialty pies Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It took me eight years to master this, and I knew I wanted to retire down here," Held said. "As far as Alaska goes, that was just where I was at when I did it. But the incentive, then the drive, just came from within, from my mom. She was Sicilian, and I learned everything from her." In this land of plenty, pizza comes in many shapes and sizes. From the earliest versions brought to our Eastern shores by Italian immigrants to the deep-dish behemoths of Chicago to the arctic-inspired pies of newcomers such as Held and Inspiramo (210-233-1942, inspiriamopizzalounge.com), San Antonio's pizza scene is more rich and robust than ever. Here are some of the styles you'll find, and the best places to give each one a try. Capos Pizzeria on Broadway is one of the Top 10 Pizza restaurants in San Antonio, with great options including this cup-and-char pepperoni pizza. Mike Sutter/Staff Buffalo-style: This version of pizza tends to have a slightly thicker crust than its neighbor in New York City. The sauce may be slightly more sweet with a potent hit of basil as well. And it just isn't Buffalo without thin slices of pepperoni that cup up and char around the edges, each morsel containing a drop of glistening fat packed with huge flavor. The Anchor Bar chain is famous for inventing Buffalo wings, but it also serves up this style of pizza at two locations in San Antonio. But for the best version of this style of pizza in the city, check out any of the five Capo's Pizzeria locations here. This brand's location on the north end of Broadway claimed the top spot in our survey of pizza-by-the slice joints in 2023. Capo's Pizzeria, 8522 Broadway, Suite 105, 210-362-1901, more locations at capospizzasa.com. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Chicago-style pizza at Chicago's Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and sliced tomatoes. Staff file photo Chicago-style: Is it a pizza? Is it a casserole? The world may never know. This style of pizza is layered in a deep dish like a lasagna, capped with a generous coating of tomato sauce inside a crusty, high-walled shell closer in texture to a flaky pastry than a bready dough. This invention of this style of pie is often credited to the restaurant chain Pizzeria Uno in the 1940s. The closest one of those to San Antonio will require a drive to the Great Lakes. Fortunately, Chicago's Pizza, tucked into a shopping center at the intersection of Blanco Road and Oblate Drive, has been satisfying the city's deep-dish dreams since 1993. The pies here are customizable with a huge list of ingredients, including a seafood version stuffed with shrimp and crab. Chicago's Pizza, 5525 Blanco Road, Suite 115, 210-349-8005, orderchicagospizzamenu.com. The Austin-born pizza chain Via 313 has opened its first San Antonio location, making Detroit-style pizzas on Wurzbach Road in the Medical Center area. Mike Sutter/Staff file photo Detroit-style: The Motor City's contribution to the pizza universe is baked in a rectangular pan with a base of dough that comes out with a bite and chew similar to focaccia. A hallmark of this style of pizza is the oil that dribbles over the edges into the pan while baking, giving this pie remarkable crispy edges. And then, to further distinguish itself, a scoop of tomato sauce is often added after it exits the oven. Pizza Hut may have jumped into the Detroit-style game, but our pick for this Midwestern delight is the Austin-based chain Via 313. The brand has found a strong foothold in San Antonio, now with three locations following its latest opening in The Rim in December. In addition to pizzas dressed with classic toppings, look for monthly specials such as the Tikka Masala pizza and others to liven your palate. Via 313, multiple locations, www.via313.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Il Forno specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza. Paul Stephen/Staff Neapolitan-style: If you wind up in a fight with someone over pizza, there's a good chance this style of pie will be at the heart of the argument. There's a whole governing body (the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) in Italy dictating what, exactly, gets to call itself "Neapolitan." This style of pizza is typically cooked in extremely hot ovens, preferably wood-burning, for short bursts of time. Ideally, this results in a thin, flexible crust with a high collar around the edge, occasionally sporting charred blisters. While Neapolitan pizza is known for its elegant simplicity, making it takes years to master. You won't find anyone in the city better at slinging those pies than chef Jason Garcia at Il Forno near Southtown. From a classic Margherita to pies topped with house-cured meats, the pizzas here earned Il Forno a spot among the nation's Top 50 Pizzerias in 2023. Il Forno, 122 Nogalitos St., 726-444-0744, ilfornosa.com. A custom-built garlic and sliced meatball pizza is served at Florio's Pizza. Staff file photo New York-style: This style of pizza is all about attitude. It's thin crusted, and typically baked in a multitiered deck oven. Sure, you can buy a whole pizza, but more often than not, you'll probably only want a slice or two, as large as your face and folded in half to chow down on your way to the day's next meeting. This is America's classic urban grab-and-go fare, with a history dating largely to the early 20th century in New York. In San Antonio, Florio's Pizza in the Alamo Heights area has been the go-to for this style of pie for more than three decades. The sauce is a standout here, and will enliven any crust it touches. The Special is a good starting point, topped with pepperoni and sausage in the protein department and roasted red peppers, onions, black olives and mushrooms for flourish. Florio's Pizza, 7701 Broadway, 210-805-8646, no web presence. The Angelo's Special with a Sicilian-style crust at Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria is a formidable pizza with lots of toppings. Staff file photo Sicilian-style: In the United States, "Sicilian-style" has come to mean a large, doughy pizza baked in a rectangular pan. It can mean a lot of other things in that island kicking off of the toe of Italy's boot, but the thick, bready rectangle is what we're going to find here. This is pizza with substance and heft, but that doesn't mean nuance and flavor are sacrificed. This style of pizza provides a robust crust that can carry an outsized portion of toppings without flopping into a puddle of cheese and sauce on your plate. You'll find an excellent version on the menu at the Monte Vista neighborhood restaurant Barbaro, but the venerable champion of this style has to be Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria. The business has more than four decades of history under the leadership of a family with roots in the Sicilian city of Palermo. Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria, 824 Afterglow St., 210-349-2060, littleitalysatx.com. THUA THIEN HUE Kim Long Motor Hue Joint Stock Company and Changan Automobile Group (China) on Tuesday signed a co-operation agreement to build a passenger car factory at an industrial park in central city of Hue that will be capable of producing 50,000 vehicles per year. Accordingly, the two parties plan to produce 5-7 seater vehicles at the new Kim Long Truong An Viet Nam facility. The factory will be part of the Kim Long Motor Hue automobile manufacturing and assembly industrial park located in Hue's Chan May - Lang Co Economic Zone. It will span an area of 30 hectares, with all production lines set to incorporate Changan's advanced and cutting-edge technologies. Construction of the factory is scheduled to begin in 2025. Initially, the localisation rate will reach 40 per cent, with a target of exceeding 80 per cent by the second quarter of 2026. When operational, the factory is expected to create thousands of jobs and significantly contribute to the state budget and the socio-economic development of Hue. Kim Long Motor's General Director ao Viet Anh expressed that the partnership with Changan Automobile serves as a crucial foundation for the company to solidify its position in the domestic market and expand its reach internationally. The company is committed to fully using its resources and technical expertise, while maintaining close collaboration with Changan Automobile to achieve their shared goals. They aim to begin operations at the factory promptly and jointly write a new chapter for Viet Nams automobile industry. Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile Group Wang Hui highlighted that this collaboration marks an essential step in its global strategy, and will serve as a critical starting point to penetrate the Vietnamese market. The partnership between Kim Long Motor and Changan Automobile in Viet Nam will focus on several key pillars, including selecting unique product lines, developing a distribution system that meets brand standards and making investments in the 5-7-seater passenger car factory Kim Long Truong An Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams first nuclear power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan must be completed within five years to be operative by 2030, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, stressed that directive during the committees inaugural meeting on Wednesday. The Steering Committee, established on January 10, 2025, oversees and expedites the plant's construction. Its responsibilities include identifying and resolving obstacles, refining legal frameworks, developing Viet Nams nuclear power programme, and fostering international cooperation, particularly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Regular progress updates on the project will be reported directly to the Prime Minister. PM Chinh stressed the Governments commitment to nuclear power as a key driver of Viet Nams economic growth, noting that to achieve double-digit GDP growth rates, electricity growth must reach between 15 to 18 per cent. "Actions must be decisive and efficient. Every task must be completed with accountability and results," he said. He emphasised the need for specific five-year and annual plans with clear responsibilities assigned to relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities. These entities must propose detailed tasks and submit them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) for consolidation. The PM also set a February 28 deadline for MoIT to revise and finalise all necessary plans related to the project, ensuring alignment with Viet Nams nuclear energy development goals. Infrastructure development is a critical component of the project. The Ninh Thuan Province has been designated as the lead agency for preparing essential facilities such as transportation, electricity, water, education, and healthcare to support the workforce involved in the plants construction. Additionally, the local government is tasked with land clearance efforts and creating policies to support residents relocating for the project. Viet Nam currently has approximately 400 trained professionals in the nuclear energy sector. PM Chinh instructed Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to mobilise this workforce immediately and identify new training needs. A detailed plan for human resource development must be reported to the Government promptly. The PM also called for the establishment of tailored mechanisms to support the project, covering areas such as taxation, credit, land use, and human resource policies. These special policies are expected to drive the project's progress and sustainability. Highlighting the broader significance of the project, he stated that nuclear technology represents a key area of innovation for Viet Nams peaceful development. "In this new era of national prosperity, Viet Nam must achieve breakthroughs in science and technology, including nuclear energy and nuclear medicine," he said. Time, intelligence and decisiveness are critical to the projects success, the PM noted. He urged committee members to act swiftly and responsibly, building on previous achievements while adapting to new challenges. The committees second meeting is scheduled for mid-February to review progress and refine strategies. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam continues to speed up administrative reforms, improve the investment environment and create favourable conditions for Russian businesses to expand here, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. During the Viet Nam-Russia Business Dialogue in Ha Noi on Wednesday, PM Chinh recommended that both sides continue to diversify products and supply chains so that more goods can penetrate each other's markets. He requested ministries, branches, local areas and the two business communities to strengthen connections, look at their mutual needs and promote the transportation of goods by air, sea and rail. Adding that two-way economic cooperation failed to match the potential and expectations of the two nations, the PM said he hoped that Russian businesses would expand their presence in Viet Nam, especially in terms of infrastructure, energy, transportation and logistics. For his part, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the current two-way trade turnover still lagged behind the potential of the two countries. He affirmed that the bilateral economic relationship would continue to be strengthened, especially in key areas such as energy, high-tech agriculture and logistics, aiming towards sustainable development and contributing to their common interests. The Russian PM also said his government is willing to offer Vietnamese businesses the right conditions to expand their operations and seize opportunities in Russia, thus cementing bilateral relations. Thai Huong, Chairwoman of TH Group which is investing in dairy farms and milk processing plants in Russia, shared experiences in implementing high-tech agricultural projects. She attributed her enterprise's decision to invest in Russia to the country's attractive and transparent agricultural policies. She proposed that the Russian government provide further policy and infrastructure support to facilitate bilateral cooperation in food processing and high-tech agriculture. At the event, Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Alexey Likhachev outlined energy, trade and investment as potential areas for future cooperations, saying that these strategic fields would link to the goals of sustainable development, environmental protection and social security of the two nations. As of November 2024, Russia had 199 investment projects in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital of approximately US$990 million, ranking the country 26th out of 147 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. On its side, Viet Nam had 16 valid investment projects in Russia, with a total registered capital of $1.6 billion, ranking it fourth out of 81 countries and territories investing in Russia. Two-way trade increased from $3.63 billion in 2023, to $4.57 billion last year. Viet Nams main exports to Russia include seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, coffee, tea, pepper, rice, handicrafts, rubber, wood furniture, footwear and electronics. It imports from Russia large amounts of wheat, fertiliser, oil and chemicals, pharmaceutical supplies, steel, and heavy machinery. According to the Vietnamese Embassy to Russia, the Russian economy is looking for a large volume of imports and it is willing to purchase more goods from Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Wednesday for Ali Ijaz Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore-based Makara Capital, urging the group to support Viet Nam in developing international financial centres. Son praised the effective business investment cooperation activities of the Makara Capital Group globally and in Viet Nam in recent times. He informed the guest that to prepare for a new development era - the era of the nation's rise, Viet Nam defined solutions, including the establishment of regional and international financial centres. This is an urgent requirement and one of the particularly important projects for the coming year. Viet Nam has three growth poles -- Ha Noi in the Red River Delta, a Nang in the central region, and HCM City in the South. These locations have attracted significant resources and major investors and financial groups to mobilise resources for Viet Nam's economic development, the Deputy PM said. Son hoped Makara Capital will accompany a Nang and Viet Nam in the process of perfecting the institutional framework and developing the financial centres, including human resource development, investment attraction, connection with other financial centres in the region and the world, as well as attracting financial institutions. Ali shared his interest in the a Nang financial centre, believing that with its experience, the group can effectively support Viet Nam in developing a financial centre model combined with innovation. According to the CEO, Viet Nam can learn from the financial centre models of Singapore, Dubai, and Kazakhstan. He said the most important factor in establishing an international financial centre is the human resources, the quality of human resources, and their living and working conditions. Another important issue is building a legal system to facilitate the inflow and outflow of capital, ensuring capital recovery and safe cash flows. Ali said this is an opportunity for Viet Nam to experiment before scaling this model for the entire economy. He also pointed out advantages for Viet Nam in the next two years, affirming that he will send his top experts to a Nang to support the city in realising the international financial centre project. Appreciating the insights shared by the Makara Capital CEO, Son emphasised that the idea of establishing a financial centre combined with innovation is a very good one, and a Nang is developing in that direction. He hoped that the group, upon collaborating with a Nang, will help this city build institutions and develop human resources. Son expected Makara Capital will also help a Nang to train human resources and connect it with other international financial centres in the region and around the world. He noted that the Vietnamese Government is paying much attention to institutional perfection to create favourable conditions for investment cooperation. VNS HCM CITY A songbook praising Viet Nam and HCM City has been released in the city to celebrate the 50th anniversary of South Viet Nam Liberation and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 2025). The book titled 50 Nam Rang Ngoi Trang Su (50-Year Glorious History) consists of 50 songs composed by inh Quang Minh. Most of the songs praise the history and achievements of HCM City and its beautiful landscapes, lifestyle and people. They are TPHCM 50 Nam Rang Ngoi Trang Su (50 Years of HCM Citys Glorious History), Thanh Pho Vao Xuan (The City in Spring), and Thanh Pho Cua Trieu Trai Tim (The City of Millions of Hearts). I put a lot of effort into creating the songbook. They are compositions expressing my deep love and gratitude to HCM City, where Ive lived and worked for 50 years," the 51-year-old composer said. "As a son of HCM City, I want to keep memories of the city through the project and send a message to readers that together we can develop a city of millions of hearts. In addition, the book includes songs praising the country, President Ho Chi Minh, and the beauty of southern provinces such as Tu Hao Viet Nam (Pride in Viet Nam), Tuoi Tre Hanh Trinh Theo Chan Nguoi (Youth Follow Ho Chi Minhs Footsteps), and Huong Sac Mien Tay (Colours of Mekong Delta). One special thing about Minhs songs is that they are simple and rustic but have a pervasive power. His songs reflect his deep love for his homeland and express emotions and passion which easily touch the hearts of many people, Nguyen Quang Vinh, chairman of the city's Music Association, said. Minh said he completed a music video for the song TPHCM 50 Nam Rang Ngoi Trang Su and will release it soon. He also expects to produce videos for the other songs. Minh began learning the guitar when he was only eight and then studied at the HCM City Conservatory of Music. He composed his first song at the age of 13. He graduated from the College of Culture and Art and later earned a masters degree in cultural management at Culture University. Minh is currently head of the folk art office of the city's Cultural Centre. The songbook, 50 Nam Rang Ngoi Trang Su, is published by the HCM City General Publishing House and available at bookstores worldwide. VNS VIENTIANE The General Association of Vietnamese People (GAVP) in Laos hosted a programme to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year Festival) 2025 in Vientiane on January 13 evening, gathering representatives from its member oganisations in Lao localities. Addressing the event, GAVP Chairman Nguyen Van Hung highlighted the significance of the event, saying that it contributes to strengthening solidarity within the Vietnamese community, and preserving and promoting the traditional culture of Vietnamese people in Laos. According to Hung, the general associations chapters have actively organised activities to strengthen solidarity and connection within the community; and joined initiatives launched by the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) and the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, such as programmes to support poor people and those affected by storms and floods. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam said the Party and State of Vietnam have always regarded the overseas Vietnamese (OV) community as an integral component of the homeland. He appreciated the community for its solidarity and efforts to maintain strong ties to their homeland, saying that the community serves as a bridge promoting the solidarity and friendship between the two nations. In addition to making significant contributions to Laos socio-economic development, many OVs also play an active role in people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to preserving and promoting the values of Vietnamese culture and building Viet Nam's image in the Southeast Asian nation, he stated. The diplomat expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in Laos will continue to maintain solidarity, strictly abide by the host countrys laws, and make more meaningful activities and collective efforts to build a united, compassionate, strong, and successful Vietnamese community in Laos, thus further bolstering the Viet Nam-Laos special relations. VNA/VNS BEIJING A series of activities for the border people exchange festival and the Year of China-Viet Nam Humanistic Exchange 2025 kicked off in Malipo county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province of China on January 13 evening. At the event, delegates, local residents and visitors enjoyed art performances praising the friendship between China and Viet Nam. The two sides are expected to coordinate in a wide range of activities such as a seminar between delegations of local government officials from China and Viet Nam; an exchange programme between the two countries young talents; a media exchange; a business forum; and a fair to promote Lunar New Year (Tet) shopping, along with activities related to the Chinese-Vietnamese Folk Huashan Festival. On this occasion, Malipo and ong Van District of Viet Nam's Ha Giang province signed an agreement to establish a sisterhood relationship. The youth unions of Wenshan and Ha Giang also inked a framework agreement on strategic cooperation for friendship exchanges. VNA/VNS MALAYSIA Malaysia has officially launched its national tourism campaign called Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) at a special event held at Hangar 6, MAB Engineering Complex in Selangor State. Hosted by Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, VM2026 marks the beginning of a journey to establish Malaysia as a leading global destination, renowned for its natural beauty, vibrant culture and hospitality. At the launching event held on January 6, Malaysia unveiled the campaign's visual identity, including its logo, mascot, theme song, and aircraft livery. The VM2026 logo, symbolising the dynamism of Malaysian culture and nature, was impressively showcased on aircraft from Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air and AirAsia. The campaign's official theme song named "Surreal Experiences" is expected to fully capture the unique and distinctive aspects of Malaysia's tourism offerings. The Malayan Sun Bear, a rare and protected species, was chosen as the campaign's mascot, underscoring Malaysia's commitment to nature conservation. VM2026 aims to attract 35.6 million international tourists and generate RM147.1 billion (approximately US$32.5 billion) in tourism revenue, enhancing Malaysia's competitive position in the international tourism market and solidifying the industry's crucial role in contributing to national GDP. The event also featured the exchange of Memoranda of Cooperation (MoC) with key strategic partners, including Malaysia Aviation Group, AirAsia, Batik Air, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Huawei, Mastercard, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH). As part of VM2026, a special event, the Malaysia Sarong Music Run (MSMR) 2025, will take place on February 8, 2025, at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. This unique cultural and sporting event is endorsed by Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and is expected to attract over 20,000 participants. MSMR 2025 will also celebrate Malaysia's rich heritage while promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with Locco, to promote an active lifestyle while showcasing Malaysia's distinctive cultural diversity. Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam will intensify promotional activities within the VM2026 campaign, focusing on building partnerships with Vietnamese businesses and travel partners, including travel agencies, airlines, tour operators, and media outlets. Tourism Malaysia will actively participate in promotional programmes aimed at enhancing Malaysia's image, such as international travel events such as VITM Hanoi and ITE HCMC, design attractive packaged tours with special offers with airlines, local travel agents and OTAs; and implement multi-channel media campaigns across press, television, social media, and various online platforms. VNS Companies identify Business interruption as their top business concern for the year ahead (37% of overall responses) Cyber ranks #2 (31%), with data breaches identified as the cyber exposure companies fear most Natural catastrophes retain #3 rank (27%) in Asia, which is heating up faster than the global average SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 January 2025 -is the biggest worry for Asian companies in 2025, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer such as data breaches or ransomware attacks, and IT disruptions, such as the CrowdStrike incident , are also a main concern for companies of all sizes, ranking #2. After another heavy year ofactivity in 2024 this peril remains #3.The top three risks globally (#1),(#2), and(#3) retained their positions in this year's, which is based on the insights of more than 3,700 risk management professionals from over 100 countries.comments: "2024 was an extraordinary year in terms of risk management and the results of our annualreflect the uncertainty many companies around the globe are facing right now. What stands out this year is the interconnectivity of the top risks. Climate change, emerging technology, regulation and geopolitical risks are increasingly intertwined, resulting in a complex network of cause and effect. Businesses need to adopt a holistic approach to risk management and consistently strive to enhance their resilience in order to address these fast-evolving risks.", says, "Business interruption is the most significant risk for companies in the region and this is no surprise as Asian economies are increasingly participating in trade globally and regionally. This is also often due to events like cyber incidents or natural catastrophes, which are part of the top risks in the region. Against this backdrop of an increasingly volatile risk landscape, businesses should ensure they are sufficiently protected and their response measures robust. This includes adopting measures such as loss prevention, developing multiple suppliers, alternative risk transfer, and multinational insurance policies."is the top risk in Asia; it ranks in the top three risks in all countries and territories, and is the top risk in China and Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. Its persistence at the top reflects severe supply chain disruption during and after the pandemic.Such disruptions are of particular concern as Asian economies are increasingly participating in trade. Asia is now the world's second-most integrated trade region, driven by the rapid growth of manufacturing supply chains across borders . In addition, due to rising US-China tensions, bilateral trade between geopolitically aligned countries has risen. Global trade flows are becoming more intricate and this shift has opened doors for nations like India and Malaysia to step up as next-generation trade hubs, according to Allianz Trade Globally,BI has ranked either #1 or #2 in everyfor the past decade and retains its position at #2 in 2025 with 31% of responses. BI is typically a consequence of events like a natural disaster, a cyber-attack or outage, insolvency or political risks like conflict or civil unrest, which can all affect the ability of a business to operate normally. Several examples from 2024 highlight why companies still see BI as a major threat to their business model. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea led to supply chain disruptions due to rerouting of container ships, while incidents such as the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore also directly impacted global and local supply chains. Supply chain disruptions with global effects occur approximately every 1.4 years, and the trend is rising, according to analysis from Circular Republic, in collaboration with Allianz and others. Those disruptions cause major economic damages, ranging up to 5% to 10% of product costs and additional downtime impacts.rank #2 in Asia; it is the top risk in India for the eighth consecutive year, and the second most significant risk in Japan and Singapore. The Asia Pacific region saw a 23% increase in weekly cyberattacks per organization in Q2 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Some of the cyber incidents around the region include the attack on India's biggest crypto exchange WazirX , the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Japan Airlines , and cyberattack on Singapore law firm Shook Lin & Bok Globally,(38% of overall responses) rank as the most important risk for the fourth year in a row and by a higher margin than ever (7% points). It is the top peril in 20 countries, including Argentina, France, Germany, India, South Africa, the UK and the US. More than 60% of respondents identified data breaches as the cyber exposure companies fear most, followed by attacks on critical infrastructure and physical assets with 57%.retain its #3 spot in Asia. The region is heating up faster than the global average , with increased casualties and economic losses from floods, storms, and more severe heatwaves. It is the top risk in Japan, which faced a M7.5 earthquake in the Noto Peninsula that resulted in insured losses of US$3bn, with economic losses reaching US$12bn, as well as in Hong Kong, which experienced its heaviest rain in November 2024 since records began 140 years ago due to Typhoon Haikui.Globally,remain at #3 with 29%, although more respondents also picked this as a top risk year-on-year. For the fifth time in a row in 2024, insured losses surpassed US$100bn . 2024 is expected to have been the hottest year on record. It was also a year of terrible natural catastrophes with extreme hurricanes and storms in North America, devastating floods in Europe and Asia and drought in Africa and South America.Resources:Hashtag: #Allianz The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Allianz Commercial Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world's largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry as well as family-owned and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions. Powered by the employees, financial strength, and network of the world's #1 insurance brand, as ranked by Interbrand, we work together to help our customers prepare for what's ahead: They trust us to provide a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services, as well as seamless claims handling. The trade name Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either through our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2023, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated more than 18 billion gross premium globally. 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. MOSCOW Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov laid stress on the promising prospects of Viet Nam - Russia collaboration in developing a nuclear power plant in the Southeast Asian country during a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday. He noted that if agreements are made on the project, it could become a main positive outcome of Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustins visit to Viet Nam. The nuclear energy collaboration could extend beyond mere plant construction to establish an entirely new industry, including human resources training, scientific personnel development, and many other business areas, Lavrov refered to President Vladimir Putins statement. Besides, the project, he said, will add a high-tech component to the bilateral cooperation, noting it could complement existing joint ventures in oil and gas, including the successful collaboration through Rusviet, Vietsovpetro, and Soviet Petro that are operating in the two territories. The foreign minister also praised Viet Nam's willingness to provide a secure negotiation venue for Russia and its partners, including discussions on resolving the Ukraine crisis. At the event which drew some 200 domestic and international reporters, Lavrov also addressed other international matters, comprising the UN Security Councils reform to include new members such as India, Brazil and African countries who have special responsibilities in the global economy, finance, and politics, as well as Russias relations with the US, China, and Iran. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs official visit to Poland from January 16-18 at the invitation of his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk is expected to help bolster the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between Viet Nam and the European country, making it deeper and more effective. The visit takes place amid the Viet Nam - Poland relations growing strongly, and the two sides are celebrating their 75-year diplomatic ties. 75 years of sound relations Viet Nam and Poland established their diplomatic relations on February 4, 1950. Over the past 75 years, their ties have developed across various fields, including politics, economy, culture, science, and education. The people of Viet Nam greatly appreciate the enthusiastic support and valuable assistance provided by the Polish Government and people, during both Viet Nam's past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Poland helped train more than 4,000 Vietnamese students and scientists, as well as over 3,500 skilled workers, mainly in the coal and shipbuilding industries. As part of its open-door foreign policy towards Asia, Poland has attached great importance to Viet Nam's role and position, emphasising that Viet Nam is a priority partner in Southeast Asia. Mutual visits at all levels have been maintained between the two countries. Most recently, during the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s 15th annual meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, PM Chinh had a meeting with President Andrzej Duda on June 25, 2024. Both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a new height in the near future. PM Chinh affirmed Viet Nams strong commitment to developing its traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Poland, expressing deep gratitude for Polands invaluable support for Viet Nams national safeguarding and development. He especially thanked Poland for its solidarity with and assistance for the Vietnamese community there following the tragic fire at a shopping centre in May 2024. PM Chinh asked both countries to continue strengthening ties through high-level exchanges, particularly through Party delegations' visits, and promote economic, trade, investment, and cultural and people-to-people links. He also affirmed that Viet Nam will facilitate the import of Poland's strong goods such as machinery and ships. President Duda, in turn, noted he was impressed with Viet Nams socio-economic achievements and highlighted that Viet Nam is the largest partner of his country in Southeast Asia. He also praised the contributions by the Vietnamese community in Poland. The President expressed his hope that Viet Nam will facilitate the import of Polish goods and enhance cooperation in new sectors such as renewable energy and tourism. Cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies has also been growing continually. Viet Nams 15th National Assembly has established a Viet Nam - Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group, while Poland has created corresponding groups in both the Senate and the Sejm. At multilateral platforms, the countries will collaborated closely at forums such as the United Nations, and support ASEAN's relations with Poland and the European Union (EU). They also plan to organise cultural and artistic exchanges in each country in 2025 to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. Economic, trade cooperation a priority Viet Nam is now Polands largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and Poland is Viet Nams leading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Bilateral trade has grown steadily in recent years, topping US$2.11 billion in 2020, $2.57 billion in 2021, $2.56 billion in 2022, $2.82 billion in 2023, and $3.43 billion in 2024. Viet Nams main exports to Poland include computers, electronics, machinery, apparel, seafood, rice, coffee, pepper, sweets, and agricultural products. Meanwhile, it imports from Poland powder milk, pharmaceuticals, equipment for the coal industry, shipbuilding supplies, and scrap metal. Poland has ratified the EU - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) but has yet to approve the EU - Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Therefore, at recent meetings, Viet Nam has continually called on Poland expedite the ratification of the EVIPA and encourage the European Commission to lift the "yellow card" (IUU) warning against Viet Namese aquatic exports. As of November 2024, Poland had invested in 33 projects in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital of $473.82 million, ranking 34th out of 147 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. During the bilateral political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level on May 30, 2024, both sides agreed to actively implement the consultation mechanism for economic cooperation between Viet Nams Ministry of Industry and Trade and Polands Ministry of Development and Technology. They also discussed the establishment of an intergovernmental committee on economic cooperation while agreeing to continue to effectively implement the EVFTA, facilitate exports to each other's markets, and encourage Polish firms to boost investment in Viet Nam, especially in the fields matching Poland's strength and Viet Nam's demand. Secretary of State at the Polish Foreign Ministry Wadysaw Teofil Bartoszewski, during his December 2024 visit to Viet Nam, highlighted Polish businesses interest in developing the energy sector, including the coal industry, as well as green technologies and digital technologies. These are sectors on which Viet Nam is also focusing, offering new directions for future cooperation. In terms of development cooperation, Poland has committed a mixed credit line of $280 million to Viet Nam. Notably, in 2008, the two sides signed a credit agreement for a project on a vessel model testing laboratory valued at 16.47 million EUR (about $20 million) in ODA funding. During President Dudas 2017 visit, Poland and Viet Nam signed a financial agreement worth 250 million EUR. In particular, Poland was one of the first EU countries to assist Viet Nam during the COVID-19 pandemic, donating 1.4 million vaccine doses and 8 tonnes of medical supplies valued at $4 million. Cooperation in other fields such as defence, security, education, agriculture, culture, and labour has also continued to progress. From 1960s to early 1990s, Poland helped Viet Nam train over 4,000 students and scientists, as well as more than 3,500 skilled workers, mainly in coal mining and shipbuilding. In 2017, the two sides signed a new education deal, agreeing to provide 20 scholarships annually and to receive 20 Polish students for internships in Viet Nam. The Vietnamese community in Poland, numbering around 25,000, are known for their solidarity, dedication to the homeland, and their valuable contributions to both Poland and bilateral relations. Given the strong foundations over the past 75 years, PM Chinhs official visit to Poland, accompanied by his spouse and a high-ranking delegation, is of great significance. It is expected to create a breakthrough in bilateral relations, thus further enhancing Viet Nams ties with Central and Eastern Europe. VNA/VNS HA NOI The Government has issued Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025, on visa exemptions under the Tourism Stimulus Programme for 2025 for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. According to the Resolution, visa exemptions will be granted to citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland for a temporary stay of up to 45 days from the date of entry for tourism purposes. The policy applies to tours organised by international travel service providers in Viet Nam and is valid regardless of passport type, provided all entry conditions under Vietnamese law are met. This visa exemption policy for citizens of the above-mentioned countries will be effective from March 1, 2025, until December 31, 2025, as part of the 2025 Tourism Stimulus Programme. Currently, citizens from 13 countries -- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus -- could stay in Viet Nam for 45 days since entrance. Viet Nam welcomed a total of 17.6 million foreign tourists, up by nearly 40 per cent compared to 2023, and nearly the number of 2019, before COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism sector aims to receive 22-23 million foreign tourists in 2025. The resolution for visa exemption coincides with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visits to Poland, and the Czech Republic, along with the attendance at the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, and bilateral meetings in Switzerland, during January 15-23. VNS HA NOI Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin left Ha Noi on Wednesday afternoon, concluding his two-day official visit to Viet Nam. The visit, made at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, took place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations. During his trip, PM Mishustin and the delegation of the Russian Government laid wreaths in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and fallen combatants at the Monument to War Heroes and Martyrs in Ha Noi. Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong received; PM Chinh hosted an official welcome ceremony for and held talks with; and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with PM Mishustin. At the meetings and talks, the Vietnamese leaders said that PM Mishustin's visit was very important, taking place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. This is Mishustin's first visit to Viet Nam as PM of Russia, aiming to continue to realise the cooperation contents achieved by the two sides and propose major directions to promote the bilateral relations. The leaders of the two countries briefed each other on their respective nation's situation and agreed on a number of major directions to further deepen the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and Russia. In particular, the two sides agreed to continue to strengthen dialogue, consolidate political trust, promote contact and exchange delegations at all levels and across channels, creating a basis for the comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of economy-trade, investment, energy-oil and gas, education-training, culture, tourism, science-technology and local cooperation. The two sides recorded positive growth in bilateral trade turnover in recent times, however, there is still much room for exploitation. They agreed to seek breakthrough solutions to raise two-way trade, including effectively taking advantage of the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member; continue to research and create conditions for opening the door for each other's goods such as agricultural products, pharmaceuticals. On this occasion, the two PMs signed a Joint Communique on the results of PM Mishustin's official visit to Viet Nam and witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents in the fields of science, information and communication, and culture. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and Russia have issued a joint communique on Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustins official visit to the Southeast Asian nation from January 14 to 15. The following is the full text of the joint communique: "At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation M.V. Mishustin paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from January 14 to 15, 2025. The visit took place in the context of the two countries preparing for the celebration the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950). In Ha Noi, PM Mishustin paid a courtesy call to General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam To Lam and State President Luong Cuong, held talks with PM Pham Minh Chinh, and met with Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man. PM Mishustin laid a wreath at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum. PM Chinh and his Russian counterpart chaired a meeting with outstanding businesses of the two countries. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the two sides had in-depth discussions on many contents and orientations to promote the Viet Nam-Russia relations in the fields of politics, economy-trade, science-technology and humanities, defence, security, education-training, transportation, tourism, and other fields. They also touched upon international and regional issues of shared concern. The leaders noted their support for enhanced exchanges through Party and parliament channels, as well as between ministries, agencies, and localities. The Russian side acknowledged Viet Nam's remarkable socio-economic achievements, and its elevated position in the region and the world at large. The Vietnamese side spoke of Russia's positive achievements in socio-economic stabilisation and development. They shared the view that the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is constantly developing on the basis of mutual benefits thanks to regular political exchanges and contacts, especially at the highest level. Results of the State visit to Viet Nam by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin from June 19 to 20, 2024, his talks with PM Chinh on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit (October 24, 2024), as well as the official visit to Russia by NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (from September 8 to 10, 2024) have created strong momentum for the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. The two sides emphasised the importance of jointly celebrating major anniversaries of the two countries and in the Viet Nam-Russia relationship, including the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950), the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification of Viet Nam (April 30, 1975), the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945), and the 80th anniversary of the National Day of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945). They also discussed and agreed on measures to enhance bilateral trade, including further utilising the Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states, with the 10th anniversary of its signing to be celebrated this year (May 29, 2015), and on the need to increase the supply of goods to respective markets. Viet Nam and Russia agreed on the need to develop railway and maritime trade systems, and multimodal freight transport. The two sides acknowledged the significance of studying payment methods to serve trade activities and other bilateral transactions. They consented to further improve the bilateral legal basis to promote cooperation in various fields. They noted the efforts of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the ministries and agencies of the two countries that agreed and signed cooperation documents during the visit. They also welcomed the continued exchanges and negotiations for new cooperation documents in the coming time. The two sides consented to continue to create favourable conditions for the implementation of joint oil and gas projects on the continental shelf of Viet Nam and on the territory of Russia, in accordance with the laws of the two countries and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They acknowledged Russia's provision of oil and liquefied natural gas to Viet Nam, along with processed products, and the development of new power projects, including renewable energy projects, as promising cooperation directions. The two countries will continue their cooperation in implementing the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Centre project in Viet Nam. Russia is ready to participate in building Viet Nam's national nuclear power industry. The two sides noted the stable operation of the Russian automotive manufacturer Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, with a portion of its products exported to neighbouring countries. They agreed to continue supporting all the activities of the Joint Viet Nam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre that plays an important role in developing bilateral scientific and technological cooperation. The two sides acknowledged the importance of continuing cooperation in the field of education and training, including training Vietnamese citizens at Russian universities within the quotas granted by the Russian Government and the activities of the Russian-Vietnamese Consortium of Technical Universities. They decided to speed up the implementation of the project to establish a general education institution teaching in Russian in Ha Noi. The two sides agreed to continue supporting the learning and teaching of the Russian language in Viet Nam, including utilising the Pushkin State Russian Language Institutes branch in Hanoi, while also enhancing and expanding the study and teaching of the Vietnamese language in Russia. The two sides attached importance to boosting healthcare cooperation including the provision of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, training personnel, nuclear medicine, and other areas of mutual interest. The two sides recognised the role of people-to-people exchanges in developing the traditional friendship between Viet Namand Russia. They welcomed the enhancement of humanistic exchanges, regularly organising national cultural days, artistic performances, film screenings, and activities to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries through friendship organisations, media, and social organisations. The two sides supported ongoing efforts to simplify travel procedures for citizens of both countries. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the resumption of regular and chartered direct flights, which has contributed to increasing tourist flows between the two countries. The two sides believed that cooperating to add destinations and increase the number of flights is in line with the travel needs of the people of both countries. The two sides welcomed relevant authorities of both countries to enhance exchanges to promote transport connectivity between Viet Nam and Russia, as well as to develop Viet Nam's transport system. The two sides recognised that relations between their localities have significant potential and always play an important role in Viet Nam-Russia cooperation; and enhancing locality-to-locality cooperation will meet the desires and interests of the people of both countries and should be translated into specific bilateral cooperation projects. The two sides opposed the use of unilateral restrictive measures, interference in internal affairs of sovereign nations, protectionism, and the application of extraterritorial jurisdiction, violations against the principles and regulations of international law, including the United Nations Charter. The two sides emphasised the universality and comprehensiveness of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), which serves as the legal foundation for all activities at sea and in the oceans, affirming the need to maintain the integrity of the convention. The two sides will coordinate to ensure security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation, as well as unimpeded commercial activities. The two sides expressed their support for showing restraint and refraining from the use of force or threats to use force, as well as resolving differences through peaceful means, in line with principles of international law, including those formulated in the UN Charter and the UNCLOS 1982. The two sides committed to implementing the 2022 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and welcomed efforts toward developing a substantial and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). The two sides supported the formation of a comprehensive and sustainable structure in relations among countries in Asia, based on the principles of equality, sovereignty, independence, non-alignment, and international law. They emphasised the importance of and supported the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional issues and reaffirm their commitment to the 1976 Treaty on Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The two sides welcomed the enhancement of exchanges, cooperation, and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and ASEAN mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, and welcomed initiatives within these frameworks aimed at promoting a multipolar, fair, and sustainable world order, based on fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter, expanding the space and opportunities for the free and successful development of nations and associations. The two sides expressed their willingness to cooperate mutually beneficially and effectively within the framework of APEC, a leading regional economic cooperation mechanism, focusing on implementing APEC's visions and priorities, addressing practical issues, with particular emphasis on promoting and supporting each other's initiatives, including when Viet Nam assumes the role of Chair of this forum in 2027. The two sides emphasised the importance of the first ASEAN-Russia Summit held in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and welcomed its 20th anniversary this year. They agreed to strengthen and deepen the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, continue implementing the 2021-2025 comprehensive plan of action to implement this partnership, and prepare for a new cooperation document for the next five years, as well as a strategic programme for trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and Russia, with focus on energy, high-tech industries, digital transformation, and smart cities. They agreed to continue close cooperation at major economic forums in Asia, such as the ASEAN Investment and Business Summit and the Eastern Economic Forum. Both sides welcomed the strengthening of ASEAN's partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), based on the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission and the 2005 MoU between the ASEAN Secretariat and the SCO Secretariat, aiming to promote peace, stability, security, trust, development, and prosperity across the Eurasian continent. Russia welcomed Viet Nam's active participation in BRICS events in 2024 and expressed its willingness to create favourable conditions for Viet Nam if the country joins BRICS as a partner nation." VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Wednesday received Boris Yuryevich Titov, Special Envoy of the Russian President for relations with International Organisations for the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in Ha Noi. Ha highly valued Russia's cooperation with and support to Viet Nam in scientific research, technology application and transfer, expressing his hope that the two countries will jointly exchange and promote global cooperation initiatives to better achieve goals related to environmental protection, carbon emission reduction, and climate change adaptation. During his official visit to Viet Nam from January 14-15, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin proposed solutions such as carbon sequestration, using nuclear energy integrated with renewable energy, circular economy practices, and green fuel production, he said. With a strong determination towards to sustainable development goals, Viet Nam aims to make more contributions to joint efforts in addressing global environmental and climate challenges, Ha stressed. For his part, Titov said Russia is prioritising the implementation of policies on climate change mitigation and environmental protection to ensure sustainable development. Russia has initiated the establishment of specialised councils on sustainable development and climate under the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS to find effective solutions for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), fostering economic growth, and implementing climate change-related policies, he said, adding that the country is willing to share relevant scientific research results and technologies. Titov hoped Viet Nam would send experts and scientists to participate in research groups on technological solutions for carbon management, green transition, and establishing global standards for measuring and determining carbon emission quotas. He called on Viet Nam to share its experiences in establishing a carbon market. Ha emphasised Viet Nam's strong focus on achieving sustainable development goals, particularly environmental indicators such as waste management, water and air quality, and marine plastic waste, noting that addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions necessitates fair and transparent mechanisms between developed and developing countries. Viet Nam has extensive experience in implementing international agreements on combating climate change, such as achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), he said, revealing that the Southeast Asian nation is also promoting the establishment of a domestic carbon market. Alongside these existing initiatives, Deputy PM Ha suggested that Russia should accelerate the establishment of research funds under BRICS and SCO, focusing on developing specific technologies to achieve net-zero emissions, creating standardised tools for measuring and determining carbon emission quotas for countries globally. VNA/VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam on Wednesday held phone talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 January 18, 2025). Their discussions came amid the joyful atmosphere as both Vietnamese and Chinese peoples prepare for the approaching traditional Lunar New Year. Both leaders emphasised the significance of the phone call as an important and positive start to the Year of Viet Nam-China Humanistic Exchanges. The call highlighted the priority both sides place on fostering bilateral relations between the two Parties and nations, setting the direction for effective cooperation in 2025 and the years to come. As the Lunar Year of the Snake approaches, the leaders exchanged warm New Year greetings, wishing prosperity and success for both countries in their socialist development endeavours. They also expressed hope for continued healthy and stable bilateral relations that contribute to regional and global peace and development. In an atmosphere of sincerity and friendship, they noted that the Viet Nam-China relations have maintained positive momentum over the past 75 years, yielding important achievements benefiting both peoples. In 2024, high-level exchanges took place frequently, fostering widespread cooperation and understanding. Many agreements and joint declarations, including the August 2024 Viet Nam-China Joint Statement, are being actively implemented. On behalf of Viet Nam's Party, State and people, Lam extended condolences to families affected by the recent severe earthquake in Tibet, China. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will quickly recover from the disaster and stability will be restored. He also congratulated China on its recent achievements under the leadership of the CPC with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as the core, expressing confidence in China's continued growth and contribution to regional and global peace, stability and development. China's top leader Xi thanked Viet Nam for its timely condolences following the earthquake in Tibet. He extended warm congratulations to the CPV on its upcoming 95th anniversary (February 3, 1930 February 3, 2025). He praised Viet Nam's comprehensive achievements and expressed confidence that the CPV headed by General Secretary To Lam will lead Viet Nam to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and prepare for the 14th National Party Congress, guiding the nation forward on its socialist path. Party chief Lam underscored Viet Nam's appreciation for China's support throughout history and affirmed Viet Nam's prioritisation of its relationship with China in foreign policy of independence, multilateralisation, and diversification. Chinese leader Xi also reaffirmed Chinas commitment to prioritising relations with Viet Nam in its neighbouring diplomacy strategy. Both leaders announced the launch of the Year of Viet Nam-China Humanistic Exchanges in 2025 and agreed to coordinate activities commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties. They stressed the importance of educating younger generations about the traditional Viet Nam-China friendship. The two countries' top leaders agreed to strengthen strategic exchanges and high-level interactions that serve as strategic guidance for bilateral relations. They highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation mechanisms in Party, government, parliamentary, and mass organisation channels and advancing defence-security cooperation. They discussed breakthroughs in economic collaboration, prioritising the connection of three standard-gauge railway lines between the countries, expanding trade and investment, and promoting emerging sectors. Xi welcomed Viet Nam's efforts to promote high-quality agricultural exports to the Chinese market. They also exchanged views on each country's situation and agreed to share experiences in socialist construction and cooperate on international and regional issues for peace and development. General Secretary Lam suggested both sides direct sectors and levels to find effective ways to manage and resolve disagreements and strengthen cooperation based on the UN Charter and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. General Secretary Lam has extended a formal invitation to Chinese Party leader and President Xi and his spouse to visit Viet Nam in 2025, and he has gladly accepted with pleasure. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Wednesday for Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and a delegation of the Russian Government. President Cuong expressed his joy and highly evaluated the significance of PM Mishustin's first visit to Viet Nam, emphasising that this is the starting activity for the year when the two countries are celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950 - 2025), opening a new page for the bilateral cooperation, creating motivation to further promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The President congratulated Russia on economic and social development achievements that the country has achieved in recent years under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, and the governance of the Russian Government and PM Mishustin. PM Mishustin informed President Cuong of the results of the effective and substantive talks with PM Pham Minh Chinh, in which the two sides discussed extensively the situation of bilateral cooperation as well as directions and measures to promote mutually beneficial relations in all fields between Viet Nam and Russia, as well as the results of an earlier meeting of nearly 100 typical businesses of the two countries. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive development of Viet Nam - Russia relations recently in all fields such as politics, economy - trade, investment, energy - oil and gas, science - technology, education - training, culture and other fields. They emphasised that regular exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially at high levels, demonstrate political trust between the two countries and are the basis for promoting cooperation in other fields. They believed that the two sides need to continue efforts to maintain and promote the rapid growth of bilateral trade, while making the most of the potential, strengths and experience of cooperation between the two countries over the past 75 years to develop relations in other fields in an intensive, practical, effective, and mutually beneficial way. The President affirmed his support to the two governments in handling outstanding issues in cooperation. PM Mishustin expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese side for the respectful welcome given to the delegation, conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin's greetings and best wishes to President Cuong on the occasion of the New Year, emphasised that Russia always considers Viet Nam one of the important partners in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Southeast Asia, and wishes to further develop bilateral cooperation areas with Viet Nam. The President affirmed that Viet Nam has consistently pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, in which Russia is one of the top priorities. He affirmed that the Party, State and people of Viet Nam always remember the valuable support and assistance that the former Soviet Unions people gave to Viet Nam in the Fatherland building and protecting cause, always attach importance to the Viet Nam Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and want to continue developing the traditional friendly relationship with Russia for the development benefits of the two countries and for the prosperity of their people. The President thanked Russian leaders and authorities for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work stably in Russia. He recommended the Russian Government continue to provide annual scholarships for Vietnamese students to study at Russian educational and training establishments, especially in basic sciences and academic arts. He expressed his hope that Russia will promote cooperation with Vietnam in promising fields such as digital transformation, digital technology industry, digital economy, digital society, green transition, and artificial intelligence. The two leaders agreed that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to promote cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially between the young generation of the two countries to increase understanding and jointly organise meaningful activities to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and traditional education for the younger generation. President Cuong asked PM Mishustin to convey his best wishes to President Putin and Russian leaders. On this occasion, PM Mishustin handed over the Friendship Orders of the State of the Russian Federation to President Cuong and other leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defence and the Viet Nam - Russia Tropical Centre. VNS BUDAPEST Viet Nam places great importance on and seeks to deepen its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Hungary, Ambassador Bui Le Thai has told Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok during a meeting following the presentation of his credentials. Receiving the Vietnamese diplomat on January 14 (local time), President Sulyok commended recent positive developments in the bilateral friendship and partnership. He expressed confidence that the ambassador will excel in his tenure, contributing to elevating the ties across various fields, including politics-diplomacy, economic and trade, education-training, and people-to-people exchange. Reflecting on key events since the relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive partnership during late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs Hungary visit in 2018, Thai pledged to do his utmost to foster cooperation, making it match the potential and strengths of both countries. The ambassador and the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary have identified 2025 as a pivotal year for advancing the bilateral ties to new heights, with cooperation broadened across all sectors for the sake of their people and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. Thai proposed his host and relevant Hungarian authorities prioritise implementing high-level agreements between the sides, particularly those reached during the official visit to Hungary by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in January last year. He also called for the early convening of the 10th session of the intergovernmental committee on Viet Nam-Hungary economic cooperation and the recognition of the Vietnamese expat community as Hungary's 14th ethnic minority, facilitating their comprehensive integration into local society. The ambassador conveyed State President Luong Cuongs invitation to President Sulyok to visit Viet Nam at a convenient time. The Hungarian leader accepted the invitation and expressed his intent to arrange a visit soon. VNS HA NOI The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee decided to relieve Duong Van An from the position of NA deputy at its meeting on January 15. A resolution on the relief of An, 53 years old, a member of the delegation of NA deputies of the northern province of Vinh Phuc, was issued on the basis of the Constitution, the Law on the Organisation of the NA, and relevant legal regulations, as well as the opinions of authorised agencies and the proposal of the NA's Committee for Deputy Affairs, and after considering An's resignation request. On January 10, the Politburo and Secretariat of the Party Central Committee also imposed disciplinary measures on several Party members found to have committed wrongdoings. After considering the proposals from the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission, the Politburo held that as Secretary of the Binh Thuan Province's Party Committee from October 2020 to March 2024, An violated the Partys regulations and the States law during the performance of his assigned tasks and duties, as well as in the combat against corruption, wastefulness, and other negative phenomena. He also violated the rules set for Party members. His wrongdoings have led to serious consequences, caused big losses to the State budget, triggered public concern, and undermined the prestige of the local Party organisation and administration. The Politburo, therefore, decided to give a warning to An. VNS The 4th Court of Appeals has denied state District Judge Christine Hortick's bid to opt out of the Bexar County civil district court's centralized docket system. Courtesy of the Hortick Campaign State District Judge Christine Hortick Courtesy of the Hortick Campaign A San Antonio appeals court has denied Judge Christine Horticks bid to opt out of Bexar County civil district courts centralized docket system but her battle against it isnt over. A three-judge panel of the 4th Court of Appeals issued a one-page decision Wednesday, ruling that Hortick is not entitled to the relief sought. This denial was not a surprise, she said in a text message. This is a local jurisdictional issue being decided by a local appellate court. The Texas Supreme Court will have the opportunity to weigh in on the issue in the near future. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She has been trying to pull out of the courts Presiding Court system since late August, calling it inefficient and costly to litigants both in terms of time and money. But her superiors Judge Jacqueline Jackie Valdes, the local administrative judge, and Senior District Judge Sid Harle, who presides over the multicounty 4th Judicial Administrative Region responded by ordering Hortick to serve as the Presiding Court judge last September and to assist other Presiding Court judges for various weeks during the remainder of 2024. Hortick, who presides in the 225th District Court, complied with the order but filed a petition with the appeals court last month asking that their order be stayed and/or ultimately withdrawn or vacated so she could opt of the court system. The judge originally anticipated filing her petition with the Texas Supreme Court but changed strategy after consulting with her lawyer because it offered highest probability of success, she said in an email earlier this month. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No one representing the administrative judges ever filed an answer to Horticks petition, which was denied by Justices Irene Rios, Lori Valenzuela and H. Todd McCray. On our end, we look forward to the 225th continuing to participate in the Presiding Court system that has served Bexar County so well for so long, said Ryan Anderson, general counsel for the 14 Bexar County civil district courts. In her petition, Hortick said Valdes and Harle had abused their discretion by ordering her to work within the court system. She argued that a section of the Texas Government Code provides for her court to give preference to civil cases, as well as family court cases that relate to abuse, neglect and children in need of supervision. She focused on representing children and families in Bexar County Childrens Court while in private practice before being elected a judge. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This challenge, although not addressing the presiding system as a whole, seeks to protect the integrity of the 225th District Court as bestowed upon it by the Texas Legislature, Hortick said in an email this month. I am simply asking that I be permitted to follow the law. Horticks petition also accused Valdes and Harle of disregarding the part of Government Code that applies to the 225th District Court and with threatening to hold her in contempt if she attempted to opt out. She added that their order is a flagrant (and unexplained) violation and disregard of the Government Code and her due process rights and authority. Under the Bexar County system, which is more than 60 years old, pretrial hearings are assigned to different civil court judges rather than staying with the same jurist all the way through the case. Hortick said she wants to hear cases from start to finish, much like judges in most other civil courts around the state. None of Horticks fellow jurists have come out in support of her fight, and some attorneys have publicly opposed it. HA NOI Blue-beret Vietnamese officers and soldiers who are on duties in UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, Abyei on the border of South Sudan and Sudan, the Central African Republic, and at the UN Headquarters in New York, joined warm moments with their comrades and relatives at home during an online exchange programme on January 15, celebrating the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival. Jointly organised by the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) under the Ministry of National Defence, and the Military Broadcasting and Television Centre under the General Department of Politics of the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA), the programme aimed to promote Viet Nam's significant achievements in peacekeeping operations in 2024. It also served to boost the morale of the peacekeepers who are celebrating Tet far from home, while highlighting Viet Nam's growing proactiveness in preparing peacekeeping forces, ready to deploy for missions, both from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security. Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, deputy chief of the VPA's General Staff, deputy head of the Intersectoral Working Group, and deputy head of the Ministry of National Defences Steering Committee on Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, extended New Year wishes to the officers and soldiers, applauding them for tireless efforts in performing their duties. The blue-beret force has played a significant role in spreading the image of the Uncle Ho's soldiers and the People's Public Security of Viet Nam to international friends, and showcased the humane spirit of the Vietnamese people, he stressed. Tan appreciated contributions and support from international partners in recent times for Viet Nam's peacekeeping force, expressing his hope that international organidations and friends, and countries around the world will create the best conditions for Vietnamese peacekeepers to accomplish their mission. VNS BEN TRE Ben Tre Province aims to expand its organic coconut growing area to boost exports and increase farmers incomes. As the countrys largest coconut producer, the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province has more than 80,000ha under coconut, or nearly 42 per cent of the countrys total. oan Van anh, director of the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said over 20,400 ha produce organic coconut. To expand organic coconut growing areas, the department would enhance advocacy for support policies aimed at producing agricultural products within value chains, he said. It would focus on implementing the provinces 2022-25 plan to develop organic agriculture. The province has developed linkages between organic coconut farmers and eight large companies with high-tech processing facilities. These companies export coconut products to various markets, including the US, EU, Japan, China, Canada, and South Korea. Coconut is the provinces key industrial crop and a major source of income for over 200,000 households. The area under coconut has been increasing steadily in recent years as many farmers have converted unproductive lands previously used for growing rice and other crops into coconut orchards. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a plan to designate coffee, rubber, tea, cashew, pepper, and coconut as key industrial crops for the period until 2030. Huynh Quang uc, deputy director of the department, said his agency would work with relevant agencies and localities to advocate for assigning coconut key status in the provinces development plans for industrial crops. He said the province has identified coconut as its key tree, recognising its multi-use value and high export potential. It has designated 133 coconut growing areas covering 8,391 ha with production codes, primarily in Giong Trom, Chau Thanh, Ba Tri, Binh ai, and Mo Cay Bac districts and Ben Tre City. It has 14 companies that have been granted packaging codes for exporting tender coconuts to China. Viet Nam exports 26.7 million tender coconuts to 14 countries annually. Ben Tre xiem xanh coconut, a variety for drinking the juice, has been granted a geographical indication by the National Office of Intellectual Property. The province also produces a variety of coconut-based products such as smokeless coconut shell charcoal, oil, coconut fibre mattress, and handicrafts. It has support policies to assist farmers, co-operatives, co-operative groups, and companies in renovating coconut orchards and transitioning to organic methods and production codes. In 2024, it organised 105 training courses to teach farmers techniques for growing tender coconuts for export, producing organic fertilisers and managing coconut pests. Nguyen Van oan, who owns a 3.5-hectare organic coconut orchard in Thanh Phu Districts Thoi Thanh Commune, said that by producing organic fertilisers for his orchard, he can save VN30-35 million (US$1,200-1,400) in chemical fertiliser costs annually. He harvests around 3,000 coconuts per month, generating an income of VN20-30 million ($800-1,200). He also raises giant river prawns in the orchards ditches, earning an additional VN200 million ($7,900) annually from them. The province encourages farmers to join co-operatives and co-operative groups to grow organic coconuts and expand growing areas. There are 66 co-operative groups and co-operatives with a total of 7,048 members and 10,094 ha of organic coconuts and value chains for their products. The province has helped growers improve product quality and develop linkages with various stakeholders for growing, processing and selling coconut products. It has assisted companies in renovating production technologies, implementing trade promotion and developing brand names for their products. It has provided knowledge about the requirements of import markets and technical solutions to ensure farmers and companies meet them. It has strengthened trade promotion activities, improved the connections between supply and demand, and supported companies in participating in domestical and international fairs and exhibitions. VNS HA NOI Doctors from the Viet Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital successfully performed 21 organ transplants for 21 people over just six days, marking a new milestone. The hospitalk revealed details on Monday afternoon, noting that the success set a new record for the organ transplant field in Viet Nam. In addition to its outstanding achievements in coordinating and transplanting organs last year, the hospital began 2025 with impressive work, reaffirming its pioneering role in organ transplantation. Thanks to the selfless decisions of four families of brain-dead patients, who agreed to donate organs across six days from January 6 to 11, doctors and nurses operated on 15 patients. These included four heart transplant patients, one patient with a simultaneous liver-kidney transplant, three liver transplant patients and seven kidney transplant patients. During the same period, doctors at the hospital continued performing kidney transplants from living donors, as scheduled for six patients, bringing the total number of transplants that week to 21. In one particular case, a 63-year-old male patient from Nam inh northern province received a simultaneous liver-kidney transplant due to liver cancer, cirrhosis and stage-five kidney failure, the final stage. Previously, the first simultaneous liver-kidney transplant in Viet Nam was also performed at the Viet Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital on December 17, 2019. All four families who chose to donate had members who were being treated at the hospital. From the donated hearts, livers and kidneys, the journey to save lives continued. The families consensus is not only a testament to their compassion but also shows the hospital's efforts to encourage organ donation, said the hospital. Director of the hospital Duong uc Hung, said that to successfully perform 21 organ transplants in just six days, the hospitals medical staff worked continuously both day and night. The surgeries were coordinated at each step with the highest precision and every transplant being a race against time. Despite the immense pressure and workload, the medical staff shared the same goal: to save the patients lives. Twenty-one patients, some of whom were close to death, now had the chance to be revived thanks to successful organ transplants at the hospital. Currently, the patients' conditions after the transplants are described as stable, and they are receiving intensive care and supervision. VNS QUANG NGAI South Korea Doosan Enerbility Vietnam (Doosan Vina), in co-operation with Chung Ang University Hospital (CAU), have donated a medical equipment package worth VN545 million (US$22,000) to the Quang Ngai provincial General Hospital. The donation is part of the 14th charity medical programme hosted by the two partners from Korea and will help the local hospital support treatment for kidney and heart disease patients. As part of the programme this year, a team of 17 doctors will be giving free medical examinations, consultations and medicine to 1,500 local residents in five communes of Binh Son district and Quang Ngai City, ahead of Tet. General director of Doosan Vina, Kim Hyo Tae, and director of CAU, Kwon Jeong Taek both emphasised that the programme is not only a sign of corporate social responsibility, but indicates a deep friendship between Viet Nam and South Korea. The charity programme between the two Korean partners has been ongoing since 2009. Over that time Doosan Vina said a total $5.6 million has been given, of which $420,000 was in medical equipment. While many children have been sent to Korea for surgery on congenital heart defects, cleft lips and palates. Local doctors and nurses have also been receiving additional professional expert training courses at the CAUs headquarters in Korea under the charity programme. VNS BINH THUAN A working delegation led by Colonel Cao Xuan Quan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command, on Tuesday (January 14) visited and presented Tet (Lunar New Year) festival gifts to officers, soldiers and people on Phu Quy Island in the southern central province of Binh Thuan. Speaking at the event, Colonel Cao Xuan Quan, Deputy Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command based in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, sent New Year wishes to the officers, soldiers and people on Phu Quy Island. He highly appreciated and congratulated the outstanding results in implementing the tasks of economic, cultural and social development, ensuring political security, social order and safety, building and firmly consolidating national security and defense of the province and the island district in particular. The close coordination between the Coast Guard Region 3 Command and other functional forces, relevant agencies and local authorities has created a combined strength, contributing to ensuring security and order protection at sea, helping fishermen feel secure during their fishing trips, firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, he said. He also reviewed the units outstanding achievements implementing tasks and activities last year. The delegation visited and presented gifts to Party committees and people's committees of Phu Quy District and Tam Thanh Commune, a military-civil medical centre, and two families of policy beneficiaries. It organised a zero-ong mini market presenting 100 free shopping vouchers to fishermen and disadvantaged households in Phu Quy Island District. It also held a contest, "Wrapping green traditional chung cake, an indispensable specialty of the traditional Tet holiday, a cultural and art exchange programme, and presented 40 gifts to families of policy beneficiaries, fishermen and students in difficult circumstances. On January 15, the delegation sent flowers and offered incense to heroes and martyrs of the island district, presented national flags, distributed notebooks and leaflets on law propaganda, and 20 gifts to local fishermen, vehicle owners, and ship and boat captains. These activities are part of the Viet Nam Coast Guards programme called "Tet on the Island - Warm military-civilian relationship, welcoming Tet 2025." The programme aims to strengthen military-civilian solidarity, patriotism, and raise awareness, consciousness and responsibility of all levels, sectors and people for the task of protecting the sovereignty and security of maritime borders. VNS JAKARTA Mount Ibu, located on Halmahera island in eastern Indonesia, erupted on January 15 morning, sending a 4km-high ash column into the sky, forcing authorities to raise the alert to the highest level for surrounding areas. According to Muhammad Wahid, head of the country's volcanology agency, the volcano erupted at 07:11am for around two minutes, with clouds of thick grey ash billowing into the sky leaning towards the west. He warned residents and tourists not to have any activities within at least 5km from the crater. On January 14 afternoon, Mount Ibu also erupted, spewing 3km high volcanic ash. There are around 13,000 residents living near the volcano, said spokesperson of Indonesia's disaster agency Abdul Muhari. However, there is no plan to evacuate them so far. Personnel have been deployed just in case evacuation is needed. Indonesia, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is home to 127 active volcanoes. In May last year, an eruption of Mount Ibu forced the evacuation of residents from seven nearby villages. VNA/VNS What was the main investment trend and competition in the logistics market in 2024? Dao Trong Khoa, president of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association The logistics market in 2024 was increasingly competitive due to the strong participation of both domestic and international enterprises. Domestic enterprises face pressure from large corporations with strong financial and technological potential. However, this is also a driving force for domestic firms to improve service quality and develop innovative solutions. There are several investment and business trends in the market during the period. The first is technology adoption. Businesses are tending to make investments in digital platforms, integrated supply chain management systems, and automation technology. The second aspect is green logistics: developing sustainable green transportation, warehousing, and seaport services, in line with global trends towards environmental protection. There is also developing domestic supply chains for the manufacturing and export industries; and investing in logistics centres. Businesses are investing in building large-scale logistics centres, strategically located in industrial parks and import-export gateways, to tap into their potential. Another factor is developing logistics for e-commerce. It is expected that automated sorting centres, as well as last-mile delivery, will grow strongly in the coming years as the size of the Vietnamese e-commerce market is forecast to continue to grow by over 20 per cent. How did Vietnams logistics industry integrate into the global supply chain last year? The year 2024 marked an important milestone in the remarkable development of Vietnams logistics industry. Large-scale projects were approved and implemented, prestigious international events were organised, and breakthrough reforms in infrastructure and policies have created a solid foundation for the industrys growth. In digital transformation, more logistics businesses are adopting advanced technology, from warehouse management systems and transportation management systems to AI and blockchain, to help optimise operations and increase supply chain transparency. Furthermore, many member businesses of ours have invested in environmentally friendly means of transport and route optimisation solutions, are using renewable energy, developing green ports, carbon accounting, afforestation, forest enrichment, and participating in the carbon credit market. 2024 also saw outstanding development of the seaport system. Seaports were invested in, especially in the Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. In recent years, the Cai Mep port cluster has been named one of the most efficient container ports worldwide. The industry promoted international links and logistics diplomacy. The signing and implementation of free trade agreements continue to open up opportunities for logistics businesses to expand their markets. In addition, logistics diplomacy was also promoted with delegations participating in freight forwarding, transportation, and logistics events in the region as well as globally. In particular, there has been careful preparation for the FIATA World Congress 2025, which will be held in Hanoi in October. This is a great opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its role as an important link in the global supply chain while attracting the attention of the international logistics community. However, there are still many challenges facing the industry. Vietnams logistics costs remain high, despite significant improvements. We estimate that the ratio of logistics costs to Vietnams GDP in 2025 will remain at 15-16 per cent. This figure is equivalent to the average of the Asia-Pacific region but still higher than the global average, thus reducing the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods. In addition to that, the scale of Vietnams logistics industry compared to the scale of the national economy and the global logistics market is still modest, posing many challenges for development and international integration. Infrastructure is not synchronised. The connection among modes of transport (road, sea, and rail) is still limited, causing pressure on the supply chain. Logistics infrastructure is being invested in, but there is still a gap compared to the region and the rest of the world. The quality of personnel in logistics has also not met development needs, especially in the context of strong digital transformation. What are the investment and business development prospects in the local logistics market in 2025? This year is expected to be a breakthrough year for Vietnams logistics industry thanks to favourable factors. The first is the growth of e-commerce. The need for fast, accurate shipping will continue to drive logistics. Secondly, infrastructure investment is being boosted. Major projects such as deepwater ports, the North-South expressway, and modern logistics centres will come into operation. The third is deep international integration, and trade deals will continue to create great opportunities for logistics. The development prospects in 2025 are very positive, especially when Vietnam hosts the FIATA World Congress 2025. This is a unique opportunity to enhance the national image, connect with international partners, and create new momentum for the development. Along with the increase in e-commerce and the completion of major infrastructure projects, that event will be a platform for Vietnamese logistics to ensure long-term strategies, from reducing logistics costs and developing green logistics to enhancing global competitiveness. However, the industry also needs to make preparations for challenges such as market fluctuations, higher requirements for green logistics, and competition from other nations. With the right development and strong support from the government, more opportunities will open with fruitful outcomes awaiting the industry. Coordination can ease logistics issues It is time for logistics companies to embrace green transition, digital transformation, and business model restructuring. Dao Trong Khoa, chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, shared with VIRs Bao Giang about the emerging directions for logistics companies. Costs and competition head logistics advancement issues Accelerating transport infrastructure connections and investing in the development of logistics centres is the key to helping reduce logistics costs and increasing competitiveness for businesses. New rules were issued for January 1, but some lenders still have to catch up Photo: Le Toan While some foreign banks in Vietnam, such as Shinhan Bank and Standard Chartered, have already rolled out biometric verification for their customers, others such as UOB and HSBC have yet to comply even though the deadline of January 1 has passed. All domestic banks are implementing biometric verification for online transactions with customer accounts. Lenders such as Vietcombank, VietinBank, BIDV, VPBank, and Techcombank have already sent notifications to their customers, requiring them to register for verification in preparation for the upcoming changes in money transfer regulations. Pham Anh Tuan, director of the Payment Department at the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), stated that the biometric verification requirement applies to both domestic and foreign credit institutions. Banks that do not comply are in violation of the regulations. This decision regarding security measures in online payments has been in place for a long time, but any bank that has not implemented it is violating the regulations and cannot justify the delay. All banks operating in Vietnam must comply with the regulations of the host country, Tuan emphasised. He mentioned that following a series of new rules on online transactions, new cards, and online banking security, banks that fail to implement biometric security will be penalised with administrative fines. If foreign banks fail to meet the verification requirement, they must suspend their services for customers until they comply with the SBVs regulations, Tuan warned. Explaining why some foreign banks in Vietnam have not yet implemented such verification, Dr. Nguyen Tri Hieu, director of the Institute for Research and Development at Global Financial and Real Estate Markets, explained that foreign banks in Vietnam often have multiple layers of security for their customers. Some banks do not use 24/7 fast transfer services, and when unusual transactions occur, they have time to verify. Additionally, they use a special code for transactions similar to a one-time password. As a result, foreign banks rarely experience cases of money being stolen or fraud. A representative from HSBC Vietnam has confirmed that they are continuing to take the necessary steps to ensure they can implement biometric verification as required while maintaining stability and security for online banking transactions. The bank will continue to cooperate with regulatory authorities and update the progress of this regulation, said a representative. Meanwhile, UOB is in the process of taking over retail banking and credit card operations from Citibank in Vietnam after an acquisition in 2023. It is expected that UOB will begin collecting biometric data from users after completing the handover from Citibank. At a press conference on January 7, the SBVs Deputy Governor Pham Tien Dung acknowledged that some foreign banks have been slow in implementing the biometric verification requirements compared to domestic banks. Therefore, the leadership of the SBV hopes that these banks will accelerate the process. The mandatory verification is not for no reason. This solution aims to protect citizens and prevent cybercrime. Over 84.7 million accounts have been verified with biometric data, which is a significant number showing public consensus and the industrys unified implementation, said Dung. Currently, up to 90 per cent of transactions are conducted through digital channels, so we need to prepare for potential issues. In addition to the mandatory verification for personal accounts, the SBV has extended the requirement to corporate customers. According to two circulars issued by the SBV, from January 1, corporate customers are only be able to withdraw or make payments electronically on payment accounts after completing the biometric verification process for the legal representatives of the organisation. Banks will begin collecting biometric data from corporate clients, which aims to ensure security and safety when using payment accounts, reducing the risk of fraud and money laundering related to accounts rented, bought, or borrowed by fraudsters. Corporate clients must update information on valid identification documents for their legal representatives, chief accountants, or authorised account users, including electronic banking service users, stated Vietcombank in a notice. The legal representative of the organisation must update biometric information by July 1. After this period, if the client fails to update, Vietcombank will suspend the transfer and withdrawal services on the clients electronic banking account. Building on its economic momentum, Binh Duong has continued to strengthen its position as a premier investment destination. Photo: baodautu.vn On January 2, Binh Duong Peoples Committee approved 20 domestic projects and granted investment registration certificates for three projects, collectively valued at $1.7 billion. These projects predominantly focus on the real estate and energy sectors. In real estate, 16 projects received approval, with investment levels ranging from $41.6 million to $158.3 million. Key examples include the Quang Phuc 4 residential area by QP Township JSC, worth $158.3 million, and the Binh My residential area by Bac Binh Duong Real Estate JSC, at $154.1 million. Additionally, significant infrastructure projects include the Ben Cat 2 220kV transformer station and its accompanying transmission lines, with an investment of over $45.8 million, and the expanded Rach Bap industrial park infrastructure project, valued at more than $41.6 million. Three companies received investment registration certificates for projects spanning diverse industries: Vista Investment and Trading Co. Ltd, located in Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh City with a $10.5 million project; Farina Food Co. Ltd based in Bac Ninh province focusing on bicycle production, with total capital of $7.08 million; Toan Phat Packaging Printing Co. Ltd in Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh City, producing paper-based packaging, with an investment of $6.2 million. These developments underscore Binh Duong's appeal as a hotspot for domestic investment. Dang Hong An, chairman of the board at A&T Thuan An Urban Development Consulting JSC, praised Binh Duong for its strategic infrastructure investments and business-friendly environment. The province's focus on bolstering connectivity with neighbouring regions, coupled with transparent and supportive policies, has created an ideal setting for investment, An said. These advantages, he emphasised, not only attract leading corporations but also serve as a catalyst to drive the provinces economic growth. Binh Duongs reputation as a strategic investment hub has also drawn global attention. During December 2024, the provincial leadership engaged with several major international corporations, including Daewoo E&C, Manwah Group, and Tokyu Group, discussing their plans to initiate or expand investments in the region. On December 27, Yoshii Konosuke, business development director for Japans IHI Group, expressed the group's interest in areas such as transportation infrastructure, high-tech industries, and green projects. Earlier, on December 26, Binh Duong Peoples Committee signed an MoU with Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. Ltd to enhance cooperation in urban development, real estate, and infrastructure projects. On December 19, Manwah Group (Hong Kong) announced an additional $50 million investment to establish a new factory and expand production capacity, following the success of its initial phase in Binh Duong. Throughout 2024, major corporations like US equity fund Warburg Pincus LLC and A.P. Moller Maersk (Denmark) proposed notable projects. Warburg Pincus LLC plans to develop a cross-border e-commerce centre, while Maersk aims to construct a large-scale logistics hub in the province. On September 26, Binh Duong People's Committee approved several major projects, highlighting robust industrial development. These included a $120 million project by D.mag Vietnam Precision Technology for aluminium, steel, and metal production, and an additional $400 million investment by Paihong Vietnam to expand its fabric manufacturing operations. During the same month, Sembcorp Binh Duong Infrastructure Services committed $51.5 million to develop warehouses and factories for lease, while Tektro Technology Vietnam invested $38 million in bicycle accessories manufacturing Trinh Hoang Tuan Anh, deputy director of Binh Duong Department of Planning and Investment, noted that Binh Duongs strategic investment policies and transparent business environment have made it a leader in foreign direct investment. At the end of 2024, the province overtook Hanoi to become Vietnams second-largest FDI recipient, with a cumulative total exceeding $42.4 billion. Binh Duong creates many incentives for large FDI projects Southern Binh Duong province has attracted more than 2 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, exceeding the set target, continuing to reinforce its position as one of the countrys best performers in FDI attraction. Business leaders outline investment plans for 2025 Vietnam is expected to achieve impressive economic growth in 2025 as it continues to draw investment from the global business community. VIRs Bich Ngoc talks with foreign investors about their business plans for 2025. Primary prices in areas like Thu Thiem New Urban Area have risen in recent times, photo Le Toan According to figures from CBRE Vietnam, while Ho Chi Minh City continued to face limited new supply with only around 5,300 new units in 2024 (including both condominium and landed property), new residential supply in Hanoi increased significantly with nearly 38,000 new launched units. Further figures released last week showed that new condominium supply in Hanoi in 2024 tripled the new supply of 2023 and exceeded 30,900 newly launched units. This was the highest annual new launch recorded since 2020 in Hanoi. Meanwhile, new condominium supply in Ho Chi Minh City reached the lowest level since 2013, with only 5,050 new launched units this year, said Duong Thuy Dung, executive director of CBRE Vietnam. At the end of Q4, the average primary selling prices of condominiums in Hanoi averaged $3,000 per square metre. Within the year, the primary selling price of condominiums in Hanoi witnessed a sharp increase, up by 36 per cent on-year and 12 per cent on-quarter. This was the highest increase recorded in the past eight years in Hanois condominium market, Dung said. The majority of the new supply in Q4/2024 came from high-end projects with complete legal status and developed in mega townships in Nam Tu Liem and Gia Lam districts, where residents have already moved in. This has resulted in an increase in primary selling prices as well as sales rates exceeding 70 per cent among launched projects. In Ho Chi Minh City meanwhile, condominium primary prices averaged at $3,150 per sq.m in Q4/2024, up by nearly 24 per cent on-year. The significant increase was driven by the fact that over 70 per cent of the new supply came from high-end and luxury projects launched this year. Meanwhile, the launches of existing projects saw primary prices increase by 10 to 40 per cent compared to earlier launches. The OpusK, the last subdivision of the luxury complex Metropole Thu Thiem, established a new price ceiling for Thu Duc city. It is located in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area with a limited number of only 150 units. Currently, the highest priced project in Ho Chi Minh City is the Marriott luxury complex developed by Masterise Homes, located in the heart of District 1 at nearly $21,000 per sq.m. Despite setting a high asking price, developers offered various attractive sales policies such as extended payments of up to five years, or discounts from 5 to 16 per cent for standard payments. As a result, new projects launched in Q4 witnessed an absorption rate of around 70 per cent out of total supply. Among which, there have been several high-end to luxury projects with convenient access to the central business district, achieving nearly 100 per cent sales. In addition, the opening of the Metro Line 1 from the end of December has led to projects along the metro line, typically in District 2 and District 9 of Thu Duc, recording secondary selling price increases of 2-3 per cent on-quarter and nearly 15 per cent on-year on average. According to Nguyen Thanh Huong, investment director of Nam Long Group, it is very difficult to stop the increase in house prices. There is a high possibility that real estate prices will continue to go up in 2025. However, much will depend on the supply, distribution ratio between segments and the investors balance between how to approach potential customers but still balance profits, Huong said. Huong believes that the rapid increase in house prices will cause all market participants to suffer, and no one will benefit. It is also difficult for investors, like us, to have to spend more to have land for new projects, while buyers have difficulty accessing homeownership opportunities, Huong added. Tran Thanh Hai, an investment head at VinaCapital, predicted that house prices are going to increase in the next one to two years because the new land price list is being applied. Businesses themselves are also under considerable pressure when land prices increase sharply, along with land use costs that investors must pay. These factors will push the final selling price to levels that are difficult for buyers, Hai said. He also warned that overheating could lead to a situation similar to what happened to in China. Balancing house prices will be a problem that needs to be seriously implemented by all parties in the coming years, he said. To reduce the pressure on rising house prices and meet real housing needs, Hai recommends expanding urban development to suburban areas and areas adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City. According to Dung of CBRE, this year will mark the beginning of a new cycle in the residential market, with abundant supply and improved product quality driven by increasing competition among developers. The market is expected to become more stable and sustainable as it has time to adapt to the revised laws, as well as new circulars and implementation guidelines. This will create a clear legal environment, encouraging developers to participate in project development while opening opportunities for more people to access and purchase housing more easily, she added. Unpredictability stemming from housing market Even if the threat of recession seems to be on the wane in Vietnam, the real estate sector may encounter more battles in 2023, necessitating the elimination of legal and capital barriers, including real estate corporate bonds. RoK construction firms interested in Vietnamese market With the domestic housing market entering a period of stagnation, many construction companies of the Republic of Korea (RoK) have amended their business strategies, in which many choose Vietnam as their destination, the RoKs Newdaily newspaper reported. A Spirit Airlines customer from San Antonio said he was removed from his flight because of an "obscene" message on his hoodie. A video of the incident is going viral on social media. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer John Garcia Jr., a Spirit Airlines customer from San Antonio, said he was removed from his flight because of an "obscene" message on his hoodie. Courtesy John Garcia Jr. A San Antonio man said that Spirit Airlines flight attendants kicked him off his flight because he was wearing a "FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR" hoodie. Social media posts about the incident are going viral. Spirit Airlines has acknowledged the incident. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We want all our guests to feel welcome and have a great experience while traveling with us," Spirit Airlines said in a statement to the San Antonio Express-News. "We are aware of the video, and our team is investigating." A San Antonio man boarding a flight home from Los Angeles was asked to remove his sweatshirt by flight attendants because it displayed "obscene language." After taking it off, he was still removed from the plane and forced to take another flight home. Courtesy Andrew Martin Hoel In an interview with the Express-News, Garcia, 43, said the dispute began as he boarded his Monday afternoon return flight to San Antonio from Los Angeles. He was wearing a hoodie he purchased from FWUH.com, an acronym for "FVCK WHAT U HEARD!" The clothing company's mission, according to its website, is simply "to fashionably poke FUN at Pop Culture, Current Events and other everyday ordinary B***-ISH!, while proudly boasting a BIG FAT middle finger to YOUR feelings!" Its Instagram page asks, "help us spread this urban message of love." Advertisement Article continues below this ad But there seemed to be no love for his hoodie from the Spirit Airlines staff and plenty of feelings. A video posted by Andrew Martin Hoel in 210 La Chismosas, a Facebook group, appears to show passenger John Garcia Jr. arguing with Spirit Airlines staff about his "FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR" hoodie before being escorted off the plane. The first of two confrontations happened as he began to place his luggage in the overhead bin, Garcia said. That's when a female flight attendant approaches him, asking if he was sitting in the correct seat. He said he told her he was in the right seat. But after several minutes, the same flight attendant approached him again, allegedly telling him to remove his hoodie because it displayed "obscene language," Garcia said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It caught me like totally by surprise," Garcia said. "Like, 'Man, are you serious?'" At first, he refused to remove his hoodie. In response, the flight attendant told him that she was going to report it to the captain on board, Garcia said. Soon after, Garcia said, a security staff member and a male flight attendant approach him with two options: Take the hoodie off or get off the flight. Garcia said he asked if the hoodie was against the airline rules or policies, but the flight attendant told him he'd have to take their word for it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the video, Garcia can be seen taking off the hoodie, but still questioning Spirit Airlines staff. The flight attendant suggested to Garcia that he could file a complaint online, Garcia said, and he asked for the names of the flight attendants and the security officer. Shortly after, he was escorted off the plane. Soon, Garcia said friends began sending him texts, asking if he had been kicked off his flight. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "How the f do y'all know?" Garcia said he thought. It turns out, he has mutual friends with Hoel, who took the video and posted it to Facebook. Garcia, a father of four, booked another flight back to San Antonio, but it included a layover that was longer than 12 hours. Garcia said he wore his hoodie for the rescheduled return flight with no problem. He said he finally arrived home at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday. ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Vietnam Limited (ExxonMobil Vietnam) donated $10,000 to Teach For Viet Nam (TFV) to develop extracurricular courses that focus on key competencies such as STEM skills, self-awareness, and connectedness. Nearly 300 students from three secondary schools in Que Son district of Quang Nam province took part in hands-on activities and real-world projects that promoted teamwork, problem-solving, research, and self-awareness through the new Design for Change framework. Additionally, the funding allowed TFV to roll out an upskilling project titled "Effective Application of Generative AI in Teaching, which benefited 79 teachers and staff at primary and secondary schools in the district. This initiative was conducted in collaboration with Que Son's Department of Education and Training. These teachers along with TFV's fellows will lead AI application in schools for all teachers in the district in the next phase of the project in 2025. In 2024, ExxonMobil Vietnam also supported a new community investment programme by the VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) named Brighter Path Girls Club with a contribution of $9,000. This initiative has helped ethnic minority girls in four mountainous districts of Quang Nam province, namely Nam Tra My, Bac Tra My, Hiep Duc and Phuoc Son. It equipped them with skills in sexual and reproductive health, leadership, financial literacy, and legal rights. To support those affected by Typhoon Yagi in Cao Bang province, ExxonMobil Vietnam donated $15,000 to VCFs Care and Share programme and worked with Cao Bang's Peoples Committee and Fatherland Front to help provide basic needs to 600 households in Bao Lam district soon after the typhoon struck northern Vietnam. In early October, critical medical supplies, such as oxygen generators, examination lamps, blood pressure monitors, and cervical collars, were delivered to medical facilities in Cao Bang as the second phase of the support programme. The next phase will focus on supporting the recovery of medical and school facilities, and providing free medicine and clean water systems for those impacted by the typhoon. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Operation Smile Vietnam (OSV), ExxonMobil Vietnam contributed $11,000 to support OSVs oral care mission. A total of 2,500 students from three primary schools in Son Tinh district of Quang Ngai province will receive various dental care services, such as check-ups, treatment, medication, and dental hygiene education to help address issues such as dental diseases, tooth decay, and crooked teeth. Were passionate about our contributions to help address community needs where we operate around the world, said Cecile Rauline, president and general manager of ExxonMobil Vietnam. Together with our long-term local partners, including VCF, TFV, and OSV, we have been working for over a decade to act as a catalyst for socioeconomic development for Vietnamese people. ExxonMobil Vietnam has been recognised for its continued contributions to local communities in Vietnam, receiving the Corporate Social Responsibility Recognition Award from the American Chamber of Commerce Hanoi for the ninth time in 2024. ExxonMobil advances healthcare support for Central Vietnam On March 10, American oil and gas giant ExxonMobil pledged a total of $60,000 through the VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) to advance its long-term healthcare enhancement programmes in Quang Nam province in Vietnams central region. ExxonMobil strengthens support for Central Vietnam child health programmes ExxonMobil has contributed $35,000 to Operation Smile Vietnam (OSV) and VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) to promote healthcare and dental programmes in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces. Green-certified buildings more alluring to office market players in Vietnams cities, Source: freepik.com Ho Chi Minh Citys office market boomed towards the end of last year as new buildings quickly achieved high occupancy rates, contributing to pushing the absorption rate of the entire market to a record level. Bosch Global Software Technology Company in December opened a new office over 10,000 square metres at OfficeHaus, a working space meeting LEED Gold standards in the heart of the city. The OfficeHaus building, located in Tan Phu district, has seen its occupancy rate skyrocket from 10 to 75 per cent in just one year thanks to its LEED Gold design and flexible office solutions. ByteDance, TikToks parent company, at the end of 2024 also moved from a building in District 3 to The Nexus in District 1. The Nexus has also achieved LEED certification as well as EDGE green building recognition and WELL, a set of standards for evaluating architectural design that focuses on human health. Marvell Group and Simpson also rented space at E.Town 6 building in Tan Binh district, a building put into operation in early 2024 with LEED Platinum, the highest rating for reducing a buildings carbon footprint and promoting a healthier work environment for customers. Meanwhile, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area located over the Saigon River continues to strengthen its position as a high-end office destination. In particular, The METT Building is attracting high-quality tenants such as Shinhan Bank of Korea and Malaysian financial and banking group CIMB. Prime location on the Thu Thiem peninsula with state-of-the-art infrastructure has helped METT to become a top choice for high-valued tenants. According to a report from CBRE Vietnam released last week, in 2024, the office market in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City witnessed an improvement in total net absorption and slightly higher than the average net absorption recorded in the last five years. The Hanoi office market witnessed a higher net absorption in Grade B, reaching more than 44,600sq.m, compared to around a half net absorption recorded in Grade A. Such positive net absorption in Grade B is attributed to the favourable rental policies offered by landlords of office buildings in this segment. Meanwhile, the opposite trend was recorded in Ho Chi Minh City with the leasing demand for Grade A outpacing Grade B, with 38,000sq.m leased, compared to only 14,600sq.m in Grade B. According to CBRE, there are big deals planned for 2025 from major corporations moving to higher quality office buildings, which will help to improve the citys occupancy. Pham Thanh, head of Research and Consulting at CBRE, said that although the Hanoi office market is generally more cost-sensitive than the southern metropolis, it has followed Ho Chi Minh Citys trends. In response to the emerging flight-to-quality trend, newly completed buildings in Hanoi and also existing office buildings are adapting by undertaking renovations and pursuing green certifications in recent times, said Thanh. This proactive approach reflects a commitment to sustainability and the need to meet the evolving expectations of tenants in Hanoi office market. All Grade A buildings in Ho Chi Minh City completed since 2019 are green certified through Green Mark or LEED. Thanks to their high quality, they have successfully attracted reputable companies leasing areas of up to 2,000sq.m, or even 10,000sq.m on a few occasions. Another notable trend is the growth of the IT sector, leading and contributing one-quarter of leasing areas in Hanoi and 30 per cent in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by the finance, banking, and insurance sectors. Vietnam has gradually evolved as a hub for tech innovation and agility thanks to its dynamic economies and young, educated workforce. Regarding their business nature, they are fast in expanding decisions. They dont need to locate in the core central business district, but it is essential for office landlords to innovate their office spaces to fit the new working style of the young workforce, Thanh added. In the next three years, supply is expected to reach nearly 170,000sq.m in Hanoi and over 100,000sq.m in Ho Chi Minh City. By 2030, this number could total over 600,000sq.m in Hanoi and 300,000sq.m in Ho Chi Minh City, provided that project licensing can be obtained in due course. More green buildings in Vietnam need to be realised Vietnam needs to construct more green buildings to achieve its emission reduction goals, instead of focusing on winning green building recognition certificates. Green high-rise buildings ensure healthy living space and environmental benefits Phuc Khang Corporation develops green high-rise buildings as part of its development strategy to ensure living space and environmental benefits. Making a speech on January 6, Nguyen Canh Tinh, CEO of shipping giant Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), offered caution when he reviewed the companys 2024 performance and set the tasks for 2025. Over the past year, the global situation has continued to fluctuate unpredictably, with the shipping market still unstable due to the impact of geopolitical conflicts, as well as the crisis in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the level of competition in the port sector has become increasingly fierce due to the new privately run ports. Tinh said that the headwinds were tricky for VIMC, which was forced it to introduce changes to maintain competitiveness and growth, with restructuring its fleet. VIMC saw the sea transport output handled by its fleet reach approximately 20 million tonnes, exceeding the 2024 plan by 22 per cent. In the seaport sector, the cargo throughput was estimated at 145 million tonnes, up 26 per cent on-year and surpassing the annual plan by 17 per cent. Logistics names pin hopes on 2025 The business results from these two pillars brought VIMCs total revenue to $1.03 billion, of which consolidated revenue was $758.75 million, up 30 per cent from 2023 and exceeding the 2024 plan by 35 per cent. Despite the decline in fleet capacity, the volume of maritime transport far exceeded the 2024 plan thanks to the promotion of chartering activities, Tinh said. Moreover, during 2024, VIMC Lines also expanded operations and developed service routes connecting Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, as well as 10 new container service routes to the ports of Haiphong, Danang, and Quy Nhon and major service routes, directly connecting the domestic seaport system with those in Europe and the United States. Meanwhile, Vietnamese-run Bee Logistics has demonstrated its flexibility and resilience through major strides in digital transformation and restructuring. To keep up with foreign companies, we focus on digitalisation and investing heavily in IT to optimise operating processes as well as improve operational efficiency. More importantly, improving customer experience is still the companys goal, said Tran Nhat Phuong, deputy general director of Bee Logistics. In fact, we invest heavily in IT software with streamlined features and automatic data sharing integration. The goal is that by 2030, 95 per cent of the companys operations will be done using software. And 80 per cent of our foreign agency partners and half of our main customers can connect with us via API, he added. The transformation resulted in the companys annual growth of 15 per cent in 2024. Specialising in air and sea freight, warehousing, and cross-border trucking solutions, the company now has presence in 16 countries and territories through 41 offices worldwide. Bee Logistics aims to open three new African offices in 2025, and become a multinational group in the next five years. Similarly, FedEx also focused on developing new services, with the success of its new flight service enabling the company to make gains. The route helps enhance intercontinental package delivery services between Vietnam and key markets across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This new service has also significantly enhanced our freight shipping capabilities, particularly for customers in the technology, fashion, textiles, and apparel sectors, said Ee-Hui Tan, managing director of FedEx Vietnam and Cambodia. The Vietnam Logistics Business Association forecast that the development prospects in 2025 as positive, driven by the growth of e-commerce, boosted infrastructure investment and increased international integration. The local e-commerce market is expected to reach $39 billion in 2025, according to Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company. Moreover, free trade agreements like the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have reduced tariffs and streamlined cross-border commerce, enabling businesses to navigate regional markets more seamlessly. These agreements have bolstered Southeast Asias position as a critical link in the regional supply chain. VIMCs Tinh said that the company would focus on implementing ventures such as Lach Huyen, Lien Chieu, and Can Gio seaports, while developing door-to-door services for customers based on promoting the strengths and advantages of VIMC Container Transport JSC and its seaport, shipping, and logistics ecosystem. For FedEx, Vietnam remains a key market. At a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi in 2024, FedEx Express CEO Richard Smith said that the company was looking to expand its operation in Vietnam while maintaining its logistics activities at the Tan Son Nhat International. This month, FedEx enhanced its support to Vietnams e-commerce through the launch of International Connect Plus. The service provides cost-effective international shipping, delivering packages to the Americas and Europe in as little as 2-3 days. Ee-Hui Tan of FedEx said, Tech will be a game-changer, with advancements in digital platforms, AI, and blockchain redefining supply chain efficiency and transparency. At the same time, investment in infrastructure both physical and digital is essential to support growing trade volumes and build resilience against future disruptions. Logistics Industrial Cluster 'a pioneer' in ESG Western Pacific's Logistics Industrial Cluster (LIC) ecosystem stands as a pioneer in effectively implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance standards. Vietnam SuperPort and strategic partners develop rail logistics Vietnam SuperPort has signed a deal with the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, China Railway, and 16th Bureau Group Vietnam Co., Ltd., part of China Railway Construction Corporation, to develop rail logistics infrastructure. Medtronic Vietnam and University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) signed their fourth MoU This latest agreement builds on a long-standing partnership between Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, and UMC, Vietnams largest university medical centre. The MoU outlines 23 comprehensive training and education courses, encompassing key areas such as cardiovascular, neuroscience, and medical surgical specialities for healthcare professionals. Through this partnership, UMC is reinforcing its pioneering vision to adopt and bring innovative therapies closer to the patients. This includes the first successful treatment of an epilepsy patient with deep brain stimulation, and training courses, both locally and internationally, to implement the leadless pacemaker therapy. Comprehensive continuing medical education programmes are also available to accelerate the learning curve for surgeons, enabling them to adopt advanced procedures efficiently and improve surgical outcomes on the latest minimally invasive surgery in spine, gastrointestinal and hernia surgeries. Additionally, Medtronic is honoured to partner with UMC in qualifying the hospital as the second solo proctor for the transcatheter aortic valve implantation technique in Vietnam. Besides CME initiatives, Medtronic acts as a trusted partner with the hospital in improving stroke and aortic stenosis management via patient awareness initiatives. These advancements mark significant milestones in Vietnams healthcare landscape. Paul Verhulst, vice president of Medtronic Southeast Asia, at the signing ceremony On the occasion, Paul Verhulst, vice president of Medtronic Southeast Asia, said, "This MoU with UMC builds on a longstanding partnership dedicated to advancing healthcare across multiple dimensions, with the potential to further enhance healthcare delivery, education, and infrastructure in Vietnam. This is our fourth MoU with UMC and as this collaboration continues to evolve, it is set to bring even greater transformative changes, positively impacting patients, communities, and healthcare professionals here in Vietnam." Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Hoang Bac, director of UMC, highlighted the importance of the collaboration, saying, "Medtronic Vietnam has accompanied our hospital in implementing many meaningful activities. We believe that this partnership will result in in-depth training and education courses and connection with international experts, thereby improving treatment outcomes and realising the hospital's goal of building a training centre of excellence with many specialised departments." Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Hoang Bac, director of UMC Medtronic Vietnam and Ministry of Health collaborate to elevate clinical skills among professionals Medtronic Vietnam, a subsidiary of Medtronic PLC a global leader in healthcare technology and the Medical Examination and Treatment Administration Department under the Ministry of Health have signed an MoU to elevate healthcare professionals' clinical skill sets in ICU departments and centres. Medtronic at forefront of transforming Vietnams healthcare Vietnams healthcare industry has undergone drastic changes in recent years. More innovations in medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and treatment approaches have been developed to transform patient care and outcomes. Photo: Duc Thanh Berlin-based ecoligo offers fully financed solar-as-a-service solutions for businesses in emerging markets, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The company provides solar photovoltaic systems through power purchase agreements and lease-to-own models for on-grid commercial and industrial clients. The company focuses on various sectors, including manufacturing, hotels and resorts, agricultural facilities, as well as private hospitals and universities. With a current global portfolio of 100MWp, comprising 200 projects, ecoligo has successfully raised 74 million ($76.2 million) to date. The commercial and industrial solar energy sector in Vietnam is experiencing rapid expansion, with solar capacity rising from nearly zero in 2018 to 21 per cent in 2022. Favourable domestic policies, such as the new direct power purchase agreement mechanism and the Energy Service Company model for rooftop solar systems, present opportunities for businesses to reduce their energy costs and expand, while contributing to Vietnams goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Proceeds from the Mirova Gigaton Fund will be utilised by ecoligo to contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on climate change mitigation. By providing industries with reliable and sustainable energy, ecoligo enables them to diversify their energy mix, which has traditionally come from grid electricity and is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The energy solutions developed by ecoligo are in alignment with Vietnams net-zero policy, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, by shifting the majority of its energy generation to wind and solar power. Martin Baart, CEO of ecoligo, said, "We are thrilled to be expanding in Vietnam with the support of Mirova's investment. This accelerates our mission to deliver clean and affordable energy solutions and exemplifies how collaboration can drive meaningful progress towards global climate goals. Together, we are unlocking the potential for businesses to embrace solar power while contributing to a low-carbon future and the global energy transition." EAAIF invests $20 million in CME Solar to power Vietnams manufacturing sector The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company managed by Ninety One, on January 6 announced a $20 million investment in CME Solar to support the company to develop a pipeline of rooftop solar projects for companies in Vietnam. Nami Distributed Energy secures Clime Capital funding amid Vietnam policy breakthrough Clime Capital, a Singapore-based fund manager focused on accelerating the low carbon transition, and Nami Distributed Energy, a Vietnamese clean energy company, jointly announced a $10 million investment on July 9. After a prolonged period of rapid expansion, Vietnam's resort real estate market is now facing unprecedented challenges. While the causes of this predicament are multifaceted, the demand for high-quality products, sustainable projects, and reputable developers continues to deepen and mature. The strategic cooperation between VinaLiving and Lodgis Hospitality Holdings aims to reposition Vietnamese resort real estate market. Do Chi Hieu - CEO of VinaLiving (right) and Christopher Hur - Group CEO of Lodgis, chairman of The Grand Ho Tram. Photo: VinaLiving Amid a dynamic market landscape, the strategic partnership between VinaLiving and Lodgis Hospitality Holdings marks a significant move to redefine Vietnam's hospitality real estate sector. Over 15 years, VinaLiving has emerged as a leading force in the hospitality real estate market. With 18 prestigious international awards and a total investment of $1 billion, VinaLiving has successfully developed nearly 20 residential and hospitality projects, as well as numerous joint ventures across the country. In parallel, Lodgis Hospitality Holdings is a strategic platform formed through a partnership of two large investment companies, VinaCapital and Warburg Pincus. Lodgis Hospitality Holdings has solidified its position as a leader in Southeast Asia's hotel market with over 30 hotels, managing nearly 6,000 rooms, and a total asset value exceeding $1.2 billion, including renowned brands such as Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, and Fusion. In Vietnam, Lodgis Hospitality Holdings has successfully developed and operated numerous high-end resorts, such as The Grand Ho Tram (including the Holiday Inn Resort and Ixora by Fusion) contributing to the enhancement of service quality and tourist experiences in the country. This strategic partnership has rapidly demonstrated its strength through the successive launch of outstanding projects such as The Ocean Resort Quy Nhon, Fusion Resort and Villas Danang, and most recently, Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion II. The Ocean Resort Quy Nhon villa and condotel complex is located on the most beautiful coastal road in Quy Nhon - a strategic project of a trio-party cooperation relationship. Photo: VinaLiving These projects boast prime locations and unique designs and impress with diverse amenities that cater to all customer needs. Notably, the newly launched Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion II has helped the project quickly sell out with a 95 per cent absorption rate, demonstrating its immense appeal. Redefining luxury retreats By joining forces, VinaLiving and Lodgis Hospitality Holdings are setting a new benchmark for holiday properties in Vietnam. Beyond constructing high-end properties, these industry giants are committed to sustainable development, environmental protection, and positive community contributions. Their upcoming billion-dollar Ho Tram Phase III project, slated for a 2025 launch, will serve as a testament to this vision. This partnership not only benefits both companies but also drives the entire hospitality real estate market forward. Through quality projects, professional services, and effective marketing, this dynamic duo has restored investor confidence and established a new industry standard. VinaLiving, Lodgis Hospitality Holdings and Fusion - the partnership brings the highest assurance of experience quality and investment value to customers. Photo: VinaLiving VinaLiving CEO Do Chi Hieu said, This is a highly competitive sector that demands extensive experience and a strong commitment to product quality. Todays discerning customers seek more than just a holiday home; they're looking for a long-term investment. As such, construction quality, amenities, and sustainable returns are crucial factors determining a projects success. Notably, most VinaLiving clients are long-term investors who value quality and service, and are willing to invest in premium projects. Hieu also emphasised that VinaLivings clients typically leverage minimal debt, indicating strong financial capabilities and a prudent investment approach. Group CEO Lodgis Hospitality Holdings, chairman of The Grand Ho Tram - Christopher Hur said, We believe in the long-term potential of Vietnams luxury real estate market. Our goal is to develop world-class projects that cater to a sophisticated and well-informed clientele. Our development model will continue to draw inspiration from successful projects in other parts of Southeast Asia as well as globally, while keeping in mind the distinctive tastes of our core target customer - the Vietnamese. The uniqueness of these projects is enhanced by the involvement of the hotel management brand Fusion. David Roberts, COO of Fusion said, Fusion is more than just a hotel management brand. We create unique holiday experiences where sustainability and local culture intertwine. By partnering with VinaLiving and Lodgis Hospitality Holdings on multiple projects, Fusion is committed to delivering unforgettable and fulfilling holidays for our guests. In essence, the collaboration between VinaLiving and Lodgis Hospitality Holdings is not merely a business deal but a deep partnership elevating customer experiences and propelling Vietnams hospitality real estate market into a new era of professionalism. With their early successes and ambitious vision, more high-quality projects are expected to emanate from this powerful partnership in the near future. Japanese bold on ventures in real estate Japanese investors continue to participate more deeply in merger and acquisition activities in the real estate sector in Vietnam, with a series of new initiatives and expanding portfolios. Real estate cannot go global without green awareness Limited domestic supply of green materials and insufficient awareness of green real estate remain the most enduring challenges preventing Vietnam from participating more deeply in the global green real estate market. Founded in 2013, PVcomBank was the result of a merger between Petro Vietnam Finance Joint Stock Corporation (PVFC) and Western Commercial Joint Stock Bank (WesternBank). Over the years, PVcomBank has expanded to become the fifth-largest digital bank in Vietnam. Thanks to its commitment to deliver Banking for Everyone, it now serves over three million customers across various segments in the retail, small- and medium-sized enterprise, commercial, and corporate sectors. Innovation is a priority for the bank, which is why it rewards curiosity and experimentation. It is not afraid of failure its culture can be described as when things go wrong, lessons can be learned. Thats why it has established its Venture Studio, a safe space where startups are free to explore new concepts and take risks. In addition, the banks data sandbox fosters innovation by providing a secure and safe place to experiment with data and uncover new opportunities that can benefit customers and employees alike. PVcomBank has transformed mobile banking for one million customers in Vietnam with Temenos Digital on AWS Prioritising mobile Mobile banking has long been the primary channel for PVcomBanks retail business. However, in 2022, it realised its mobile service was falling short of customer expectations. Our mobile business was growing wed acquired a million new customers in 2022, explained Trinh Vinh Hien, chief technology officer and chief data officer at PVcomBank. Unfortunately, our customer satisfaction score for mobile banking was 60 per cent. We knew we had to make improvements." PVcomBanks customers reported slow performance and poor engagement in the mobile app. At the same time, it was taking the bank more than four weeks to add new features to a product or service. The limitation of our traditional architecture and legacy technologies had suppressed innovation and slowed our business growth, Hien said. Hien and his team realised they needed an advanced omnichannel digital banking platform to facilitate a seamless customer experience across any channel and through every step of the customer lifecycle. So, they set about looking for a suitable solution. Seeking a solution We spent around six months evaluating potential vendors, Hien said. We assessed how the various solutions' end-to-end capabilities might fit with our digital service footprint and compared the scalability, configurability, security, and overall architectures. The most suitable solution, however, was on PVcomBanks doorstep. The bank had already been running on Temenos core for retail and corporate banking for seven years and was also leveraging Temenos Trade Finance. So, when it discovered Temenos digital banking, it seemed like the perfect solution. Trinh Vinh Hien, chief technology officer and chief data officer at PVcomBank Wed already been benefiting from Temenoss highly automated processes that have allowed us to increase efficiencies and reduce manual tasks. We were delighted when we found that Temenos digital banking could meet our requirements, too," Hien noted. He points to the impact it has had on Trade Finance. With the smart banking capabilities of Temenos digital platform, we can now digitise Temenos Trade Finance, meaning we can further increase efficiencies, reduce manual tasks, and bring this service into online channels for customers." Hien was particularly confident that it would receive adequate support from the software vendor. Theres a strong Temenos footprint in Vietnam, so this, along with our previous experience working with the company, assured us that we would get all the support we required to accelerate the implementation and get up and running quickly, he explains. Recognising that its existing legacy architecture would hamper a fast implementation, PVcomBank leveraged the Temenos API framework. By transforming our existing enterprise layers into open APIs, with integration between the enterprise service bus and Temenos digital bankings backend, we could decouple our legacy infrastructure and benefit from Temenos digital bankings cloud-native architecture," Hien shared. This approach to integration enabled PVcomBank to achieve faster time-to-value and helped it operate more efficiently, streamline processes with increased automation, and deliver a faster, frictionless customer experience. A successful launch PVcomBank successfully launched its new mobile banking solution in April 2024. We have already migrated one million retail customers who now benefit from a consistent journey across any device and on any channel," Hien said. We expect to extend the service to all of our three million customers by June 2025, and we also hope to onboard at least 500,000 new customers this year through a B2B2C model." Users of PVcomBanks new mobile app can take advantage of fast and simple onboarding, AI-powered assistance, personalised offers based on their spending behaviour, and more. Slow performance is now a thing of the past, with response times averaging less than a second. The customer onboarding time has reduced by 70 per cent. At the same time, weve witnessed a 130 per cent increase in customer acquisition using the new digital platform and 20 per cent increase in the number of customers opening deposit accounts online, Hien added. PVcomBank now serves over three million customers across various segments in retail, SME, commercial, and corporate The benefits of Temenos are not just felt by customers. By deploying Temenos digital banking in a cloud-agnostic architecture, our operational efficiency has increased by 40 per cent, Hien said. Were also now able to add new features to a product or service in a matter of days. This enables us to keep up with the demands of our customers and remain competitive. As a result, overall customer satisfaction has improved significantly. In fact, the new Temenos-powered app has received a 4.9-star rating on the App Store and a 4.6-star rating on Google Play, based on feedback from thousands of reviews. A Temenos-powered future Hien confirmed that PVcomBanks decision to build its mobile app on Temenos digital was the right one. Our relationship with Temenos has been exponentially valuable for us," Hien said. The company consistently meets our high expectations, and its ongoing commitment to updating its platforms has been crucial to us. It means we can deliver an exceptional experience to our customers and stay ahead in a very competitive industry. As a result, PVcomBank is certain that it will develop its relationship with Temenos further in the months and years to come. We have big plans ahead, and we are very confident that Temenos will support us, no matter what we decide to do," Hien said. The newest version of Temenos core banking has a lot of fantastic new capabilities, and we cannot wait to upgrade so that we can further strengthen our position as a leader in Vietnams financial services market." PVcomBank and Vietpay Technology enter comprehensive cooperation On April 25, Hanoi-based lender PVcomBank and Vietpay Technology Co., Ltd. a member of multi-national group Nexxo Ventures Ltd. from the UK signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in associating and expanding the network of payment and card issuance. PVcomBank launches its multichannel payment service PVcomBank has launched its multichannel payment service in collaboration with Visa and Vietpay Technology, a member of UK-based multinational group Nexxo Ventures Ltd. Photo: baodautu.vn The new office's location puts Seafrigo at the heart of economic activity in the south, as Ho Chi Minh City is home to Vietnam's top exporters of seafood and fruit, with several major ports and airports nearby. The new office will cater to exports and imports, focusing on seafood and tropical fruit. Vietnam's free-trade agreements with the EU and Asia-Pacific countries means the country has ample development potential for cold-storage services. According to data by FiinGroup Vietnam, the total designed capacity of cold storage in Vietnam recorded a noticeable increase during the last four years with a compound annual growth rate 2020-2023 of 13.1 per cent thanks to the active investment from new players. Particularly, Vietnams cold storage segment comprised over 100 commercial cold storage providers with a total designed capacity of 1.24 million pallets last year. Most cold storage capacity is in the south, serving the demand from aqua processing companies and import-export activities. For more than 40 years, Seafrigo has been developing a worldwide food-logistics network within the refrigerated-goods space, leading to business partnerships with global brands. The company, based in Le Havre, France, is growing rapidly in both its domestic market and internationally, with its own infrastructure in 32 countries. Seafrigo has appointed Fabian Hautiere to head up operations in Vietnam as managing director. Hautiere joins Seafrigo from Kuehne Nagel, where he was national key account manager specialising in consumer goods. He also has extensive experience on the operational side of the business from when he worked as a senior supply chain manager for a fine-food import company. He has lived in Vietnam for the past 12 years. 2025 - A breakthrough year for Vietnams logistics industry Big things are expected in 2025 for the logistics industry. Dao Trong Khoa, president of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, spoke with VIRs Tung Anh about the future prospects. Logistics names pin hopes on 2025 Restructuring and innovation are enabling logistics companies to make gains in the Vietnamese market, with a deeper focus on investment in areas like digital transformation. The steel industry can only develop well if trade defence measures are strengthened, photo Le Toan According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), by the end of 2024, Vietnamese goods had been investigated in over 270 trade defence cases in 25 markets, including some that have free trade agreements with Vietnam. Dinh Quoc Thai, general secretary of the Vietnam Steel Association, emphasised that steel is a highly competitive industry, but there is always a global oversupply situation, so it is easy for foreign enterprises to sell at low prices to resolve inventory, especially during difficult periods when export markets are facing complexities. In recent years, steel has been one of the industries with the largest number of trade defence investigations, not only in Vietnam. It is necessary to strengthen trade defence measures so that the steel industry has the opportunity to develop, has the capacity to compete fairly with imported goods in the domestic market, thereby building a complete value chain from hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel, galvanised steel, with enough capacity to expand exports, said Thai. To prevent and minimise trade remedies cases, in 2020 the government approved a scheme on building and effectively operating a trade remedy early warning system. The objective was to warn about export goods at risk of being investigated by foreign countries for trade remedies, helping businesses prepare in advance, and helping competent authorities carry out focused and key support activities for businesses. Trinh Anh Tuan, general director of the Trade Remedies Authority under the MoIT, said that through early warning work, the ministry has promptly approached businesses to provide information, helping businesses understand the principles, investigation processes, and tasks that businesses need to perform with possible scenarios. Thanks to that, businesses have time to prepare to fully and accurately meet the requirements of foreign investigation agencies. Some product lines with high risks of being investigated for trade defence are plywood, wooden cabinets, anti-corrosion steel, hot-rolled steel, prestressed steel cables, welded steel pipes, aluminium profiles, copper pipes, float glass, and PET plastic, Tuan said. Enterprises exporting these products need to increase monitoring, learn about the regulations on trade defence investigations of the importing country, and closely coordinate with the authorities to effectively deal with these risks. The pressure from trade remedies will go hand-in-hand in the context of Vietnams increasing exports as well as its large trade surplus. Although creating many issues, trade remedy cases also open up opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to improve competitiveness and consolidate their position in the international market. Trade remedies often target issues of origin fraud, dumping, or non-compliance with environmental and labour standards, Tuan added. Meeting these strict requirements not only helps enterprises overcome legal barriers but also builds trust with consumers and partners in the import market. From the perspective of the wood industry, Ngo Si Hoai, general secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association, said that from the stage of filing a lawsuit, businesses have suffered losses and during the investigation process. If they are taxed at a high rate, it is like being embargoed and there is no way to export goods. In particular, when being put on a blacklist for trade defence investigations, it is considered as having to say goodbye to the market with huge losses, Hoai said. In the face of trade defence investigations, businesses are important entities, needing to be prepared with knowledge and defence skills, Hoai added. Businesses with trade defence skills can overcome difficulties, and the risk of being put on the blacklist is not high. Accordingly, in danger there is opportunity. If we strengthen corporate governance, practice accountability, and transparent production, we have the opportunity to develop the market and export sustainably, Hoai said. San Antonio Fire Department officials said an elderly man with "mobility limitations" was killed in a house fire South of downtown. Taylor Pettaway An elderly man was killed in a house fire near downtown San Antonio. Firefighters were called at about 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday to a home in flames at the 500 block of Schley Avenue, near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Interstate 37. San Antonio Fire Department spokesperson Joe Arrington said firefighters were able to get the "heavy fire" under control in about 15 minutes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Firefighters found the dead body inside the burned home. Arrington said the victim was an elderly man dealing with "mobility limitations." No other injuries were reported. An estimated cost of damages is unknown. Southwest Airlines planes at San Antonio International Airport in December 2022, when a system meltdown stranded customers across the U.S. Sam Owens/Staff file photo The city and Southwest Airlines could have put an end to a costly legal battle in settlement talks last month, but they didnt theyre still fighting over gate assignments at San Antonio International Airport. The two sides told a federal judge this week that they want to continue their brawl in court. Theyre asking for a late-April trial date. Southwest sued the city and Airport Director Jesus Saenz in September over new long-term use and lease contracts that shut the Dallas-based carrier out of the planned, $1.7 billion Terminal C. Under the new agreements, Southwest would be the sole airline operating out of Terminal A, the airports oldest facility, when the new terminal opens in 2028. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southwest claims Saenz promised the airline space in Terminal C, and then reneged. The company also alleges the criteria the city used to determine which airlines would get gates in the new terminal were unlawful. The city denies those allegations. Southwest and San Antonio officials hit pause on the legal fight and went to a settlement meeting sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration the week of Dec. 16. Unfortunately, no FAA-facilitated settlement was achieved, and the parties have conferred with regard to the revised schedule for the continued litigation of this matter, the parties said in a joint statement to the court on Tuesday. Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle said Wednesday that the city made a good faith effort to resolve the disagreement but that Southwest was completely unrealistic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Southwest spokesman Chris Perry said a court ruling in the airlines favor could force the city to re-negotiate gate allocations. We believe the Citys gate-allocation methodology discriminated against Southwest, Perry told the Express-News on Wednesday. With the City unwilling to compromise despite our good-faith negotiations, we will continue to seek relief in court. In addition to its lawsuit, Southwest in September sought a temporary restraining order to block the new lease agreements from taking effect. But U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ruled against the airline, saying he didnt believe Southwest would suffer irreparable harm if the lease went into effect. He also said he the matter boiled down to a business dispute the parties should resolve themselves. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I feel like Im being used as a pawn in negotiations, Rodriguez said at the time. You all should continue to talk, but Im not going to be your mediator for this fight. The long-term lease agreement went into effect in October. Southwest said it wouldnt sign the long-term leases, guaranteeing that the airline will pay higher fees for operating on a month-to-month basis. Southwest is the dominant airline in the city, carrying nearly 40% of San Antonio International Airports passengers. Southwest has said its plans to increase its market share to 50% are in jeopardy now that the company has been denied space in the new, larger terminal. Eight airlines signed the new use and lease agreements, which last a decade and has a five-year renewal options. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The agreement sets aside $200 million for renovations in Terminal A, which could be used for a variety of changes, including cutting the number of gates from 17 to 10 to create larger waiting areas and reduce crowding in the terminals narrow concourse. The improvements also could include upgraded restrooms and ticket counters. Southwest has said is not enough to relieve the overcrowding often chokes the facilitys 75-foot wide concourse, which is one of the narrowest among major U.S. airports. Before Southwest filed the lawsuit, San Antonio offered the airline another $100 million for upgrades to Terminal A during a September meeting at the airlines Dallas headquarters, for a total of $300 million for improvements. Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and COO Andrew Watterson participated in the meeting, and Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Erik Walsh and Saenz led the city delegation. Southwest leaders turned down the citys offer, which City Attorney Andy Segovia said will remain off the table as long as Southwest continues pressing its lawsuit. Coyle, the assistant city manager, said Wednesday that Southwest wanted even more during the December talks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition to a larger renovation budget for Terminal A, they wanted $150 million in cash payments from the airport, Coyle said. Coleg Cambria lecturer selected for prestigious UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 15th, 2025 A teacher from Coleg Cambria has been successful in her application to join the prestigious UK Parliament Teacher Ambassador Programme. Melina Morris will be part of the programme, which starts on 20 January. The aim is to develop students understanding of democracy. She will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A with the House of Commons Speaker and the Lord Speaker, and hear from parliamentarians of all parties about their work. Following the programme, teachers will go back to develop their students and colleagues understanding of UK Parliament and democracy. The 65 Teacher Ambassadors attending the programme will go on to reach over 65,000 school-aged children. Andrew Ranger MP who will be welcoming Melina and other teachers to Westminster, said: Having young people engaged and talking about politics is vitally important to our democracy. I am delighted that Coleg Cambria students will be benefiting from this fantastic programme. Welsh Government in the dark over public sector National Insurance costs This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 15th, 2025 The Welsh Government remains in the dark about how much Wales will receive to cover the estimated 109m cost of tax rises in the public sector, a committee heard. Jayne Bryant said the UK Government has confirmed it will provide funding to public-sector employers towards the increased cost of national insurance contributions from April. But Wales local government secretary said ministers expect to receive additional funding in late spring and have not yet received confirmation of how much Wales will receive. Plaid Cymrus Sian Gwenllian raised concerns about the impact of tax hikes as the Senedds local government committee scrutinised Welsh ministers 2025/26 spending plans. Judith Cole, deputy director of council finance policy, said the Welsh Government estimates the cost of the tax hike to the public sector in Wales at 109m. Id never get out alive Ms Gwenllian called for clarity, asking: So, theres no, absolutely no talk of the UK Government providing that 109m? The Welsh Local Government Association was under the impression that this money was going to come and that it was 109m. So, youre saying today that that is not the picture? Ms Cole replied: No, I would never do that I would never get out of the building alive UK Government has said that funding will come to Welsh Government to fund the costs. The discussions are still ongoing about what that actual sum is. Ms Bryant added: All I can say is that once we know we will share that. Last month, finance secretary Mark Drakeford confirmed Wales is expected to receive funding via the Barnett formula, which would be based on spending in England. Entirely dependent The former first minister warned this could be fundamentally unfair, with English public bodies receiving 100% compensation while funding may not match the need in Wales. Asked how funding will be divided between councils, Ms Cole said the standard funding formula could be used or it may be based on a proportion of spending as in England. But she stressed that other factors need to be taken into account because, for example, some councils will provide more services by directly employed staff. Reg Kilpatrick, director of local government, added: Were entirely dependent on the negotiations between the cabinet secretary for finance and the UK treasury. Ms Gwenllian warned of the impact of tax hikes on the voluntary sector and outsourced services, piling more pressure on council budgets. Reality She said: Ive spoken with three councils but one said that this will cost an additional 2m in terms of internal salaries but 2.5m in terms of the work that is commissioned. Another council said 5.4m on the internal, 2.8m on the work that is outsourced another said 8m internal and 3m on the outsourced work. There is a lot of work commissioned beyond the local authorities themselves and there is no mention of any support. The Conservatives Peter Fox agreed, raising Wrexham councils evidence that about 80% of domiciliary care is commissioned and the public purse will ultimately foot the bill. He said: If national insurance isnt fully covered for direct employees and those associated businesses, were going to end up taking away all of the cash increase that this new budget, this better budget is going to give to service that one element. that looks like the reality. Giving evidence on January 15, Ms Bryant said the UK Government has confirmed it will use the Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector worker. Nothing can be confirmed Mr Kilpatrick added that Mark Drakeford, the finance minister, is extremely aware of the issue which forms part of ongoing discussions with the UK treasury. Labours Carolyn Thomas raised concerns about the variability of reserves, which she said range from about 6m to 250m across Wales. She asked about calls for a funding floor, with provisional increases in funding for the 12 months from April ranging from 2.6% in Monmouthshire to 5.6% in Newport. Ms Bryant said: Given the range, the government is open to considering providing an additional funding floor at the final budget but nothing can be confirmed at the moment. Responding to Plaid Cymru and Conservative calls for an overhaul of the formula used to allocate funding to councils, she said the complex calculation is reviewed every year. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter 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. wyvern la giTai nghe Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss (Day roi Connector 2 pin jack cam 3.5mm Driver 10mm)-rn ac wyvern la giiem Noi Bat Tai nghe Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss so huu tren minh mot ngon ngu thiet ke cuc ki sang trong va cao cap hay thay tren nhung chiec tai nghe at tien nhung lai so huu muc gia cuc ki de chiu Thiet ke dua tren y tuong ve linh vat Wyvern voi hoa tiet vay Rong lap lanh anh tim-xanh huyen bi va co the thay oi mau sac tu tim sang xanh tuy thuoc vao ien kien anh sang. Phan vo lam tu nhua cap y te giup giam kich ung tai cua nguoi dung ong thoi so huu ngon ngu thiet ke giong voi mot chiec IEM custom cao cap Day cap ong OFC chat luong cao co the thao roi voi cau tao 4 loi 24 soi ong ben xoan lai voi nhau trong mot lop vo nhua PVC mau xam ep mat Trang bi driver Dynamic co kich thuoc 10mm voi mang LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) tuy chinh mot vat lieu mang sieu mong,agi sieu nhe giup tai tao am thanh chi tiet,wyvern la gi sac net voi o meo tieng rat thap Su dung au connecter chuan 2-pin 0.78mm cung voi chan jack cam 3.5mm uoc gia cong ti mi nham em toi o ben cao Tan So: 20Hz-20kHz o nhay 105dB Tro khang 32ohm Chieu dai cap 1.2mmTai nghe Kinera Celest Wyvern AbyssTai nghe Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss gay an tuong ngay tu cai nhin au tien voi ngon ngu thiet ke sang trong va cao cap. Lay cam hung tu linh vat Wyvern, vo tai nghe uoc trang tri bang hoa tiet vay Rong lap lanh voi mau sac huyen bi tim-xanh. iem ac biet la mau sac nay co the thay oi tu tim sang xanh tuy theo ieu kien anh sang, tao nen mot ve ep cuon hut va oc ao.Vo tai nghe uoc lam tu nhua cap y te, khong chi ben bi ma con an toan cho da, giam thieu toi a kha nang kich ung tai nguoi dung. ieu nay ac biet quan wyvern la gi trong cho nhung nguoi co da nhay cam hoac su dung tai nghe trong thoi gian dai. Thiet ke cua Wyvern Abyss mang phong cach cua mot chiec IEM custom cao cap, vua van va thoai mai khi eo.wyvern la giDay Cap va Ket NoiDay cap cua Kinera Celest Wyvern Abyss uoc lam tu ong OFC chat luong cao, am bao truyen tai tin hieu am thanh mot cach ro rang va chi tiet. Day cap co the thao roi, tien loi cho viec bao quan va thay the khi can. Cau tao cua day gom 4 loi, moi loi chua 24 soi ong ben xoan lai voi nhau, tat ca eu uoc boc trong lop v wyvern la giWinter Wyvern la gi va mot so iem noi bat nguoi dung can biet-rn Vua qua thi thong tin wyvern la gi Drodo co them mot ban update moi tren server test ang uoc cong ong game thu ac biet rat quan tam. ac biet voi su xuat hien moi cua vi tuong Winter Wyvern Rong Bang. Sau ay chung ta se cung nhau tim hieu ve Winter Wyvern la gi va mot so iem noi bat nguoi choi can biet. Thoi gian qua, cung voi nhung cap nhat va oi moi cua phien ban DOTA 2 6.84; Winter Wyvern a chinh thuc uoc Walve ua vao au truong chuyen nghiep. Chinh nhung su thay oi nay se tao nen rat nhieu iem hoan toan moi cho Wyvern. Thay vi truoc ay wyvern chi uoc su dung tai nhung tran au pub hay rank co quy mo nho.Winter wyvern la mot Intelligence Support co kha nang thuc hien khoa hero cua oi phuong bang viec su dung Ultimate cua minh. Ben canh o winter wyvern con co mot ky nang rat noi bat o la thuc hien gay debuff va damage. Sau khi uoc ra mat thi Hero a lam mua lam gio trong au truong chuyen nghiep va nhan uoc su quan tam hang au cua nguoi choi.Hien nay Drodo ang trong qua trinh hoan thien cung nhu them vao rat nhieu nhung combo co so luong chess gioi han. Vi du nhu viec ho a cho them vi tuong Dazzle vao pool; viec nay giup cho nguoi choi co the thuc hien choi toc Troll on gian va de dang hon rat nhieu. ay chinh la ly do chinh ma Droto ang them vao 3 chess thuoc toc Dragon va noi bat o trong 3 chess o la Winter Wyvern. ieu nay se giup cho nguoi choi co the tien hanh lua chon choi Rong so voi truoc ay se som hon rat nhieu; thay vi phai cho oi Dragon Knight nhu truoc ay.Neu nhu xet ve mat ky nang Winter Wyvern se co the giup cho mot tuong ong minh mien nhiem voi sat thuong vat ly cung nhu la qua trinh hoi mau theo phan tram.Cung voi o chinh la khoang thoi gian hoi chieu kha ngan; ieu nay se khien cho vi tuong nay thuc su rat kho chiu.Khi a co rong bang thi luc nay viec nguoi choi tiwyvern la gien hanh bao ve 1 en 2 chess tanker thuan khoi bi don sat thuong vat ly se thuc hien vo cung on gian va de dang. Ben canh o thi Winter Wyvern chi co gia thanh la 1$ nen nguoi choi co the so huu cung nhu la rat de choi va de trung thuong.Cach thuc hien cong iem ky nang thong dung nhat oi voi Wyvern o la thuc hien cong max vao skill tr wyvern la giLoai Rong-rn 01 Headache SuffererHeadache sufferer: When she was alive, she was an infamous, abnormal murderer, but when you compare hers with the cruel hobbies of people like her, her characteristic is that she is wide-ranging.In the case of the majority of serial killerswyvern la gi, those who enjoy killing people have murder as their foundation, those who enjoy pain have pain as their foundation, those who eat people have cannibalism as their foundation; they set up their own tendency in cruel hobbies. But she is not consistent. Disturbingly, she is believed to have enjoyed all of the above.But on the other hand, she is lacking the abnormal conduct that serial killers in recent years have displayed, such as raping and killing, taking a part of the body to form a collection, wyvern la gi and using people as ingredients in food.According to one theory, she suffered from horrible headaches. It is said that she was released from these headaches only when she abusing others.Of course, the authenticity of this cannot be confirmed.Though Elizabeth is noted only for her abnormality in this way, she also left behind good deeds. At the age of 15, she married her husband, Ferenc II and protected their dominion in his stead during the war, as he had a tendency to be absent.The two got along extremely well as husband and wife, and records indicate that Elizabeth invested funds into allowing domestic students to study abroad and assisting returning students in their studies, as well as planning the promotion of the arts and sciences within the country.There were rumors that she was interested in black magic, but it seems that this was actually the use of medicinal herbs to make something akin to what is known in the present day as a facial mask.Even the episode where she killed more than 600 women and the trial in absentia are theorized by some to be mostly false, derived from folklore and the Hungarian Habsburgs plan to expel her from their circles.However, even with that, it cannot be said that all her actions were false charges. Even if the torture devices and cruelty drama are folklore, that she enjoyed killing people is clear from the circumstantial evidence.02 The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark said she had shifted her public appearances and changed her routines in fear for her safety. Darron Cummings/Associated Press A Texas man accused of stalking WNBA player Caitlin Clark was arrested after posting on social media that he traveled to Indianapolis and was driving past her house multiple times a day. Fifty-five-year-old Michael Lewis, whose X profile shows over 100 tweets aimed at Clark between this past Saturday and Sunday alone, was arrested Sunday and charged with stalking, according to Marion County jail records. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The probable cause affidavit says Lewis tagged Clark over and over in tweets between Dec. 16 to Jan. 2, making sexually explicit comments about the Indiana Fever guard and saying he wanted to come watch her games. Some of the tweets the affidavit highlights: "They said I was sending threatening texts..but the only though (sic) on my mind was.CAITLIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNN" "We are coming to u live from downtown indy and we have a special guest named Michael on vacation from Texas" "Been driving around your house 3x a day..but dont call the law just yet" On Wednesday, officers went to a hotel where Lewis was staying in Indianapolis for a welfare check, the affidavit said. Investigators asked why he posted so often about Clark, and he told them, "just the same reason everybody makes posts." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers told Lewis to stop making posts that could be perceived as threatening, and Lewis responded by saying his interactions with Clark were "an imagination, fantasy type thing and its a joke." After receiving a report Friday that Lewis was engaging in possible stalking behavior with the repeated X posts, the Marion County Sheriff's Office requested information from the social media site and verified that Lewis was the one behind the account. The disclosure from X also showed some of his posts were made from IP addresses at a downtown Indianapolis hotel and the Indianapolis Public Library, the affidavit said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Investigators spoke Saturday with Clark, who said she had shifted her public appearances and changed her routines in fear for her safety. She does not know Lewis and never responded to any of his posts, according to the affidavit. The same day, Lewis tagged the WNBA star in over 50 posts on X. Then on Sunday, he tagged her in about 60 more posts before getting arrested. On Tuesday, Lewis appeared in court, where he announced he was "guilty as charged" the first of his repeated outbursts during the hearing, NBC News reported. The judge ultimately entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf and set bail at $50,000. But Lewis, who told the judge he lives out of his car in Texas and needed his medication, said he didn't want to get out, NBC News reported: Advertisement Article continues below this ad I dont want bond, bail, whatever," he said. "Im here. Im staying. First Gold Pour - Boorara Gold Project Perth, Jan 15, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide an update on operations and gold production from the Boorara gold project ("Boorara"). The first stockpile of 56,654 wmt @ 0.8g/t Au was accepted by Paddington early in December 2024, and ongoing haulage has continued throughout December and into January 2025. HIGHLIGHTS - On Tuesday 14 January 2025, Horizon poured its first gold bar from Boorara under the Ore Sale Agreement with Paddington Mill. - Horizon entered into an Ore Sale Agreement with Norton Gold Fields' Paddington Mill for 1.24Mt of Boorara ore for processing over 18 months. - Horizon approved the development of Boorara in late July 2024 to mine a series of four open pits containing 1.24Mt of ore at 1.24g/t Au for 49.5koz of gold. - The first stockpile of approximately 56k wmt of Boorara ore has been hauled to Paddington over December 2024 and January 2025 for processing. - Open pit mining is progressing safely however is running behind schedule, mainly due to lack of dust suppression via water trucks which were down for repairs and since then have been repaired and are operational. As of 14 January 2025, the entire stockpile No.1 had been hauled to the Paddington Mill ROM. Prior to this date, and early in January 2025 Horizon achieved 50% of the delivery schedule and agreed the first invoice estimate with Paddington which is now payable on or about 21 January 2025. At the same time mining continues at Boorara pits 2 and 4 building the next stockpile for haulage. Commenting on the mining progress, Managing Director and CEO Mr Grant Haywood said: "We are delighted to become Australia's newest gold producing company in 2025. We have a Mineral Resource of 1.8Moz across our projects and developing a sustainable gold production pipeline which includes numerous projects that are ready for a Final Investment Decision, such as Penny's Find and the Cannon projects. With the cashflow we expect to generate from Boorara and our other advanced projects, we will seek to use this production pipeline to feed a refurbished Black Swan mill after completion of our proposed merger with Poseidon Nickel Limited." *To view photographs, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/056J6Y2B About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Related Companies PAP commandos advance in tactical battle formation China Military Online) 09:19, January 15, 2025 Commandos assigned to Hezhou detachment under the Chinese People's Armed Police (PAP) Force Guangxi Corps move in tactical battle formation while searching for targets during a counter terrorism training exercise on January 2, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Bihai) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) With UK homeowners and businesses battling the lasting impacts of Storm Bert and Darragh, Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT) warns that 2025 will be a record year for flooding-related costs for both insurers and homeowners if attitudes towards communication dont change. The Association of British Insurers has seen a year-on-year rise in property claim payouts due to weather, with claims reaching 136 million in Q3 2024 alone. And with more than 5.5 million homes and properties in England at risk of flooding, insurers need to ensure their approach equips customers with the tools they need to mitigate damage before its too late. However, Quadient research from 2024 shows that only 17% of UK consumers believe that that insurance industry communicates effectively with customers. The cost of flooding spreads far wider than insurance payouts, with a significant impact on UK spending and budget. Flood prevention costs the UK 2.2 billion every year, and the government has committed 2.4 billion over 2024-25 and 2025-26 for flood defences. Alan Newman, Enterprise Manager, Insurance at Quadient, said: The impact of climate change is being felt across the UK as the frequency of and devastation caused by floods continue to increase. Many people experienced first-hand the damage that the various storms in 2024 caused, and we will no doubt see the same if not worse this year. However, the damage caused by floods is being exacerbated by a lack of proactive communication from insurers to flood-prone customers. A mindset and technological change from the insurance industry is long overdue to give customers the best possible advice before, not after, a flood happens. There is already technology and data available that allows proactive and personalised communications to customers. The issue is it isnt always being used in this way. For instance, many insurers arent connecting the data from water sensors and meters to their communication strategies. As an example, when water rises to a certain level insurers could automatically warn customers and provide personalised prevention advice based on each customers location or circumstance. If a storm is predicted, the company could also automatically remind customers about what their policy does and doesnt cover and precautions the customer could take to reduce the risk of a claim. Communication from insurers has traditionally been reactive rather than proactive, continued Newman. The industry plays a significant part in reducing the impact of floods, both before and after they happen and this starts with better customer communication. As well as being timely, it is vital that all communications are clear and simple so that customers can quickly and easily understand the steps they need to take. Weve seen how the likes of Consumer Duty in financial services has made really clear communication essential, and so something similar for insurance could play dividends. Flooding is already an incredibly stressful experience for many people. Ensuring it offers advise before, during, and after the worst happens, will help the insurance industry reduce the risk of being seen as simple profiteers. Get set to discover Delhi NCR and Bengaluru like never before? BluSmart, South Asia's largest all-electric ride-hailing service and EV charging infrastructure network, introduces BluSmart Darshan an exciting new way to explore Delhi NCR and Bengaluru through curated city tour packages and customizable travel itineraries. Designed with flexibility in mind, BluSmart Darshan provides customised rental rides, hassle-free pick-up and drop-off points, and packages that cater to every interest. Whether its uncovering quaint cafes, diving into the cities vibrant cultural scene, going on a spiritual temple tour to scenic landmarks or immersing yourself in the historic charm, BluSmart lets riders craft unforgettable memories with ease and comfort. Customers can choose from thoughtfully designed packages on the app for couples, group of friends, families and travellers. Both cities offer a host of options like Delhis Past & Present, Foodies Day Out, Gurgaon Night Out, Divine Delhi Tour, Markets in Bengaluru to Icons of Bangaluru and many more. Commenting on BluSmart Darshan, Anirudh Arun, Co-founder and CEO, BluSmart Fleet, said, "We are thrilled to launch BluSmart Darshan, offering a truly customised city experience. Whether youre a family, a group of friends, solo traveller, or first-time visitor, our packages are designed to immerse you in the citys rich culture while enjoying sustainable and hassle-free transport at your own pace." BluSmart continues to lead the way in revolutionizing urban mobility, blending innovation with environmental responsibility. With BluSmartDarshan, the company reinforces its commitment to providing unique, customer-first solutions that redefine the ride-hailing experience. The service is available for both iOS and android users in both cities. The alco-bev industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation, with consumer preferences shifting toward experimentation and premiumization. In this interview, Diwakaran Suryanarayana, Chief Operating Officer of Som Distilleries & Breweries Ltd., shares insights into how the company is leading these changes. By leveraging digital engagement and storytelling, Som Distilleries is building meaningful connections with its customers. The company is also tapping into the growing trend of at-home consumption and addressing the rising demand for premium offerings, redefining strategies to retain and expand its consumer base in an increasingly competitive market. What are the current marketing trends in the alcoholic beverage (alco-bev) industry that Som Distilleries & Breweries Ltd. is leveraging to retain customers in an increasingly competitive market? The alco-bev industry is witnessing a shift towards increased consumer experimentation, where customers are eager to try new and unique products. Som Distilleries is tapping into this trend by enhancing its digital engagement strategies, leveraging social media platforms to interact directly with consumers, and building online communities around their brands. Additionally, brands are focusing on storytelling to build a strong brand identity and emotional connection with consumers, highlighting the unique heritage, values, and distinct characteristics of their offerings. While planning to launch new brands we are keeping this at the centre of it and this approach not only differentiates Som Distilleries from competitors but also helps in retaining customers by fostering brand loyalty through continuous engagement and interaction. How do you see the influence of international brands shaping the Indian alco-bev market, and how is Som Distilleries positioning itself to compete with these global players? MNCs that play in India come into India with their premium brands that are available globally. This in a way influences Indian companies like ours to foray into premiumization and over a period of time we see the Indian companies take lead in developing and marketing different premium offerings be it beer or spirits. The ISM space is a great example. We are focusing on offering unique, high-quality products such as premium beer unique & different packaging which resonate with the evolving preferences of the Indian market. By emphasizing local flavours, innovative products, and maintaining competitive pricing, Som Distilleries aims to carve out a niche in the increasingly competitive landscape, appealing to both traditional and modern consumers. With government policies and regulations continuously evolving, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee for the Indian alco-bev industry, and how is Som Distilleries navigating this landscape? The Indian alco-bev industry faces significant challenges due to evolving government policies, particularly the high taxes and duties imposed on beer compared to spirits, despite beer having a lower alcohol content. The varied regulatory environment across states also poses challenges. However, Som Distilleries is navigating these challenges by leveraging its deep understanding of state-specific regulations and maintaining ongoing dialogue with regulatory authorities to advocate for more business-friendly policies. On the opportunity side, these challenges also open up avenues for strategic innovation and market differentiation. By staying agile and responsive to regulatory changes, Som Distilleries shall continue to grow and adapt in this complex environment. Connecting with young beer drinkers is crucial in todays market. What strategies is Som Distilleries employing to engage this demographic and build long-term brand loyalty? Som Distilleries is keenly focused on understanding the preferences and desires of todays young beer drinkers. We are launching brands and campaigns that resonate with this demographic, offering a variety of products at different price points to cater to diverse tastes and budgets. By emphasizing innovation and introducing new and exciting products, we keep the younger audience engaged. Additionally, the company is actively looking forward create interactive and engaging marketing campaigns that appeal to the tech-savvy younger generation in coming times. This multi-faceted approach helps in building a long-term relationship with young consumers, ensuring brand loyalty. As the demand for premium beers and fine spirits rises, how is Som Distilleries elevating its product offerings to cater to this growing segment of discerning consumers? Som Distilleries is responding to the growing demand for premium beers and fine spirits by continuously innovating its product line. Our new premium Woodpecker beer caters to consumers seeking higher-quality products. By maintaining a strong innovation pipeline, Som Distilleries ensures that it stays ahead of market trends and meets the expectations of discerning consumers who are willing to pay a premium for a superior drinking experience. How has the consumption of alcohol in India changed over time, particularly in the post-COVID era, and what trends do you see emerging in terms of at-home consumption and premiumization? Post-COVID, the dynamics of alcohol consumption in India have shifted significantly. At-home consumption, once considered taboo in middle-class households, has become more socially acceptable. There has also been a notable increase in out-of-home consumption as people seek to enjoy life more fully after the restrictions along with increasing incidences of consumption by female consumers. The trend of at-home drinking has persisted even as restrictions have eased, fuelled by the expansion of home delivery services across many states. Moreover, there is a clear shift towards premiumization, with consumers increasingly opting for higher-quality, craft, and artisanal alcoholic beverages. The growing middle class, with its rising disposable income, is driving this trend, as they seek unique experiences and superior products. Som Distilleries is tapping into these trends by focusing on premium offerings and enhancing the overall drinking experience, ensuring that their products meet the evolving expectations of the Indian consumer. In summary, the consumption of alcohol in India has shifted notably in the post-COVID era, with increased at-home drinking and a marked trend towards premiumization. These changes are shaped by evolving consumer preferences, greater online accessibility, and a growing focus on quality and experience. Dentsu has appointed Giulio Malegori as Chairman and Acting CEO, dentsu Americas, overseeing the integrated growth strategy and business execution for dentsu within the Americas region, effective immediately. Malegori will continue to serve concurrently as EVP, Global Chief Operating Officer. Joining dentsu in 2010, Malegori has held various leadership roles across the organization, including both market and regional level CEO positions. In 2023, he was promoted to Global COO and has since been responsible for overseeing the operations of dentsu globally. Giulio is a charismatic and thoughtful leader who can see both the detail required in assessing client needs, while also easily being able to take a step back and develop the strategy needed to drive a large business, and team, forward to success, said Hiroshi Igarashi, Representative Executive Officer, President & Global CEO, dentsu While heading up our global operations, Giulio oversaw the efficient and effective functioning of the organization and his experience in bringing together the skills, technology, and data to grow will prove critical as dentsu takes its next steps towards becoming a people-centered transformation business. We congratulate him on this appointment and look forward to sharing in future successes. Malegori will work closely with the talented senior leadership group across the Americas that includes: Jeff Greenspoon, Chief Business Officer, Americas & Global Practice President - Integrated Solutions, dentsu; Sean Reardon, CEO, Americas Media Practice; Abbey Klassen Global Brand President, Dentsu Creative & CEO, Dentsu Creative U.S.; Pete Stein, Global Practice President - CXM and President Merkle Americas; Shirli Zelcer, Chief Data & Technology Officer, dentsu; Stephen Kiely, CEO, Tag Americas; Patrick Hounsell, CEO, dentsu Canada; and Juan Pedro McCormack, CEO dentsu LATAM. Dentsu is at a pivotal and monumental stage in its history as we come together under a single global strategy with so much combined potential, said Malegori. The Americas region is dentsus second largest after Japan but is also ripe for growth at a time when brands need partners to deliver clear competitive and creative differentiation. Increasingly, I see a new generation of marketing executives who want partners that can drive growth, innovation, and quantified business value. Whether it is identity-driven audiences, customer lifetime value, insight-led creative, or mass personalization, clients are thinking about the entire customer journey from both a brand and performance perspective. I am so proud to take over leadership of the Americas team and cant wait to deepen relationships with clients and colleagues alike. Award-winning designer Juan Carlos Pagan, co-founder and partner at creative studio Sunday Afternoon in New York, has developed the first brand identity for the Young Ones Student Awards, one of the worlds most acclaimed competitive showcases for advertising, digital communication and design students. Young Ones branding presented a challenge, as the program encompasses four separate competitions. Three of the competitions Young Ones ADC, Young Ones One Show Brief competition, and Young Ones TDC have origins in other awards from The One Club for Creativity, each with their own well-known icons. Pagan chose to leverage these existing icons the historic Art Directors Club ADC Cube, The One Show Pencil, and Type Directors Club circular seal to develop a simple and dynamic new icon that incorporates all three shapes around the central Y representing Young Ones. The identity extends to each of the individual competitions, where the flat, singular design allows them to stand on their own by highlighting the original cube, pencil or circle shape in yellow within the context of the overall Young Ones branding icon. The branding was very much an exercise in geometry and reduction, said Pagan, a past winner of multiple Cubes, Pencils, and TDC certificates, and a current TDC Advisory Board member. We needed a simple way to bring the three show icons together. Luckily, each of the competitions has an ownable icon. The trick was to make sure the mark both housed and highlighted the individual competitions that live within Young Ones. This was crucial to the success of the new icon. He added the new branding rests seamlessly within the context of existing One Club logos. It sits nicely alongside the others, while at the same time carries its own weight. The branding also works in conjunction with the Young Ones 2025 call for entries campaign, designed by Lebassis. Jury announced An esteemed global jury of 124 top creatives from 28 countries was also announced today for the 2025 Young Ones Student Awards. Entries are now being accepted, with the regular deadline of February 28, 2025, and final deadline of March 14, 2025. For more information, please visit the Young Ones entry site. Winners will be announced on May 12 at an evening ceremony during The One Clubs annual Creative Week in New York. In addition to receiving awards, all past winners have their work permanently featured in the Young Ones archive. Winners also amass points for their schools which are used to compile The One Clubs annual global Creative College Rankings. Also Read: Cannes Lions Announces 2015 Jury Presidents KRBL Ltd., a global leader in the food industry and parent to India Gate Basmati Rice brand announces the appointment of seasoned professional Subhash Chandra Yadav, Deputy General Manager, Modern Trade in the Domestic Sales Division. This strategic initiative aims to strengthen KRBLs position in the rapidly expanding modern trade sector and promote sustainable growth in domestic markets. In his new role, Subhash will spearhead the expansion of KRBL's modern trade channels, addressing the ongoing consumer demand and evolving market preferences with strategic precision and innovation. With over 15 years of professional experience, Subhash has built a stellar career across esteemed organizations such as Nestle, Reckitt Benckiser, and NIVEA India. Most recently, he served as Deputy General Manager at The Hershey Company, where he honed his skills in market research, consumer behavior analysis, and delivering innovative consumer experiences. Subhash holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from I.I.S.E Lucknow and a PGDBM from IMS Ghaziabad. Commenting on his appointment,Kunal Sharma, Head of Marketing & Business Head, Modern Trade and E-Commerce, said, We are thrilled to welcome Subhash to the KRBL family. His proven track record in developing strategic initiatives and driving modern trade growth aligns perfectly with our vision to enhance KRBLs domestic sales footprint across both online and offline channels. Modern trade is quintessential to KRBLs strategy as it plays a pivotal role in ensuring our products reach a wider consumer base, offering convenience, accessibility, and enhanced brand visibility. With Subhashs expertise, we are confident that our sales strategies will reach new heights, further strengthening the basmati category and newer categories we are venturing into. This appointment highlights KRBLs commitment to fostering industry-leading talent and embracing innovative strategies to further its mission of delivering excellence. Under Subhashs expertise, the Department is poised to enter an exciting new phase of growth and innovation. The whos who of the Indian advertising industry converged in Mumbai on January 11, 2025 to celebrate media colossus Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Madison Media & OOH, who was conferred with the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. This prestigious award is the highest recognition in the Indian advertising industry, given to individuals whose work has made a lasting influence. With nearly 40 years of experience, Vikram Sakhuja, an alumnus of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, has held key roles at renowned organizations like P&G, Coca-Cola, Star TV, WPP, and Madison. His career began in 1984 with DCM Management Trainee, followed by his joining P&G in 1988, and later taking up brand marketing at Coca-Cola. He then moved to Star TV before joining WPP, where he became the first Indian Global CEO of a global advertising agency. Currently, he is the Equity Partner and Group CEO of Madison, India's largest independent media agency. Contributions to the Industry Sakhuja has played a significant role in the industry, having led GroupM South Asia and Mindshare, chaired FICCIs Advertising & Marketing Committee, and been a member of key industry boards such as BARC and AAAI. His leadership at GroupM introduced innovations in mobile, social media, and content, resulting in the agency winning over 50% of industry awards. Sakhujas initiatives have redefined Indias advertising landscape, from launching iconic brands like Ariel and Sprite to pioneering media research methods. Industry Leaders Celebrate Vikram Sakhuja Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands India: In my view, this is very appropriate recognition given his immense contributions, not just to his company, but to the industry as a whole. He holds a global role, and as the only true global CEO India has ever produced, his achievements are unparalleled. Serving as the Global CEO of Maxus is an exceptional milestone, setting him apart in terms of professional accomplishments. On the industry front, he is deeply involved, contributing significantly to various platforms. He serves on the BARC platform, is the Vice Chairman of MRUC, and is actively involved with ABC. His dedication to industry bodies and his expertise as a research practitioner demonstrate his commitment to advancing the industry. These two key aspects his remarkable professional achievements and his extensive contributions to the industry make this recognition well-deserved. Kartik Sharma, Group CEO, Omnicom Media Group India: Working with Vikram is nothing short of transformative. Having had the privilege to collaborate with him, I can confidently say and I know I speak for a good deal of people that he is not just a phenomenal leader and mentor, but a rare gem in our industry. Vikram has an extraordinary gift: he sees your true potential, often before you do, and relentlessly inspires you to rise to the best version of yourself. His unwavering tenacity and dedication over the years have shaped countless journeys, including mine, revealing the best in those fortunate enough to cross his path. A trailblazer of Indias advertising landscape, Vikrams influence and impact extend beyond the boardroom and across the entire industry. I am so thrilled that he is being conferred with this well-deserved recognition by AAAI. A true gentleman, an inspiring confidant and an incredible leader, he embodies the excellence this award celebrates. And knowing Vikram, this is just one of many accolades his incredible journey will earn. Anita Kotwani, CEO - Media, South Asia, dentsu: A great leaders courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position. John Maxwell. For me, Vikram is that boss who is passionate about the clients business, driving their goals, motivating teams to go that extra mile to excel as professionals. He has played an instrumental part in my growth journey as a professional and I feel proud to have had the opportunity to learn so much from Vikram. Amin Lakhani, CEO Mindshare South Asia: Vikrams influence goes far beyond his professional accomplishments. His authenticity and passion for excellence has inspired countless individuals. This recognition is not only a celebration of Vikrams achievements but also the values he embodies. We continue cheering for Vikram and a huge congratulations to him on reaching this incredible milestone! Navin Khemka, CEO, EssenceMediacom South Asia: Vikrams contributions to the advertising and media industry are unparalleled and have left an indelible impact on our industry, shaping its past, present, and future. When he was the global CEO for Maxus, I had the privilege of working with him closely. He has set benchmarks that many aspire to emulate. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to him and wish him many such achievements in the future. Sunil Lulla, Founder and Chief Evangelist, The Linus Adventures: The Ad Industry does not easily let those not from advertising easily sit on the top of the hill. Vikram broke the myth with his RD Burmanesque style of combining data, insights, market smarts, sheer grit, brilliant intelligence and his musical dance moves. Not unusual just exceptional! Lionheart and braveheart in one. Congratulations to the blistering barnacles, aka Vikram Sakhuja long live your reign! Lara Balsara Vajifdar, Executive Director, Madison World: I am delighted that Vikram is winning the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award. I cant think of anyone more deserving than him to win this prestigious award. He has contributed immensely to Madison, his earlier companies and the media industry. KV Sridhar, Founder & COO, Hypercollective: I have known Vikram as a client since he was with Coca-Cola many decades ago. He has always been a forward-looking leader, who adopts newer thinking and technology. Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. today announced its financial results for the December quarter, reporting a profit of 25.68 crore. While revenue from operations reached 1,360.50 crore, the company noted that year-over-year comparisons are not directly possible due to the significant impact of the merger of its subsidiary, Viacom18, with Star India. Key Financial Highlights: Consolidated Profit: Despite the merger's impact, Network18 reported a consolidated profit of 25.68 crore for the quarter. Revenue Growth: Revenue from operations stood at 1,360.50 crore. Exceptional Items: A significant exceptional item of 1,425.73 crore was recorded, primarily attributed to the derecognition of subsidiaries. Standalone Performance: On a standalone basis, Network18's revenue was 476.41 crore, and profit reached 3,431.94 crore, driven by these exceptional gains. Merger Impact: The company recorded exceptional gains of 3,498.21 crore related to the Viacom18 merger and the conversion of preference shares held by Reliance Industries. Operating Performance: Revenue Growth: Operating revenue for the quarter was 476 crore, marginally higher year-over-year. Advertising Challenges: The company noted a challenging advertising environment, with soft consumer demand impacting advertising spends. Industry Trends: The TV news industry experienced a slight quarter-over-quarter increase in advertising volumes but a 11% year-over-year decline, impacting revenue growth.1 The digital segment continued to show growth in advertising revenue.2 Viacom18 Merger and Outlook: Joint Venture: The merger of Viacom18 with Star India was completed on November 14, creating a major player in broadcasting and digital streaming. Network18 retains a 6.3% effective economic interest in the joint venture.3 Management Commentary: Chairman Adil Zainulbhai emphasized the successful restructuring of the business and expressed optimism about the growth of the television network and the digital business. Also Read: Network18 reports profit, reflecting Viacom18 merger Digital agency Signifly has announced the appointment of Yvette Yanne as the new Head of Strategic Accounts in Toronto. This hiring marks a significant milestone for Signiflys Toronto office, which opened last September, following the success of the Montreal team. Yvette joins Signifly with an impressive background leading major agencies across global markets. Her experience includes senior roles such as EVP of Innovation and Transformation at Appnovation in Toronto, Managing Partner of Digitas at Publicis Sapient Hong Kong, General Manager at Nurun Hong Kong, and Global Client Partner at Havas Helia in London. Her leadership expertise, combined with her passion for delivering exceptional user experiences, makes her a natural fit to help drive Signiflys growth in the Greater Toronto Area and Canada. I was drawn to Signifly because of the exceptional work the team producescreative, sophisticated, and deeply aligned with business goals, said Yvette Yanne. Signifly combines purpose and innovation to drive meaningful business outcomes, and Im excited to bring that dynamic energy to Toronto. The team here is brimming with ambition, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit, and I look forward to fostering strong client relationships, growing our presence, and delivering exceptional results. Yvettes addition comes at a time of momentum for Scandinavian agency Signifly as it expands its unique offering into the GTA. With a focus on creating digital experiences, e-commerce solutions, and brand-building campaigns, Yvette will lead client partnerships and support businesses in achieving long-term growth. Her experience working with diverse, multicultural teams aligns with Signiflys inclusive approach to team building and innovation. We are incredibly excited to welcome a leader of Yvettes calibre to Signifly, said Nicklas Rnning, Managing Partner at Signifly Canada. Her extensive experience leading major agencies and driving business success is invaluable to our team. Having her on board at the very start of our expansion into the GTA market underscores our commitment to the region. At Signifly, were dedicated to creating exceptional digital experiences that help businesses succeed, and Yvette is the perfect leader to deliver on that promise. With this strategic hire, Signifly is set to bring its Scandinavian ethos of innovation, purpose, and results-driven design to even more partners in Toronto's competitive market. Among its recent projects, Signifly spearheaded the rebrand and e-commerce refresh of Diva, the digitalization of drivers licenses in Denmark, and the new brand positioning of Rapport London. Dr Bhaskar Das, a stalwart of Indias media industry has passed away after a valiant battle with illness. Das had a top management career spanning over 4 decades, which rendered an integrated exposure, including line function, profit centre and brand management. From a management trainee in 1980 to progressing as President, Response of BCCL and subsequently with ZEE Media Corporation as Group CEO has been an accomplished feat for Das. At BCCL, Das was responsible for 90% of BCCLs turnover and during his stint of 6 years as President, the advertising revenue augmented from Rs 1,560 crore to Rs 4,200 crore. I was a Board member of BCCL, and its various subsidiary companies. He had played a key role in conceiving and launching Mumbai Mirror in 2005. In his LinkedIn post, Das had written, Leadership, as I define it means to deliver outcomes and not outputs which have been my guiding principle in life. Identifying and mitigating pain points come naturally to me. Driving dramatic revenue growth, managing transformations in legacy companies, understanding consumers, inspiring team members and spearheading turn-around strategy are some things that energize me. People who have worked with Das, describe him as an insight provocateur, catalyst, a leader who develops the stage for others to perform, actualizes with soaring energy levels and a student who learns a lot from teams and shapes them. Also Read: SCREENXX 2024 today: Madhur Bhandarkar, M&E stalwarts to celebrate content creativity Gov. Greg Abbott comments on the potential increase of illegal immigration from Venezuela during a press conference at the DPS Southeast Texas Regional Headquarters in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer It did not take long on the first day of the Legislatures session for Gov. Greg Abbott to resume hostilities against the states largest city. Just under 5 minutes into a speech kicking off the 140-day session, Abbott pointed to Houston as an example where people are not following the laws and need to be reined in. The reality is there is a failure across this state to follow the constitutional laws of the United States and of this state, Abbott said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Then he referenced state Sens. Joan Huffman and Paul Bettencourt, both Houston Republicans, and told the crowd they are from a city where murderers are being let out on bail to commit other murders. We have a problem with judges not adhering to the law, Abbott said. It is going to be up to us in the Senate and the House and me working with you to make sure we do something about that so we stop criminals from killing other innocent people in our state. Action Bail Bonds is photographed at night Wednesday, June 30, 2021, in downtown Houston. Defendants usually pay bail bonds companies 10 percent of their surety bond amount to get out of jail. Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The shot Abbott didnt single out any other cities was unexpected for Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, a Democrat and the chief civil lawyer for the county, who was in the audience in Austin as Abbott spoke. He said he was there mostly to try to show his willingness to work collaboratively with Republicans and Democrats in Austin and avoid some of the animosity that has dominated the relationship with the state over the last few years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was disheartening to hear the governor take a warning shot at Harris County like that, Menefee said. But Im going to keep trying to partner with people. Over the years, Abbott and the Texas Legislature have taken aim at Houston and Harris County over a host of issues, including election laws, taxes, the response to COVID-19, bail reform and even trying to ban them from regulating businesses like tow truck companies and music festivals. Already this year, the Legislature has threatened to pass more laws to stop Harris from pursuing a guaranteed income program to help the poor like they did last year, which has been blocked by the courts after a lawsuit from Attorney General Ken Paxton. For Abbott, a former judge and a Republican, bail reform has long been an unfulfilled priority in the Texas Legislature. For years, hes pushed for the Legislature to pass laws to end what he's called easy bail policies in places like Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We must shut and lock that revolving door by passing laws that keep dangerous criminals behind bars, Abbott said in 2023 at the start of the last regular session of the Legislature imploring them to pass tougher laws on the issue. Meta's recent shift towards reduced content moderation has sparked a debate within the advertising and marketing industry. Industry leaders express concerns about the potential rise of hate speech, misinformation, and the erosion of trust in social media platforms. While some argue that reduced moderation champions free speech and unlocks creative opportunities, others fear it could alienate brands and negatively impact society, particularly in a diverse nation like India. The second part of this feature explores the diverse perspectives of industry experts on the implications of this shift and the ethical considerations for brands navigating this evolving landscape. Societal implications Given the role of social media in shaping public opinion and political discourse in India, the societal implications of reduced content moderation, especially around topics like caste, religion, and gender, can be far-reaching and insidious. Dinakar Menon, Managing Partner, BigTrunk, is of the opinion that the reduction of content moderation by Meta introduces a double-edged sword. On one hand, he adds, it champions free expression, potentially unlocking untapped creative opportunities. On the other, it risks alienating brands wary of being associated with harmful or divisive content. Especially in India, where digital platforms shape public opinion on polarizing issues, the stakes are higher. Brands must weigh their ethical obligations against business priorities, striking a delicate balance. Perhaps this is less about choosing sides and more about shaping the digital landscape responsibly for advertisers, platforms, and society alike, Menon adds. Siva Balakrishnan, CEO & Founder of Vserve, highlights the serious consequences of reduced content moderation in India, where social media heavily influences discussions on sensitive topics like politics, religion, and caste. He emphasizes that these topics are highly sensitive and often lead to heated online debates. Without proper content moderation, misinformation and hate speech can easily spread, escalating tensions, disrupting social harmony, and potentially even inciting violence. Balakrishnan also warns about the potential for echo chambers to form, where extremist voices are amplified while marginalized groups are silenced. He states that this risks eroding the democratic spirit of social media, turning it into a hostile and untrustworthy space. Unchecked content during elections can manipulate public opinion, undermining the integrity of the electoral process. Political parties may exploit this lack of moderation to spread propaganda and fuel division. In a diverse nation like India, moderation is not just about controlling speech; it's about ensuring that online spaces remain safe, inclusive, and representative for all. Platforms like Meta must acknowledge the gravity of their role in this ecosystem and strive to find a balance between free expression and accountability, Balakrishnan adds. Yash Chandiramani, Founder and Chief Strategist, Admatazz, also believes that also believes that it could have a tremendous impact as social media can get extremely vile, especially with the bullying and fake news. Community notes has proved to be helpful on X, but it still puts the burden on the user and that can be a hit of a miss. Algorithms as the villain Experts like Ashish Bhasin warn of the dangers of algorithmic bias on social media. In a diverse nation like India, algorithms designed to maximize engagement can amplify harmful content, fueling social unrest. Bhasin brings in an example from Yuval Noah Hararis book Nexus. In it, Harari discusses the impact of AI algorithms on social media, citing instances like the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and the Bolsonaro presidency in Brazil. These examples highlight how algorithms can exacerbate societal issues by amplifying negative or inflammatory content. Bhasin points out that in India this is particularly relevant given our diverse and multifaceted society, with millions of social media users. The countrys diversity spanning states, castes, religions, and ideologies makes it imperative to be cautious about the role of social media algorithms. The concern is not only about fake news, but also about how algorithms present and prioritize content. Algorithms, often designed to maximize engagement, tend to promote sensational or controversial content because such content attracts more views and interaction. This creates a vicious cycle, where inflammatory or polarizing material is amplified, while constructive or balanced voices are sidelined. In a country like India, where even a small spark can trigger widespread unrest, the societal risks of such algorithmic behaviour are significant. Therefore, India must adopt a more vigilant approach not just from an advertising perspective but also from a broader societal standpoint. Ensuring that social media platforms and their algorithms do not inadvertently fan the flames of hate speech or divisive rhetoric is essential for maintaining harmony, states Bhasin. The fact remains that no content moderation will ever be perfect, and the debate between both ends of enforcement will stay divisive, points out Chetan Asher, Founder and CEO, Tonic Worldwide. Whether the purported shift toward free speech and individual agency provides a net benefit remains to be seen, but imperfectly enforced policies, at either extreme, can certainly have significant consequences. Its also evident that users and brands will take a more active role in shaping their online experiences than they have in the past, Ashar says. Rishi Sen reckons that the internet has brought the world closer, amplifying voices and opinions through online content. While free speech is a fundamental right, reduced moderation could lead to more challenges than solutions. To address this, its crucial for authorities to emphasize fact-checking and improve the ability to distinguish between real and false information. According to Sunitha Natarajan, Director - Digital Strategy, Social Panga, while Meta is a powerful platform, we should not solely hold them responsible for the implications of their actions. She argues that we havent yet figured out how to empower social media platforms to effectively moderate harmful content while simultaneously preventing them from controlling speech and potentially censoring legitimate viewpoints. Furthermore, we havent found a way to create media systems that are resistant to manipulation by both powerful corporations and governments. Ethical responsibility In a market like India, where misinformation and hate speech have led to significant offline consequences, doing away with moderation policies by a platform as mammoth as Meta can have concomitant consequences. Do Indian brands have an ethical responsibility to reconsider their ad spend on platforms like Meta reducing moderation, even if it means sacrificing reach and precision targeting? Brands will always advertise where their audiences are spending time, says Rishi Sen. He believes that it doesnt make sense to advertise elsewhere where consumers arent looking. As of now, Sen points out, Meta and Google remain the biggest platforms where consumers spend most of their time online. Having said that, both brands and agencies should be equally responsible to ethically advertise, especially ensuring the safety of marginalized communities to the best of their ability. We are continuously evolving as a society, and with that come newer perspectives, causes and ideologies. As marketers who influence people for a living, we need to lead the way, setting the right example for others, he states. Sunitha Natarajan says that while the decision to reconsider ad spend on Meta platforms will vary based on individual brand values, scale, and target audience, it is crucial for brands to carefully weigh the potential risks and rewards. Prioritizing long-term brand reputation and social responsibility conversations alongside business objectives is essential in navigating this evolving landscape. Yash Chandiramani is of the opinion that the decision of whether to advertise on a particular platform is an individual one for each brand. He suggests waiting to observe the impact of any changes before drawing hasty conclusions. He acknowledges that individuals have the personal choice not to use a particular platform. However, if advertising on a platform is legally permissible, a business should make decisions that prioritize the financial well-being of the company. According to Siva Balakrishnan, ethically, brands hold significant influence. By reconsidering ad spending, they send a strong message that safety and integrity matter more than reach or precision targeting. Such actions could push platforms to prioritize moderation and accountability. However, Balakrishnan adds that theres a trade-off. Reducing spend on Meta could mean losing access to its massive audience. Brands must evaluate whether this aligns with their values and long-term goals. Some may choose to reallocate budgets to safer platforms or invest in campaigns that promote awareness against misinformation. In a socially complex market like India, brands have the power to lead by example. Upholding ethical standards in advertising isnt just about profit its about contributing to a healthier, more responsible digital ecosystem, he concludes. In conclusion, Metas reduced content moderation policy presents a complex challenge for brands navigating the evolving digital landscape. While free speech is paramount, the potential societal implications, including the rise of hate speech, misinformation, and the amplification of harmful content, cannot be ignored. The ethical responsibility of brands extends beyond simply maximizing reach and revenue. By carefully evaluating their advertising strategies, prioritizing ethical considerations, and potentially reallocating budgets to safer platforms, brands can play a crucial role in shaping a more responsible and inclusive digital ecosystem in India. Also Read: The danger is when their love turns into a lethal obsession, says Taniya Kalrra Toonz Media Group is thrilled to announce the appointment of Asiana Licensing as their sub agent, one of South Koreas premier licensing and merchandising companies, for its hit childrens series Creepy Candy. This collaboration will bring an exciting new lines of Creepy Candy products to the South Korean market, offering fans of the show a unique and creatively designed merchandise collection. Co-produced by Toonz Media Group and Leadbelly Productions, Creepy Candy is a 4-minute, 26 episode animated series that captivates children aged 4 to 12. The series follows a quirky tale set in a spooky old library, where a bag of candies accidentally left behind on Halloween night comes mysteriously to life. With the help of a mischievous host spirit, the animated candies embark on a hilarious, creepy adventure, all while trying to avoid the delightfully wicked librarian who wants to eat them. "This partnership with Asiana Licensing is an exciting opportunity to expand the Creepy Candy brand and bring our beloved characters into new forms that will delight children and collectors alike," said P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group. "We are confident that Asianas industry expertise will help us create a truly unique product offerings that will capture the imagination of the South Korean audience." The lovable and eccentric characters of Creepy Candy were created by Alan Summa, the award-winning creator and founding president of Leadbelly Productions. His inventive design work will now be featured in a variety of innovative merchandise, aimed at sparking creativity and imagination in young fans. Alan Summa, President of Leadbelly Productions, Leadbelly Productions is excited to partner with Asiana Licensing as representatives of Creepy Candy. They are a highly respected and successful Licensing agency and a perfect fit for the property. We are looking forward to working with Asiana Licensing as we expand Creepy Candy's global reach to South Korea. Asiana Licensing, a longstanding leader in the Korean licensing and merchandising industry, is poised to bring this exciting product line to market, with the companys rich history and expertise ensuring the highest quality merchandise that will resonate with Creepy Candy fans. With its charming characters, spooky yet playful premise, and a strong partnership with Toonz Media Group one of the worlds most leading animation studio, Creepy Candy is set to become a beloved brand that brings laughter and adventure to children everywhere in South Korea said Kim Yangsoo, CEO Asiana Licensing Also Read: Toonz Media and Angel Studios launch "Gabriel and the Guardians" globally University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell is stepping down and joining UA faculty, he announced today. He took office as president in 2015. As I reflect on this last decade, I am filled with pride and gratitude for all the accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, he wrote in an email Wednesday. The University of Alabama has enjoyed consistent record-breaking momentum in enrollment, research and fundraising while enhancing the Alabama Experience to equip our students for success. Under Bells leadership, UA had the largest number of in-state, first-year students in history. Last falls enrollment is 40,800, according to a news release. The campus earned R1 status from Carnegie Classification for high research activity and UA remains one of the fastest growing universities in research activity in the nation. Research funding reached nearly $270 million in 2024. Bell launched UAs Rising Tide fundraising campaign in 2016. The campaign reached its $1.5 billion goal last year. He previously served 16 years on the UA faculty and was chair of the mechanical engineering department and founder and first director of the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies. The university will launch a national search for its next president. As our University continues its positive direction, the moment is right to announce plans to complete my tenure as president mid-summer. I am grateful for the longstanding support of our Board of Trustees and UA System leadership and will work with them for a seamless transition. It has been my honor to work with you during my 26 years here, including the last 10 as your president, and I look forward to a future return to the faculty." Ringo Starr is taking Nashville by storm this week, performing two sold-out shows at the Ryman Auditorium after the release of a new country album, Look Up. The former Beatle, 84, is teaming with an all-star cast of guest artists for his concerts on Jan. 14 and 15, including Alabamas Emmylou Harris and Jamey Johnson, Rodney Crowell, Jack White, Sheryl Crow, Brenda Lee, Billy Strings, Mickey Guyton and The War and Treaty. The shows are being filmed for a two-hour TV special, according to Variety, and proceeds from Ringo & Friends at the Ryman are set to benefit the American Red Cross and those impacted by the California wildfires. Air date for the CBS special is TBA. Harris, a country-folk icon, gave an extra boost to Tuesdays concert, officially welcoming Starr to Nashville and asking him to celebrate another milestone in Music City: his Grand Ole Opry debut. Id love to, thank you, Starr said. Its an honor and a pleasure. Thank you. All right! Harris responded, We love you, Ringo. (Watch that moment in the Instagram post below, which includes a video from the Opry.) Starr jokingly asked if his Opry show would be in July, but its set for much sooner, according to a publicist. Hell perform on Feb. 21 at the Opry House, 600 Mills Drive in Nashville, as part of festivities for the Oprys 100 year. Folks behind the scenes at the Opry touted Starrs debut, as well. What an honor that after all the extraordinary music he has made and all the incredible history hes been a part of, Ringo Starr will be making his Opry debut during this, the Oprys milestone 100th year, Dan Rogers, executive producer and senior vice president for the Opry, said via a press release. Its going to be a night like no other. Starr released Look Up on Jan. 10, and the first single from the album, Time On My Hands, dropped on Oct. 18, featuring his distinctive vocals. Grammy winner T Bone Burnett, a roots music powerhouse, was Starrs primary collaborator on the album, producing all 11 tracks and writing or co-writing most of them. Its Starrs first full-length album since 2019, and the followup to a 1970 record with strong country influences, Beaucoups of Blues. Starr and Burnett have a mutual admiration society that dates back to the 1970s, according to Variety, although the two never collaborated in a high-profile way until this album. (Starr played drums on a 1977 release, Spark in the Dark, by one of Burnetts early groups, the Alpha Band.) Ringo Starr, right, is set to release a country album, "Look Up," on January 10, 2025. Producer and co-writer is T Bone Burnett, left. The first single, Time On My Hands," was released on Oct. 18.(Courtesy photo/Dan Winters) Ive always loved country music, Starr said via an October press release. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didnt even think at the time that it would be a country song but of course it was, and it was so beautiful. I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album. And I am so glad we did. I want to thank, and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to. Several guest artists from the country, Americana and bluegrass worlds are featured on Look Up, as well: Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius and Larkin Poe. READ: Rock legend goes country, teams with famed producer: 84 years old, and hes still getting better Fans in Alabama who cant attend Starrs concerts in Nashville neednt fret, however. They have another chance to see him perform live, on June 24 at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater in Tuscaloosa. Starr is scheduled to perform with his All Starr Band, which features Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Alabamas Buck Johnson. Tickets are $41.50-$505, plus service charges, via Ticketmaster. Starr doesnt often perform in Alabama, but he made a rare appearance in Birmingham in 2015, playing at the BJCC Concert Hall. The two-hour show was arranged in jukebox style and featured Photograph, Dont Pass Me By, It Dont Come Easy, Yellow Submarine and With a Little Help From My Friends. RELATED: See photos of Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band performing at Birminghams BJCC Concert Hall The former Beatle also made two stops in Alabama in 2012, at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach. Neil Gaiman has responded to a New York Magazine cover story in which several women accused the Sandman and Coraline author of sexual assault, writing on his personal blog, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever. In the full statement, posted Tuesday morning, the author expressed regret for how he has handled personal relationships, writing that I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could or should have been. However, he underlined that he denies any allegation of sexual assault: Im not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I cant accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didnt do. Back in July, Tortoise Media broke the news that Gaiman had been accused of sexual assault by two women and released a six-part podcast, Master, which covered the allegations of five women. However, the NY Mag article amplified the story as the first major news organization to corroborate the full extent of the allegations against Gaiman. In the NY Mag piece, titled There Is No Safe Word, reporter Lila Shapiro spoke to eight women who had similar experiences with Gaiman, four of which also participated in Tortoises podcast. The accusers that spoke to NY Mag included a babysitter for Gaiman and his ex-wife Amanda Palmers child, a caretaker for Gaimans property in Woodstock, N.Y., a fan who first met the author when she was 18 and a woman who alleged he attempted to sexually assault her on his tour bus. Many of the women alleged that Gaiman had a preference for rough sex and BDSM activities that had not been consented to beforehand. Gaiman has strenuously denied all allegations against him since the Tortoise podcast came out, asserting that all relations were consensual; this new blog post marks his most comprehensive statement on the allegations yet. Since Tortoises bombshell report in July, several of Gaimans film and TV projects have been affected. Season 3 of Prime Videos Good Omens will now end with one 90-minute episode, with Gaiman not part of the production. Disney paused production on its film adaptation of The Graveyard Book and Netflix canceled Dead Boy Detectives, though its unclear if it was related to the allegations. But The Sandman Season 2 is still expected to release this year on Netflix, in addition to Prime Videos Anansi Boys series adaptation. Read Gaimans full statement below. Over the past many months, I have watched the stories circulating the internet about me with horror and dismay. Ive stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation. Ive always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters. Ive now reached the point where I feel that I should say something. As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I dont, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen. Im far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever. I went back to read the messages I exchanged with the women around and following the occasions that have subsequently been reported as being abusive. These messages read now as they did when I received them - of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again. At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides. And I also realise, looking through them, years later, that I could have and should have done so much better. I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could or should have been. I was obviously careless with peoples hearts and feelings, and thats something that I really, deeply regret. It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other peoples. Ive spent some months now taking a long, hard look at who I have been and how I have made people feel. Like most of us, Im learning, and Im trying to do the work needed, and I know that thats not an overnight process. I hope that with the help of good people, Ill continue to grow. I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care what I say but Ill be doing the work anyway, for myself, my family and the people I love. I will be doing my very best to deserve their trust, as well as the trust of my readers. At the same time, as I reflect on my past - and as I re-review everything that actually happened as opposed to what is being alleged - I dont accept there was any abuse. To repeat, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality. I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. Im not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I cant accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didnt do. 2025 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe appears for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ratcliffe, a former conservative congressman from Texas, served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Andrew Harnik/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe, accompanied by former Attorney General John Ashcroft (C), greets Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) (R) as he arrives for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ratcliffe, a former conservative congressman from Texas, served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) John McDonnell/Associated Press WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: Chairman Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), accompanied by Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) (L), gavels a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's expected nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ratcliffe, a former conservative congressman from Texas, served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Andrew Harnik/Getty Images John Ratcliffe, seated right, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) John McDonnell/Associated Press WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for CIA Director John Ratcliffe speaks with former Attorney General John Ashcroft (R) as he arrives for a Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ratcliffe, a former conservative congressman from Texas, served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe told senators on Wednesday that if confirmed to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, officers should "find a new line of work" if they're not committed to the agency's mission of intelligence gathering and conducting covert action "at the direction of the president." The statement, made during a confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, comes as President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans have criticized the CIA as politically biased and too focused on ensuring greater diversity among the ranks. "We must be the ultimate meritocracy," said Ratcliffe, one of three Texans nominated to serve in Trump's cabinet, and the first to face a confirmation hearing the U.S. Senate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I will unapologetically empower the most talented, hardest working, and most courageous risk-takers and innovators to protect the American people and advance Americas interest, and I will not tolerate anything or anyone that distracts from our mission." Republicans' focus on so-called social justice issues stems from a recent push by the CIA to broaden recruitment beyond white males following a 2015 report by the Obama administration that the "absence of diversity at the senior levels of the CIA is itself an obstacle to the advancement of talented and experienced intelligence officers." And it's fueled by a larger skepticism around the objectivity of the CIA expressed by both parties in recent years. On Wednesday, Democrats questioned whether Trump's attacks on CIA officers and pledge to overhaul the U.S. intelligence agencies was aimed at installing loyalists. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Negative comments by leaders has a negative impact on recruitment," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the senate intelligence committee. "Today is your opportunity to reassure the men and women of the CIA they do not fear reprisal for speaking truth to power." Ratcliffe pledged he would. But some Democrats questioned whether his commitment to the president came first, pointing to his decision in 2020 to divulge a classified inquiry into whether presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had approved plans to try and tie Trump to a Russian hack of the Democratic National Committee ahead of the 2016 election. The letter, including the information, was sent on Sept. 29, 2020, the same day as the first presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. "You made it very clear that avoiding the politicization of intelligence agencies is a high priority," said Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. "It strikes me a releasing politically sensitive intelligence that you'd think carefully about the timing of that." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ratcliffe said he was responding to requests from various government officials in making the intelligence public and was "unaware" that it was released the same day as the debate. Democrats seemed to accept that explanation a sharp contrast with their questioning Monday of Peter Hegseth, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, Republicans praised Ratcliffe as a veteran intelligence and law enforcement official, ready to shake up an agency they said had failed to keep up with burgeoning threats around the globe. "In just the law few weeks the members of this committee had no forewarning of the New Orleans terrorist attack or the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria," said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., chairman of the senate intelligence committee. "We're too often in the dark." A former federal prosecutor in Texas who worked for years with John Ashcroft, attorney general under former President George W. Bush, Ratcliffe has enjoyed an easier confirmation process than when Trump picked him as Director of National Intelligence at the end of his first term. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Following criticism that Ratcliffe had little experience in foreign affairs and had padded his resume as a prosecutor, Trump initially withdrew the nomination. But seven months later he re-nominated Ratcliffe, despite warnings from Warner and other Democrats they would oppose him. The Senate approved his confirmation 49-44 along party lines, the first time that had happened since the position of national intelligence director was created following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This time around, there was little signal from Democrats they intended to oppose Ratcliffe's nomination. After Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asked Ratcliffe whether would do anything differently in his declassifying the inquiry into the Clinton campaign, he said he didn't know, and Kelly did not pursue the issue further. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The City of Irondale will shine blue lights for the next 30 nights in honor of a police lieutenant who was killed last week when he was hit by a vehicle while directing traffic outside Church of Highlands. Lt. Mark Meadows died Jan. 6. A military veteran, Meadows began his 30-year law enforcement career at the Mountain Brook Police Department and spent the majority of his public service at the Irondale Police Department. Mayor James Stewart is asking residents to join in on the tribute by burning a blue light on their porches or tying a blue ribbon to their mailboxes for the next 30 days. Lieutenant Mark Alan Meadows was more than an officerhe was a protector, a friend, and a beacon of integrity, Stewart said. His bravery and dedication touched countless lives, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. Let us come together as a community to show his family and all of law enforcement that we honor his legacy and will always remember his service. The City of Irondale will shine blue lights for the next 30 days in honor of Lt. Mark Meadows who was killed Jan. 6, 2025, when he was hit by a vehicle while directing traffic outside Church of Highlands.(City of Irondale) Stewart also set July 12 as Lt. Mark Alan Meadows Day. This day will serve as a lasting reminder of his commitment to justice, his love for the community, and the profound impact he left on the City of Irondale, Stewart said. Meadows was killed that Monday morning when he was putting out traffic cones as the churchs 21 Days of Prayer service was about to let out. It was just before 7 a.m. when Meadows was hit at the intersection of Grants Mill Road and Overton Road. He was pronounced dead at Grandview Medical Center at 7:39 a.m. Alabama State Troopers said the Chevrolet Colorado that struck Meadows was driven by 32-year-old Evan N. Sullivan of Leeds. The driver stopped at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and it will allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the ceasefire would go into effect on Sunday. He made the announcement in the Qatari capital of Doha, the site of weeks of painstaking negotiations. Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas had earlier confirmed that a deal was reached, while the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said final details were being ironed out. All three U.S. officials and the Hamas official requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha. Netanyahus office said in a statement that it hoped details will be finalized tonight. An Israeli official familiar with the talks said those details center on confirming the list of Palestinian prisoners who are to be freed. Any agreement must be approved by Netanyahus Cabinet. Once official, the deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether. Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though its unclear if all are alive. It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives. Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilized the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gazas population and sparked a humanitarian crisis. More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023. The U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in the Gaza. Israel responded with a brutal air and ground offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. U.N. and international relief organizations estimate that some 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be underway in northern Gaza, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents. The best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people, Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, said of the ceasefire deal. Thank God. Thank God. Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and shelters in Gaza City, said he hopes to return and to rebuild his home. As he spoke to AP by phone, his voice was overshadowed by the celebrations of fellow Gazans. People are crying here. They dont believe its true, he said. In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israels military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air. As the deal was announced, some people were unaware that it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but wont believe it until she sees all the hostages come home. Im so desperate to see them if by some miracle my father has survived, she said. U.S. President Joe Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework. He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day. The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. Hamas had been demanding assurances for a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas military and governing capabilities. The various players have conducted months of on-again, off-again negotiations. But with Bidens days in office numbered and President-elect Donald Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal. Trump celebrated the soon-to-be-announced agreement in a posting on his Truth Social social media platform: WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU! Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks. But Trumps threats to Hamas and his efforts to cajole Netanyahu deserve credit as well. The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential U.S. foreign policy can be when its bipartisan, Panikoff said. Hezbollahs acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks for Iran and its allies across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated. Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll. Israel says it has killed around 17,000 militants though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing the group of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague, has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war. Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts. Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages, whose plight has captured the nations attention. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas. Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader. Hamas, a militant group that does not accept Israels existence, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gazas largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who was believed to have helped mastermind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have been killed. But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamass military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if its even possible, given the groups deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership. If the ceasefire takes hold, both sides face many difficult and unanswered questions. As the war winds down, Netanyahu will face growing calls for postwar investigations that could find him at least partially responsible for the security failures of Oct. 7 the worst in Israels history. His far-right governing partners, who opposed a ceasefire deal, could also bring down the coalition and push the country into early elections. There is still no plan for who will govern Gaza after the war. Israel has said it will work with local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. But it is unclear if such partners exist, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with Israeli forces. The United States has tried to advance sweeping postwar plans for a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with Arab and international assistance. As part of those plans, the U.S. hope Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel in return for U.S. security guarantees and aid in setting up a civilian nuclear program. But those plans depend on credible progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu and much of Israels political class oppose. Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza as well as the occupied West Bank, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for their future state. In the absence of a postwar arrangement with Palestinian support, Hamas is likely to remain a significant force in Gaza and could reconstitute its military capabilities if Israeli forces fully withdraw. UPDATE - Alabama Supreme Court: Nursing mothers exempt from jury duty after outcry Previous story: Jefferson County mothers are hopeful that a recent courtroom incident will lead to better legal protections for nursing women. Kandace Brown on Jan. 13 said she reported to the Jefferson County Courthouse for jury duty with her 3-month-old daughter Parker in tow. For the next few hours, Brown said she was met with threats and hostility from judges and other courtroom employees after she told them her baby had to stay with her to be breastfed. I went today with Parker in tow (in the middle of sick season) and it was a horrible experience, Brown wrote in a Facebook post. There were 2 other mothers there and the judge said that those with children there need to make accommodations for their children to be picked up. (The judge said) they would hate for DHR to be involved!!! Brown claims Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Shanta Owens is the one who threatened to call DHR. She added that Circuit Court Judges Elisabeth French and Marshell Jackson Hatcher also addressed the group. Brown said she had called and turned in forms to be excused prior to reporting for jury duty but was refused. The judge would not excuse me, and said I need to make accommodations for her, she posted. I said I could not or my baby couldnt eat. She [Hatcher] made me sit back down to wait another almost hour for all the excuses to be heard. Efforts to obtain comments from Judges French and Hatcher on Wednesday were not immediately successful. Judge Owens, in a statement to AL.com on Wednesday, said Brown was excused and called the situation a misunderstanding. The juror was indeed excused a short time after arriving for jury service, as was any other similarly situated individual called for jury service, Owens statement read. I, too, am a mother and have been a breastfeeding mother previously and therefore, would excuse jury service for a period of time for any individual under the circumstances. Owens added that under state law there are well-established mechanisms in place to excuse individuals from jury duty prior to service. I take these procedures seriously to ensure that the jury selection process runs lawfully, smoothly, and efficiently. If any additional laws are enacted regarding jury service or any other matter, I would be delighted to follow those laws as well, Owens wrote. I have been serving as a judge for over 16 years and, throughout this time, I have seen firsthand how vital it is for our justice system to function without disruptions, the most important of these being jury service. The integrity of the judicial process is paramount, and I will continue to work toward ensuring that our trials proceed fairly and efficiently for all parties involved. Brown said that after waiting an hour she was released from jury duty and sent to the front to speak with a clerk. The clerk sat me down at her computer, got my name and date of birth, how old my baby was, when she would turn one year old and said, You are released for the day, but you will be called back very soon, and you cannot bring your baby with you, Brown said in an interview with AL.com. If Im still breastfeeding, Im going to have to (bring the baby). I dont have a choice. Like she would literally starve for the day or the week if I was chosen, if I come back. And (the clerk) said, All Im telling you is you cant bring your baby with you... She said, Well, you should pump. How could the courts dictate how my child eats? Brown said. Shes a tiny 3-month-old. Were not talking about a 2-year-old here. Brown said her experience was awful and that she was surprised there werent greater protections in place for mothers. Latest: Alabama lawmaker backs common sense jury exemption for nursing mothers Im honestly just appalled at our judicial system concerning women and childrens health, she wrote in her post. I will absolutely report for jury duty and serve. I just cannot when my infant daughter depends on me for her basic need in life. The treatment we experienced today was awful. He told me he was disgusted and appalled. Browns post has received thousands of reactions. Other mothers have come forward to say they have had similar experiences at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Mary Ellen Moore said she was publicly humiliated by an unnamed judge after she was forced to serve in August 2024 with her nine-month-old child who was breastfeeding. While I was holding my infant in my arms, the judge proceeded to absolutely berate me in front of a large group of people in the court room, Moore told AL.com. He told me he was disgusted and appalled that a mother would use her child to get out of jury service. He said he was shocked that I would expose my baby to all the germs at the courthouse because of my selfishness. He said I should have made arrangements. Another mother, Rebekah Reed, said her husband had to take off work when she was summoned for a third time as her toddler son was breastfeeding. At my second summons date (after being released the first time due to breastfeeding), I brought my kids with me again because I was still breastfeeding, still a primary caregiver, etc., she said. The judge I spoke with this time was incredibly rude and condescending. She said, Cant someone come get them? and Why cant you just put them in daycare for a week? She told me they would not defer me again after this time, so when I showed up for my third summons (a year after the first, with my son still breastfeeding), my husband took off of work to watch the kids at a brand-new job with only a few days of PTO. What does the law say? Under Alabama law, there are no protections exempting nursing mothers from jury duty. In 2022, former state representative and current State Auditor Andrew Sorrell sponsored a bill that would have excused nursing mothers from serving as a juror. Sorrell said he was told by the House Committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections that he had a solution looking for a problem. My wife was pregnant at the time, Sorrell said. She said, Hey, theoretically, what would happen if I got called to jury duty and I have a nursing infant? And I said, well, obviously you would be excused under Alabama law. And then I checked it. Not true at all. I drafted a bill and introduced it. When I got that bill before committee and presented it, the objections from legislators were, Do you have any stories of anyone this has actually happened to? I said, Well, I mean, not off the top of my head, but that doesnt mean its not happening, Sorrell recalled. Their other objection was .... any reasonable judge would exempt a nursing mother from jury duty, he said. Well, as we found out two days ago, not all judges are reasonable. Sorrell said while hes very sorry for what happened to Candace, this was all entirely preventable. And the thing is, this is not a partisan issue, he continued. Democrats and Republicans can both agree that Candace has a 3-month-old. How in the world is she supposed to do jury duty with a 3-month-old that exclusively breastfeeds? He added that the DHR comments Brown reported were over the line and suggested that the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission look into it. After reading Candaces story, Sorrell said he reached out to Rep. Susan Dubose, R-Hoover and Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield who have started the steps to take up his previous legislation. Alabama always says its a pro-family state, but this is one of the most anti-family provisions in the law, Sorrell said. Brown said Dubose has reached out to her several times this week already. Efforts to reach Dubose and Weaver for comment were not immediately successful. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, also expressed interest in adding to her existing prefiled legislation that would extend legal protections for nursing mothers at work to also protect mothers on juries. The president of the largest Black denomination in the country said he wants to have a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. The Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention USA, said its time to put a divisive election behind the nation and unite to move the country forward. I want to meet with President Trump to share some of the issues which we have in our denomination, Kimber said. We have 7.2 million people. There needs to be a conversation between he and I and some of our leaders to talk about how we move forward, and how we help our poor communities. The National Baptist Convention USA installed Kimber as president in a service Jan. 13 at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. The denomination is having mid-winter board meetings through Thursday at the BJCC. Even at Kimbers installation, which featured more than a dozen guest preachers speaking, there were anti-Trump remarks. But Kimber said hes ready to move past opposing Trump and work with him. Hes president, Kimber said. Its all over. The country, whether its good or bad, has got to circle and give the support to the present president thats coming in. Kimber had plenty of critics and opposition in a controversial Sept. 4 election in Baltimore. Hes hoping the denomination is fully behind him now. The thing about the National Baptist Convention, whoever becomes president, thats who they line up behind, Kimber said. The election is over. I won by 69 percent of the vote. It is almost like President Trump, running for president. While many National Baptist leaders have questioned the future of civil rights in America under Trump, Kimber said the nations civil rights legacy is strong enough to endure. People ask that about every Republican president: Is civil rights in danger? Kimber said. I think we must ask the question: How can civil rights continue to help America? America needs to understand civil rights. Were at the cradle of civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. It has had its ups and downs. In reality, civil rights will be here when you and I are gone. In an interview at 16th Street Baptist Church, where four girls were killed in a KKK bombing in 1963, Kimber said he wants to encourage unity and working together. Lets not forget about what happened here at this church, Kimber said. Lets not forget our fathers and mothers who marched in the streets of Birmingham and who were hosed with water hoses and (attacked by) dogs. We will never forget that. We will keep striving. Things will get better each day. A retired Auburn University engineering professor is facing federal charges for allegedly failing to report income from Chinese companies and money he held in Chinese bank accounts on his taxes, according to an indictment. Fa Foster Dai, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Auburn whom the university said retired in October, was also allegedly a corporate executive officer of Shenzhen NRT, Co., Ltd., a company based in China, according to the indictment filed against Dai in federal court in Montgomery in September and unsealed on Monday. Dai, a 60-year-old former Auburn resident, allegedly used accounts with China Merchants Bank and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China to receive payments from at least five Chinese entities and failed to report that income on his federal tax returns for 2018 through 2020. He is charged with three counts of making and subscribing a false tax return and two counts of willful failure to file report of foreign bank and financial accounts. Besides failing to report foreign income for tax purposes, the indictment noted U.S. citizens and residents who have a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, a bank account in a foreign country with a combined value of more than $10,000 at any time during a particular calendar year, are required to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) with the United States Treasury. The indictment alleges that Dai failed to file the required FBAR reports for the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China account in 2018 and the China Merchants Bank account in 2020. Auburn University sent AL.com the following statement on the indictment: Fa Foster Dai retired from Auburn University on Oct. 1, 2024. Auburn fully cooperated with law enforcement and the U.S. Attorneys office during their investigation. If convicted, Dai faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and an up to $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other factors. A 15-minute police chase in south Alabama ended with a murder suspect being arrested by police, according to a Baldwin County Sheriffs Office spokesperson. Ramon White was the individual arrested, according to the Mobile Police Department. White is the last person police were looking for in connection to the December 16 murder of Jermaine Crawford on Darwood Drive. Three other men were already arrested for the murder. The chase started in Baldwin County at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Interstate 65 after an attempted traffic stop for a stolen vehicle out of Georgia. White fled causing officers to pursue before the chase ended at about 2:30 after officials spiked the car at the 43 mile marker. Upon apprehending White officers learned he was a murder suspect out of Mobile, the BCSO spokesperson said. White will be charged with murder and burglary, Mobile police said. Three teens are under arrest after authorities say they were caught conducting reconnaissance for a robbery. Two of the suspects are 13 years old, and the third is 14, said ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett. On Tuesday, officers with the Montgomerys Metro Area Crime Suppression unit spotted the trio in the 400 block of East South Boulevard. As the officers approached, the suspect ran away. All three were captured after a foot chase. One of the 13-year-olds, Burkett said, was recognized by officers on scene from a law enforcement bulletin issued by Crime Stoppers regarding the same business being robbed in a previous incident. All suspects confessed to their involvement and have been charged with second-degree robbery. They were released into the custody of their guardians. The Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit, knowns as MACS, was launched June 24 to address a surge in violent crime in and around Montgomery. MACS is made up of law enforcement officers from ALEA, the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan made a case for her run for Birmingham mayor on the Gary Richarson Morning Show on WJLD radio.Screenshot Birmingham city leaders are playing a deadly game of Russian roulette when it comes to their inadequate response to violence in the city, a challenger for the mayors office said. Were seeing a game of Russian roulette only for the purpose of someone getting back in office or to bolster their credibility, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan said this morning during an appearance on the Gary Richardson Morning Show on WJLD radio. At the end of the day, whos next? Givan spoke this morning, a day after Mayor Randall Woodfin delivered his State of the City address and a follow-up town hall. Woodfin Tuesday used most of his State of the City message to detail the recent city crime commission report, its recommendations and action steps already underway. Givan today portrayed a dystopian view of the city with a slew of unmet needs, most importantly public safety. No one is slinging mud. This is an election and everything that I say to you is going to be facts, Givan said. The fact of the matter is, did Birmingham have its higher murder rate last year? Fact. Are the streets decayed and our communities dilapidated? Fact. Listen, is the response time for the service needed by the citizens of Birmingham really lacking at this time? Thats fact. Birmingham ended 2024 with 151 homicides , the highest number in the city since 1933. As Woodfin seeks a third term the issue of crime has already become a central political theme from critics and challengers. Birminghams police force has dipped from 822 officers in 2017, the year Woodfin took office, down to 639 in 2023. The numbers come the citys 2023 annual comprehensive financial report. When it comes to tougher gun legislation, a call by Woodfin, Givan said that most of the gun crime in Birmingham comes from people who have illegally obtained weapons. The permit-less carry deals with legal guns. Birmingham has a problem with these killers using illegal guns they bought on the black market, Givan said. In addition to crime, Givan discussed core city services such as street paving, demolition, and lot cleaning. The interview with Richardson did not include outside calls or questions during her hour-long appearance. Givan recalled former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford and his 23 in 23 program, a massive public works cleanup launched in 2008. The program included removing tons of garbage, cutting grass, towing junk cars and tackling blight in 23 communities in 23 days. The rotating cycle of trash and debris cleanup was a promise Langford made during his campaign for mayor. The program was successful. However, Langford at the time lamented the publics lack of cooperation in maintaining cleanliness. Later administrations, beginning with former Mayor Wiliam Bell, modified and trimmed the program after complaining about the cost from overtime spending that it required. Givan offered her own version of the Langford program. In 122 days, were going to clean up this city, she said. Were going to have a clean sweep. That means if I cant resurface every street, certainly I can fill these potholes. On the other hand, Woodfin Tuesday discussed the citys amended operating budget which includes $19.5 million for street paving, new sidewalks, weed removal, and demolition of vacant buildings. Still, Birminghams public works department has shrunk from 840 workers in 2017 to 536 in 2023, according to city finance reports. Givan also referenced Langfords former campaign slogan, Lets Do Something. It was that campaign in 2007 where Langford unseated a two-term incumbent mayor on a platform largely focused on public safety and public works. Regarding current low rates of resident participation in voting and community input, Givan called apathy a symptom of failed leadership, she said. Theyre disengaged, theyre tired and theyre sick and tired of being lied to, she said. Birmingham city elections are August 26. A north Alabama man was indicted by a grand jury on abuse of corpse charges in connection with the death of a woman who disappeared five years ago in what authorities called a significant breakthrough in the investigation. Orlando Javier Whiteside, of Colbert County, was arrested and taken to the county jail following the grand jurys indictment this month, the Colbert County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday. Whiteside was indicted on a charge of abuse of a corpse in connection with human remains found in November 2020 that were identified in May as belonging to Courtney Vivian Staggs, who was 35 years old when she disappeared Aug. 10, 2020 in Florence. Staggs was reported missing Aug. 13, 2020. Her remains were found in a remote, rural area of Colbert County on Nov. 18, 2020. In May, the remains were positively identified as belonging to Staggs. After the remains were identified, the investigation led to a suspect in the case and Whitesides arrest, said Colbert County Sheriff Eric Ballantine. The investigation into Staggs death is ongoing, the sheriff said. We remain committed to seeking justice for Courtney Staggs and her family, Ballantine said in a statement. This is an important step forward , but the investigation is ongoing, and we expect more arrests to come. English News Agricultural innovators contributing to China's comprehensive rural vitalization Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 13 Janvier 2025 Rural vitalization hinges on talent. Zhejiang province has set a target to cultivate 100,000 agricultural innovators,by 2025 who will help 1 million farmers increase their income. The province has already nurtured 300 outstanding rural talents, 4,600 leaders in rural industrial vitalization, 81,000 agricultural innovators, and 275,000 "new farmers." This robust and dynamic rural talent pool is vital in driving comprehensive rural vitalization. By Gu Chun, Liu Junguo, People's Daily In the tranquil winter of Huangyangjian village, Zhanmao neighborhood, Putuo district, Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang province, the aroma of roasted rice wafts through the air at the "Rabbit Market." Everything at the market exudes the unique charm, such as traditional mud stoves, clay teapots and bamboo chairs commonly found in the countryside. The "Rabbit Market" was launched by local resident Xia Ziyu in 2022 upon her return home from working out-of-town. The market specializes in discovering, enhancing, and selling local farm produce. "Guanyin rice is a specialty of Zhoushan. We have adopted rice roasting technique from Yunnan province to make tea with it," Xia said, while skillfully stirring the rice, attracting many tourists. Currently, Xia's team consists of 21 people, mainly engaged in the commercialization of agricultural products and brand development, and supporting 200 pioneers in rural specialty products in livestream commerce. Last year, Xia was honored as a national young pioneer for rural vitalization. In Zhejiang province, tens of thousands of agricultural innovators have ventured into villages and become a significant driving force for comprehensive rural vitalization. Agricultural innovators, or farming entrepreneurs, are individuals below the age of 45 who take charge as leaders or stakeholders of farmer cooperatives, agricultural enterprises, family farms, or other agricultural production and operation entities. The village of Taipingshan in Shangyu district, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province boasts a long history. In 2022, Shangyu native Chen Liefeng, who was running a business in Shanghai, visited the village for the first time and discovered its beautiful scenery, but noticed the absence of agritainment and rural guesthouses. After researching ancient books, he found that the village has a long history of producing Polygonatum, also known as Solomon's seal. Chen then signed a cooperation agreement with Taipingshan village and became a farming entrepreneur there. The village contributed its unused forest resources as equity, accounting for 60 percent. Unlike artificially cultivated Polygonatum, the Polygonatum in Taipingshan is grown using a "natural growth" method, where villagers scatter the seeds in the high mountain forests without using pesticides or fertilizers, allowing them to grow naturally in the wild. Currently, there are more than 450,000 plants thriving after Polygonatum seeds were sown on over 1,000 mu (667 hectares) of mountain forests in the village. "We are not pursuing temporary 'internet fame.' We sow the seeds on hundreds of mu of land each year. When they become high-quality Polygonatum, we will achieve sustainable harvesting, which will be the long-term wealth of the village," Chen said confidently. With the development of the Polygonatum industry, the number of visitors and tourists has been increasing, and the village now boasts rural guesthouses, tea houses, and dining establishments. Zhejiang province has launched a project to nurture 100,000 agricultural innovators, providing support in terms of funding, land, technology, and more. In 2024, Zhejiang has initiated the construction of 100 modern farming entrepreneur parks and 500 bases for the common development of farming entrepreneur, offering a one-stop service including project incubation and skills enhancement, and promoting an entrepreneurship mechanism involving experts, farming entrepreneur teams and farmers. "With the government's support, we have successfully established a bamboo weaving workshop. In collaboration with schools, we are actively promoting intangible cultural heritage on campuses. Additionally, we have set up display counters at airports and five-star hotels, leading to a surge in orders," said Ye Shangjie, a bamboo weaving inheritor born in the 1990s, in an intangible cultural heritage exhibition hall in Xijiang ancient village in Yizhou district, Ningbo. Rural vitalization hinges on talent. Zhejiang province has set a target to cultivate 100,000 agricultural innovators,by 2025 who will help 1 million farmers increase their income. The province has already nurtured 300 outstanding rural talents, 4,600 leaders in rural industrial vitalization, 81,000 agricultural innovators, and 275,000 "new farmers." This robust and dynamic rural talent pool is vital in driving comprehensive rural vitalization. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Virtual anchors and hosts on the rise Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Chinese photographer devotes 38 years to recording beauty of Yellow River Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 13 Janvier 2025 In the summer of 2024, a photo exhibition themed "civilization dialogue between the Yellow River and the Nile" was hosted during the China-Africa People's Forum. To attend the exhibition, Liu was busy shooting photos of the Yellow River at different locations. By Li Rui, People's Daily "It's coming!" Liu Fuhai shouted, lying prone on a rock, one of his eyes pressed against his camera. Beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead. Roaring water in the Yellow River plunged from the cliff, making gigantic splashes that eventually turned into thick mists. Liu, holding his breath, clicked the shutter quickly to capture the grandeur of the Hukou Waterfall, the largest waterfall on the Yellow River. Liu, in his seventies, lives in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong province. He is a member of the China Photographers Association. The man has a deep affection with the Yellow River, known as the "mother river" of China. During the past 38 years, he has taken tens of thousands of photos of the river, from its source to its estuary in Dongying, Shandong province. To the Hukou Waterfall alone, he has made more than 40 visits, with each round trip covering nearly 2,000 kilometers. His affection with the Yellow River originated when he was an adolescent. "Back then, everybody enjoyed playing on the dam," Liu said, devastated by the rolling water in the Yellow River. In the 1980s, Liu worked in a vehicle manufacturing plant in Jinan. In 1987, he and his colleagues traveled afar to the Hukou Waterfall to take photos of it as promotional materials for his company. "It was midsummer. When we was approaching the waterfall along the bank, a steady thrum flew into our ears," Liu recalled. "The sound gradually became clear. As we stepped closer, a blurred vision of a waterfall appeared in front of us. The sound was like a train roaring past us. It was so exciting that we all jumped." Standing in front of the waterfall, Liu saw nothing but the tremendous momentum of the Yellow River, which brought back his boyhood memories. "This is probably the might of the mother river," he said, his eyes wet. On his way back, Liu decided to become a Yellow River photographer, so that he could present the beauty of the river to more people. Capturing the true essence of the Yellow River is no simple task. Determined to do justice to its beauty, Liu dedicated himself to honing his photography skills. He delved into numerous photo albums showcasing the river, and studied the techniques of composition, exposure, focus, and filters from seasoned professionals. With time and practice, he forged his own unique path towards capturing the river's magnificence. As a Yellow River photographer, he sometimes has to confront danger. Once, while searching for the perfect location to capture his shots, he walked onto the mud flat barefooted, and found himself stuck in the mire. Despite his efforts to free himself, he only sank deeper into the quagmire. "Half of my body was swallowed by the mud, yet my instinct was to raise my camera high to protect the precious photos, " Liu said. Thankfully, his fellow photographers came to his rescue and pulled him from the mud, but his soles were infected due to cuts by sharp rock, leading to a lingering ailment. Liu told People's Daily that capturing novel images can be challenging in commonly accessible locations. He holds that a photographer must find unique perspectives in places that are not easy to reach in order to create exceptional photographs. In 2019, Liu released a photo album featuring the Yellow River. Each photograph captured a distinct aspect of the river, narrating its own compelling story. "I wanted to use powerful visual impacts to demonstrate the dynamism of the Yellow River and the development of the regions along its course," Liu said. With his camera, Liu not only presents how folk customs vary along the banks of the Yellow River, but also records the rapid social and economic development. "Look, some places were once hindered by poor transportation," Liu said, flipping through his photos. "Through tourism, local people got rich, and tourists gradually began to appear in my photos. Today, tourists are everywhere. This is a real and tangible change." In the summer of 2024, a photo exhibition themed "civilization dialogue between the Yellow River and the Nile" was hosted during the China-Africa People's Forum. To attend the exhibition, Liu was busy shooting photos of the Yellow River at different locations. "I want to keep recording the beauty and telling the stories of the Yellow River with my photos," Liu said. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Virtual anchors and hosts on the rise Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Over 90 percent of international respondents optimistic about Chinese economy: survey on China's international image Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 13 Janvier 2025 With China's implementation of its relaxed and optimized visa-free transit policy, almost 70 percent of respondents have expressed willingness to visit China in the future. Additionally, compared to respondents in the 40-plus age group, respondents under the age of 40 have greater interest in, better impressions of, higher enthusiasm for, and stronger recognition of China. By Qiang Wei, People's Daily Global Times Institute on Jan.10, 2025 released its first survey on China's international image. The survey revealed that over 90 percent of foreign respondents believe that China's economy will continue to grow in the next decade. Besides, a majority of foreign respondents see China as a member of the Global South and hope that China will lead other Global South countries to jointly safeguard world peace, preserve cultural diversity, promote economic cooperation, and enhance international discourse power. The survey interviewed over 51,000 individuals from 14 developed and 32 developing countries, covering representative countries from every continent, and all G20, BRICS, and ASEAN countries. This is a global public survey with the largest scale, the largest sample size, and the most comprehensive and in-depth questionnaire design conducted by a Chinese institute since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The survey found that the majority of foreign respondents hold a positive view on China's future economic growth and development potential, with nearly 80 percent expressing confidence in China's development prospects. Almost 60 of foreign respondents recognize China as a major driving force of world economic growth. More than three-quarters of developing countries, Middle Eastern countries, and BRICS countries expect an increase in China's economic growth; this proportion reaches 85 percent in African countries, over 70 percent in European countries and ASEAN countries, and over 60 percent in developed countries. Sixty percent of foreign respondents agree that China's continuously deepening reform and opening-up are "in the right direction." About two-thirds see a bright and promising future for the Chinese economy, while 20 percent hold a neutral stance. African countries hold the highest favorable view (81 percent), while the proportion of Middle Eastern, BRICS, and developing countries exceeds 70 percent. More than 60 percent of respondents from European and ASEAN countries believe that the Chinese economy is bright and has great potential while more than 50 percent of developed countries hold the same view. In the questionnaire, respondents were asked to describe their main impression of China over the past year. The results show that the most frequently mentioned keywords include "economy," "technology/science," "developing/developed," "good," "strong/strong country," "advanced/innovation," "culture/civilization," "goods/products," "large population," and "Chinese food/cuisine." In developed, European, Middle Eastern, and ASEAN countries, "economy" is the most frequently mentioned term, while in developing, African, and BRICS countries, "technology" is mentioned most frequently. Regarding the overall evaluation of China and the Chinese people, nearly 60 percent of foreign respondents have a good impression, with over 30 percent holding a neutral attitude. Currently, the Global South is gaining remarkable momentum and playing an increasingly important role in the progress of humanity. In this survey, the vast majority of foreign respondents acknowledge China as a member of the Global South, with most of them hoping that China will lead Global South countries in jointly safeguarding world peace, preserving cultural diversity, promoting economic cooperation, and enhancing international discourse power. Regarding China's relationship with other developing countries, data from the survey shows that a significantly higher proportion of respondents agree that China is a partner to fellow developing countries, instead of "practicing Neo-colonialism," "creating a debt trap," "plundering resources," "transferring overcapacity", among others in Western narratives. So far, China has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries and has become a major trading partner for over 150 countries and regions. The survey highlights a universal aspiration for friendly relations with China among people across the globe. Over 80 percent of foreign respondents believe that their country's relationship with China is friendly, normal, and strategically cooperative, with 62 percent hoping for further improvement in relations with China. With China's implementation of its relaxed and optimized visa-free transit policy, almost 70 percent of respondents have expressed willingness to visit China in the future. Additionally, compared to respondents in the 40-plus age group, respondents under the age of 40 have greater interest in, better impressions of, higher enthusiasm for, and stronger recognition of China. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Technological cooperation leads to closer China-Africa economic, trade ties China's economic resilience, vitality in four sets of data Virtual anchors and hosts on the rise Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) About a century before the current crop of deceitful neologisms invaded and polluted our mindse.g. homophobia, islamophobia, transphobia, etc."anti-Semitism preceded them. Like the others, it is illogical and untruthful. For there to be such a thing as anti-Semitism, there first must be a thing called Semitism, when there is not now and never was. There never in history were any Semites, either. As you read on, you will see how the very idea of Semites at its inception was fake ancient history perpetrated by post-Christian Jew-haters. The earliest example of the word Semitic in the magisterial OED (Oxford English Dictionary) dates from 1826. It was a time when academic philologists were studying and categorizing different language families, e.g., the Romance languages, the Germanic, Slavic, etc., and when it came to Hebrew and its cognates, they invented the term Shemitic (sic) after the man Shem, son of Noah of Flood fame. (Over time, pronouncing the h fell away.) Only the OED got it wrong when writing of the existence of a Semitic race. Race is something commonly visible, a biological, immutable condition everyone is born with and can do nothing about. However, there is nothing in the Jewish religion about anybodys physical appearance. On the contrary, this people, scattered around the globe for eighteen centuries and welcoming converts, became the most racially mixed nation on earth; they come in all skin colors, hair textures, eye shapes, etc. Indeed, Hitler himself called the Jews a mongrel race because they cared nothing for racial purity. Image: Nazi pseudoscience about Semitic identity. Fair use. The OED also got it inexcusably wrong when writing, The Semitic race are those peoples descended from Shem as the Hebrews, Arabs, Assyrians and Arameans. Not true, and this is not the first time a non-Jew (probably) misread the Hebrew Bible in translation. Yes, the first Arab was Ishmael, son of the Hebrew Patriarch Abraham, who was ten generations descended from Noah via Noahs son Shem and also Abraham's wife Sarah. However, Ishmaels mother, Hagar, did not descend from Shem but from his brother, Ham. Hagar was a princess of Egypt, son of Ham, brother of Canaan, Put, and Cush. The Jewish Bible also reports that Ishmaels mother provided him with an Egyptian wife like herself, which is significant because the Jewish nation practices matrilineal descent. Therefore, Ishmaels mother was not Semitic but Hamitic, meaning that Ishmael and his wife and progeny were Hamitic, too. Historically, there never were any Semites and Hamites, though the terms are useful as spiritual archetypes. So, anyone who thinks Jews and Arabs are both sons of Abraham and, therefore, brother Semites who should kiss and make up doesnt know what he is talking about. As the philologists continued their research, society and the culture were morphing in the Enlightenment, a euphemism for the loss of faith in Christianity, which posed a problem for Jew-haters. Their traditional hostility was rooted in the belief that the Jews were all guilty Christ-killers, and the name for this verbal toxin in German was Judenhass/Jew-hatred. But, lose your faith in the divinity and messiahship of Jesus, and you no longer can hate the Children of Israel for killing your God and Messiah. What to do? You still hate them, but now need a new explanation. So, you pilfer the term Semitic from the study of languages and invent a race of ancient Semites living in Asiaand, to repeat, history is absent any reference to a people calling themselves Semites and being called that by others. The transformation of the Jewish nation into an Asiatic race made them as alien to Europe as black Africans. The Enlightenment and Napoleons spread of its egalitarian spirit in Europe led to Jews receiving citizenship, a revolutionary idea. However, many Europeans who were not Enlightenment philosophers were not happy with that. In 1819, in German universities, students rioted because they did not want to sit next to a Jew in lecture halls. In the 1840s, there were more protests against too many of them in German medical schools. Europes post-religious deep thinkers could no longer justify their anti-Jew hostility religiously, but they could recoil from Jews for their Semitic otherness. In the 19th century, it became common to refer to the Jewish race, which was no longer a nation scattered to the winds for its cosmic crime but a biological condition. Indeed, the OED, published in 1932, defined Zionism as a movement among modern Jews having for its object the assured settlement of their race upon a national basis in Palestine. Thanks to the pogroms in Russia following the 1881 assassination of Czar Alexander II, with the Jews blamed, of course, for his murder, there was a tidal wave of Jews escaping to the West. Many Europeans objected to the Jews arrival in their countries of refuge. Eventually, this resistance to the influx of Ostjuden (Jews from the east) into such countries as Austria came to be called Anti-Semitismus. Opposition to people not for their faith but their anatomy. Therefore, at birth, anti-Semitism had nothing to do with mass murder and everything to do with objecting to the presence of Jews in the public square. People were uncomfortable in the company of these Semites. In this way, the neologism anti-Semitism entered the mind as verbal camouflage for the old Judenhass in fake academic dress, transforming it into an ideology, an ism. This dishonest conception of the Children of Israel as no longer a nation exiled from its land would lead to the Nazis paying scientists to study their alleged racial characteristics, measuring their skulls with calipers to record the racial (that is, biological) differences between Jews and self-styled Aryans. Hitler was the mortal enemy of this mongrel people because, scientifically, his Germans were the Master Race. After the horrors of the Holocaust became public knowledge, anti-Semitism was tainted with the stench of the crematoria and was no longer acceptable in polite society. Many had seen the black and white newsreel films of the death camps, those mounds of stick-figure-like corpses, the walking skeletons of those still alive, the sickening and disgusting evidence of where anti-Semitism led. So, Jew jokes at dinner parties went out of fashion. But today, amongst the Jew-haters, replacing the Jews crime against the crucified Jesus with the Jews injustice to the Palestinians justifies hating Jews and wanting to destroy their state and society that they built on land they brought back to life on territory the Muslim colonizers maintained as mournful desolation. Thus, the afflicted like Roger Waters, Jeremy Corbyn, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and thousands of university students and professors can insist they are not antisemites; they are just opposed to the behavior of those genocidal Israeli soldiers murdering children in Gaza, just like Naziswhich proves that the Jews are not the Chosen People but as evil as Nazis, who deserve no pity for what was done to them on October 7. 2023. Anti-Semitism always manifests as delusional lies about Jews doing evil things that have no basis in truth and reality. Two current ones: The indigenous Palestinians had their homeland stolen from them by the racist Zionist Jews and The Jews are committing genocide. Admittedly, Jew-hatred is a harsher, less pleasant-sounding label than the pseudo-intellectual dishonesty of anti-Semitism, but a more accurate one. Shai ben-Tekoas PHANTOM NATION: Inventing the Palestinians as the Obstacle to Peace is available at Amazon.com in hard cover or a Kindle ebook. His podcasts can be heard on www.phantom-nation.com. The crisis of leadership unfolding in California is not an anomaly. It is part of the American cultural shift that prioritizes safe spaces and feelings over reality and functionality. The slow slide into incompetence that has cost American lives and livelihoods has been progressing for many years. America is watching entire neighborhoods of Los Angeles burn to the ground. During this unprecedented crisis, everyone involved is expecting leadership. When residents of Los Angeles first looked for leadership, they discovered that their mayor, Karen Bass (D), was out of the country. Bass was on a diplomatic mission attending the inauguration of Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama. Why would the mayor of a large city with wide-ranging challenges and issues leave the country just as warnings were being issued about a windstorm with serious potential consequences? One must question her understanding of her role as leader. During a crisis, incompetent leaders are often exposed. Popularity and social skills become irrelevant as actual decisions need to be made and action must be taken. Leaders with ability and experience will rise to the occasion, take ownership, and solve problems. Those without will fumble, blame, and run for cover. While there are several types and styles of leaders, no one mistakes a person who simply should not be in a leadership role. They can hide in meetings and blend with other bureaucrats for months, years, decades without notice, but when a crisis occurs, the lack of leadership is obvious and catastrophic. Those low in leadership qualities prioritize covering their own failings and searching for an appropriate scapegoat. Blame for the Los Angeles wildfires will likely rage on long after the crisis has subsided. Politicians deemed too important to fail will be protected by the powers that need them in their positions. Those who are less valued, or simply convenient, will take the symbolic fall. Basic leadership skills are not so rare that those with such skills could not be sought for public office. Not many leaders are transformational, but some are quite successful as authentic leaders, adaptive leaders, or servant leaders. Unfortunately, voters often do not properly consider leadership skills when voting. Those with appealing personalities and looks are selected over candidates with requisite leadership skills. They look for "nice" rather than competent. Assertiveness and decisiveness is called oppressive and direct conversation may be hate speech if the person on the receiving end deems it so. This needs to change. Historically, we once respected and appreciated strong, decisive leaders. We once valued leaders for what they accomplished and how they succeeded, not necessarily for their charming personality, emotional appeal, or thoughtful gestures. General Douglas MacArthur has long been considered one of the greatest leaders in American history. He had an extensive history of brilliant military strategy and execution. He was known for decisive action. He was not known for being gentle and kind, at least in any public fashion. If X had existed at the time, he may even have sent out mean tweets. Our current culture has rejected many of the attributes of leadership. Real leaders can be perceived as aggressive, intimidating, and harsh. Pop culture has demeaned and demonized abilities, skills, attitudes, and approaches historically identified as those traits required of good leaders. Instead, we prioritize identity politics, social justice, and touchy-feely qualities such as the ability to get along with others. Crisis and times of chaos are those crucial points when our cultural disaffection with leadership qualities costs us all dearly. When your house is burning you might be grateful to see a toxic male running to the rescue. We might not mind the patriarchy if it saves our neighborhood and our city. During a crisis, the pace of decision-making and action increases dramatically. Speed becomes a necessity. Rapidity may mean coercive power tactics and harsh words may be used. Successful leaders are often bold and assertive. They cannot be concerned with their own popularity when moving quickly and speaking abruptly. They grab the reins of power and command action throughout their playing field and among all the relevant players. Those making decisions cannot be risk-averse or hesitant. They must be confident and secure in their own decision-making abilities. Those who need more time to analyze, to gather data, and to gain input from others will be lost in a cloud of confusion. Chaos reigns when a leader cannot, or will not, lead. Elected officials may be untested as they ascend to a position without experience in executive leadership. When faced with a crisis, they may be wholly unprepared without even realizing it. Confidence without accomplishments is a disease affecting many politicians. The elected officials, however, are not entirely to blame for their failures. They were hired for a position after going through a selection process where voters made a choice. Voters who have chosen failed leaders -- and there are many evident in both cities and states today from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles -- need to reassess their choices. Rather than considering personal issues or personality, the focus should be on policy and leadership. Executive branch managers must be good leaders, first and foremost. A candidates party, policy positions, and leadership skills are the critical components to consider, and not necessarily in that order. An executive role, particularly in a large and complex city like Los Angeles, certainly requires executive leadership skills and experience. It is up to voters to make that happen. Almost anyone can get elected to political office. Not that many can lead once they get there. The role of a leader has been demeaned in recent years due to the culture and progressive values. Voters need to recognize the importance of leadership qualities -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- and embrace the candidate who exemplifies them. If voters in our large cities could elect talented leaders rather than career politicians, residents would likely be safer, happier, and more prosperous. Its time to recognize the magnitude of the consequences of poor leadership and correct course in future elections. Eileen Griffin-Ray, Ph.D., M.B.A., has many years of leadership experience in the financial services industry. She is the author of Decisions and Non-Decisions, A Pragmatic View of Power, Structure, and Culture in Complex Organizations. Griffin-Ray earned her Ph.D. in leadership studies focusing on organizational theory and power. Image: AT via Magic Studio Independence Day, observed annually on July 4, is a national holiday that honors the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. This pivotal document marked the founding of the United States of America and its liberation from British tyranny and oppression. In the mid-1990s, a song with the same title was awarded Country Music Song of the Year. Performed by Martina McBride, it celebrates a womans liberation from her abusive husband. What are the commonalities? Oppression and abuse. Is anyone else sensing a strong stench of these in America, what used to be a shining city on a hill? Could January 20, which is less than a week away, become another Independence Day for Americans who strive for freedom against a tyrannical federal government? Tyranny begins gradually before escalating rapidly. After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Benjamin Franklin responded to the inquiry, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" by saying, A republic, if you can keep it. Where is America since the days of the Founding Fathers? In the last twenty years, tyranny has intensified as America underwent a "fundamental change," as promised by a former U.S. President. Americas government and administrative state are now all-consuming. Many wars have been waged, wasting American lives and resources, frequently started under false pretenses to benefit the military-industrial complex, politicians, and their donors. We have a figurehead president spending America into oblivion, supporting foreign wars, and leaving our borders wide open. Thats just scratching the surface. What would a new Independence Day in America look like? Eight years ago, the appetizer was served, but the main course begins next week. In June 2015, a brash and bombastic Queens real estate developer descended the escalator in his 5th Avenue skyscraper, promising to take on the establishment and drain the swamp. In 2016, he astonished both the ruling class and himself by winning the presidency. Nevertheless, the government he was meant to lead sabotaged him, ultimately preventing him from securing a second term. To many, November 2020 was the end. In reality, it was just a pause, time for one of the worst-treated Presidents in history to regroup. This allowed Americans to bear witness to the systematic destruction of America over the past four years. Now he is ready to go, and Independence Day is around the corner. Starting with his cabinet, Trump nominated a group of non-establishment individuals who share his America First vision and are not angling for the approval of the Washington Post or the Chamber of Commerce. This is a big difference from eight years ago, when D.C. newcomer Donald Trump tried to play nice with the GOP establishment. The AP is worried that Trump will hit the ground running. President-elect Donald Trump is preparing more than 100 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House, in what amounts to a shock-and-awe campaign on border security, deportations, and a rush of other policy priorities. Before the dust settles on his inauguration, the MAGA agenda will be planted and growing. On the foreign policy front, expect swift negotiations with Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, China, and North Korea, which are currently global hotspots and each a potential spark for a world-ending nuclear war. Lawfare will end next week, hopefully with pardons for those who have been wrongly indicted and imprisoned, along with accountability for those who exploit the vast powers of the intelligence and justice departments for political gain and to punish their opponents. Several U.S. Supreme Court vacancies are likely in the next four years, giving Trump the opportunity to appoint constitutional justices who will hopefully act as such once they wear their black robes. Assuming that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed, there will be disclosure and accountability for the medical and pharmaceutical establishment, following the money and uncovering the truth about all things COVID. Making America healthy again will be more than a catch phrase. Censorship will be replaced by the long-established principle of free speech. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is already cozying up to Trump to prepare for the free speech wave that will hit America next week. What do Americans think about all this? Do they believe that a new Independence Day is on the horizon? Rasmussen Reports asked likely U.S. voters this question and found that Americans are ready for overdue change. The response was unsurprising. Most voters say nothing President Joe Biden did during the past four years helped them, and nearly half believe he ranks among Americas worst presidents. Going further, Just two weeks before he leaves the White House, 54% say that since Biden became president, he has not enacted any policy that made their life better. Thirty-four percent (34%) say Bidens policies have made their life better, and 11% are not sure. Rasmussen Reports also revealed that 40% of Americans feel their financial situation has declined in the last six months, compared to only 19% who believe it has improved. On January 14, the Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll compared Trump's and Biden's approval ratings at similar points in their presidencies. Trump had a 46% total approval rating, while Biden trailed behind at 43%. If you want other opinions, Monmouth University polling agrees. A majority of Americans say they are optimistic about the policies President-elect Trump will pursue in his incoming administration, according to a new poll from Monmouth University. The Real Clear Politics average poll of Trumps transition shows approval +11.3 over disapproval. Out-of-touch corporate media may be distraught over Trumps return, but the American people dont share their pessimism. Inauguration Day is less than a week away. Pray that Trumps enemies, whether foreign or domestic, do not remove Trump during this period and that Bidens team refrains from instigating a nuclear conflict, a new pandemic, or some other black swan event to derail the new administration. The Senate must quickly confirm Trumps cabinet so they can commence their duties on day one. Americans must hold their elected officials accountable. Trump was the clear choice of American voters. Congressional Republicans need to lead, follow, or get out of the way. Voters should keep the pressure on them, and Im sure Team Trump is already doing that. If Trump accomplishes even half of what he promises, we may celebrate another future Independence Day on January 20 every year. Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor Substack Dr. Brians Substack Truth Social @BrianJoondeph LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph Email brianjoondeph@gmail.com Image: Grok Have you heard of the Lindsay Snowstorm? It will soon have a companion story called the Newsom Fires. Republican John Lindsay was New York Citys mayor from 1966 to 1974. Lindsay, like Gavin Newsom, was tall, handsome and had great hair. Like Newsom, Lindsay often relied on his looks to compensate for what was lacking between his ears. And, like Newsom, Lindsay thought he would make a great president. Until a blizzard hit the Big Apple. On Sunday, February 9, 1969, New York City was expecting rain but was suddenly overwhelmed with a blizzard that brought 15 inches of snow. (Personal note: my childhood recollection was being thrilled schools would be closed for several days.) New Yorkers werent blaming Lindsay for the snowstorm, but they did blame him for what they saw as a lack of leadership in the aftermath of the storm. The city that never sleeps was sleeping because there were few to no snowplows clearing the streets, highways, or bridges, as 15 inches of snow created snowbanks and icy roads. For three days and, in some instances, up to one week, the city was immobilized. People were stuck in airports. The New York Stock Exchange was closed. Grocery store shelves were empty as trucks couldnt make deliveries, leaving people without food. Depending on the location, schools were closed from one to several days. The subways that went above ground werent moving, leaving some riders stuck underground. And the buses? Fuhgeddaboudit! Without snowplows to clear the roads, highways, and bridges, no one could get around the city. That included ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks. With a slow mobilization, there were 42 deaths and 288 injuries. As the city painfully dug its way out from under the huge snowbanks, Mayor Lindsay drove to Queens to meet with residents. His limousine had trouble driving on the streets that were still not adequately cleared or salted. Optics of people booing and screaming at Lindsay were on a par with Los Angelenos verbally assaulting Newsom. Lindsay was criticized for the citys lack of preparation. Blizzards are part of New York Citys winter weather, just as Santa Ana winds are part of southern Californias weather. Hizzoners lack of leadership in handling the situation eventually became known as the Lindsay Snowstorm. It created a political crisis for the tall, handsome guy with great hair who wanted to be president. When re-election time came, he did not win the Republican primary, so he ran as a third-party candidate. The anti-Lindsay vote was split between the Democrat and Republican candidates. Lindsay won re-election and another four mediocre years in Gracie Mansion. However, the snowstorm and his perceived failures in handling the aftermath resulted in his Oval Office dream being snowplowed into oblivion. John Lindsay and Gavin Newsom (public domain images). In California The multiple 2025 wildfires that are still burning will probably be known as the Newsom Fires. While Newsom is not responsible for 100 mph Santa Ana winds whipping through canyons and hillsides, he is responsible for a state that did not allocate sufficient money and resources to police and fire departments and preventive fire measures. Newsom is also responsible for always having money for illegal aliens, DEI programs, homeless populations, $150+ billion for high-speed trains, and kowtowing to environmental extremists but lacking money for basic government services, including building reservoirs. Just one of many examples from the June 26, 2024, Los Angeles Times: The 2024-25 budget plan salvages two programs that had been targeted for cuts. It maintains full funding for a project that provides free legal representation and other assistance to immigrant students, staff, faculty and their families at all 23 Cal State campuses. The plan also sustains in-home support for elderly, blind and disabled undocumented immigrants who qualify for Medi-Cal. Even as fires were destroying neighborhoods, the woke Democrat super-majority legislature was meeting in Sacramento on ways to Trump Proof California! The insane list of ridiculously wrong progressive expenditures goes on and on and on... Newsom and his pro-Fidel Castro friend, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, had no problems promoting woke DEI programs while cutting police and fire department budgets, ignoring necessary forest maintenance, allowing rainwater to flow back into the Pacific Ocean, not building new reservoirs or desalination plants, and/or not maintaining firefighting equipment and infrastructure. Newsom must think Delta smelt fish can vote! Newsom failed to listen to Donald Trumps repeated warnings about the importance of forest maintenance. In 2019, Trump posted on X (then Twitter): The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must clean his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers. Personally, I dont care about someones sexual preferences if they can do the damn job! But the lesbian women running the Los Angeles Fire Department appeared more concerned with promoting the DEI agenda than making sure theres water in fire hydrants and reservoirs. James Woods, who came close to losing his Pacific Palisades home, said of Fire Chief Kristin Crowley: Our new fire chief... she took over and she put on her bio that her priority, my highest priority, is inclusion, diversity and equity... and somebody forgot to fill all the reservoirs, I guess, with water. In another X post, Woods responded to the bogus claim that the fires were due to climate change: This fire is not from climate change, you ignorant asshole. Its because liberal idiots like you elect liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass. One doesnt understand the first thing about fire management and the other cant fill the water reservoirs. In a video, the overweight Deputy Fire Chief Kristine Larson says the departments priority is that residents in crisis are rescued by first responders who look like them. She also has no cares about whether, as a firefighter, she can carry a man out from a burning building. In the video, Larson says, Am I able to carry your husband out of a fire? He got himself in the wrong place. Over at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quinones saw her role through the lens of equity...and social justice. How does that maintain water and power? Many people assume that all Californians are ridiculously insane liberals. Not true! The state moved to the right in the November election and has a large percentage of America First Patriots. There just arent enough of us, especially as many Republicans abandon California for red states. Will the Newsom Fires open liberal eyes? Some think yes, as they learn more about state and local leadership failures that resulted in (so far) 25 deaths and 10,000+ structures burned to the ground with $150+ BILLION in damages. If that doesnt convert some liberals, maybe the bureaucratic maze they suffer through trying to rebuild their homes will do it. If you have four minutes, you can listen to the outstanding Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills explain Democrat insanity in this state and why it should be stopped. In John Lindsays case, a few weeks after the blizzard, everything in New York City was back to normal, but the people remained angry. With Newsom, his horrendous incompetence will be on front pages for years to come. Lindsays Storm kept John Lindsay out of the White House, and Newsoms Fires should do the same for Gavin Newsom. Robin M. Itzler, who lives in southern California but so far not near any fires, is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She is the founder and editor of Patriot Neighbors, a free weekly national newsletter. Robin can be reached at PatriotNeighbors@yahoo.com. In 2004, an Israeli ambassador to Sweden destroyed an artwork that depicted a Palestinian terrorist as a hero. Was that appropriate? The question posed then still troubles us. The art installation consisted of a rectangular basin filled with red water on which floated a boat carrying a portrait of bomber Hanadi Jaradat. The Palestinian woman killed herself and 19 others in an attack in the Israeli port city of Haifa in October. The Swedish considered this attack on an artwork unacceptable. It was a violation of free speech, but then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon praised the act: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Sunday praised the Israeli ambassador to Sweden for vandalizing a Stockholm art exhibit that allegedly glorifies Palestinian suicide bombers, saying the entire government stands behind him. For those who might understand the Israeli position, what would you do if you knew that it was an Israeli-born artist, Dror Feiler, who created the art? Does art constitute free speech, though? That is the first question: In 1915, under Mutual Film v. Industrial Commission of Ohio (1915), the Supreme Court ruled that movies were not protected by the First Amendment. It would not be until 1952 that the Supreme Court would overturn that. Even after that, the First Amendment was understood not to apply to pornography. And while a 1973 decision (Miller v. California) loosened things up a bit, it technically did not legalize obscenity. Well, American law would not have helped in the 2004 controversy in Sweden, but it does frame the problem. Are there limits to free speech apart from immediate incitement? For those who are free speech purists, the vandalism in Sweden would seem inexcusable. There should be no limits. However, even after our Republic was born, the First Amendment, with its guarantee of a free press, was not taken as supremely central. The Federalist John Adams signed the controversial Sedition Act. The sweeping language of the Sedition Act made it illegal, among other actions, to write, print, utter or publishany false, scandalous and malicious writingwith intent to defame thegovernment or to stir up sedition within the United States. Jefferson and Madison authored the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions to protest what they felt was an unconstitutional law approaching tyranny. But they had to do so in secrecy. At the time of their passage, authorship of both documents was known to only a few close associates. Secrecy was necessary because Jefferson, himself the nations vice president, might be charged with sedition if he or Madison, his closest political ally, openly announced that congressional acts were unconstitutional. The Sedition Act, mercifully, was timed to expire in 1801 though they did try to renew it when the Democratic-Republicans would take over. The Federalists were protected from retaliation. The reason given for the Act was that America was in a quasi-war with France, and the president could not tolerate perceived seditious behavior. What is clear is that some of the Founding Fathers did not consider the First Amendment, though important, to be as central a right as it is today, when many Americans treat it as equal in authority to the Gospel. More so to those Americans who are not Christian. During the American Civil War, Lincoln arrested editors and seized newspapers that he deemed seditious for spreading fake news. So what we have to admit is, that though we esteem freedom of speech and the press to be paramount, it was not always thought so, especially in periods of national crisis. And that brings us back to the 2004 controversy in Sweden. The Jewish people have never really had a moments peace since their state was set up in 1948. They are in an almost permanent state of national crisis. They have a more limited view of free speech rights than present-day Americans or Swedes do. John Adams might have understood the actions of that Israeli diplomat. Until 2016, Facebook operated under the American view and let all manner of Palestinian incitement against Jews be posted on Facebook (see here). Israelis sued, and lost, but Facebook saw the handwriting on the wall, and backed off its purist principles. Facebook then started working with Israel, instead of ignoring Israel concerns. Within a short time, pro-Palestinians activists accused Facebook and Twitter of censoring their content. During the 2020 election, Facebook was accused of censoring conservative views. Now, with Trump ready to assume office, Facebooks CEO Zuckerberg admitted that it swung too far to the left, and that it will return to less censorship. During the recent Israel-Hamas war, the cries of censorship are louder that social media is shutting the Palestinian view down. Of course, the Israeli view would be that Hamas is using social media as a communication tool for their operatives. Meta (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and Twitter (X) do not want to be sued over facilitating that. And then there is the problem of anti-Jewish incitement. Only five years ago did Facebook ban Holocaust denial, something which was rampant on the internet. Jewish groups had been complaining about that since the internet took off. So what is the answer? Words do have consequences. The Founding Fathers gave us the First Amendment at a time when our culture was more conservative and could police itself. However, even then, violence occasionally erupted. Abolitionist presses could be destroyed. Social media has given anonymous posters the ability to spread malicious invectives that could start wars against millions of people with just one click. Islamic radicalism spreads rampantly via the internet. This is more power than any press had in the early days of our Republic. The Israeli and Jewish concerns cannot be discounted. The internet allowed pro-Palestinian takeovers on American universities to be facilitated more easily. Digital flash mobs can be organized quickly, and they are prone to violence. And the antisemitism on the internet is getting ugly. The pamphleteering of the patriots required the ability to read, think, and reflect before one could act upon the ideas expressed. An incendiary post on Twitter only requires the ability to watch a video and find the location by Google Map. Minimal literacy, thinking, and reflection are required. Something has to be done. In the days of the printing press, power was in the hands of those who could read and think. Today, social media has put power in the hands of dolts, who cannot be filtered. The Founding Fathers never anticipated this. We may have to consider that the First Amendment, while primary, is not unlimited in its scope. The Founding Fathers never thought so. Mike Konrad, who still struggles with Spanish, is a frustrated web designer and is presently trying to get a humorous short story of his published: The Pirate of Gaza. Image: CC0, Public domain. There was a time when the mere mention of Edward Snowdens name stirred a visceral reaction in me. I thought he was a traitor who had betrayed his country by leaking classified information from the National Security Agency. Like many Americans, I was swept up in the tide of post-9/11 patriotism, a sentiment that, in hindsight, was both genuine and grossly manipulated. It wasnt until I heard Snowden speak a year or two after he defected to Russia that I realized how I had been bamboozled by my government. Edward Snowden wasnt a turncoat; he was a man who carried out his moral obligation as a citizen in response to his insiders knowledge of the corruption of our intelligence agencies, acting with ruthless precision again its citizenry and its closest allies. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, fear consumed the nation. We were told that the tragedy was the result of unprovoked aggression by foreign enemies intent on destroying our way of life. That fear was weaponized to usher in a new era of surveillance and control. The PATRIOT Act, signed into law by President Bush, was sold to us as a necessary tool to protect Americans from terrorism. In reality, it disintegrated the constitutional rights that had long defined our nation, giving the government unprecedented authority to surveil its own citizens. It continues to wield this authority over us to this day. Making matters worse was the deception that followed. The war in Iraq, predicated on the claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, turned out to be based on false intelligencean outright lie. These events, fueled by fearmongering and a manipulated sense of patriotism, set the stage for a government emboldened to operate outside the bounds of morality and legality. When Snowden came forward in 2013, he revealed what many suspected but couldnt prove: the governments surveillance programs had gone far beyond the authority granted by the PATRIOT Act. The NSA wasnt just monitoring suspected terrorists; it was collecting data on millions of ordinary Americans. Phone calls, emails, internet activity nothing was off-limits. Snowdens revelations exposed a level of overreach that was not only illegal, but wholly unconstitutional. At the time, I couldnt see it. I viewed Snowdens actions as a personal affront to the nation I loved. I didnt understand the magnitude of the corruption he was exposing. Like many others, I bought in to the narrative that painted him as a traitor. But when I finally forced myself to listen to him, my anger gave way to shock and then disgust. I was not naive to government corruption, but it wasnt until I learned of the calculated ways our government leaders orchestrated illusions to achieve their means that I realized I had been wrong about everything regarding Edward Snowden, 9/11, and the Iraq War. I came to realize that Snowden wasnt reckless or cavalier. He was thoughtful, principled, and deeply committed to the ideals of freedom and privacy. One of his most famous quotes arguing that you dont care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you dont care about free speech because you have nothing to say resonated deeply with me. It underscored the importance of privacy, not just as a personal right, but as a cornerstone of democracy. What Snowden revealed was part of a larger, systemic erosion of liberty. Under President Obama, the PATRIOT Acts broad powers were expanded through the PRISM program, a secret NSA initiative that enabled mass surveillance of American citizens and our foreign allies. Initially justified under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to combat terrorism, PRISM granted the NSA access to vast amounts of data from major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook, including emails, video chats, and browsing histories. Though intended for foreign intelligence, the program often swept up the private communications of millions of Americans, bypassing constitutional protections. This unprecedented surveillance, coupled with secret FISA Court rulings, blurred legal boundaries and undermined the Fourth Amendment, exposing a government willing to exploit its authority under the guise of national security. Edward Snowdens revelations in 2013 brought these abuses to light, forcing a global reckoning with privacy rights and government overreach. What Snowden, and later Julian Assange, endured cannot be overstated. They sacrificed their freedom, safety, and reputations to shine a light on abuses of power that most of us were too naive or uninformed to recognize. Assanges work through WikiLeaks revealed truths that governments around the world wanted to keep hidden. Together, these men forced us to confront uncomfortable truths about our governments and ourselves. Edward Snowden taught me that patriotism isnt blind allegiance its the willingness to hold your government accountable when it violates the principles it claims to uphold. His story is a reminder that freedom and privacy are not guaranteed; they are rights that must be vigilantly defended. Snowdens revelations were not an attack on America; they were a defense of the ideals that make America worth fighting for. Susan Lawson has 20 years of experience as a military researcher, writer, and congressional affairs specialist. She has spent the past 15 years as an advocate for meaningful reform to the American health care system through commonsense medical legislation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in professional writing, as well as a Graduate Certificate in legislative studies from Georgetown University. Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). During the Pete Hegseth secretary of defense Senate confirmation hearings, Democrats were fixated on his personal issues, including allegations about his drinking. They pompously attempted to add credibility to an anonymous smear campaign but only added more incredulity to the accusations. Mr. Hegseth vehemently denies having had a drinking problem, though as a combat vet we may understand the temptation to imbibe. Since he never missed a scheduled appearance in several years on Fox News, its a stretch to conclude he had a problem. Certainly not to the extent of John Tower, whose nomination for SecDef the Senate rejected in 1989. But if someone once partook too often, but comes out smelling like roses, why should that be an encumbrance now? Actually, those who overcome challenges often come out stronger. As Will Rogers once said, good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. But whose judgment do you trust more: someone who faced combat then emerged intact from PTSD, or someone untested in the cauldron of war? The former may have cultivated more depth of character, as evidenced by subsequent years of propriety and sobriety. Its likely that any brush with the dark, drunken side elicited a soul-searching, gut-wrenching re-evaluation of lifes purpose and priorities. Surly Senator Schumer directed Dems to pressurize Trumps nominees, but their moralizing toward Hegseth was misplaced. Indeed, Oklahomas Senator Mullins was not subtle in suggesting that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Apparently, he has witnessed drunken senators conducting business, even voting while tipsy. Perhaps they should substitute senators for sailors in their common refrain, like so: spending like drunken senators. Its notable that the more time that has elapsed since a persons purported drinking, the less likely he is to relapse. Only 9.6% of alcoholics (not saying Hegseth is one, by any stretch) relapse in years three through five of sobriety. Compare that to the 30% of American adults who report excessive drinking. One wonders if that number is higher for sanctimonious senators. Apparently, Lady Astor (a female M.P. in Great Britain)s appearance was not easy on the eyes. When she dared accuse Sir Winston Churchill of being disgustingly drunk, he replied, My dear, you are ugly, and whats more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober, and you will still be disgustingly ugly. Mr. Hegseth is well on the path to self-actualization, so I doubt that it will be an issue. But even if he became tipsy during a SecDef function, hed be sober in the morning. Contrast that to some of the Pentagon brass, who may be stone-cold sober but disgustingly stupid all the time. Woody Allen is purported to have mused that 90% of life is just showing up. Hegseth always shows up, which is much more than can be said for Lloyd Austin, the drunk-on-power SecDef who went AWOL. Heres a toast to Mr. Pete Hegseth, the next sober-minded secretary of defense. Image via PickPik. As world leaders court President Trump and jockey for invitations at his inauguration, it was probably only a matter of time before one of them decided to go the other way, challenging him as 'weak.' The stupid fool was Nicolas Maduro, fraudulently installed dictator of Venezuela who just enthroned himself in the faces of Venezuelans. Over the weekend, Maduro declared he wanted to invade Puerto Rico to "liberate" it, using the troops of his socialist ally, Brazil. It understandably concerned Puerto Rico's new conservative governor: The governor of Puerto Rico pleaded for President-elect Trump to intervene after Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro threatened to invade the U.S. island territory. In a letter addressed to Trump, Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon said, "[J]ust a few days after holding an illegitimate swearing-in ceremony in a desperate attempt to cling to power in Venezuela," Maduro "publicly proposed an invasion of Puerto Rico." Maduro, who was sworn in for a third six-year presidential term despite international condemnation of his recent reelection as illegitimate, made the threat Saturday at the end of the "International Anti-Fascist Festival" hosted in Caracas. The socialist dictator made an apparent reference to Trump's remarks eyeing U.S. control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, stating: "Just as the North has an agenda of colonization, we have an agenda of liberation." Maduro vowed that the "freedom of Puerto Rico is pending, and we will achieve it with Brazilian troops," according to Latin America Reports. Because as the map shows, Puerto Rico is a lot closer to the Venezuelan coast than it is to the Florida coast. How dare he? And it's pretty putrid, given the kind of failed state he leads. What an interesting thing that he doesn't trust his own military to do the job, an omission that implicitly suggests he knows they're mainly a drug-dealing organization. And what a thing it is to volunteer Brazil for the job, which has a credible military. I'm still looking to see what Brazil's reply to this is, even under a pretty bad socialist government. Logic would suggest a dim view, but as with Maduro and his government, Brazil's leaders are socialists. But even if it's just idle talk from Maduro, it is pretty brazen, and totally unacceptable. He dares to throw out this kind of talk with President Trump coming into office? The same President Trump who has got Hamas scrambling to give up its hostages, taking Trump's threat of 'all hell will break loose,' quite literally? The same Trump who has got Denmark suddenly telling him they're open to talks on military arrangements with Greenland? The same Trump who has prompted China's President Xi Jinping to come courting? The same Trump who has gotten European allies to declare their undying friendship and step up their military budgets? Clearly this was a test. Maduro seems to think that Trump is weak and easily kicked around, no different from Joe Biden. In light of what a problem Venezuela's dictator is -- exporting drugs, migrants, criminals, espionage, corruption, and now a direct military threat to Puerto Rico, he ought to be made to regret it. Maybe it's time for Trump to take him out, making an example of him. If nothing else, it would get his administration off with a bang and set the tone. It also would teach a lot of them that messing with Trump is their worst idea ever. Maduro is due for a throw-out anyway, given his openly stolen election dating from July and subsequent abuse of dissidents in its wake. This week, he inaugurated himself to another term as if nothing strange had happened, with clown-socialist republics Mexico, Brazil and Colombia going along for the swearing in, as if to suggest that they too endorse election fraud, raising questions about their own elections. The usual suspects, Nicaragua and Cuba, for whom election fraud is how they roll, were probably there. But no decent country of any kind went to this aping farce of an inauguration. In other words, he doesn't belong there, he's got to go anyway, so why not use Maduro's threats against Puerto Rico to get rid of this problem once and for all? The legitimate rulers of Venezuela, the ones who won the election, could be free to take office, and deals could be cut before that, ensuring that they take all of their illegal migrants back to the home country where they would have a safe, Maduro-free, place to live, and the returned criminals among them could be imprisoned El Salvador-style, perhaps contracting with that country to ensure it is done right. We might even ask that Venezuela's new leaders be open to oil deals in repayment if that works out for both. The bottom line here, though, is that Trump should have a harsh message as he enters office that the U.S. is not to be messed with. That was what the great Ronald Reagan did with the illegally striking PATCO air traffic controllers, which sent a strong message to the Soviet Union that he was a leader who was as good as his word and didn't put up with crap from pipsqueaks with big egos. If the same could be done with Maduro, he ought to regret that threat to Puerto Rico for as long as he lives. There are obvious practical details to be worked out, from what to do about an army that doubles as a drug dealing force to what to do about China's and Russia's sponsorship. But aside from the rightful defense that is owed to Puerto Rico against predators (note how many service members are from that lovely island among other things), making Maduro pay will send a signal to Greenland and others that they are safe from a Russian or Chinese takeover under the U.S., and make every two bit socialist dictator try to get out of Trump's eyesight for as long as the latter holds office. Trump did try a full blown throw-out of Maduro during his first term, and was thwarted by CIA incompetence. The second term may be different: The iron is hot now, and Trump should consider a strike. Image: Nzeemin, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed NATO countries on the Baltic Sea will look to boost security when they meet in Helsinki on Tuesday, following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables widely blamed on Russia. They are expected to announce a NATO patrol mission monitoring activity "below, above, and on the sea surface", researcher Iro Sarkka of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs told AFP. Several undersea telecom and power cables have been severed in the Baltic Sea in recent months, with experts and politicians accusing Russia of orchestrating a hybrid war. The sabotage has been blamed on a "shadow fleet" of vessels -- often ageing and operating under opaque ownership -- that carry Russian crude oil and petroleum products, embargoed since the invasion of Ukraine. Addressing the European Parliament, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed Monday the need to make clear that "such hostile actions" and such efforts "will not go unanswered". "We will also strengthen NATO's military presence in the region, and of course, we will discuss the shadow fleet and what to do about it, so we are responding and will continue to ensure no country can exploit us, control our infrastructure or disrupt our societies," Rutte said, adding he would be attending the meeting. Tuesday's meeting will focus on "strengthening of NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea and responding to the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet", according to a statement from the office of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is co-hosting the meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal. Stubb also promised "measures required to secure the critical underwater infrastructure". The leaders of Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, and the executive vice-president of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen are expected to attend. NATO said in late December it would increase its presence in the region following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables between Finland and Estonia, but it has yet to announce an official operation. "How long the potential operation will last and what kind of mandate it will have I assume will be revealed (on Tuesday)," Sarkka said, adding that maritime operations have previously been conducted by NATO in the Mediterranean Sea. "The actions in recent months related to the Russian shadow fleet and sabotage has prompted NATO to develop its maritime situational awareness in the Baltic Sea region," she added. A comprehensive NATO operation would serve as a "deterrent and a strategic signal" that NATO is prepared to act in response to the recent activities, according to Sarkka. Last week, Finland said NATO would contribute two vessels to a monitoring mission in the Baltic Sea, while the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which comprises Nordic and Baltic states as well as the Netherlands, also said it would increase its surveillance. Sweden is sending up to three warships and a surveillance aircraft. Tensions have mounted around the Baltic Sea 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. The most recent incident occurred on December 25, when the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged. That came just weeks after two telecom cables in Swedish waters were severed on November 17-18. Suspicion over the Christmas Day incident has fallen on the Eagle S, a Cook Island-flagged oil tanker believed to be part of the "shadow fleet". Finnish police seized the Eagle S on December 28 as part of a criminal investigation. Finnish authorities last week deemed the ship unseaworthy following an inspection, barred it from sailing and have banned eight crew members from leaving the country while police carry out a probe. Investigators suspect the cables were damaged by the tanker's anchor being dragged over them. Its more than ironic that the LA wildfire crisis is a perfect illustration of what happens when the left goes feralwith out-of-control insanity very much like the wildfire that they brought on with their policy priorities. The current crisis is not only their doing but is also a perfect metaphor for the fundamental difference between the authoritarian left and the pro-freedom right. Were seeing what happens with one-party rulegovernment and wildfires grow out of controlwhile they try to lay blame on somewhere else. This situation should easily make the case why anyone impacted by the wildfiresand the governmentno longer supports the authoritarian left, starting with the fundamental facts. Government Is Like Fire, a Dangerous Servant and a Fearful Master The fundamental purpose of government is to guarantee our inalienable rights, and perform civic administrative functions: building roads, patrolling the streets, securing the border and managing emergency situations like the LA inferno. We all should be equipped with a firearm or fire extinguisher to be the first line of defense and take care of matters at a local level, but its reasonable to expect the government to handle large-scale situations. We pay taxeswe should get something in return. However, a problem arises when the folks elected to accomplish these tasks have different priorities. Freedom-minded folks see firearms as the first line of defense against crime and chaos. Not so for control-minded leftiststhey see firearms as a threat to their power, not to mention the fact that disarmed people are more dependent on the government and therefore much more willing to endure tax increases for the false promise of safety. The same holds for fire suppression; while you should have fire extinguishers on hand, the government has been delegated to handle these serious situations, but again, the problem arises when you have one-party rule and they have different priorities. So instead of making sure there is plenty of water in the appropriate reservoirs when there is an extreme fire danger, implementing Prescribed Burns, or having sufficient equipment and resources, they focused on luxury beliefs and virtue signaling that get people killed: And when their rank incompetence is exposed, they fall back on the old standbythe belief that they can never be wrong: Californias ultra-left progressives have made it difficult (bordering on impossible) to do even the most responsible, common-sense things like build reservoirs (so firefighters and households wont run out of water, as they did this week in L.A.), manage overgrown fire-prone forests (by controlled burns and by cutting back tinder-dry overgrown brush), and by ending the regulatory war against insurers in California (Newsoms insane regulations on the insurance industry has sent fire coverage premiums soaring, if homeowners can get insurance at all). But Bass, Newsom and the rest of the states political elites wont admit theyre wrong, or even say theyre sorry for their repeated, deadly mistakes. The latest estimate is $57 billion in property damage, seven dead, 180,000 people evacuated, and thousands of structures destroyed. And all those numbers are sure to go higher. Even worse for the left is the little bit of news that people dont seem to be buying the climate change BS anymore: CNN forced to show poll revealing most Americans dont blame climate change for the wildfires. pic.twitter.com/OCjkxM9aGU Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 13, 2025 This brings us back to the fundamental difference between the authoritarian left and the pro-freedom right. When it comes down to basic philosophies of government, leftists are markedly different from the right in how they look at its fundamental purpose. Authoritarian leftists see government as a means to transform society into their version of a Utopia. Even now, theyre talking about their ideas for LA 2.0, stating that Los Angeles Shouldnt Rebuild the Same Way Againwhatever that means. They dont believe they should be tied down by constraints because they know betterjust ask them. They often evoke the imagery of fire in their ethos, in wanting to burn it all down and rebuild. The past few days in LA have seen a horrifying image of what that entails. Most on the pro-freedom right champion individual liberty and see government as a necessary evil and something that must be carefully limited. Its akin to fire in our eyes, a useful, but very dangerous servant that must be carefully controlled. Kept as small and localized as much as possible for specific purposes. We go by a basic set of principles that have been outlined many times, as exemplified in the speech by Mike Johnson after he was reelected to serve as speaker of the House: We also recognize that the core principles that made America what we are, must still be preserved today. I call them the seven core principles of American conservatism but its really the seven core principles of America itself. Individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, human dignity. These are the ingredients, the things who made us what we are. Of those seven core principles: Individual freedom, limited government, and the rule of law are completely at odds with the feral government approach of the left. And that approach is seeing the destruction of what was once one of our greatest cities. An unrestrainedleftist authoritariangovernment is extremely destructive, and we are seeing that demonstrated right now. The question becomes, why do liberalsnot leftistsput up with this insanity and this destruction? And when will enough of them wise up and throw to the left out? D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a long-time contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. All eras come to an end. The Simpsons dominated Sunday night television for decades, for example. Now, the show is moving to Wednesday, and it may soon be off the air. In one ancient episode of that show, a young worker from the early 20th century predicts the future of labor. One day, well form a union and get the fair and equitable treatment we deserve. Then well go too far and get corrupt and shiftless, and the Japanese will eat us alive! If the episode were updated for our times, that worker could have kept going: Then the American economy will rebound, and the Japanese will be eager to invest in our bright future, even as their rising sun sets! This cartoon episode overlaps with a cartoonish episode led by another man whose sun is setting: outgoing President Joe Biden. On his way out the door, Biden quashed an offer by Nippon Steel (of Japan) to purchase U.S. Steel for almost $15 billion. Biden claimed he did so because he is in favor of organized labor. I promised to be the most pro-union president in history, he told the AFL-CIO. But if Biden wants to help workers, he missed an opportunity. The Nippon deal would be good for unionized American workers. Talks have been going on for months, and Nippon has made many promises that would help American workers. It has committed that it will make no cuts in steel productions for a decade, and said that it would get agreement from the U.S. government before any cuts. It has vowed to give an immediate $5,000 bonus to all unionized U.S. Steel workers. It also promised not to lay off U.S. Steel employees. Steelworkers want the deal. They were going to invest in the Valley, a union leader who works for the company said about Nippon. They committed to 10 years of no layoffs. We wont have those commitments from anybody. Meanwhile, Local USW leaders at our Mon Valley Works facilities conceived of and are leading a grassroots letter writing effort to President Biden to demonstrate the strong support by union-represented employees for U. S. Steels transaction with Nippon Steel, the company noted. The local union leaders at the Mon Valley Works facilities asked for U. S. Steels support to share the grassroots effort with other facilities beyond those in Pennsylvania, Biden, a creature from another era, killed the deal because union leaders wanted him to. Union leaders are different from union members. For one thing, union leaders are very well paid. Recall that Harold Daggett, the head of the longshoremans union who is eager to shut down all east coast ports, earns $900,000 per year. His members dont make that much. It is clear that union members no longer support Democratic policies. Over the summer, the Teamsters commissioned a national electronic poll of its 1.3 million members, overseen by an independent third party, the union explained. In a move that surprised leaders but not workers, During a voting window from July 24-Sept. 15, rank-and-file Teamsters voted 59.6 percent for the union to endorse Trump, compared to 34 percent for Harris. Faced with that information, Teamsters leaders, including the vice president at large, endorsed (wait for it) Kamala Harris. Apparently, issues affecting workers, such as how their union dues are spent, are too important to be left to workers to decide. Joe Bidens policies explain why workers abandoned him in the 2024 election: Bidens decision will cost [U.S. Steel] workers their livelihoods, just as his decision to mandate and subsidize electric vehicles has led to layoffs at GM, Ford, and Stellantis, write experts from the Heritage Foundation. This presents an opportunity for incoming President Donald Trump. He likes to preach a populist message; clearly union workers are ready to listen. Trump has said he is against the Nippon deal. But in Trumps world, nothing is final until it is finished. There is still time to move forward with the deal. He could reverse this decision, one of Bidens many mistakes. Doing so would help American workers and improve the domestic steel industry. Approving the Nippon Steel deal should be one of Trumps first acts as president. Rich Tucker is a writer and editor based in Richmond, Virginia. His work can be found at https://richardbriantucker.substack.com/. Image: Nippon Steel One of the signature aspects of the new incoming White House administration is its positive attitude toward bold new technology from the private sector, and the energy necessary to fuel it. Im referring to new types of airline aircraft: they are going to change in ways that will be as dramatic as the first flight at Kitty Hawk by the Wright brothers. Together with private business, Trumps new government will create the right combination of policy and investment incentives, to allow our airline and space industry to fully advance into the 21st century at a much faster rate. Although Trump is known as a real estate developer, his interest in aviation has been noteworthy throughout his business career. His brother was an airline pilot, and Trump himself bought the original Eastern Airlines shuttle service in New York and then rebranded it as the Trump Shuttle. It was a wonderful service, with upgraded amenities and smart joint marketing with his hotel and casino businesses, among other improvements. Like political parties, the airline industry didnt really like outsiders, so he faced some challenges. But it served consumers unusually well, and the concept is undergoing some serious reconsideration, using new types of aircraft, technology, and service. The Trump Shuttle was the consumers best friend: all the seats were uniformly spacious, comfortable, and relaxing, and you could show up ten minutes before departure with a pass, like a commuter train, and walk on in comfort. If only todays airlines were like the Trump Shuttle. They may be, because some new, highly overdue upgrades to new types of airplanes are around the corner. The Biden administration had nothing but contempt for airline service, unless it could be used for political purposes, like hiring diverse pilots. Bidens head of DOT was a disaster, completely out of his league. That will change as well. That Elon Musk is part of the mix of Trump-backers is important in this regard, because his relentless confidence in space flight has applications back here in regular passenger service. Our next-generation airline aircraft will have two critical features that will set them apart from what we are used to: they will fly at supersonic speeds, with more comfort, and they will also utilize much higher altitudes that reach up to sub-orbital levels, where aircraft are not subject to atmospheric drag. They are free to fly at very high mach numbers beyond the speed of sound. Some readers may recall Ronald Reagans famous Orient Express speech. Like JFK, who set an ambitious goal for a manned mission to the moon, Reagan confidently described a futuristic hypersonic space plane that could travel from Washington, D.C. to Tokyo is a couple of hours. That ambition and vision got lost in all the wasteful airline fighting and government interference (or neglect) that focused on cheap seats and no frills, with airplanes still based on 1950s design. The Biden team then came along, who saw airlines politically, as carbon emitters. The Biden administration also quietly supported the Chinese C919 aircraft to replace Boeing by actually undermining Boeing with help from China. The C919 is a cheap copycat that makes airline service even worse and, in my view, questionable as to security. The Trump administration may be able to reverse course on this trend of using old technology and outsourcing it to China. Instead, the worlds greatest aviation industry, like so many others, is right here in the United States. Ironically, the Chinese are beating us in space exploration, and that has to be addressed as well. Russia is also ahead in both cases thanks to the misguided green ideologues in the Biden administration whose bizarre vision for the future was a primitive utopianism of deindustrialization, fewer people, and crude technology. That ideology is about to change to one of advanced, transformational high technology, in a faster, smarter, more confident and more elegant vision of American economic growth. Matthew G. Andersson is the founder and former CEO of Indigo Airlines, backed by the American Express Corporation and McKinsey and Company. He is a jet command pilot and graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He was an executive adviser in aerospace and defense with Booz Allen Hamilton and testified before the U.S. Senate on new aircraft in the national airspace system. He is the author of The New Airline Code, concerning aviation economics and policy. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked with White House national security adviser W.W. Rostow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. It seems like HONOR is getting on board with more compact devices. According to a new rumor, HONOR is planning to launch a Pro Mini smartphone later this year. The information comes from Digital Chat Station, one of the best-known tipsters out there. He does say that this phone is coming towards the end of the year, so it will likely be a part of the HONOR Magic8 lineup. The HONOR Magic8 Pro Mini is tipped to arrive at the end of this year The tipster also used the Pro Mini name in his post on Weibo, so were guessing that the name of the phone will be the HONOR Magic8 Pro Mini. If we had to guess, wed say it will arrive with the HONOR Magic8 and Magic8 Pro handsets. He did not specifically mention HONOR in his post, in all honesty, but he did say another top 5 company, meaning top 5 from the Chinese market. Huawei, HONOR, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Vivo are the top dogs in China. Vivo and Xiaomi already have such a device, while OPPO will release one soon. That leaves us with Huawei and HONOR. Huawei never expressed interest in doing something like this, while some rumors have pointed in HONORs direction in the past. So the tipster most probably had HONOR in mind. HONOR announced a global variant of its new flagship earlier today HONOR actually announced a global variant of the Magic7 Pro handset earlier today. It follows the phones launch in China at the end of October. The global model is very similar, but it has a notably smaller battery for whatever reason. All high-end phones that HONOR has to offer, regardless of the market, are large. The same was the case last year too. So if we had to guess, wed say that this new phone will have a 6.3-inch display, like the competition, or at least something close to it. It may even be a bit smaller than that. Based on HONORs past choices, this handset could be fueled by the next-gen Snapdragon flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, or whichever name HONOR opts for. Meta has been making headlines for a few days, following the announcement of major changes around its content moderation policies. While some Meta employees have internally criticized one specific change, CEO Mark Zuckerbergs upcoming plan might upset a few more. Now, Meta is reportedly planning to lay off some of its low-performing employees. Meta will reportedly lay off more low-performing employees this year The news comes via Bloomberg, which reported seeing an internal memo shared by a source at Meta. The memo, internally shared by Mark Zuckerberg, mentions the companys plan to sack low-performing employees this year. A part of the leaked memo from Zuckerberg reads, Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster. In the same memo, Zuckerberg notes that performance-based cuts will be done extensively this year. The social media giant also plans to hire new talent to backfill positions throughout the year. The company will reportedly let go of as many as 5 percent of its employees. Its important to note that Meta wont sack every low-performing employee. If the future performance of such employees appears to be optimistic, Meta is likely to retain them. The company will notify affected employees starting in February Affected employees based in the US will be notified on February 10. Those outside of the US will be notified at a later date. Zuckerberg also adds that the laid-off employees will be provided with generous severance, which will be in line with what Meta offered in the previous job cuts. As with most companies, Meta is only looking to stick with people who are meeting its expectations. No wonder the decision will help Meta achieve its goals for 2025, which the CEO notes will be an intense year. Moreover, the leaked memo hints that this year the companys primary focus will be on AI, smart glasses, and the future of social media. The United States is close to making TikToks shutdown effective. January 19 is the deadline set by the bill signed last year by President Joe Biden. Although the initiative had overwhelming bipartisan support at the time, it is possible that now the short-video platform will receive unexpected help. In an unexpected development, some senators are pushing for a potential 270-day extension of the US TikTok ban. Democratic senator who supported the US TikTok ban file for a 270-day extension Senator Ed Markey, from the Democratic faction, will file the so-called Extend the TikTok Deadline Act soon. Markey was among the officials who supported the original bill last year. Now, his proposal could give TikTok the extra time it has been seeking for a long time without success. Appeals courts in the US have already turned down ByteDances requests to challenge or delay the law. If approved, the act will give TikTok another 270 days of grace time to resolve its situation in the United States. However, last years bill will still be active, so if the company fails to do anything in that time, it will face the ban again after that period. ByteDance has been looking for a delay for a long time. The company has a wild card in the Trump administration that could reverse the implementation of the law. However, Trumps inauguration will happen one day after the deadline, which complicates things. A TikTok ban would impose serious consequences on millions of Americans who depend on the app for social connections and their economic livelihood. We cannot allow that to happen, Ed Markey said this week in Congress. Not the senators first attempt to help TikTok This is not the first time that the Democratic senator has tried to lend a helping hand to TikTok after voting in favor of its ban. In December 2024, Markey, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court. The document alleged that the anti-TikTok law goes against First Amendment principles. Its main justificationpreventing covert content manipulation by the Chinese governmentreflects a desire to control the content on the TikTok platform and in any event could be achieved through a less restrictive alternative, the filing says. Representatives also raised the issue of protecting Americans data, one of the bills alleged goals. Its secondary justification of protecting users data from the Chinese government could not sustain the ban on its own and also overlooks that Congress did not consider whether less drastic mitigation measures could address those concerns, reads the document. TikTok already filed its case with the Supreme Court and is awaiting a response. However, analysts see little likelihood that the ruling will be favorable to the short-video social platform. Markeys initiative could be an alternative way for TikTok to continue operating in the United States under that scenario. Immensely popular social networking platform TikTok is facing a ban in the US, which will come into effect on January 19. As of now, TikTok is waiting for the Supreme Court to announce its decision, which will go official on Wednesday. In the meantime, TikTok has revealed its plans for what it will do once the US finalizes its ban. TikTok plans to keep paying US employees even after the ban TikTok has sent a memo to its employees outlining its plans to implement once the US finalizes its ban. The company wants to calm the waters among its probably worried American workforce. The internal document, obtained by The Verge, states that TikTok will continue to pay its employees in the country. This will be the case even if the court does not overturn a law on the potential ban of the platform. The China-based ByteDance-owned platform has nearly 7,000 employees in the US only. Furthermore, the memo reads that the pay and benefits of the US employees are secure for the foreseeable future. TikToks offices in the US will remain open, even if this situation doesnt resolve before the January 19 deadline. TikTok scenarios going forward If you are unaware, a law signed by President Biden mandates ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US company or face a ban. In the first scenario, many desire to buy the popular short video-sharing platform. Frank McCourt, a billionaire real estate and former LA Dodgers owner, has shown his interest in buying TikToks US operations. Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary recently signed onto McCourts proposal. Both met with Donald Trump to talk about this proposal called Project Liberty. Elon Musk, the worlds richest person, is one of the most popular candidates in line to purchase TikToks US operations. X (formerly Twitter)-owner has shown his interest in purchasing TikTok many times in the past. In November last year, TikTok CEO Shou Chew sought insights from Elon Musk regarding the looming danger of facing a ban in the US. Musk is one of Donald Trumps closest confidants, who also doesnt want TikTok to cease its operation in the US. That said, TikTok could get a 270-day extension to make a deal in the US. It all depends on the Supreme Courts decision that will come out this Wednesday. We will continue updating on the matter, so stay tuned to Android Headlines for regular updates. Key mediator Qatar said negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal were in their "final stages" on Tuesday, adding that it was hopeful an agreement could be reached "very soon". Qatar, Egypt and the United States have stepped up efforts to broker a ceasefire to enable the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. On Monday, US President Joe Biden said a deal was "on the brink" of being finalised, just days before the inauguration of his successor, Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said the negotiations were in their "final stages". "We do believe that we are at the final stages... certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement," Ansari said, adding "until there is an announcement... we shouldn't be over-excited about what's happening right now". "We have reached a point where the major issues that were preventing a deal from happening were addressed," he told a news conference. Hamas's October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israel's history, resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. On that day, militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 46,645 people, a majority of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures that the UN considers reliable. A source briefed on the Doha negotiations said earlier the heads of Israel's intelligence agencies, the Middle East envoys for the incoming and outgoing US administrations and Qatar's prime minister had been due at the talks. "Mediators will hold separate talks with Hamas," the source said. Qatar said later the talks were being held at the "highest level". Sources close to the talks and Israeli media said the first phase of a deal would see 33 Israeli hostages released, while two Palestinian sources close to Hamas told AFP that Israel would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. An Israeli government official said that "several hundred terrorists will be released" as part of the first phase of the deal. Israeli media also reported on Tuesday that under the proposed deal, Israel would be allowed to maintain a buffer zone inside Gaza during the implementation of the first phase. Hamas said it hoped for a "clear and comprehensive agreement", adding that it had held consultations with other Palestinian factions and informed them of the "progress made". Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned on Monday he would oppose any deal that stopped the war. "The proposed agreement is a catastrophe for Israel's national security," Smotrich said on X. An outspoken member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, Smotrich has repeatedly opposed halting the war in Gaza. His comments came amid rising calls by Israelis, particularly families of hostages held in Gaza, to reach an accord that would bring their loved ones home. Among the key sticking points in the talks have been disagreements over the permanence of any ceasefire and the scale of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory. Other points of contention include the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territory and the reopening of border crossings. Netanyahu has firmly rejected a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and has opposed any Palestinian governance of the territory. Even as intense diplomatic efforts continued towards a truce deal, Israeli forces pounded targets across Gaza. The territory's civil defence agency said overnight air strikes and shelling killed at least 18 people in Gaza City in the north, the central area of Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis in the south. "Last night was harsh and bloody," spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas militants. "Overnight, with the direction of IDF (army) intelligence, the IAF (air force) conducted several strikes on Hamas terrorists who were involved in terror activities," it told AFP. The health ministry in Gaza said 61 people were killed in the Palestinian territory over the past 24 hours. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, whose country neighbours Israel, on Tuesday expressed hope that an agreement would allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. "Gaza has been destroyed and needs a ceasefire" to end the "unprecedented humanitarian crisis," he said. A lawyer representing influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate has said there was no threat referred to in social media posts from his clients about MP Sorcha Eastwood, other than in a political sense. However, the legal team of the Northern Ireland MP responded by calling this an attempt to to trivialise the relevant offensive postings. Kevin Winters of KRW Law said, earlier this week, he had been instructed by Ms Eastwood to begin legal action against the brothers over social media posts. The posts were made last week, a day after the Lagan Valley MP had told the House of Commons she was a survivor of abuse and had received rape threats. Solicitor Kevin Winters said he had been instructed by Ms Eastwood to begin legal proceedings against the Tate brothers (Liam McBurney/PA) In a statement, Andrew Ford of Holborn Adams, who represents the Tate brothers, said: No legal proceedings have been commenced at this stage. A letter was received from KRW Law which alluded to a potential claim. Mr Ford said the letter from Mr Winters had been sent in response to a letter sent on behalf of Tristan Tate which raised concerns about a tweet sent by Ms Eastwood. He added: It only takes someone to read the tweets sent by my clients to realise that there is no threat referred to, directly or indirectly, other than in a political sense (ie the threat of changing the shape of politics in the future). In response, Mr Winters said: Our letter to Holborn Adams is unequivocal. It makes it clear our client will be issuing a claim. Mr Winters rejected the claim that the letter was sent in response to a letter of claim received by Ms Eastwood, stating it was sent on an entirely standalone basis. He added: We can confirm we did send a second separate letter in response to the letter of claim in which we rejected the allegations made. It is a matter of concern that the solicitors acting for Mr Tate have sought to trivialise the relevant offensive postings as amounting solely to threats of a political nature. Ms Eastwood told the House of Commons last week: I am a survivor of abuse myself. Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman. She added: We previously did a lot of visits to the Northern Ireland Parliament building, Stormont, whenever I sat there in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and during one school visit a member of the public came up and said they wanted to rape me. And there were two people there and we just kind of were paralysed with the response, and that was not the right response. Not from me, but from the people around. Andrew Tate has previously been banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook after the platforms accused him of posting hate speech and misogynistic comments, including that women should bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted. But he remains popular on X, with almost 10 million followers, many of them young men and schoolchildren. Bereaved families have criticised the haphazard rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, including concerns over who was classed a key worker and access for rural communities. At the UK Covid-19 inquiry on Wednesday, campaigners whose family members died after contracting the virus discussed issues related to the vaccination programme including disparities in how it was implemented across different areas of the UK. Fiona Clarke, representing the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, was asked by counsel to the inquiry Daniel Mansell about her witness statement where she highlighted that in June 2021 the Government in England indicated vaccines would become compulsory for care home staff but that this approach was not adopted by the devolved government in Northern Ireland. It was so haphazard. Nobody knew what the other one was doing, she replied. Ms Clarke, who was previously taken to hospital with Covid and whose mother died aged 90 after testing positive for the virus in January 2021, went on to say she thought there should have been a different approach for vaccinating those in rural communities. She said: They should have had a mobile, a doctor on call to go out and administer the medication, administer the vaccines, it would have been so much more helpful. Giving evidence, Melanie Newdick, whose mother died after contracting Covid-19, criticised disparities in the speed of the vaccine rollout across the different parts of the UK, including Scotland. When vaccines began at the end of 2020, there was a fast pace of delivery, which then slowed, she said. Ms Newdick, who travelled 600 miles to represent the group Scottish Covid Bereaved at the hearing in London, said: The part of Scotland where I live, which is a very remote part of Scotland, the delivery slowed because Christmas came, so some people didnt get the vaccine as early as they could, which could have had impacts for them as well, and we also had the situation where people missed their opportunity to get vaccinations because they were in hospital which seems incredible, really, when you think about it. Ms Newdick went on to raise concerns about the current system for arranging vaccines in Scotland, saying very few patients can access immunisations via their GP, after changes made in April 2023 and, instead, these are administered at vaccination clinics. She said of the system: We have to ring the health board, or we have to go online, and we have to find a clinic to go for that vaccination. We cant go to the GP for any vaccination, not a tetanus, not a childhood vaccination, not a flu, not a Covid, nothing. She continued: It doesnt work for a remote rural community who is going to drive 220 miles to get a vaccine? Im very keen on vaccines, but even Im not going to do that, so we need a system thats actually going to work for the population that it serves, and not a central one-size-fits-all policy. She said the current system has resulted in an extra barrier for those who may be vaccine hesitant. Helena Rossiter, representing the group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, told the probe that although her son Peter was a teacher, he was not on the priority list to receive the vaccine. The public inquiry is being chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA) Ms Rossiter became emotional as she described Peter, who died after contracting coronavirus in August 2021 almost three months after receiving his first jab. He had worked through the pandemic as head of music at a school that had remained open for the children of key workers and by the time he received his first dose in May 2021, shops, restaurants and schools were beginning to open up after lockdown, she said. The European Cup final was on and people were gathering to watch that, and Peter only then was getting his first vaccine, Ms Rossiter told the probe. Hed had to wait until May, despite the fact that he, as a teacher, was a key worker. He was looking after children of other key workers and those key workers were actually in contact with Covid cases, or some of them the children, were seen at the time to be carriers of the virus. To this day, I cant understand why, why teachers were not given priority for that virus, for the vaccine. Ms Rossiter added that, beyond health and sector workers, people in the campaign group, which now has almost 7,000 members, had raised questions about why workers in other key industries, including transport, did not receive priority vaccination. The inquiry is now in its fourth module which will explore the issues relating to the development and rollout of the vaccine programme in the UK, as well as barriers to uptake, confidence in the jabs, access issues and issues around vaccine safety. At the peak of the programme, there were more than 4,000 accredited vaccination sites operating across seven regions of the NHS and 153 local authorities. According to NHS data, as of January 5 2025, more than 175 million vaccinations have been administered in England. Carlsbergs 3.3 billion deal to buy J2O maker Britvic has been approved by a High Court judge. The Danish brewery, which also owns brands including 1664 and Brooklyn, plans to create a single integrated drinks business called Carlsberg Britvic following the takeover. Britvic, based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, employs around 4,500 people and also makes Robinsons squash and Tango. The companies announced the agreement last July, saying it would create an enlarged international group that can expand into multiple drinks sectors. Carlsberg plans to create a single integrated drinks business called Carlsberg Britvic (Alamy/PA) Mr Justice Hildyard sanctioned the takeover at a short hearing on Wednesday, stating the scheme could be and should be approved. Andrew Thornton KC, for Britvic, said in written submissions that the company was the largest supplier of branded still soft drinks and the number two supplier of carbonated soft drinks in Great Britain. The hearing in London was told that the deal will see Britvic taken over by Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carlsberg A/S, which Mr Thornton described as one of the worlds largest international brewing groups with a market capitalisation of 118 billion Danish kroner (13 billion). The acquisition was approved by Britvics shareholders last August, with the Competition and Markets Authority, Britains competition watchdog, giving it the green light in December. Mr Thornton added that the scheme received a unanimous recommendation from Britvics directors, and will not have any adverse impact on the interests of the companys creditors. Carlsberg has previously said it believes the integration with Britvic can secure it 100 million in cost efficiencies a year. It also announced that it would buy out Wolverhampton-based Marstons, which makes Pedigree and Hobgoblin beers, from the joint venture brewing business run by the two firms for 206 million. Britvic holds an exclusive licence with US partner PepsiCo to make and sell brands such as Pepsi, 7up and Lipton Ice Tea in the UK, which Mr Thornton told the court would continue following the takeover. Christine Lampard paused an episode of Loose Women to announce the death of former guest panellist and singer Linda Nolan, paying tribute to her and saying it had been an incredibly tough time for the family, but youre just never prepared. Dublin-born Nolan rose to fame as part of the family group The Nolans, with Loose Women panellist Coleen as well as her other sisters Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne. She died on Wednesday aged 65 in hospital in Blackpool with pneumonia surrounded by family after being twice diagnosed with breast cancer. The Nolan Sisters with Blackpool footballer Brian Wilson (PA) On Wednesday, Northern Irish presenter Lampard said on ITV talk show Loose Women: Welcome back, now some very sad news for you now, Linda Nolan, Coleens sister, who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, has died at the age of 65. She then read out Nolans managers statement announcing the news, which described her as a beacon of hope and resilience. The audience then applauded, and Lampard added: Weve been talking about Linda for so long havent we, with Coleen, and I know it was an incredibly tough time for the family, but youre just never prepared. Christine Lampard paused an episode of Loose Women to announce Linda Nolans death at the age of 65 (Ian West/PA) Panellist and actress Nadia Sawalha added: Nothing prepares because there is a moment when the light goes out, and when the light goes out that is the most awful shock, isnt it, and theyve been through so much as a family, just sending all our love. Lampard finished by saying: To all of the family indeed, were thinking of you all today. The audience then burst into applause as a black and white picture of Nolan was shown on screen. Also interrupting their broadcast, was Jeremy Vine who at the end of his BBC Radio 2 show, paid tribute to Nolan, saying him and the stations team were thinking of her family, and Linda especially. Vine then played The Nolans hit Im In The Mood for Dancing, which made it to number three in the UK charts in 1980. A desire to meet every concern and objection over HS2 causes delays and extra costs for the high-speed railway project, according to the Governments independent adviser on infrastructure. Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, told MPs a private sector approach would have been to say Sorry, I have not got any more money. He said the decision to retain HS2 Ltd the company responsible for the project being built within the Department for Transport (DfT) can lead to too much oversight, because ministers being involved in too many decisions is bound to lead to delays. A desire to meet every concern and objection over HS2 causes delays and extra costs for the high-speed railway project, according to Sir John Armitt, the Governments independent adviser on infrastructure (Nick Ansell/PA) He told the Commons Transport Select Committee: Its bound to lead, I fear, to at times too much desire to actually meet every concern and objection and requirement for extra facilities within a scheme. I think its 12,000 local agreements which HS2 has had to make after the hybrid Bill. So you think Weve got the hybrid Bill, we can now get on with it. Im sorry, guys, no, you cant. Youve now got endless local negotiations to take place, and there is, of course, then the risk that in order to just make progress, you say OK. Every time you say OK, then unfortunately thats potentially more delay, but certainly extra cost. Sir John added: There is a natural inevitability that when the whole machinery of government is doing something, there is a desire to actually please people rather than a more private sector approach which says Sorry, I have not got any more money, that is all we can afford. I think Government is not very good at saying that. It November, the outgoing chairman of HS2 Ltd, Sir Jon Thompson, told a rail industry conference that the company is spending more than 100 million building a shed for bats. He said the bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire is needed to appease Government adviser Natural England, despite there being no evidence that high-speed trains interfere with bats. All bats are legally protected in the UK. Latest DfT figures show the cost of building HS2 could hit 66 billion at 2019 prices. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost 37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham to both Manchester and Leeds. The railway between London and Birmingham was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but the current timeframe is between 2029 and 2033. A DfT spokesperson said: We have acted swiftly to put urgent measures in place to bring the cost and delivery of HS2 back under control. This includes tasking the new chief executive to assess the current cost and timeline, and to provide an action plan to deliver HS2 at the lowest reasonable cost. Eva Longoria said there needs to be more humanity and grace over those suffering the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires, suggesting there has been a focus on the rich celebrities whose homes have been lost. Desperate Housewives star Longoria and her foundation pledged one million dollars (819,000) to support the Latino Community Foundation (LCF) and the California Community Foundations wildlife recovery fund on Monday. The donation came from a part of the 50 million dollar (41 million) Courage and Civility Award she received from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in March. Co-hosting Jenna And Friends on the Today Show, Longoria said there has been a beautiful coming together of everybody in the wake of the fires, which she is proud to see of a city that Ive called home for 25 years. Everybody is helping, everybody is donating, everybody is out in the streets where the fires are still going, there are people with water hoses, she said. However, the 49-year-old actress described it as irritating that the rhetoric has been around rich celebrities homes are burning. Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg were among the Hollywood stars who have lost their homes. Los Angeles is a working class city, its union town, a lot of union members, Longoria said. Eva Longoria said we have to have more humanity and grace regarding those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles (Doug Peters/PA) We keep talking about Pacific Palisades fire (but) the Altadena (and) Pasadena fires (there) is a huge community of colour. We have to have more humanity and grace. Anybody in the media and anybody out there, they need to be careful with their words, because we need to make sure were talking about everybody suffering right now. She said despite talking about first responders and firefighters, there will be second responders who are going to rebuild these communities. Once we get a hold of these fires, once we put out these fires, what comes next? Where do these kids go to school? How do parents go back to work if their kid isnt in school? Insurance theres so much to work through, she added. On Wednesday, Longoria will volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission and visit World Central Kitchens Eaton Fire operations. Others who have donated funds include the Screen Actors Guild, the Recording Academy and MusiCares, and Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis who have all pledged one million dollars (819,000) each to those affected by the wildfires. Beyonce also confirmed her BeyGood foundation has donated 2.5 million US dollars (2.05 million) to the relief efforts so far, after postponing an announcement which fans speculate will be a tour or a new album. Metallicas All Within My Hands foundation is also stepping up, offering a 500,000 dollar (410,000) donation to relief efforts as the disaster upends families and dismantles livelihoods, the rock band said on Instagram. While Hilton confirmed she has raised 800,000 dollars (656,000) in 72 hours for the displaced families of LA through her charity 11:11 Media Impact, as she pushed to reach the one million dollar mark on social media. She also donated 150,000 dollars (123,000) to GoFundMes Wildfire Relief Fund the largest donation to date, the organisation confirmed to the PA news agency. After meeting with people impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, I heard heartbreaking stories of loss but also inspiring resilience, Hilton said in a statement. My goal is to help as many as I can as quickly as possible, which is why Im making a 150,000 dollar (123,000) grant to the GoFundMe Wildfire Relief Fund, providing direct cash assistance. Hundreds of families will receive this assistance immediately ensuring they can address their needs and begin to rebuild their lives today. Similarly, Hilton fostered a three-year-old chihuahua whose family unfortunately had to surrender her after their home was destroyed in the wildfires, she said on Instagram. It comes after the reality star and socialite watched her Malibu home burn to the ground on live TV. The wildfire destruction has halted many events, with speculation growing that the Critics Choice Awards are set to be postponed for a second time while there was also suggestion that the Oscars ceremony may be impacted. The Oscars nominations have already been delayed for a second time, with a new date of January 23 confirmed. Meanwhile, the screening of a new Netflix series starring the Duchess of Sussex, which sees her inviting friends and famous guests to a California estate, was also postponed amid the fires. The blazes have killed at least 24 people, including British-born former child star Rory Sykes, who was blind and had cerebral palsy. His mother, Shelley Sykes, told Australian TV channel Network 10 he died needlessly of carbon monoxide poisoning. Officials have warned winds scattering ash could threaten the progress made so far on the infernos that have sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes and destroyed many properties. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested late Tuesday for questioning, marking an unprecedented moment in the nation's history as a sitting president is taken into custody. The arrest, carried out by the country's anti-corruption agency, follows weeks of political turmoil sparked by Yoon's controversial martial law decree last month. Yoon was escorted from his fortified residence Wednesday morning in a motorcade surrounded by investigators, ending a tense standoff that had lasted weeks. The embattled leader faces multiple investigations tied to his brief martial law declaration, including allegations of leading an insurrection, a charge that carries penalties of life imprisonment or even the death sentence. For weeks, Yoon had remained in his heavily guarded compound under the protection of the Presidential Security Service, evading earlier arrest attempts. Earlier this month, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), in coordination with police and the defense ministry, launched a failed operation to detain him. That effort devolved into a dramatic standoff, with soldiers and security personnel blocking around 80 officers and investigators from breaching the compound. Following his arrest, Yoon released a pre-recorded video statement, labeling the investigations "illegal" and accusing the country's legal system of being fundamentally compromised. "The law is all broken in this country," Yoon declared. "As a president who must protect the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, responding to these illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgment of them, but in the hopes of preventing unsavory bloodshed," he said. The warrant permits investigators to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for up to 48 hours. Within this time frame, the CIO must apply for an arrest warrant if they seek to extend his detention for further questioning. Supporters and opponents of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered outside his compound amid frigid, sub-zero temperatures. Videos from Reuters and CNN affiliate YTN captured demonstrators arriving in buses and rallying in the streets surrounding the residence. Opponents chanted slogans such as "resign," "your time is up," and "take responsibility," while Yoon's supporters countered with cries of "invalid impeachment," "free ROK, hurrah!" and "we won!" Uniformed police were present, flanking the crowds, as both police and protester buses formed barricades outside the compound. One bus displayed a sign in Korean that read "Insurrection Department Yoon Suk Yeol," a phrase frequently used in anti-Yoon demonstrations since his controversial martial law declaration last month. The detention follows a court-approved warrant issued after Yoon, a former prosecutor, ignored three investigative summonses from the CIO in recent weeks, refusing to cooperate with their inquiries. In a shocking late-night address on Dec. 3, Yoon declared martial law, citing claims that opposition lawmakers had "paralyzed state affairs." He justified the drastic move as necessary to "safeguard a liberal South Korea" from threats posed by what he described as "anti-state elements." However, the declaration was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly, including members of Yoon's own party, in a vote just six hours later. The president's order triggered widespread condemnation from the public and lawmakers across political lines, rekindling painful memories of South Korea's authoritarian history. Wales rail settlement is not good enough, Jo Stevens has said, as she insisted she would fight for as much cash to fix the situation as possible. The Welsh Secretary could not reveal how much Wales will get to invest in its trains, but said she was making representations to the Treasury for sustainable funding. Ms Stevenss appearance at the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee came after Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, told the BBC the UK Government had recognised Wales has been hard done by when it comes to rail. Welsh politicians have complained that the country has lost out over the HS2 project, for which Wales received no additional money. The high speed rail project is classified as an England and Wales project, meaning the latter country loses out on consequential funding, which Plaid Cymru has estimated would be worth around 4 billion. By contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland are receiving extra funding as a result of HS2. Speaking at the Welsh Affairs Committee for the first time since taking up her role as Secretary of State, Ms Stevens said she wanted to be perfectly frank about Wales rail settlement. Its not good enough, and that is a direct consequence Im afraid of the last 14 years of underfunding by prior governments, and that is why I am determined to change that. I cant change the past. I hope that that I can change the future, she told MPs. Ms Stevens said she had been working with the Welsh Governments transport minister Ken Skates, and the Department for Transport in Westminster, and had agreed a direction of travel which she hoped would deliver new rail investment for Wales. A tunnel boring machine clearing the way for HS2s first phase on its approach into London (Jonathan Brady/PA) Three key points had underpinned these discussions, she said recognition that Wales had not received a fair share of funding in the past, that there is already a really good blueprint for which investments to prioritise, and that the UK and Welsh governments needed to work together. A letter from Ms Stevens and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to the Welsh Government admitted railways in Wales have seen low levels of enhancement spending in recent years, particularly in the context of major investments such as HS2. The UK Government will prioritise projects proposed by the Wales Rail Board, the letter said, including upgrading the railway in south-east Wales and building new stations between Cardiff and the Severn tunnel, as well as upgrades to the North Wales mainline and to connections between Wrexham and Liverpool in the north. Speaking at the committee Ms Stevens stressed the Government cannot fix this overnight, adding: It has gone on for a long time, and the legacy of under investment is going to take time to resolve, but I am clear, both governments are clear, that we have got to break this cycle of underinvestment that had been a political strategy. When asked by Plaid Cymrus Ben Lake (Ceredigion Preseli) if HS2 should be reclassified as an England-only infrastructure project, Ms Stevens signalled this was not an approach the Government would take. I want us to have a sustainable pot of rail infrastructure funding for Wales, and I think we need to stop deriving the future of railing Wales from HS2 alone, she replied. Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, told the BBC the UK Government had recognised Wales has been hard done by when it comes to rail (Andy Buchanan/PA) The Welsh Secretary could not give a timeline for when the funding would be set out, or how much it might be, as this will be subject to negotiation as part of the Governments spending review later this year. Ms Stevens insisted she was on the side of the Welsh travelling public, and added: I just want the committee to be reassured that this is top on my shopping list for the spending review. Welsh First minister Baroness Morgan had earlier said she hopes the amount on offer will be significant. For the first time theyre recognising youve been hard done by, she said of the UK Government. Plaids Llyr Gruffydd MS argued the First Minister had misrepresented the letter she had received from UK ministers, and was conflating two very different issues. He said Ms Alexanders letter did not mention the unfairness of HS2 and would not right the wrong of the full 4billion consequential owed to Wales. If Labour were serious about giving Wales fair play, then they would give us the full 4 billion we are owed, just as they said they would, the Senedd member added. But a Labour source said: We recognise that Wales has suffered chronic underinvestment under successive Conservative governments, including through HS2. We cannot fix that inherited injustice. But we can and will fight for a funded pipeline of future rail projects across Wales for the first time in decades. A former doctor who caused gratuitous pain and suffering to children during the course of unsanitary and dangerous circumcisions has been sentenced to five years and seven months in prison. Mohammad Siddiqui, 58, from Birmingham, was a practising doctor when he started visiting homes by appointment to carry out circumcisions on children. Some of his procedures left the children screaming in agony, Inner London Crown Court heard. Siddiqui had pleaded guilty to 25 offences, including 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, six counts of child cruelty, and eight counts of administering a prescription-only medicine to young and vulnerable patients while ignoring basic hygiene rules and performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions. Siddiqui was suspended and later struck off the register but continued to carry out circumcisions at family homes, using unsterilised tools and leading to a number of young children having to be taken to hospital following the procedure, including one boy who almost died, the court heard. The charges relate to 21 boys and are dated between April 2014 and January 2019. Judge Noel Lucas KC said he agreed with the concerns of relatives of Siddiquis victims and stated that the regulation of circumcision was now long overdue. He said: This case has shown that safeguards and protections must now be put in place and put in place as a matter of urgency, to ensure that babies and young children are protected. Judge Lucas KC also told Siddiqui he had done everything you could to delay the wheels of justice to prevent the trial from taking place since the legal case against him first came to the criminal courts in December 2020. Accusations of racism and bias, and unfounded complaints about the standard of the legal process were levelled by Siddiqui in a deliberate and cynical delay to prevent the case from proceeding. Siddiquis approach was more than persistent and caused the individuals who were subjected to your unjustified complaints real hardship, the judge said. The judge noted that Siddiqui had asked him to recuse himself on occasions from the case, had rejected his offer of help and alleged the hearing was unfair, anti-Muslim and Zionist. The judge told Siddiqui: In making these scattergun complaints, you appear to have entirely overlooked that your victims are Muslim boys and their families. Siddiqui changed his plea to guilty two months into his jury trial at Londons Southwark Crown Court in which he represented himself. A further 14 charges were ordered to lie on file. A five-year serious organised crime prevention order, which stops Siddiqui carrying out non-therapeutic circumcision once he is freed, will start on the day he is released from prison. From June 2012, Siddiqui ran a private mobile circumcision service and sourced anaesthetic while working in paediatric surgery at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. He travelled around the UK and by appointment performed non-therapeutic male circumcisions on patients aged between one-month-old and 15-years-old. In 2015, Siddiqui was struck off the GMC register after a panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found him guilty of failures in performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions in the homes of four children, one of whom almost died as a result of the procedure, prosecutor Ben Douglas-Jones KC told the judge. The boy, only referred to in court as Patient A, was rushed to hospital after he received an injection of Bupivacaine, an anaesthetic used to numb an area of the body during surgery, to which he had an adverse reaction. Mr Douglas-Jones had told the court: That child almost died and had to be taken to A&E by ambulance. Death or near death is something this defendant (Siddiqui) should have anticipated given his experience. That caused unnecessary suffering and pain. Despite having been struck off the GMC register following this incident, Siddiqui was able to continue his service until 2019, as non-therapeutic male circumcision is unregulated and is not required to be carried out by a registered medical practitioner. The judge also heard about a boy aged 15 when Siddiqui circumcised him in 2017. Siddiqui was initially reluctant to perform the surgery on the boy, referred to as Child A in court due to his age, but carried it out after charging his parents 300. The court heard the teenager had to be rushed to hospital for surgery after his penis exploded with blood due to a blood clot that developed shortly after the procedure. In hospital, doctors found that Child As penis had been fitted with a Plastibell circumcision ring that was much too small. Mr Douglas-Jones told the judge: That caused gratuitous pain and suffering and rendered the procedure dangerous. Clearly, this procedure should not have been done in a billion years, not in this way. The prosecution told the judge Siddiqui also used unsterilised tools, including unpackaged pairs of scissors and tweezers, which he would put back into his bag after he completed the procedures. The former NHS doctor sometimes used a circumstraint board to immobilise children during circumcisions, which is considered unacceptable in NHS practice. He would also ask parents of babies who cried during the surgery to put honey on their dummies to use as a soother, despite children under 12 months being at risk of developing botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning, when consuming honey. After sentencing, Anja Hohmey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Siddiqui had left children with emotional and physical scars and had shown a complete disregard for the impact caused to his victims, their families and communities. She added: His actions throughout the court process have caused significant further disruption and distress to his victims and their families, alongside significant additional legal costs due to the length of the delays he has caused. Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: I hope todays sentence, which is significant, helps to bring some comfort to his victims and their families who have had to wait many years to see justice served for his actions. The circumstances of this case are unusual and novel. The Government said it will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, as MPs were told how it had previously provoked horror among rural communities in the UK. Farming minister Daniel Zeichner told the Commons the UK has banned the import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany. He said the Government will be liaising with officials in Germany and monitoring the outbreak in the eastern state of Brandenburg. MPs heard the disease had been found in a herd of water buffalo. Mr Zeichner denied there had been a delay in the prohibition being introduced. The outbreak was reported on Friday and the public announcement of the ban was made on Tuesday. He said: Defra has taken rapid action to protect the UK, including suspending the commercial import of the susceptible animals in Germany, and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the European Union. I can assure the House, the Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nations farmers from the risk posed by foot-and-mouth risk levels to the UK, we have increased to medium. Mr Zeichner said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will consider vaccination, culling and movement controls if an outbreak occurs in Britain. Shadow environment minister Dr Neil Hudson said he worked as a vet during the outbreak in 2001 and supervised some of the animal culls. He said he witnessed sights I never want to see again in my lifetime. More than six million animals were slaughtered in response to the disease in 2001, and cost the economy 12.8 billion, he added. Dr Hudson said: Farmers want reassurance that action is being taken to protect our borders, their livestock and their livelihoods. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman and former party leader Tim Farron said the news had been met with fear by farmers. The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said: I confess I think all of us in Westmorland and across rural Britain feel a sense of terror, actually, as we recall the sense of horror and devastation of the outbreak in 2001. I will never forget that looming sense of dread and threat as the disease got closer to our farms. The dread when the disease was diagnosed, as whole herds and flocks were slaughtered by those who had cared for them. Daniel Zeichner addressed the Commons on a foot-and-mouth outbreak in Germany (House of Commons/PA) I wont forget the burning fires on the hillsides of bodies of the slaughtered animals, or the deep trauma that affected all of our communities, but especially our children. MPs raised concerns the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland could provide a way for the disease to enter the UK. Conservative John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) said it could be the unlocked back door for foot-and-mouth. Carla Lockhart, Democratic Unionist Party MP for Upper Bann, said: Does the minister not agree with me that it is a preposterous situation that Northern Ireland has been excluded from the UK ban on imports from Germany because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth there? Would he agree with me that this is the tip of the iceberg with regards to the impact that the Windsor Framework and protocol is continuing to have on our agri-food industry on Northern Ireland? Since he thinks, and rightly so, it is essential to protect GB farms from potentially devastating impacts, why does he think that Northern Ireland farms are not as important? Mr Zeichner replied that the ban would apply to meat and live animals moving from a 3km protection zone, and 10km surveillance zone around the affected farm in Germany. Northern Irelands farms are just as important, he added. He later told MPs: On the checks at the borders, that is a complicated set of issues, but one of the Brexit benefits, if you like, is we actually have checks at the borders, and Im confident that they are giving us a level of security that should give people confidence. The minister also acknowledged calls for investment in the Animal and Plant Health Agency headquarters in Weybridge. Im delighted to see an outbreak of cross-party consensus on the need to invest more, he said. I hope it is also an outbreak of consensus on how to fund it. TUV leader Jim Allister said the minister could not provide a national protection to Northern Ireland, as well as Great Britain, because the Commons had surrendered the right to make these regulations for Northern Ireland. He added: They cant even be made in Stormont, because only a foreign parliament is now entitled to make them. Mr Zeichner said he did not recognise that loophole, adding: Northern Ireland will be fully protected because that is what were determined to do. Investors are being urged to focus on climate adaptation and resilience as US firms increasingly turn away from environmental, social and governance initiatives. Experts from the University of Cambridges Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Investment Leaders Group called on investors to prepare for a hotter world as they unveiled a roadmap to manage physical climate risks within portfolios. The guide, released on Wednesday, aims to equip investors with tools and strategies to back companies focussing on adapting to the impacts of global warming. It comes as corporate America shifts back towards more conservative social and political stances following Donald Trumps US election win. Last week, Meta scrapped its diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programme and BlackRock left the UN-backed Net Zero Asset Managers alliance the latest in a growing list of US firms ditching DEI initiatives and leaving industry groups focussed on driving the net zero transition. Dr Nina Seega, director of the CISLs Centre for Sustainable Finance, said: Even as the political tides are turning away from a focus on sustainability, the impacts of climate change are becoming more and more deadly and damaging. Investors who want to protect their money will need to look at climate impacts and adaptation. Anyone who cares about long-term value will need to both invest in resilience of their portfolio and support a more resilient economy as a whole. Often adaptation and resilience do not receive the same attention as mitigation efforts to curb planet-heating emissions and limit global warming. But the CISL experts said investors need to respond to the financial risk posed by increasing extreme weather events, citing the widespread damage of the current Los Angeles wildfires, last years deadly flooding in Valencia, Spain, and Hurricane Milton causing estimated losses as high as 34 billion dollars. They argued that investors not only play a critical role in addressing the vulnerability of both communities and financial systems, but resilient strategies offer an essential competitive advantage. The CISL roadmap outlines how early integration of climate risks in the investment process enhances preparedness and decision-making. It also explores how investors can engage with policymakers, businesses and the financial sector to drive systemic changes, including by aligning private capital with global adaptation goals, enhancing corporate disclosure standards and collaborating with the broader financial system to unlock innovative financing models. Dr Seega said: The clock is ticking investors face a critical choice: act now to safeguard portfolios and invest in resilience, or risk the future of both their assets and the global ecosystem. A handful of investors welcomed the roadmap, with Eric Nietsch, head of sustainable investing, Asia, at Manulife Investment Management, saying: We view climate adaptation and mitigation as equally important, not mutually exclusive. A comprehensive approach to managing climate risk must address both. Too often, the focus remains on mitigation with the physical risks either overlooked or underestimated. Mette Gahr, climate investment analyst at Zurich Insurance, said: Addressing the climate crisis requires a massive mobilisation of private capital towards mitigation, adaptation and resilience building. This guidance aims to bridge the knowledge derived from physical climate risk assessments with the investment decision-making process. Sabrina Nagel, global policy and finance advisor at the Atlantic Council Climate Resilience Centre, said: Adaptation and Resilience is becoming the currency of the future. The CISL guide not only highlights why its crucial for investors to address physical climate risks but also provides practical advice on how to integrate these risks into the various stages of the investment process. It also highlights the need to advocate for an enabling environment, where collaboration will be key to shaping the New Adaptation and Resilience Economy. Irish language rap trio Kneecap took a typically forthright swipe at the British establishment after a film about the Belfast band secured six Bafta nominations. Writer-director Rich Peppiatts film about the hip hop group from west Belfast has been nominated in the categories of outstanding British film, outstanding debut, film not in the English language, original screenplay, casting, and editing. The trio are outspoken Irish republicans and are well known for their stinging criticism of Britains historical involvement in Irelands affairs and the UKs current role in governing Northern Ireland. Kneecap performing at the SSE Arena in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) In a statement, band members Moglai Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provai made light of the acting profession as they also made a pointed reference to Britains handling of the Irish potato famine of the mid-18th century. For long enough the British government has stolen Irelands treasures, and even our f****** food there was no famine, said the band. To be first-time actors and now get to hopefully go over and take a few bits back the other way is a nice change and long may it continue. Ireland taking British awards is f****** hilarious. This acting business is handy. The nominations come a day after the film earned 17 nods in categories at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards. In December the film was shortlisted for two Academy Awards. Reacting to the Bafta nominations, Peppiatt said: Its a huge honour as a filmmaker to see your work recognised by some of the best in the business that make up Bafta. And the idea of Prince William handing an award to Kneecap is already the best thing that could happen in 2025, and its only January. Kneecap the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, where it won the NEXT Audience Award. Members of Kneecap attending the British Independent Film Awards ceremony at Londons Roundhouse in December (Yui Mok/PA) One of the films producers, Trevor Birney, welcomed the recognition from Bafta. Its not been a bad day in the Kneecap parish, he told the PA news agency. At its heart the film is about the importance of protecting and celebrating the Irish language. The fact that the film has resonated way beyond Irelands shores tells us that weve struck a cultural chord with those who value indigenous languages around the world. We thank everyone who helped Rich Peppiatt make this such an amazing film and adventure. And it isnt over. A man accused of murdering a pensioner in her bungalow 12 years ago allegedly helped himself to money from her handbag and was seen the following day spending money playing a fruit machine, a court has heard. David Newton, now aged 70, was on state benefits in 2013 and that was his only source of regular income, prosecutor John Price told Cambridge Crown Court. The defendant, of Magazine Close, Wisbech, denies murdering 86-year-old widow Una Crown at her home in Magazine Lane in the Cambridgeshire town on January 12 2013. Una Crown with her husband Jack (Cambridgeshire Police/PA) Mrs Crown was found with her throat cut, four stab wounds to her chest and her clothing set on fire. Her nieces husband had gone to collect her for Sunday lunch on January 13 2013 when her body was discovered in her hallway. Mr Price said police found that the only cash in Mrs Crowns handbag was some silver coins, and her niece, Judith Payne, said it was not enough even to pay the paper man. Mrs Payne said in a statement read to jurors that Mrs Crown would have had notes so I would have expected to see some as she would usually get cash back from Tesco on a Friday. Mr Price said police established that Mrs Crown had got 40 cash during a visit to Tesco on January 11. He said she had a hairdressers appointment on January 16 and she was going for a perm on that day the usual cost was 40. The prosecutor said the Tesco visit was the first card transaction on Mrs Crowns account since Christmas Eve 2012. Mr Price said it is alleged that Newton murdered Una Crown and helped himself to cash of hers found in her handbag. He said the balance on one of Newtons two accounts on January 11 was 74.62. Mr Price said Newtons other accounts only function was to receive a fortnightly payment of benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions which was then always immediately fully withdrawn in cash. The last time this happened before the weekend of Mrs Crowns death was on January 4 2013, he said. But the prosecutor said Newton attended Wisbech Ex-Servicemens Club once on January 12 and twice on January 13, which was recorded on an entry fob and CCTV. He said Newton was spending freely on January 13, playing the fruit machine on his two visits, and on many occasions, being seen more than once to exchange notes at the bar for bags of coins. Mr Price said that on January 12 Newton played a fruit machine at the club just once. Newton paid 80 into his Nationwide account on January 14, the prosecutor said, the first cash credit paid in for 15 months, since October 2011. Mr Price said the defendant spent a lot of time on the phone on the afternoon and evening of the day it is alleged he murdered Mrs Crown January 12 2013. He had made a call to his late sister, Pamela Clark, who at the time was 63. Her granddaughter, Charlotte Clark, who was with her at the time, said her grandmother told her it had been Newton and that he was pissed and that he was crying, adding she said that he had asked to come round for a drink, the prosecutor said. Mr Price said the defendant had made a separate call to his aunt, Constancia Kirk-Hall, then aged 79, and said he had some special massage oil which he could massage on for her to treat a painful elbow. She felt very uncomfortable with this suggestion and told him he wasnt needed, the prosecutor said. He told her he could be round in quarter of an hour. Mr Price said DNA evidence is the nucleus of the case. Male DNA, the profile of which matches that of Newton, was discovered by scientists in 2023 on nail clippings that had been taken from the fingers and thumb of Mrs Crowns unburned right hand at a post-mortem examination in 2013, Mr Price said. The prosecutor said in 2023 scientists combined all five clippings from the right hand. Normally when testing scientists prefer if possible to preserve some of the exhibit, as had been done in 2013, said Mr Price. But now it was decided the time had come to combine them all and so to maximise the chances of achieving a reportable result. Furthermore, techniques continue to improve and had done so since 2013. This also increased the chances. He said it was calculated that it was around 28,000 times more likely that the DNA profile originated from Newton or a close paternal-line male relative of his than an unknown male individual. Some of Newtons close male relatives were excluded from being a match through DNA testing. Non-scientific inquiries were also made, gathering details of where four brothers of Newton and one first cousin lived at the time and other questions. Mr Price said Newton was the only realistic candidate whos left. He said only Newton lived a stones throw from Mrs Crowns bungalow and there was no other evidence to connect the other men to Mrs Crown other than indirectly through their brother David. There is no evidence they were seen in or anywhere near Magazine Lane that Saturday night, said Mr Price. And there is no evidence any of them was drunk that Saturday night and pestering elderly women on the telephone. And there is no other evidence suggesting any of them suddenly acquired some cash that weekend and were able to go out entertaining themselves more often than was usual. Mr Price said jurors will need to consider whether on the night Una Crown was murdered had David Newton let himself into her house using a key to her back kitchen door which he had illicitly acquired from Anglia Locksmiths. The trial continues. Illustration of Lord Hermer and Gerry Adams The Attorney General is facing mounting questions over his links to Gerry Adams and whether he had a role in the compensation decision involving the former Sinn Fein leader. Sir Keir Starmer is set to repeal Troubles legislation, sections of which would have denied Mr Adams and some 400 other Republicans taxpayer-funded payouts over their detention in prison in the 1970s for suspected involvement in terrorism. On Wednesday, Lord Hermer defended his right to have represented the former Sinn Fein leader in a separate damages claim by IRA bomb victims but refused to say how Mr Adams paid him for the case. He refused to say whether he was involved in the compensation decision, which has been made on human rights grounds. Sir Keir, who brought his friend into his Cabinet when Emily Thornberry had been expected to get the role, is already under fire over Labours handling of the economy and the corruption scandal surrounding Tulip Siddiq. Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, represented Gerry Adams in a damages claim in 2023 - Aaron Chown/PA The Prime Minister insisted on Wednesday that he did want to find a way to block Mr Adams and other Republican detainees from claiming compensation, despite remaining committed to repealing the Troubles legislation. However, No 10 officials declined to say how he might achieve that. Senior peers, lawyers and victims have urged Sir Keir to stick with the original law, even if this means he has to fight Mr Adams in the UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim died in the IRA Warrington bombing in 1993, said it would be offensive if the Government were to allow Mr Adams to claim compensation. No government has ever offered us compensation. We are basically the forgotten victims who will remain forgotten in perpetuity. I dont see any sign of this Government or future governments seeing a need to reopen or reconsider that, he said. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has demanded that the Prime Minister reveal whether Lord Hermer was involved in advising the Government on the proposal. Sir Geoffrey Cox, a former Tory attorney general, said it would be unusual if Lord Hermer had advised the Government on the issue after representing Mr Adams as a client because conflict of interest rules were very broadly defined. Jason McCue, the lawyer representing the IRA bomb victims suing Mr Adams, said he would be surprised if Lord Hermer was involved on a decision that could benefit his former client if only because it would call that advice into question and undermine faith in Government. Asked in Parliament whether he had been involved, Lord Hermer told MPs on the Commons justice committee it was a long-standing convention that law officers did not disclose whether they had advised ministers and what they might have told them. He said: The law officers convention, which is enshrined in the ministerial code, precludes any minister from saying whether the law officers have been asked to advise on any given issue, let alone what we have advised. Lord Hermer represented Mr Adams in a damages claim in 2023, which was brought against the former Sinn Fein president by three victims of Provisional IRA bomb attacks at the Old Bailey, London Docklands and the Arndale Centre in Manchester. It is understood that he withdrew from the case when he was appointed as Attorney General by Sir Keir. Matrix Chambers, where Lord Hermer worked, continues to represent Mr Adams in the ongoing damages litigation. Speaking in Parliament, the Attorney General confirmed that he had represented Mr Adams but defended the right of lawyers to act for clients without fear or favour and irrespective of what they had done whether it was morally right or morally wrong. He said this was one of the key parts of our rule of law framework, noting that he had at the same time represented the family of a young British soldier murdered by the IRA in the 1970s. No win, no fee, no comment My concern about attacks on lawyers for doing particular cases is that it undermines faith in the legal system. I dont want to over-egg that but it has a particular resonance for me because I have been involved for many years in organisations that seek to protect lawyers working in fragile environments, he told MPs. I have seen how lawyers themselves become targets, including assassinations of many people known to the organisations I have worked with and supported. I have seen in most bloody terms what happens when you undermine faith in integral parts of the rule of law system. Asked whether he had been paid by Mr Adams on a no win, no fee basis, he said: I am afraid I cant recall, and even if I could recall, Im not sure I would feel inclined to answer a question as to the basis on which I was paid by any given client. Sources close to the Attorney General said the public could be assured there were rigorous systems in place to ensure that law officers would not be consulted on any cases that could give rise to a conflict of interest. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Jenrick wrote: The Attorney General, Lord Hermer, represented Gerry Adams in 2023. We urgently need to know whether he was involved in the decision to abandon a winnable appeal, which now leaves his former client in line for a payout. The Governments claim this signals its absolute commitment to the Human Rights Act makes no sense whatsoever. In a second post, he added: The Attorney General will not say whether he stands to gain financially if the Government pays out to Gerry Adams. Nor has he said whether he was involved in decisions which benefit his former client. Gerry Adams is the subject of a damages claim brought by victims of Provisional IRA bomb attacks - Liam McBurney/PA Wire The original Troubles legislation was introduced by the Tories and amended explicitly to reverse a Supreme Court ruling, which determined that Mr Adams had been illegally detained during the Troubles because the wrong minister had signed his custody order. Labour decided to repeal the law last year after a Northern Irish high court ruled that the Tories legislation was incompatible with human rights laws. Hilary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said Labours decision to repeal the law underlined the Governments absolute commitment to the Human Rights Act. Ministers decided against appealing the Northern Irish court decision despite warnings on Tuesday by 16 leading lawyers, former judges and ministers that the decision would reopen the door to a wave of meritless litigation relating to events dating back more than 50 years. In a report by the Policy Exchange think tank, the 16, who include Lord West, former Labour security minister, said hundreds of people who were lawfully detained for suspected involvement in terrorism could be paid compensation in an unjust and wasteful use of public money. Sir Keir was challenged during Prime Ministers Questions by Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, over the shameful decision to write a cheque to compensate Mr Adams. The Prime Minister said he would go ahead with his manifesto commitment to repeal the Troubles Act, which he said was found to be unlawful and would have granted immunity to hundreds of terrorists and was not supported by victims in Northern Ireland. But he told MPs: We will put in place a better framework. We are working on a draft remittal order, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. Lord Faulks, a former justice minister who drafted the original amendment, said Labour had supported the block on compensation when in Opposition and it would be extraordinary to take a different course of action. A person holds a test tube labelled Bird Flu on 14 January 2023. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters The Biden administration, in its waning days, is allocating $306m to respond to public health threats from bird flu, a move applauded by public health experts as the H5N1 outbreak continues to expand among people and animals in the US. As the outbreak intensifies, the US should continue investing in pandemic response like wastewater monitoring, vaccine manufacturing and distribution, rapid test development and other pressing needs to curtail the outbreak, experts say. But its not clear whether the incoming Trump administration will continue such work. About $183m of the new funding will go toward pandemic preparedness writ large, especially treatment, at the regional, state and local level, while $103m will be spent monitoring people who have been exposed to the bird flu virus. Another $8m will go to test manufacturing and distribution, and $11m is set aside for research on how to combat H5N1. These investments are critical to continuing our disease surveillance, laboratory testing and monitoring efforts alongside our partners at USDA, Xavier Becerra, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said in a statement. Related: Louisiana reports first human death in US from bird flu The new funding will be distributed within weeks and because the money has already been appropriated, it cannot legally be reversed if the incoming Trump administration lays out diverging priorities. While the Biden administration has spent about $1.8bn responding to bird flu so far, the majority of those funds have gone to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address the outbreak among animals. About $360m of those funds have gone toward human health in this outbreak, which means the new allocation nearly doubles the total amount committed to curtailing bird flu in people. Im thrilled to see this funding made available and I hope that the new administration leans into it to strengthen our ongoing monitoring of the spread of the disease and our ability to stay alert for human cases, said Megan Ranney, emergency physician and dean of the Yale School of Public Health. Steps like monitoring the virus in milk and producing more antiviral medication could have been more effective earlier to curtail the outbreak, she said. I worry that the virus is already widespread amongst animal reservoirs in the US, so theres a little bit of luck now in whether or not it turns into a pandemic, Ranney said. It could have potentially been averted had we acted more aggressively six or nine months ago. Awarding funding to regional, state and local health departments is particularly important because that seems to be an important catalyst to take action, said Jennifer Nuzzo, professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health. Its often federal action of some sort, usually in the form of money, that gets states activated, Nuzzo added. Improving communication and data-sharing between local entities like healthcare professionals, businesses and school leaders is key for understanding patterns of disease in communities, Ranney said: Whos getting sick from what, when and why? There was a long list of actions needed to respond to this outbreak and to prepare for potential worsening scenarios, with initiatives like monitoring wastewater for pandemic-potential pathogens top of mind, Nuzzo said. Nuzzo noted that theres some question about the funding and whether that will be continued and wastewater surveillance not only needs to be continued but needs to be expanded. Other forms of monitoring for the virus also needed to be supercharged, Nuzzo said. We are in flu season now, so our strategy for finding cases has to shift, and that will require more H5N1-specific testing, not just testing for flu A. While some at-home flu tests exist in the US, they are prohibitively expensive and not widely available. Creating affordable, accessible rapid tests for H5N1 could help ascertain and prevent spread, Ranney and Nuzzo pointed out especially if the virus mutates for sustained transmission between people. If it could spread easily between people, we would be in a pandemic, and it would be around the globe in a matter of weeks, Nuzzo said. In the meantime, she said, we need to do more to protect farm workers. That includes offering H5N1 vaccines, whether through an emergency use program or a clinical trial, to people at risk of getting sick. This is a nasty virus that nobody wants to get. It is a great blessing that the farm workers have not gotten sicker, Nuzzo said. But we have seen that this virus retains the potential to make people severely ill. The first death in the US from the highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred in Louisiana earlier this month. Samples of the virus showed a worrying set of mutations that probably occurred over the patients course of illness, similar to mutations seen in the 13-year-old girl who has been hospitalized because of bird flu for the past two months in British Columbia, Canada. Its another reminder of how important it is for us to be planning ahead in case of the worst-case scenario and also to try to avert the worst-case scenario, Ranney said. We shouldnt be waiting until the worst happens to act. Trumps pick to lead the HHS, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has for decades staked out anti-science positions, particularly against lifesaving vaccines. Kennedy has also encouraged raw milk consumption during this outbreak. Were going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years, Kennedy said of infectious disease research last November. But pandemics are happening with increasing regularity, especially in a changing climate. And a major part of responding to them goes beyond science or funding. We need public leaders, health officials and community groups to work together to create trust, Ranney said. Bradford, the UKs city of culture for 2025, is facing severe pressures on council budgets - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images A Labour-run local authority saved from the brink of effective bankruptcy by the taxpayer has proposed the joint-highest council tax rise in two decades. Bradford council, which was granted 220 million in emergency financial aid from the Government last year, has asked permission to increase the charge by up to 15 per cent from April. If granted, analysis suggests this will be the joint-largest increase for 20 years, unless an even higher bid from Windsor and Maidenhead is also approved. It comes amid fears councils will try to raise their tax rates by the maximum amount after The Telegraph revealed that those with low bills are to be punished by losing millions of pounds of funding. Under new rules introduced by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, local authorities that set low rates will receive less in government grants than those with high bills. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has has been accused of classic socialist redistribution over council funding rules - Danny Lawson/PA Wire However, the Government dismissed the reports as inaccurate and insisted that the proposals will not see grant funding for councils decided based on their council tax levels. The Tories dubbed the move classic socialist redistribution and warned it would encourage all councils to raise bills in April by 5 per cent, the maximum allowed without a referendum. Bradford is one of several councils to have asked for special permission from the Government to increase the charge even further. On Tuesday, Newham council in east London asked to increase its council tax bills by 10 per cent to stave off effective bankruptcy. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has also proposed a rise of 25 per cent. According to analysis by the Taxpayers Alliance campaign group, the last authority to agree to a 15 per cent increase was Croydon council in 2023-24. Before that, the last council to exceed that number was South Cambridgeshire, with a rise of nearly 33 per cent in 2005-06. The Taxpayers Alliance said that would make an increase of 15 per cent in Bradford the joint largest in 20 years. Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford councils leader, said: This decision to request a one-off increase in council tax beyond the usual 4.99 per cent has not been taken lightly. We realise that no one wants to see an increase in council tax when other bills are also rising. Thats why, if approved, wed put in place a fund to support the least well-off. Looking ahead, we are committed to making the changes and savings needed so we can continue to deliver the services our residents rely on in the future at a reasonable cost. Bradford council, which has already made sweeping cuts in an effort to fix its finances, was one of 19 local authorities in England to receive emergency aid from the Government last year, amounting to 80 million for 2023-24 and 140 million for 2024-25. It has now said more difficult decisions are needed despite the extra help it has received from the taxpayer. It comes just days after Bradford took over as the UK city of culture for 2025, for which it set aside 10 million. The proposal is for a one-off rise of between 9.99 per cent and 14.99 per cent. At the top end, this would amount to an annual increase of 170 for homes in Band A, which make up more than 40 per cent of properties in the district, according to the councils own calculations. In a statement on its website, Bradford said raising the charge by 15 per cent would help avoid an extra 140 million of borrowing over the next five years. Ms Hinchcliffe said the council was in an unsustainable financial position triggered by 14 years of reductions in funding from central government. We welcome the additional funding from the new Government for next year. It shows theyve listened and this is a significant step in the right direction, but it cant solve the challenges local government faces overnight, she said. We are still, however, facing severe pressures on budgets for all our services, from social care to maintaining our parks and green spaces. We will have to continue to make difficult decisions to ensure a stable financial future. A Bradford council spokesman said: Bradfords council tax is currently 145 below the national average for metropolitan district councils and is the lowest in West Yorkshire. The biggest increase proposed would bring Bradford to the national average for metropolitan councils, the lower increases proposed would mean that Bradford would still be below the national average of council tax charges for metropolitan councils and therefore after the increases, still cheaper than most other metropolitan councils in the country. At this stage, the council tax increase is a proposal and is subject to approval by the Government. A final decision wont be made until March when the full budget for 2025-26 is set. A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: As with previous years the Government will consider requests for higher levels of council tax from councils seeking exceptional financial support, but this Government will put taxpayers at the forefront of their consideration of any decision. The hospital in Cardiff eventually provided a lockable room, but only available at certain times. Photograph: gbimages/Alamy A healthcare worker has won a claim of harassment against an NHS health board after she was not provided with a suitable private space to express breast milk. Robyn Gibbins told an employment tribunal she felt let down by the trust in Cardiff after she was not given a room that she could lock when she came back to work from maternity leave. Gibbins told the tribunal that a male colleague had walked in on one occasion while she was expressing and it had been suggested she prop a chair against a door to lock it. After complaining, Gibbins received an apology and was told things would be different after she had her second child, the hearing was told. But, after she returned a second time from maternity leave, Gibbins was not given a room that she could lock. Callout She is due to receive a payout after an employment judge ruled that she had suffered harassment related to sex. The tribunal was told that Gibbins began working at Cardiff and Vale University local health boards Heath hospital site as a healthcare support worker in May 2019. She returned from her first maternity leave in August 2021 and told her bosses she was planning to continue breastfeeding, requesting an internally lockable room for privacy. But instead of a lockable room, she was given a sign to put on the door and told to put a chair up against the door, the tribunal in Cardiff heard. Gibbins said: It is so undignified to be asked to prop a chair up against a door to express and also its a fire risk. She added that she felt vulnerable, degraded and concerned for her privacy. On one occasion a male colleague burst through the door whilst she was expressing. It was an accident, but she reported feeling exposed, undignified and very embarrassed. It was not until October that she was told that a lock which cost just 5.50 had been fitted on to a ward managers door. When Gibbins returned to work after her second maternity leave in 2023, a lockable room was available only at certain times. She said she was worried about becoming unwell and felt like a burden. Employment Judge Rachel Harfield said: Expressing is an intimate, personal activity where what are the appropriate arrangements will vary from individual to individual. Different people will have different expectations and preferences as to what constitutes privacy for them. It is important that an expressing mother feels secure and relaxed when expressing because otherwise expressing may not be effective. We find that the absence of the lock left [Gibbins] feeling worried, apprehensive and anxious, even with the do not disturb sign, about the risk of people walking in. She felt belittled by the lock not being provided, by her needs not being met, that her needs were not being taken seriously and by her ongoing resulting vulnerability that could leave her exposed or by not being able to express effectively. Not being given an internally lockable room on the ward was, in our judgment, unwanted conduct that related to sex in the sense of being related to breastfeeding. A trust spokesperson said: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is committed to ensuring all colleagues are treated respectfully, with dignity and without discrimination or prejudice. We are fully cooperating with the employment tribunal and are unable to comment further at this stage. A hearing to decide Gibbinss compensation will be held at a later date. Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement, mediators announced Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The deal includes the phased release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. The move will temporarily halt a destructive 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip and offer hope for an end to one of the deadliest periods of violence between the two sides. The agreement, brokered after weeks of intensive negotiations in Doha, includes a phased release of hostages held by Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and provisions to enable displaced residents of Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Additionally, the deal paves the way for a significant influx of humanitarian aid to alleviate the dire conditions in the devastated territory. President Joe Biden is expected to address the breakthrough agreement later on Thursday. While the deal is anticipated to go into effect in the coming days, it still requires approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet. The deal is expected to provide a six-week pause in fighting, with the goal of opening negotiations to end the war entirely. During this period, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages will be released, though it remains unclear whether all are alive after months of captivity without contact. Questions remain about when and how displaced Palestinians will return to their homes and whether the agreement will lead to the full cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, which are key demands from Hamas. Long-term issues regarding the governance of Gaza and the reconstruction process remain unresolved. Despite these uncertainties, the announcement has raised hopes that the ongoing conflict, which has caused extensive destruction and instability in the region, may be nearing an end. At least 120 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza over the past 15 days, according to a report from the UN's children's agency released Wednesday. On Tuesday night, an Israeli airstrike in Deir Al Balah killed 12 family members, including the wife and four children of Raafat Salha, a well-known relief worker in Gaza, as reported by the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR). Salha, the director of ICHR, sustained critical injuries, leading to the amputation of his leg. In a statement regarding the attack on Salha's home, the Israeli military claimed they targeted a "terrorist in the Islamic Jihad's military intelligence unit operating in the Humanitarian Area in Deir al Balah." In a separate airstrike, at least seven people sheltering at the Al-Farabi School in Gaza City were killed overnight, as reported by officials from Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. In the Al Bureij refugee camp, several casualties were also reported following airstrikes in the area. Queensland police enter the Coles in Yamanto Central shopping centre in Ipswich, where a worker was stabbed on Monday. Photograph: Savannah Meacham/AAP Coles will stop selling kitchen knives after the stabbing of one its employees in a south-east Queensland supermarket an alleged assault that prompted the states premier to promise further crackdowns on youth crime. Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, was allegedly stabbed in the back on Monday while working at a Coles in Ipswichs Yamanto Central shopping centre. The knife was taken from the supermarkets shelves. She remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. A 13-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder. On Wednesday, Queensland police appealed to the public for information in relation to the actions of the alleged offender. It is understood the 13-year-old boy charged with attempted murder may have been walking along the Cunningham Highway between Ripley and the Yamanto exit prior to the incident between 1pm and 2.30pm on [Monday], police said in a statement. To assist investigations, detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have observed him, has dashcam footage or had any interaction with the boy. A spokesperson for Coles said on Wednesday that the company had made the decision to withdraw its range of kitchen knives for sale from supermarkets across Australia. Coles complies with all legislation regarding the sale of kitchen knives, and this withdrawal is being taken out of an abundance of caution as we conduct a review, a statement said. The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority across all aspects of our business. In a statement, industry groups the Australian Retailers Association and National Retail Association backed the move and said our thoughts are with the injured worker and her coworkers. We fully support retailers who are taking initiatives to improve safety for staff and commend Coles for taking swift action in response to the recent incident in [Queensland], they said . Related: Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust The alleged assault has led to persistent questioning of the premier, David Crisafulli, who took power last October with pledges to crack down on a what he called a youth crime crisis. On Tuesday and again on Wednesday, he promised to make many more changes to the hardline youth justice laws his government has enacted which impose adult penalties on young people accused of certain serious offences and carry mandatory life sentences for young offenders convicted of murder, with a non-parole period of 20 years. Much of Crisafullis election campaign was built on his promise to implement some of the strictest youth crime laws in the democratic world, including the adult crime, adult time legislation. The premier has said these laws would act as a deterrent. While speaking to media in Cairns on Wednesday, Crisafulli was asked if it was a mistake or loophole that attempted murder did not fall under his tough new laws. The premier said an expert panel would review that charge and many others with a view to recommending further crackdowns on a generation of hardcore repeat untouchables. I want Queenslanders to know: there will be more changes, he said. And the second tranche of the making Queensland safer laws is certainly not going to be the last. There will be further reform in 2025, in fact there will be legislative change in 2025 and it cant come soon enough. Some experts have rejected government claims that the laws would act as a deterrent or reduce crime. Queensland is among the only jurisdictions in the democratic world to impose adult penalties on children. In extreme cases, children as young as 10 could face mandatory life sentences. The number of children under 14 in adult police watch houses in Queensland has risen 50% in 12 months. Asked if he was concerned that the youth crime crackdown would not act as a deterrent but only lead to higher incarceration rates, Crisfulli replied that his focus was on there being fewer victims of crime. Lady Gabriella Kingston and Thomas Kingston pictured in 2022 - PA Coroners have issued more than 40 warnings about the antidepressants which were found to have contributed to the death of Lady Windsors husband, it has been reported. Thomas Kingston, 45, took his own life shortly after he was prescribed the drug sertraline for anxiety, among other medicines, by Dr Nicky Naunton Morgan, his GP and royal apothecary to the King and Queens household. Last week Katy Skerrett, the senior coroner who oversaw the inquest into Kingstons death, said the potential suicide risk should be better communicated to people taking the drugs. In a prevention of future deaths report, she also questioned whether guidance to persist with such medication was appropriate in circumstances when there had been no notable benefit or the individual was suffering from adverse side-effects. The Times has reported that sertraline and citalopram, which are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), have featured in 40 prevention of future deaths (PFD) reports dating back to 2016. The reports highlight a failure to alert patients to potential side-effects, breaches of prescribing guidelines, not reviewing patients and not keeping records of their changes while on the medication. Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston leave St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle, following their wedding in 2019 - PA Inquest cases where the drugs were mentioned include Samuel Morgan, 25, from Swansea, south Wales, who took his own life in January 2020 a week after he started taking citalopram. Coroner Colin Phillips reported that the drug should come with a black box label warning of the potential risk. In June 2021, Joshua Asprey, 19, took his own life 18 days after he started taking sertraline and three days after his GP increased his dosage. Coroner Michael Spencer said in May 2023 that he was concerned that suicidal ideation was not listed as a risk of sertraline in the medicines guidebook, the British National Formular. Kingston, the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, was found dead at his parents home on Feb 25 last year with a catastrophic head injury and a gun close to his body. Lady Gabriella told the inquest in December that she believed her husband killed himself on a sudden impulse prompted by a cocktail of sleep and anxiety drugs. She said she wanted his death to act as a warning to others. Shortly before his death, the inquest heard, Kingston stopped taking the sertraline after a few days because it made him feel very anxious and was instead prescribed diazepam and citalopram. He also doubled his sleep medication. Ms Skerrett told the inquest that there was no evidence to suggest that Kingston had formed a settled intention to take his own life. Lady Gabriella, who sobbed through parts of the hearing, said: I believe anyone taking pills such as these needs to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone. Palestinian Authority forces patrol the Jenin refugee camp amid a heightened security presence - Nasser Ishtayeh/Getty Images The city of Jenin in the northern West Bank has been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. But in the past month, an unusual sight has greeted residents accustomed to violence on their streets. Instead of Israel Defense Forces personnel sweeping the warren-like alleys, it is the black vehicles of the Palestinian Authority (PA) that loom over residents here. Stationed at the entrance, roadblocks have been put in place and masked Palestinian security officers have entered the city on the hunt for terror groups such as Hamas. The operation is part of protect the homeland a crackdown on the Jenin Brigade, which consists of members from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades. And the timing is auspicious. Black vehicles belonging to the Palestinian Authority drive through the city of Jenin in the West Bank - Raneen Sawafta/Reuters Basem Naim, a Hamas official, told The Telegraph that the crackdown is an attempt to show Donald Trump that it can confront its own people as well as maintain control over the West Bank. All eyes are on whether this will work, as the PA are being lined up to play a crucial role in the future of governing and rebuilding Gaza after the 15-month war. Israel has been pleasantly surprised by the help in confronting Hamas and its affiliates, which have so often been left to their own devices. However, the crackdown is already generating tension. Shoot-outs between the security forces and Jenin Brigade have led to the closure of schools and a health centre run by UNRWA, which accused Palestinian armed actors of forced entry and presence at the facility. Around a dozen people have been killed in the operations so far, including Shatha al-Sabbagh, 21, a female journalist who was shot in the head. Her family along with Hamas blamed the PA and accused one of their snipers of killing her. Mourners carry the body of Shatha Al Sabbagh through Jenin refugee camp on the day of her funeral - Raneen Sawafta/Reuters Shatha Al Sabbagh, 21, was shot in the head during a clash between militants and Palestinian Authority personnel - Raneen Sawafta/Reuters Meanwhile, the PA described it as a heinous crime committed by lawless individuals who fired indiscriminately, resulting in Shathas death and damage to a nearby house. Two civilians Mahmoud Hajj al-Jalqamousi and his 14-year old son Qasam were also killed, both of whom were on the roof of their house when they were hit by bullets. Mr Naim said: This approach is highly dangerous because the PA will not be able to break the will of the resistance in Jenin or elsewhere as the root causes of resistance still persist, foremost among them the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. The feud between dominant groups Hamas and Fatah goes back decades. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary election, which caused a bloody battle between the two rivals. The following year, Hamas effectively took control of Gaza after violently ousting Fatah. Since then, numerous attempts to unite the two Palestinian factions have failed. An Israeli officer told The Telegraph that Israel are sceptical about the timing of the crackdown - Shutterstock Representatives from both sides met in Moscow on Feb 29 last year after Mohammad Shtayyeh, the then PA prime minister, resigned from his position two days earlier. But the renewed push to form a united government has so far led nowhere, according to Yohanan Tzoreff, the former Arab adviser to the civil administration in the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas [the current PA president] doesnt want any kind of cooperation with Hamas, Mr Tzoreff said. Despite an agreement between Fatah and Hamas to create a committee to rule post-war Gaza that was reached in Cairo in December 2024, the plan is yet to be approved and signed by Mr Abbas. Cairo is very upset with Mr Abbas, as far as I understand. And I dont think he will approve the plan. He thinks that Hamas is weak and that now is the time to reshape the Palestinian arena, Mr Tzoreff said. Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights activist, is also sceptical about any unity between the Palestinian factions in the near future. Theres a saying that when the Arabs are meeting, they agree not to agree. We have so many rounds of negotiations between both sides and we never, ever reach any kind of positive results, Mr Eid told The Telegraph. In Jenin, many residents are afraid to talk publicly about the fighting as the PA and terror groups are known to violently silence dissent. A former Arab adviser has claimed that president Mahmoud Abbas does not want to cooperate with Hamas - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP But how efficient is the PAs operations and will it manage to regain control of the West Bank? I had some conversation with a former high ranking PA officer who said they are not going to give up. Theyre going to continue until the end. I think that they will succeed if they continue like this, Mr Tzoreff said. Hamas accused the PA of acting as Israels agent in an interview with The Telegraph, which is a view widely held among Palestinians. Mr Naim went on to say that this will inevitably lead sooner or later to the undermining and eventual collapse of the Palestinian Authority. An Israeli official also told The Telegraph that Israel is sceptical about the timing of the crackdown but that any removal of terror groups in the West Bank is welcome. They said: Its a peculiar timing and most likely has to do with the new US administration. They could have easily launched this crackdown a while ago but they didnt. So it shows they are acting out of self interest here. The assisted dying bill was proposed by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, centre. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images Doctors are preparing to speak out against changes to the proposed assisted dying law that could ban physicians from raising the procedures with patients. The British Medical Association, which will give evidence to a committee of MPs scrutinising Kim Leadbeaters private members bill, has said doctors must be allowed to raise assisted dying sensitively with patients if it becomes law. The BMA said it would be an unacceptable intrusion of legislation into the privacy of the consulting room. The Guardian has previously reported that up to 30 MPs who backed assisted dying could withdraw their support at the next parliamentary vote. At the top of MPs demands for change is that the bill should not permit medical professionals to suggest assisted dying to terminally ill patients. MPs, including the former cabinet minister David Davis and the Labour MPs Chris Webb and Mike Tapp who voted for the bill have asked the committee to consider making this change. A source close to the committee said it was likely to be one of the first amendments considered by the committee in February once they had finished taking public evidence. MPs scrutinising assisted dying legislation will have three full days in the final week of January to hear public evidence from health and ethics experts and begin to explore a range of possible amendment. The committee will then meet twice weekly for public scrutiny sessions of the bill until the last week of April. The BMAs official position is neutral on whether assisted dying should pass but the union has agreed a collective position that doctors should not be put in the position where they are barred from raising it with patients. Related: Commons to Lords: the timeline for assisted dying bills progress Dr Andrew Green, the chair of the BMAs medical ethics committee, which leads on assisted dying, said that barring doctors from raising the option with patients would put unprecedented legal restriction on doctors though he said no doctor should be obliged to mention the procedure. After careful debate, we did conclude that there should be no requirement on doctors to raise the subject, but equally, they should be able to do so sensitively when they thought it was in the best interest of their patients, he told the Guardian. Some patients do find it difficult to bring up sensitive subjects in their consultations, and doctors are skilled at reading between the lines of what patients say and working out what has been left unsaid. In such circumstances, a skilled doctor would gently open the door to those conversations, allowing the patient to walk through into a safe space where they can discuss whats on their mind. The amendment under discussion would result in a lock being put on that door to effective communication. And we feel it would be an unacceptable intrusion of legislation into the privacy of the consulting room. Green said that he would not anticipate that assisted dying would ever be directly recommended to patients and that doctors would continue to be bound by the code of ethics. The BMA is expected to be among the organisations called to give evidence to the committee in the last week of January. The next Commons debate and vote is expected to be on 25 April and should time allow, the bill may also get to its final Commons stage that day. If the time limit is reached, the final stage of third reading would take place on the next sitting Friday, about a fortnight later. Proponents of the bill are hopeful it will start its consideration in the Lords before the summer. The bills committee will have nine MPs who were opponents of the bill, including its most high-profile Conservative opponent, Danny Kruger, and 11 MPs who were in favour. The health minister Stephen Kinnock and the justice minister Sarah Sackman will be on the bill committee for its next stage in parliament. They voted in favour of the bill. Along with Leadbeater, that makes the committee balanced 14-9 in favour, a 60% majority. A person looks on as the carcass of a water buffalo is being removed by a tractor at a farm in Hoppegarten near Berlin The risk of foot and mouth disease arriving in the UK from abroad is the highest it has ever been, government scientists have said. Officials say there is great concern that the virus could arrive in Britain following an outbreak in a water buffalo herd in Germany. The official risk level in the UK has been elevated to medium the highest it has been since the systems creation in 2006. Risk of incursion from abroad has never been above low in 19 years. The UK had outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 2001 and 2007, with both leading to the culling of millions of animals at a cost of billions of pounds to the economy. The 2001 outbreak started in Essex and led to many farmers going out of business because of loss of earnings from the widespread culls. In 2007, the outbreak occurred in Surrey, stemming from a lab leak in Pirbright, Guildford. This domestic origin of the virus meant the risk of incursion remained low. The 2001 foot and mouth outbreak in the UK caused many farmers to go out of business because of loss of earnings from widespread culls - BWP Media/Hulton Archive But the risk of importing foot and mouth from abroad has been raised for the first time after water buffalo in Markisch-Oderland tested positive for it last week. It is the first case in Europe since 2011, and the first in Germany since 1988. The origin of the outbreak remains a mystery despite ongoing investigations, and the German authorities have implemented restrictions on animal movement in the region as well as culling animals within one kilometre of the outbreak. Foot and mouth disease affects hooved animals such as pigs, sheep and cows but poses no risk to human health or food security, experts say. German authorities have analysed the specific strain of virus as serotype O and are working to ready a tailored vaccine at the Friedrich Loffler Institute. The detection of foot and mouth disease virus serotype O in Europe, where there is no vaccination coverage, is of great concern, UK government scientists wrote in an analysis of the current outbreak. The events highlight how this virus can make significant and unexpected jumps, often through trade and movements of people, animals and animal products, and there is a need for continued vigilance. They added that it was essential to know whether the virus had spread to any other nearby farms or into local wildlife such as boar or deer. No other cases of the viral infection have been detected so far, it is understood. A sign that reads Beware of epidemic danger! No trespassing! hangs outside a farm in Mehrow, near Ahrensfelde, Germany - Axel Schmidt/Reuters Officials upgraded the risk of incursion of the virus into the UK from low to medium because of uncertainty around the German situation and the fact that the virus is highly transmissible and can spread in a range of ways. Around 200 pigs have been culled in Germany as a precaution, along with 55 sheep and goats and three cattle from a nearby farm. None of the animals showed signs of infection, but the farm owners did purchase hay from ground zero of the outbreak in the Brandenburg village of Honow. Berlins two zoos have been closed to visitors while the investigations are under way because the virus is known to be easily spread by fomites as well as airborne transmission. The UK has banned importation of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany, as well as meat products made from these animals. There have been no cases in Britain but Dr Christine Middlemiss, the chief veterinary officer, has urged farmers to be on high alert for any signs of infection among their animals. Strict control measures are required to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease, as shown during a 2007 outbreak in the UK Clinical signs vary depending on the animals. In cattle, key the key signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. However, in sheep and pigs the signs tend to be lameness with some blistering. I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the utmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, said Dr Middlemiss. Daniel Zeichner, the farming minister, told the Commons on Wednesday: Foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that as we know can have a significant economic impact and a truly devastating effect on farming and rural communities when outbreaks occur, as we know from past history. Now I can assure the House the UK is currently free of foot and mouth and has been since 2007 I can assure the House the Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nations farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth. A house collapsed down a cliff at Point Nepean Road and Penny Lane in McCrae, on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne. Stormy weather is forecast in the area on Wednesday afternoon. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP Victorias emergency services are bracing for further movement in a landslide on the states Mornington Peninsula ahead of expected storms, after a house collapsed on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, a $2.3m house on the Mornington Peninsula collapsed down a cliff in a landslide. A council worker injured in the incident remained in a stable condition at Frankston hospital on Wednesday, the health service confirmed. A VicEmergency alert issued on Wednesday morning for the McCrae area said site assessments would continue, along with monitoring for further impact caused by forecast storms. An SES spokesperson confirmed 11 houses in an exclusion zone had been deemed uninhabitable while authorities were on site. The State Emergency Service controller, Mark Daw, told 3AW radio on Wednesday morning houses had been evacuated. He said authorities were concerned about the potential of 20mm of rain on Wednesday. Daw said he expected Point Nepean Road would be closed for at least a week, with geotechnical engineers working to mitigate risks at the site. The residents will probably not be able to come back in their house[s], just on the chance that more slips could occur, he said. Daw said houses within 150m of the landslide site had been evacuated as a safety measure. We know there probably will be another slip, but were unsure how much, he said. Related: Owner grateful nobody died after Mornington Peninsula house falls down cliff in landslide The owner of the house, Nick Moran, a Melbourne-based IT entrepreneur, said in a written statement on Tuesday his familys thoughts were with the injured council employee. We are very grateful that nobody died today, he said. Moran said his holiday home had been hit by a 30-tonne landslide from higher up the steep hill a week earlier. Im not even sure how to comprehend what has occurred and how lucky we are, he said in an online post. It looks like it has destroyed our house which doesnt matter in the overall scheme of things but narrowly missed my daughter and wife let alone the stack of people we entertained there over the break. The house was vacated after that landslide, which was followed by the collapse Tuesday morning. A Mornington Peninsula Shire council worker, aged in his 50s, suffered injuries to his lower limbs after he was forced to jump from the second storey of the house as it started to slide down the cliff face in the collapse. He was at the property undertaking an inspection relating to the earlier slip. David Kennedy, a professor at the University of Melbourne who researches coastal landforms, said the location of the landslide was an old sea cliff. The rock type there is a granite that is 380 million years old so its really highly weathered. And its steep, he said. Kennedy said the biggest lesson was considering the shape of the landscape when building. Building areas on old sea cliffs, which is whats been being done.. this is an area which is going to have an increased risk, he said. We also had the big dump rain on the weekend that definitely didnt help ... if we become wetter, were definitely going to start to see more slips. Related: Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust The Mornington Peninsula shire mayor, Anthony Marsh, on Tuesday said the council had informed the propertys owner and their insurers of work needed after the first incident on 5 January. Marsh said at that point the house was vacated. There was potentially the presence of water and there was concern about the stability of the site, he said. Authorities disconnected utility services in nearby properties on Tuesday and the Nepean Highway was closed between McCrae and Dromana. Marsh said the area on Penny Lane would be closed until at least 7pm on Wednesday. Those investigations are ongoing, but theres obviously unstable land, so we need to work out exactly whats going on there, Marsh said. Its devastating for the owners and it must be a huge concern for the close residents around. The shire on Tuesday established a community relief hub in Dromana for affected residents. Blue Whale drone Credit: ELTA Systems Ltd Germany has deployed an underwater stealth drone named Blue Whale to patrol the Baltic Sea in its latest attempt to confront Russian and Chinese saboteurs. As tensions rise over the cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic region, the German navy has test launched the autonomous submarine to carry out deep sea surveillance. The drone, produced by the Israeli defence firm Elta, can also be used to detect and pursue suspicious vessels, and to spot mines. Complex design of the Blue Whale includes a Synthetic Aperture Sonar to capture high-resolution images of the seafloor and detect mines According to Elta, the five-tonne Blue Whale can motor at 8mph, dive to nearly 300 metres and function underwater for several weeks. It can, the manufacturer says, be used to enhance naval operations with unprecedented levels of stealth and data fidelity. The complex design includes a Synthetic Aperture Sonar to capture high-resolution images of the seafloor and detect mines, and a Flank Array Sonar to detect other vessels. To support special forces on reconnaissance missions, the drone is also equipped with Loyal Submarine Wingman communications technology and at 36ft long is said to be easily transportable in a 40-foot shipping container. Jan Christian Kaack, the commander of the German navy, has said that drones such as Blue Whale will be used to confront high-performance weapons from potential foes, including some which are extremely difficult to defend against. Germany, along with the Nordic and Baltic states, is increasingly concerned about hostile Russian and Chinese activity in the Baltic Sea region. Last November, two underwater fibre optic cables running between Finland and Germany were cut, with suspicion falling on a Chinese vessel that was in the area at the time of the incident. In a similar case in October 2023, a Chinese container ship damaged a key European gas pipeline, Balticconnector, leading to a surge in gas prices. The Chinese government claimed the damage was accidentally caused by the captain dragging his anchor along the seabed, a claim that Estonias defence minister described at the time as difficult to understand. Western officials suspect that in both cases the damage may have been caused deliberately by Chinese vessels on behalf of Russias intelligence services. The five-tonne Blue Whale can motor at 8mph, dive to nearly 300m and is able to function underwater for several weeks Drones such as Blue Whale will be used to confront high-performance weapons from potential foes according to the German navy Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been waging a so-called hybrid warfare campaign on Europe in retaliation for Western military support of Ukraine. This involves targeting critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables, as well as factories and other assets on EU soil which are important to the war effort. Russia is also suspected of plotting to assassinate the chief executive officer of Rheinmetall, the German arms firm which has been producing huge quantities of artillery ammunition for Ukrainian soldiers. German police this week launched an investigation into suspicious drone activity over a military base in Manching, Bavaria, where German forces test aircraft. Bavarian officials said they were not ruling out the possibility that the drones were launched by Russian spies. Last April, two German-Russian dual citizens were arrested in Bavaria on suspicion of a plot to sabotage a US military facility which supports Ukraine. Spying for the Chinese government Relations between Berlin and Beijing have also frayed over the arrest of three German citizens on charges of spying for the Chinese government. In a separate incident, an aide to an MEP for Germanys far-Right Alternative for Germany party was arrested last April on suspicion of being a spy for Beijing. According to Maritime Executive, an industry magazine, the German military carried out the test launches of the Blue Whale in December. Germany and Israel are increasingly cooperating on security, particularly in the area of air defence. Israel is supplying Germany with its highly advanced Arrow 3 missile interception system. Underwater drones like the Blue Whale will allow the German navy to take a big step forward in monitoring the Baltic Sea and detecting submarines, without resorting to expensive manned systems, Johannes Peters, an expert from Kiel Universitys Institute for Security Policy, told Spiegel magazine. A clause in the Legacy Act 2023 blocked Gerry Adams and others from getting compensation for being unlawfully interned during the Troubles. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Ministers will look at every conceivable way to prevent Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Fein president, being able to receive compensation under government plans to ditch controversial laws dealing with the Troubles period, Keir Starmer has told MPs. Asked during prime ministers questions about claims that Adams and 400 others interned during the Northern Ireland Troubles could get compensation from the British government, Starmer said he would strive to make sure this did not happen. Jonathan Caine, a former government adviser to three Northern Ireland secretaries, has urged the government to rethink its planned repeal of the Legacy Act 2023. The Conservatives had inserted a clause into the Legacy Act blocking compensation payments to Adams and others who had been unlawfully interned during the 1970s, after a supreme court ruling in 2020. That ruling in effect quashed Adamss conviction for two attempts to escape the Maze prison in 1973 and 1974 after being detained without trial, a practice imposed by the British government in Northern Ireland to combat republican violence. The government has tabled a remedial order in parliament that would repeal parts of the act, including sections covering interim custody orders not signed by the Northern Ireland secretary at the time. Responding to Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, who asked if the government would write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams, Starmer said the Legacy Act was unfit, not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland, nor, I believe, by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. He went on: We will put in place a better framework. Were working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages, and its important I say that on the record. His official spokesperson later said: Were looking at every conceivable option to make sure payments dont take place. Speaking earlier on Wednesday, the chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, declined to say if Adams would be entitled to compensation. He told BBC Radio 4: The government inherited a scheme from the Conservative party that didnt have the support of anybody in Northern Ireland, that was found in many cases to be unlawful, and which actually, under the Conservative scheme, gave immunity to people who committed appalling acts of terrorism. Jones added that the Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn, was working with parties in Northern Ireland and would report to parliament in due course. Caine said the Labour move was inexplicable as the party had never opposed the amendment to the Legacy Act addressing compensation. They have made a political decision, he said. The attorney general, who represented Adams in a damages claim in 2023, has also faced questions from the Tories over his role in the governments decision. Lord Hermer told the Commons justice select committee that any advice given to government departments would not be disclosed because of a longstanding convention that it was not made public. Asked whether he had any kind of conditional fee arrangement with Adams, Hermer said: Im afraid I cant recall. And even if I could recall, Im not sure I would feel inclined to answer a question as to the basis on which I was paid by any given client. His spokesperson added: Like any lawyer, the attorney general is subject to professional obligations, including in respect of the rules around any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. A number of peers including Ken McDonald, a former director of public prosecutions, the shadow attorney general, David Wolfson, and the Northern Ireland historian Paul Bew have backed a thinktank paper by Policy Exchange criticising the Labour move. It says it does not progress the cause of reconciliation in Northern Ireland to leave open the possibility of meritless litigation. Lord Wolfson said the governments claims that the repeal signalled a commitment to the Human Rights Act makes no sense and warrants the sharp criticism that this paper ably provides. The Legacy Act was opposed by the unionist parties, Sinn Fein, the Irish government and the US government and Labour made a commitment to replace it when it came to power. Unionist parties, Sinn Fein and the SDLP in Northern Ireland have been approached for comment, as have the Northern Ireland Office and the Irish government. The DUP leader, Gavin Robinson, said it would be absurd if taxpayers money were handed to Adams, given the funding needs in health, police and schools. He noted Starmers pledge but called on him to use parliaments role to block compensation. The government needs to stop hiding behind court judgments. Parliament is sovereign and should legislate accordingly, he said. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has come under fire from Humza Yousaf after meeting Gideon Saar while on a visit to Israel - Ben Dance/FCDO Humza Yousaf has accused David Lammy of racism for meeting with an Israeli minister as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. The former first minister compared Israeli military action to Russias invasion of Ukraine but claimed the Foreign Secretary and Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, would not engage in the same way with Vladimir Putin or Sergey Lavrov, Moscows foreign minister. He said the only conclusion to explain the different approaches was that the British response was rooted in racism because of the idea that Arab lives simply do not matter to the same extent as European lives. The accusation of racism from Mr Yousaf, who has said he intends to work to bring about international peace after he leaves politics next year, was branded offensive and naive by the convenor of Holyroods cross-party group on Israel. Mr Lammy met with Gideon Saar, Israels foreign minister, in Israel on Sunday. The Labour politician said he had stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of aid restrictions on Gaza and the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attacks. Both ministers later posted an image of them smiling and shaking hands on social media, with Mr Lammy also meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority. Humza Yousaf has said he intends to work to bring about international peace after he leaves politics next year - ANDY BUCHANAN In comments to The National, a pro-independence newspaper, Mr Yousaf accused Mr Lammy of attempting to cover-up the meeting, despite the Foreign Secretary posting about it on his account on X, formerly Twitter. He claimed it was shameful to meet with the Israeli government and to pose for photographs with the government whose head is wanted by the International Criminal Court. Mr Yousaf said: I wouldnt expect David Lammy to be posing, smiling with photographs with Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. I wouldnt expect Keir Starmer to be shaking hands and hugging Vladimir Putin. We wouldnt expect any engagement at that senior level. He added: The only conclusion one can draw with why the Israeli government and the people of Gaza are treated differently is that it has to be rooted in racism. Arab lives simply do not matter to the same extent as European lives, and that to me is an indictment of the sad state of humanity that we currently live in. Other Western governments have also shunned calls for Israel to be treated as a pariah state, with Mr Saar also holding meetings in recent days with the Italian government and the US ambassador to Israel. Joe Biden, the outgoing US president, spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, at the weekend, as part of efforts to build momentum towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal, which it has been claimed is close. Despite his call for Israel to be shunned, Mr Yousaf said in the same interview that after he stands down from politics next year he was keen to work in the conflict resolution space and could envisage working for an international organisation. He said Israel was responsible for the deaths of 75,000 people in Gaza, almost 70 per cent of whom were women and children with hospital, schools and refugee camps targeted by bombs. He called for grants from Scottish Enterprise, a Scottish government agency, to no longer be handed to firms alleged to be involved in manufacturing weapons used by Israel in the conflict. Offensive and naive Jackson Carlaw, the former Scottish Tory leader, who is convenor of Holyroods Building Bridges with Israel cross-party group, said: If a ceasefire is to be achieved in the Middle East its essential that politicians engage with all sides in this awful conflict. To suggest doing so is racist, is both offensive and naive. Achieving progress or resolution places on all involved a duty to set blind emotion aside. If we cannot do that, then there can be no progress. While Mr Yousaf was still first minister, he had family members trapped in Gaza early in the conflict. His parents-in-law, who had been visiting relatives and usually live in Scotland, were eventually given safe passage out of the conflict zone. His wife, Nadia El-Nakla, a Dundee councillor, has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Foreign Office has been approached for comment. Some Israelis rejoiced at the news of a deal, which should see the return of the hostages - Ronen Zvulun Israel and Hamas on Wednesday agreed a ceasefire to end 15 months of war, with the first hostages set to be released on Sunday. Donald Trump hailed the epic deal on Wednesday night, claiming that it could only have happened because of his election victory in November. Hostages will be swapped for Hamas prisoners held in Israel over the course of months under the deal, which has been separated into three separate phases. Click here for Thursdays live blog on Israel-Hamas deal It will end with a permanent ceasefire, the full military withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of hostages and remains from Hamas tunnels. Joe Biden, the US president, also took credit for the deal from White House on Wednesday night, saying my diplomacy forced the agreement. Civilians celebrated on the streets of Tel Aviv and Gaza alike after the deal was announced, despite reports of additional 11th-hour demands by Hamas. Civilians celebrate the reaching of a ceasefire deal on the streets of Tel Aviv and Gaza - Amir Levy The Israeli cabinet was set to vote the deal through on Thursday. The first phase of the deal will last six weeks and will see 33 hostages, including women and children, released. The Israeli military will leave populated areas during that time. The second phase will see remaining male hostages released and the withdrawal of remaining Israeli forces. The third phase will see the bodies of murdered hostages returned to their families, and the reconstruction of Gaza. Mr Biden said the road to the deal has not been easy and that the negotiations had been complicated by attacks on Israel from Iran and Hezbollah. This is one of the toughest negotiations I have ever experienced, he said. The American negotiating team was formed of US government officials and Mr Trumps team, who worked together to secure an agreement in line with ceasefire plans outlined by Mr Biden in May. Mr Trump claimed credit for the agreement, arguing that his election victory in November had [sic] signalled to the entire world that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. Hell to pay The president-elect, who will take office on Monday, sent his Middle East envoy to Doha earlier this week to secure the ceasefire before his inauguration on Jan 20. He warned that Hamas would have hell to pay if it did not release the hostages. Any agreement still needs to be approved by the Israeli cabinet, but the first stage of the truce is expected to come into effect with the backing of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. Asked whether he or Mr Trump should take credit for the deal, Mr Biden replied: Is that a joke? Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said the worlds attention must now switch to securing a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people grounded in a two-state solution. Israelis embraced as ceasefire reports emerged - Shutterstock But Ehud Olmert, the former Israel prime minister, said he had doubt and fear that the deal would bring an end to the war because not all Israeli hostages would be freed under its terms. There is not really an agreement about a permanent ceasefire, he told Sky News. There is an agreement for a temporary ceasefire, for I think about 42 days, maybe six weeks, and the return of only 33 hostages. There are still more hostages [not released] and we do not know how many will be alive when this [first] phase will end. Families of British citizens murdered by Hamas warned that there would never be any closure until all hostages are returned. Ayelet Svatitzky, who lost her brothers Roi and Nadav Popplewell, said: Well be worried and were not able to move on until the last hostage is home. Stephen Brisley, whose sister Lianne Sharabi was killed with her daughters Noiya and Yahel, warned that the deal had many moving parts that could very easily fall apart. Because there have been so many false dawns, theres still that part of me that isnt really allowing myself to believe it still, despite the fact that its been formally announced, he said. The ceasefire deal raises questions about the governance of Gaza, where both Israel and the US say Hamas cannot continue to rule. Cannot coexist Marco Rubio, the incoming Secretary of State, said in response to the announcement that Israel cannot coexist with armed elements who seek [its] destruction and evisceration as a state. Negotiations over the second phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin almost immediately after the first phase comes into force. Israeli troops that withdraw from Gaza will be stationed on the border between the territories, ready to receive hostages released by Hamas. The Israeli government said that Hamas introduced eleventh-hour demands for the IDF to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land between Gaza and Egypt. Mr Netanyahus office said Hamas had folded due to his strong insistence that the troops remain in the short term. 08:42 PM GMT Thats all for today Thanks for tuning in to our coverage of Israels ceasefire deal with Hamas. This liveblog is now closed. 08:11 PM GMT Israeli leaders call on Netanyahu to ratify ceasefire deal Israeli political leaders have called on Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the hostage-ceasefire deal in a vote scheduled for tomorrow. President Isaac Herzog said he supports the prime minister and the negotiating team for its efforts to reach a deal and said the cabinet must approve the deal to bring our sons and daughters home. There is no higher Jewish value than returning captives home, he added. Yair Lapid, the leader of Israels opposition, also voiced a note of caution, stating: An entire country is holding its breath tonight. Mr Netanyahu has made no public on the deal so far, but had previously insisted that he will not agree to permanently end the war until Hamas military capabilities have been dismantled. 07:54 PM GMT Biden says his administration worked with Donald Trump as one team President Joe Biden said that his negotiators and Donald Trumps incoming administration worked as one team to get the ceasefire deal agreed. This deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented for the most part by the next administration, Mr Biden said, taking care to note the responsibility on the incoming president to see the deal through to its conclusion. In these past few days, weve been speaking as one team, Mr Biden continued. This has been a time of real turmoil in the Middle East, but as I prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and those are genuine opportunities for a new future. 07:50 PM GMT Biden pledges to bring home American hostages President Joe Biden has pledged to bring home the remaining American hostages as part of the ceasefire deal. I am also if thinking of the American families, three of whom have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable, he said. Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home. Seven American hostages are still being held in Gaza. The three Americans presumed to be alive are Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel, while four others have been declared dead and their remains have yet to be returned. Families of Israeli hostages issued a statement through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum sharing their overwhelming joy and relief over the cease-fire deal. The statement also expressed deep anxiety and concerns about the possibility of some hostages being left behind. We urgently call for swift arrangements to ensure all phases of the deal are carried out, the statement said. 07:42 PM GMT Blessed are the peacemakers: Biden praises staff who brokered ceasefire President Joe Biden praised members of his administration who brokered the ceasefire deal, saying: blessed are the peacemakers. Taken a degree of personal credit for the agreement, Mr Biden said that he had laid out the precise contours of the deal last May and that that proposal was supported by the UN Security Council. He also thanked members of his administration for the dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. Many peacemakers help make this deal happen, including an extraordinary team of American diplomats who have worked non stop for months to get this done, he said, citing the efforts of secretary of state Anthony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and vice president Kamala Harris. 07:36 PM GMT Ceasefire will permit aid to flow into Gaza, says Biden President Joe Biden has said the ceasefire deal will enable aid to flow into Gaza after months of pressure from humanitarian groups. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity, Mr Biden said in a statement. 07:21 PM GMT Attention must turn to securing a two-state solution, says Keir Starmer Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that the worlds attention must now switch to securing a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people grounded in a two-state solution. Sir Keir said in a statement: After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for. They have borne the brunt of this conflict triggered by the brutal terrorists of Hamas, who committed the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7th, 2023. For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza. And then our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state. The Prime Minister also paid tribute to British hostages killed by Hamas. We will continue to mourn and remember them, he said. 07:13 PM GMT I introduced ceasefire agreement, says Biden President Joe Biden has taken personal credit for the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas, saying this is a ceasefire agreement I introduced last spring. In a press conference addressing the deal, Mr Biden said: The road to this deal has not been easy. I worked in foreign policy for decades. This is one of the toughest negotiations Ive ever experienced, and reached this point because of the pressure of Israel built on Hamas backed by ther United States. Asked by reporters whether Mr Biden or his successor, president-elect Donald Trump, was responsible for brokering the deal, Mr Biden said: Is that a joke? 07:06 PM GMT President Biden announces ceasefire deal 07:02 PM GMT Hamas cannot be left to govern Gaza, says Marco Rubio Hamas cannot be left to govern Gaza, Marco Rubio has said. The Florida senator, who Donald Trump has picked as his secretary of state, said that Hamas cannot remain in power in Gaza following the announcement of a ceasefire with Israel. Appearing at his confirmation hearing, Mr Rubio said: You cant turn it [Gaza] over to people who seek your destruction. You cannot coexist with armed elements who seek your destruction and evisceration as a state. Mr Rubio, who has been a staunch ally of Israel, added that the peace deal brokered by the US presents a historic opportunity for achieving peace in the war-torn region. He said: The good news is that potentially, we have had a dynamic shift in the region that has an historic opportunity, if appropriately structured and pursued, that changes the dynamics of what might be possible. Among the possibilities suggested by Mr Rubio was the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. 07:00 PM GMT Qatari PM outlines terms of deal Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatars prime minister, has confirmed some of the details of the deal between Israel and Hamas. The first phase of the agreement will last for 42 days, bringing in a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the east - away from populated areas. Israeli forces will then be positioned along the Gaza border which will allow for the swap of prisoners as well as the swap of remains and the return of the displaced people to their residences, he added. Al Thani said 33 Israeli hostages will be released by Hamas in return for a number of prisoners who are being held in Israeli prisons. 06:57 PM GMT Joe Biden confirms ceasefire deal reached Joe Biden has confirmed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in a statement posted on X. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done I will speak more about this soon, the outgoing US president said. It comes after Donald Trump confirmed the hostage deal in a post on his Truth social. Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done I will speak more about this soon. pic.twitter.com/iETWhGXEGA President Biden (@POTUS) January 15, 2025 06:54 PM GMT Ceasefire will take effect on Jan 19 The ceasefire will take effect from Jan 19, according to the Qatari PM - the day before Donald Trumps inauguration. Exact timings are yet to be confirmed. A reminder, this deal still needs to be signed off by the Israeli cabinet. 06:52 PM GMT Qatari PM confirms hostage deal Qatars prime minister has confirmed a ceasefire deal has been agreed between Israel and Hamas and that it will involve the release of Israeli hostages. 06:50 PM GMT Qatar press conference begins A press conference involving the prime minister Qatar has begun. Well bring you updates as they come in. You can also watch the conference at the top of this page. 06:37 PM GMT Israeli forces will withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor Israeli forces will withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor - a strategic ribbon of land along Gazas border with Egypt - and complete it no later than day 50 of the truce, according to a copy of the deal, obtained by Reuters. 06:30 PM GMT Netanyahu: Hamas folded on last-minute demand Benjamin Netanyahu forced Hamas to fold on its it final demands at the last hour, his office said in a statement. Due to the strong insistence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas folded on its last-minute demand to change the deployment of IDF forces in the Philadelphi Corridor. However, several items in the framework have yet to be finalized; we hope that the details will be finalized tonight. 06:24 PM GMT Watch: Gazans sing and dance after truce announcement 06:22 PM GMT Talks underway to open Egypt-Gaza border crossing Egyptian state media has reported that talks are underway to open the Palestinian Rafah crossing to allow the entry of international aid into Gaza, citing an Egyptian security source. Egypt was preparing to bring in the largest possible amount of aid to the Gaza Strip, the report said, following news of the ceasefire deal. 06:15 PM GMT Thousands of Palestinians celebrate in Gaza Palestinians cheer and celebrate in Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip - REUTERS A man waves Palestinian flags as Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel - REUTERS Thousands are taking to the streets across Gaza to hail the end of the fighting - REUTERS 06:04 PM GMT Mediator says minor issues still being finalised There are several minor issues being finalised over the ceasefire and hostage deal that will be sorted before it is implemented, a senior official involved in the talks told The Times of Israel. The issues include Israel finishing vetting the 1,000 Palestinian prisoners slated to be released under the deal, the official said. 05:58 PM GMT Israeli strike on West Bank kills five An Israeli air strike killed five Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin Wednesday, the local health ministry said shortly after news broke of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. 05:39 PM GMT What Telegraph readers are saying... 05:38 PM GMT Analysis: Who is the real winner of the ceasefire? The majority of Israelis will be celebrating the ceasefire but with a certain bittersweet feeling. Many of the hostages are dead, hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed and the Hamas members with blood on their hands are going to be released from Israeli jails. Benjamin Netanyahu will undoubtedly boost his popularity when the hostages are released, but for most Israelis he remains a villain who puts his own personal interest above the nations. Hamas has been significantly weakened and lost control over Gaza. Rebuilding the organisation will take years, and many Palestinians will hold them responsible for the dearth and destruction they brought on Gaza. The only real winner in all this is the Palestinian Authority, which is preparing to position itself as the next ruler of Gaza. But the road to power in the enclave is long and full of challenges. 05:35 PM GMT Trumps full statement on truce deal: This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones. With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World! We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States! 05:33 PM GMT Pictured: Friends and families of the Israeli hostages react to the news Families of the hostages cheer and celebrate after hearing the truce deal had been approved - REUTERS People cry and cheer at a large demonstration in Tel Aviv - AP The hostage families have waited 15 months for the release of the remaining captives - AP 05:24 PM GMT Analysis: Trumps pressure tactics pushed deal through The long-awaited truce agreement could not come soon enough, said Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, adding that it was Donald Trumps pressure tactics that brought it over the finish line. Donald Trumps pressure tactics and warnings to Hamas and Israel have clearly been effective in reviving the drawn-out negotiations where the Biden administration proved unwilling to exert adequate pressure over Israels leadership, she said. Dr Vakil also noted that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, also managed to silence opposition from hard-Right ministers to deliver a ceasefire arrangement that would have benefitted Trump. Netanyahu also hopes to gain by seizing the momentum of Israeli gains across the region and further influencing the incoming US team to support more military efforts to set back Irans nuclear programme, she added. 05:19 PM GMT Israel to vote on deal tomorrow Israels government will vote on the hostage and ceasefire deal on Wednesday, an Israeli government official told Reuters. The vote will take place at 11:00am local time (9am GMT) on Wednesday, according to Israeli media reports. 04:58 PM GMT Hamas to release 33 Israeli hostages Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children and men over 50. 04:57 PM GMT Israel and Hamas agree to six-week initial ceasefire Israel and Hamas have agreed to a six-week initial ceasefire phase. This includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to north Gaza, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters. 04:44 PM GMT US official says ceasefire reached The ceasefire deal has been reached, the Axios news website, citing a US official, said. 04:25 PM GMT Israeli foreign minister ends Italy visit early Gideon Saar, Israels foreign minister, has cut short his diplomatic visit to Italy due to the progress made in the Gaza truce talks. In a statement, the foreign ministry said Mr Saar will return to Israel tonight to take part in the expected security cabinet and government votes on a deal. He had been scheduled to travel to Hungary tomorrow to attend further diplomatic talks. 04:16 PM GMT Qatar news conference delayed The Qatari update expected to have begun at 7pm local time (4pm GMT) has been delayed. 03:38 PM GMT Qatars PM to speak tonight to announce agreement Qatars prime minister is expected to make a hostage deal announcement tonight, with Qatari media reports suggesting he will say the deal has been signed. The country has been hosting the talks in Doha to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, which now appears imminent. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also foreign minister, will confirm that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement, Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported. The conference had been due to start at 4pm GMT, but has now been delayed. 03:17 PM GMT We dont have energy to wait one more day Ruwaida Amer, who lives in Gaza, spoke of the excitement of a deal edging closer but said she and her friends dont have the energy to wait one more day. People are very excited for this moment, they want to get back to their homes and be with their loved ones againI want to return to the north, to get to Gaza City, my people are there, all my life was there, she told The Telegraph. But people are also worried that there could be problems that stop this agreement from happening today or tomorrow. The feelings here are complex between happy and worried. .. The bombing is very hard, for us in Gaza, we know the last hours of the war could be the hardest, people are trying not to move because they do not want to die in the last moments of this war before a ceasefire. 03:08 PM GMT In pictures: Israeli attacks continue as ceasefire nears Israeli air strikes in Gaza have continued as a ceasefire with Hamas edges closer. Palestinians have been pictured inspecting the aftermath of a strike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, earlier on Wednesday. The Israeli military, the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency and the air force attacked about 50 targets throughout Gaza over the last 24 hours, Shin Bet and the military confirmed in a statement, killing at least 13 people. Those included seven people who were in a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, and six others killed in separate airstrikes on houses in Deir Al-Balah, Bureij camp and Rafah, medics said. Palestinians inspect the debris following an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza - Bloomberg Palestinian women mourn at the funeral of those killed during an Israeli airstrike - Bloomberg 02:43 PM GMT Hamas only given verbal approval to ceasefire deal Hamas has only given verbal approval to a Gaza ceasefire proposal under negotiation in Qatar, an anonymous Palestinian official told Reuters on Wednesday. The Palestinian terror group was waiting for more information before giving a final written approval, the official added. 02:31 PM GMT Hostage families refuse to believe deal is close Members of the Bibas family, the relatives of two children being held hostage in Gaza along with their mother, said they were aware of reports that their loved ones could be released under an imminent ceasefire deal. However, they said they consider nothing final until their relatives cross the Israeli border. Given our experience with disappointments, we consider nothing final until our loved ones cross the border, a spokesman said. We are waiting for certainty regarding their release and condition, and request not to be contacted during this sensitive time. We ask that people refrain from spreading rumors. We continue to appeal to the Prime Minister and demand the return of everyone, until the last hostage is home. 02:24 PM GMT Analysis: Endless stream of leaks reflect chaotic negotiations Just minutes after an Israeli official briefed that Hamas had given the green light to the ceasefire deal, Benjamin Netanyahus office quickly moved to torpedo the report. The statement once again showed the chaotic nature of the leaks coming from all parties involved in the negotiates. The endless stream of leaks and reports have previously caused damaged to talks, with both Hamas and Mr Netanyahu accusing the other of sabotage. With so many officials from different countries deeply involved in negotiations, the leaks are often closely linked to their individual self-interests and attempts to dominate the narrative. Civilians in Gaza and the families of hostages in Israel are, as usual, the ones caught in the emotional roller coaster. 02:03 PM GMT Release all the hostages or we unleash hell, says US senator Republican Senator Tom Cotton has launched a scathing attack on the Biden administration over the proposed ceasefire-hostages deal in Gaza. Why is lame duck Joe Biden trying to cram down a bad deal on Israel on his way out the door? the senator for Arkansas wrote on X, adding: The only deal should be unconditional surrender by Hamas. The senator took issue with reports that Israel would be releasing dozens of hardened terrorists for every one hostage. Heres the deal to offer Hamas and its patron, Iran: you have five days to release ALL the hostages or we unleash hell, he said. Senator Tom Cotton questions Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps nominee for Defence Secretary, during his confirmation hearing on Jan 14 - ALLISON ROBBERT/AFP 01:49 PM GMT Hamas must be fully destroyed, declares Trump adviser Hamas must be fully destroyed and can play no part in the governance of Gaza, Donald Trumps pick for national security adviser has warned. Speaking to the Call Me Back podcast with Dan Senor, Mike Waltz criticised the Biden administration for tapping the breaks on arming Israel and pledged firmer support. Weve been clear that Gaza has to be fully demilitarised, Hamas has to be destroyed to the point that it cannot reconstitute, he said, adding: These are hostage-taking, murderous, rapist, torturers that never should ever have any role in governing. The incoming advisers intervention comes at a tense time for negotiations in Doha, as Israeli officials appeared to contradict each other in statements on the progress of the deal. Mike Waltz (R) listens as Joe BidensNational Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (L) speaks in Washington, DC, on Jan 14 - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP 01:23 PM GMT Israeli finance minister demands total destruction of Hamas Finance Minister and security cabinet member Betzalel Smotrich issued a statement on Wednesday morning, saying Israel is at a crucial and fateful moment for the security, future and existence of the State of Israel. What stands before me is only one thing, which I pursue with awe and reverence: how to achieve the full goals of the war a complete victory, the total destruction of Hamas, both on its military wing and civilian [infrastructure] and the return of all hostages, Mr Smotrich said. The Religious Zionism party leader has previously railed against a deal with Hamas, claiming it endangers Israels security by giving concessions to the terror group. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, called on Mr Smotrich on Tuesday to inform Benjamin Netanyahu that they would both leave the government if a ceasefire is reached. 12:59 PM GMT Palestinian Authority insists it should run Gaza The Palestinian Authority must be the sole governing power in Gaza after the war, the Palestinian prime minister said on Wednesday. Speaking at a conference in Norway, Mohammed Mustafa said: While were waiting for the ceasefire, its important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine. He added: We are the government of Palestine, ready to hold our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before. Israel has opposed any involvement by PA, the body set up under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago which lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. Israeli officials have accused the PA of supporting attacks against Israel and expressed concern that any Palestinian state would inevitably be taken over by the Islamist group. Mohammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in Oslo, Norway, on Jan 15 - HEIKO JUNGE/REUTERS/NTB 12:20 PM GMT I support killing every last member of Hamas, says Trumps defence nominee Pete Hegseth, president-elect Donald Trumps pick for defence secretary, has declared his support for destroying Hamas. Speaking at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the former Fox news host said: I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas. Mr Hegseths opening statement was interrupted by a series of hecklers branding him a Christian Zionist who supports the war in Gaza by the Zionists. The 44-year-old responded: Im a Christian and I robustly support the State of Israel and its existential defence. Pete Hegseth (R) is introduced by incoming national security advisor Michael Waltz (L) during his confirmation hearing - SAUL LOEB/AFP 11:51 AM GMT Islamic Jihad hints at hold up over names of Palestinian prisoners An Islamic Jihad official told AFP on Wednesday that a delegation from the Palestinian militant group had arrived in Qatar to participate in talks on the ceasefire in Gaza and prisoner exchange with Israel. A high-ranking delegation from Islamic Jihad arrived in Doha on Tuesday evening, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that discussions are ongoing, focusing on the mechanism for implementing the ceasefire agreement and the names of Palestinian prisoners included in the exchange deal. The group is thought to have captured and held a number of hostages separately from Hamas. 11:30 AM GMT Kremlin expresses cautious optimism over truce The Kremlin said it was following progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza with cautious optimism, adding that a truce between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory was extremely necessary for the people of Gaza. It can only be viewed with cautious optimism, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday of steps towards a ceasefire deal. 11:04 AM GMT Gaza death toll rises to 46,707, says Hamas-run health ministry The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza s,has aid that 62 people were killed in the Palestinian territory in the past 24 hours, taking the Palestinian death toll to 46,707. The ministry said at least 110,265 people have been wounded in more than 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the Palestinian groups Oct 7, 2023 attack. A Palestinian child in the southern area of Deir al-Balah city, Gaza Strip, on Jan 15 - ASHRAF AMRA/ANADOLU 10:33 AM GMT Hamas is falsely claiming Israel added new demands, says Israeli source An Israeli diplomatic source has accused Hamas of fabricating claims that Israel is seeking to delay the ceasefire-hostage deal with last-minute demands. Hamas is falsely claiming that Israel added new demands in the talks to avoid finalising the deal, the source told The Telegraph. Negotiating teams in Doha had previously indicated that a deal was hours or days away from being signed, but no final agreement has been announced and cracks have started to appear. 10:19 AM GMT Palestinian official accuses Netanyahu of delaying deal Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of attempting to sabotage the ceasefire-hostage deal by a senior Palestinian source speaking to the Qatari-owned Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news agency. The anonymous source claimed the Israeli prime minister insisted at the last minute that Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas were included in the list of 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the agreement. According to a copy of the agreement obtained by the Associated Press, the first stage would see the release of all civilian hostages and five female soldiers. For every civilian hostage freed, 30 Palestinian prisoners would be released, while each Israeli female soldier would warrant 50 Palestinian prisoners - including 30 serving life sentences. 10:08 AM GMT Top US general meets with IDF chief in Israel General Michael Kurilla, head of US Central Command that oversees operations in the Middle East, was in Israel for talks with his Israeli counterpart Herzi Halevi. The commanders held a strategic meeting that focused on the regional situational assessment and examined courses of action to address threats and developments in the Middle East, the military said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the general had arrived in Israel on Monday. The two discussed a variety of possible scenarios on both near and distant fronts, emphasising the strengthening of operational cooperation and enhancing readiness for any scenario, the military added. General Michael Kurilla holding a meeting with Major General Hertzi Halevi in Israel this week - IDF 09:44 AM GMT Mapped: What we know about the deal so far The first stage of the proposed truce, which is expected to last six weeks, would see Hamas release 33 of the 94 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In return, Israel would release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, withdraw troops from populated areas of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to flood in. Negotiators in Doha are still finalising the exact parameters of the IDFs withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Arab officials told the Times of Israel. Read the full story on how the truce is expected to be implemented here. 09:20 AM GMT World must put pressure on Israel after Gaza truce, says Palestinian PM Mohammed Mustafa, the Palestinian prime minister, has urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel after an imminent ceasefire in Gaza so it accepts the creation of a Palestinian state. The ceasefire were talking about ... came about primarily because of international pressure. So pressure does pay off, Mr Mustafa told a conference in Oslo. Israel must be shown whats right and whats wrong, and that the veto power on peace and statehood for Palestinians will not be accepted and tolerated any longer, he added. Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa attends a meeting at Oslo City Hall on Jan 15 - HEIKO JUNGE/NTB/AFP 09:04 AM GMT Hospitals preparing to receive hostages on Sunday, Israeli media reports Israel has warned institutions such as hospitals that it should prepare to receive a number of hostages starting on Sunday, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of the Health Ministrys public health division, told Israeli outlet Ynet that the condition of hostages returning after more than a year in captivity will be very different to when Hamas released 105 civilians in late November 2023. After a deal has been announced, it will be submitted to the Israeli government for approval. A list of names of the Palestinian prisoners set for release will then be published, to which the public have 48 hours to object before the deal is implemented, according to the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news agency. 08:41 AM GMT Analysis: Waiting game seen as Hamas psychological terror Exhausted families of hostages are growing impatient with the delay in the ceasefire talks as conflicting reports about the deal have been circulating in the media the past 48 hours. Thousands of Israelis protested again on Tuesday evening, with some demanding from the government that all hostages be released at the same time in a deal with Hamas. Many fear that the hostages who arent on the list of the 33 hostages set to be released in the first phase could end up being left behind if the ceasefire collapses before the second stage. This is what happened in the last ceasefire in November, which Hamas broke on the last day of the deal by firing rockets at Israel in the early morning hours. The calm before the storm is also seen by some in Israel as a deliberate attempt by Hamas to cause further psychological terror in the Israeli public. Israel is in a waiting game, as one source familiar with the ceasefire talks described it to The Telegraph, with disagreements over the implementation of the deal causing delay. 08:35 AM GMT Israel strikes Gaza and the West Bank, killing dozens Israeli airstrikes on two homes in central Gaza killed at least 17 Palestinians late on Tuesday and wounded seven more, hospital officials said. In the occupied West Bank, the Health Ministry said at least six people were killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli military confirmed a drone strike in the area but gave no further details. In the Gaza Strip, the bodies of 11 people were brought to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after a strike hit a house in Deir al-Balah, officials at the hospital said. Another strike killed six people in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp and wounded seven more, according to Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Among those wounded was Khaled Rayan, the head of the nursing department at the hospital. Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli military said it had struck more than 50 terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip. The aftermath of an Israeli strike at the Al-Farabi school in Gaza City on Jan 15 - OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP Palestinian women mourn the death of relatives following Israeli airstrikes on Deir el-Balah in the Gaza Strip on Jan 14 - MAJIDI FATHI/NURPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK 08:21 AM GMT Rival protests in Israel overnight Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Avivs hostages square on Tuesday night in anticipation of a ceasefire deal, with some singing and playing music on a stage. Some of the countrys best-known musicians performed, including Eviatar Banai, Omer Adam and Aviv Geffen. The aunt of murdered hostage Omer Neutra led the crowd in the prayer Shema Yisrael before sending strength to the hostage negotiators. This is not about politics or strategy. Its about humanity and the shared belief that no one should be left behind in darkness, said Moran Stella Yanai, one of the hostages released earlier from Gaza. In Jerusalem, hundreds of Israeli hard-liners marched to voice their opposition to the deal, chanting you dont make a deal with the devil, in reference to the Hamas militant group that attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023. A protester holds a sign during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel - AMIR LEVY /GETTY IMAGES Relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza gathered in front of the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv - MOSTAFA ALKHAROUF/ANADOLU 08:12 AM GMT How Trumps salty envoy may have forced Israels hand on hostage deal The call last week from Donald Trumps Middle East envoy was reportedly blunt and short on diplomatic nicety. Steven Witkoff is said to have told aides to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, that he was headed to Israel on Saturday afternoon. When informed that would be in the middle of the sabbath, but the prime minister could meet in the evening, his reply was apparently salty and clear, according to Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper. The sabbath did not interest Mr Witkoff, the aides were told. Read the full story here. Steven Witkoff was on the golf course with Donald Trump in September when a man is alleged to have attempted to assassinate the then presidential candidate 08:06 AM GMT Trump envoys meeting with Netanyahu led to breakthrough A tense meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trumps Middle East envoy led to a breakthrough in the ceasefire-hostage negotiations in Doha, two Arab officials have told The Times of Israel. Steven Witkoff, described by a senior Israeli diplomat as a businessman who charges ahead unusually aggressively, reportedly told the Israeli president to accept compromises during a sit down in Jerusalem on Saturday. The Florida property investor then flew on to Doha to take part in the hostage negotiations. One of the main issues that has yet to be finalised is the exact parameters of the IDFs withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the Arab officials said. The two officials speculated that a deal would be announced in a joint statement by the US, Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday or Thursday. Benjamin Netanyahu meets Steve Witkoff at his office in Jerusalem on Jan 11 - PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SPOKESPERSON 08:01 AM GMT US and Egypt to stay in close contact over coming hours Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have vowed to remain in close coordination over the coming hours, as negotiators seek to finalise a ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Both leaders committed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams over the coming hours, the White House said in a statement after the leaders telephone call. 08:00 AM GMT Good morning and welcome to our live coverage Were bringing you all the latest from the Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and the nearing possibility of a ceasefire. FILE: Hikers dot and are dwarfed by the massive rock formation of Enchanted Rock in Central Texas - April 2009. fdastudillo/Getty Images/iStockphoto The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will expand Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with the $43 million purchase of a 3,073-acre property in the Texas Hill Country. The new purchase in Llano County will provide more public access, according to a parks department news release on its website. The space includes a rock formation that provides a scenic vantage point of the iconic pink granite dome. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas is home to 88 state parks that showcase our great states natural beauty to Texans and visitors from all over the globe, said Gov. Greg Abbott in the release. The expansion of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area will allow tourists from across the state and around the world to enjoy even more of the majesty of Texas. Together, we will continue to ensure that what makes Texas unique and beautiful is preserved for generations. The acquired space by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which was once used for private hunting purchase, was made possible with a one-time legislative appropriation and funds from the sporting goods sales taxes, according to an email from the department's press office. The $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund will be used to develop the property. BRISKET & RICE: Popular Houston barbecue spot to relocate after making several Texas and Michelin Guide list Enchanted Rock is cherished by Texans across the state, and we are thrilled to add a property of this size and scope to this beloved park, said Jeff Hildebrand, Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in the release. I look forward to families experiencing this new addition to Enchanted Rock SNA and creating lasting memories for generations to come. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Demonstrators in Israel called for a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, after months of campaigning - Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement to bring an end to 15 months of war. If approved by the Israeli cabinet, it will end a protracted process in which multiple ceasefire proposals collapsed following last-minute demands from both sides. What has happened? Senior officials in Hamas and the US announced on Wednesday that a ceasefire agreement had been reached to end the war and release hostages taken by Hamas in 2023. Anticipation had been building all week that a deal was close but negotiations reportedly hit a last-minute snag on Wednesday, just moments before the proposal was due to be confirmed by Qatar. Minutes later, a Hamas official told Al Jazeera that the group had approved the proposal, which was brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Has the ceasefire started? Not yet. All we know is that the deal has been agreed between Israel and Hamas. However, the deal still needs to be signed off by the Israeli cabinet. A man waves Palestinian flags as news of the ceasefire broke in Gaza - Ramadan Abed/Reuters Gideon Saar, Israels foreign minister, said on Wednesday the deal would be voted on by Thursday at the latest. It is expected to pass, despite some resistance from those on the far-Right of the Israeli government. Once it is signed by the cabinet, an initial six-week phase will come into effect at an as-of-yet-unknown time. What will the ceasefire mean? The full details of the deal are yet to be revealed but some key points have already been released. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a six-week ceasefire, which is seen as an initial phase to stop the fighting. During this phase, Israeli forces will withdraw from central Gaza, allowing the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern part of the enclave. https://part.icle.link/t0r5lav Hamas will also release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women, children, and men over 50, during this initial phase. A total of 94 hostages taken captive after Hamass Oct 7 2023 terror attack remain unaccounted for. As many as half are believed to be dead. Why has the deal taken so long? Multiple attempts to broker peace between Israel and Hamas failed in 2024 and fighting persisted. Even on Wednesday, as a deal edged closer, Israel launched strikes in central Gaza, reportedly killing 13. The fundamental sticking point blocking any deal between Israel and Hamas had been what a ceasefire would look like in practice. Gideo Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, said the deal would be voted in by the countrys cabinet by Thursday - Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse/Shutterstock Israel has taken control of more parts of Gaza since war broke out last year, including the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border, as well as the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which divides the north and south of the Strip. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, repeatedly stated that these areas should remain under Israeli control after any ceasefire, something to which Hamas refused to agree. Hamas also knew it had a strong negotiating position given the fact it had dozens of Israeli hostages in captivity. What will happen next? The full deal was expected to be published at some point on Wednesday. The first hostages may be released on Sunday, according to some reports. Officials in the US will remain nervous about whether the ceasefire will be implemented in full. There is hope that the initial six-week phase can be used to implement a more meaningful, long-lasting settlement. The ceasefire came after warnings by Donald Trump, who will return to the White House on Monday, that all hostages must be released by the time he returned to office or all hell will break loose. A banner showing Donald Trump and instructing Benjamin Netanyahu to End This War on a building in Jerusalem - Nir Alon/Alamy Meanwhile, Antony Blinken, the outgoing US secretary of state, revealed his vision of what a post-war environment looks like. Mr Blinken said on Tuesday he envisions the Palestinian Authority (PA) working with the international community to establish an interim government responsible for banking, water, energy and health in Gaza in co-ordination with Israel. There would also be an immediate attempt to try and rebuild Gaza, large parts of which have been obliterated by Israeli air strikes. A new PA-led security force would also be established in Gaza. He said the roadmap had been handed to the Trump administration but there is no guarantee it will be adopted. People expressed fears that the number of online comments about hotels and restaurants might be drastically reduced. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA The Italian government is seeking to clamp down on fake and paid-for online reviews in an effort to protect the countrys hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions from misleading and damaging content. Under a draft law announced this week, which still needs to be approved in parliament, anyone wanting to write an online review would be required to provide verifiable ID and proof that they visited the place in question. While fake reviews are already illegal in the country, policing the violations is challenging. According to the draft law, reviews will have to be posted within 15 days of the visit and must be relevant and detailed. If false, they can be removed at the request of the business in question. In addition, businesses will be able to seek the removal of reviews that are more than two years old if they are no longer relevant. Reviews that are paid-for or sponsored via incentives will also be illegal. It is unclear who will decide whether or not a review is fake, but the responsibility of checking the appraisals and handing out eventual fines will be given to Italys anti-trust watchdog. Today marks an important step for the protection of our businesses, said Daniela Santanche, Italys tourism minister. Reviews, which thanks to this regulatory intervention will actually be truthful, are fundamental for the success of companies and for the trust of consumers and tourists. Italys ministry of enterprises said fake or manipulated reviews affected between 6% and 30% of the revenue of businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector. Codacons, the Italian consumer group, said the bill was a necessary step to protect consumers and businesses. The measure was also welcomed by the business federation Fipe-Confcommercio. The plague of false reviews has for too long put the catering sector and public establishments at risk, creating economic damage and compromising consumer confidence, said Roberto Calugi, the federations general director. It is no longer tolerable that business activities suffer the consequences of fraudulent and untruthful judgments, which often translate into unfair competition and hidden advertising. However, others expressed concerns about privacy and fears that the ban on anonymous reviews might drastically reduce the number of online comments about hotels and restaurants. Fake reviews are a problem for fair competition between companies because they can have a big impact on sales, and are also a problem for consumers who can be misled, Michele Carrus, the chair of the consumer association Federconsumatori, told Reuters. The problem needed to be addressed. Its difficult to do it the right way, but Im confident we can achieve that during the parliamentary debate. Catia Silvestri, who manages LAntico Caffe della Pigna in central Rome, welcomed the regulations but said that, on the whole, she was in favour of reviews. Everyone should be able to express their opinions, she said. Fortunately, we havent had any issues. Reviews are subjective, but can help to ensure an establishment always provides good quality. The Labor MP Josh Burns told reporters clearly we have a crisis in antisemitism in this country. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP The Labor MP Josh Burns says there are clearly gaps in our legal framework and has called on political parties not to squabble over discrimination, after Australias special envoy on antisemitism called for urgent action to address a spate of recent incidents she said were terrorising Australias Jewish community. Jillian Segal on Wednesday urged the prime minister to convene a national cabinet meeting in response to a series of incidents, including the graffitiing of swastikas on Sydney synagogues on Friday and Saturday last week, and an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December. National cabinet must address the systemic, organised, deliberate and cultural nature of these repeated incidents and the need to ensure that the appropriate message is sent through strong penalties across jurisdictions, she wrote in an oped in The Australian. National cabinet must send the message to the community and to judicial officers that this is systemic and must be treated as such. On Tuesday night, Anthony Albanese convened a meeting with the Victorian premier, New South Wales acting premier and the AFP commissioner. In a statement, he said the three governments are sharing more information between law enforcement agencies, updating legislation and jointly supporting affected communities. On Wednesday, Albanese said Segal was very pleased the meeting occurred but wouldnt be drawn on whether he would call a full national cabinet meeting with all state and territory leaders, saying we responded with the states that were involved. Burns, whose own office was targeted last year, has been calling for states to change protest laws and implement exclusion zones for places of worship from protesters. Clearly we have a crisis in antisemitism in this country, he told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday. Certainly with the rise of antisemitism, we need to tackle it together in a unified way where political parties come together and not squabble over discrimination in this country. Burns has also been calling for nationally consistent laws to lower the legal threshold for vilification to include serious harm caused by vilification. He said it made sense for Albanese not to hold full national cabinet meeting but would welcome one. It makes sense where theres large Jewish communities, especially where theres been a number of extra incidents, that the prime minister speaks to the premiers of those states in particular. But of course, national cabinet, or a nationally consistent approach, is also one that I would welcome. The prime minister has said several times those responsible for the graffiti attacks should face the full force of the law. Segal says her office is now undertaking a desktop review of the patchwork of state and federal laws. Prosecutors and magistrates and judges need to understand that these are not isolated incidents but a growing campaign of intimidatory, aggravated antisemitism, and these crimes must be viewed in that context when considering punishment, she wrote. Related: Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust The deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, told Sky News on Wednesday morning the opposition has consistently called for the government to convene national cabinet. The question is, is the prime minister actually going to listen to her [Segal]? It comes as the US says negotiations for a ceasefire deal in Gaza are right on the brink. Albanese was asked about the negotiations, saying the government is hopeful of a ceasefire. We want a ceasefire in the interests of both Israelis and those in the occupied Palestinian territories, he said. So we are hopeful of a ceasefire. That would be a good thing. I think that is what overwhelmingly Australians want to see. And indeed, the international community wants to see as well. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said his party also supports a ceasefire. Certainly we support a ceasefire and we need to make sure the hostages are released and make sure that the terrorist organisation is not being rewarded. We have in our country a very strong relationship historically with Israel. The problem at the moment is a government has not seen fit to prioritise that relationship. Segal was contacted for comment. A hunter holds a gun in Devon - E+ The Government has doubled fees for gun ownership in a move that will be seen as a fresh tax raid on rural communities. On Wednesday, the Home Office announced that fees for gun certificates would increase by as much as 157 per cent as part of efforts to tackle a police funding crisis. The move to increase the gun tax, part of the Governments police funding settlement, is expected to raise 20 million. Forces will be allowed to pass on the full cost of administering the licensing scheme to gun owners. Renewal of a shotgun certificate will increase by 157 per cent from 49 to 126. Granting a shotgun certificate will rise from 79.50 to 194, a leap of 144 per cent. Renewal of a firearms certificate will go from 62 to 131, a rise of 111 per cent, and granting such a certificate will increase by 125 per cent from 88 to 198. Could hardly be designed to be more inefficient Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance said: Up to 157 per cent increases in the cost of shotgun and firearms certificates is going to have a significant financial impact on the many in the countryside. We have consistently argued that, if the Government wants to recover the cost of firearms licensing, that must be for an efficient system that delivers for users and the public. That is a million miles from the current firearms licensing system, which could hardly be designed to be more inefficient, with 43 separate licensing authorities some of which are providing appalling service. There were more than 500,000 active shotgun licences in England and Wales last year. The permits have to be renewed every five years at a cost of around 50. Move follows family farm tax The move comes on top of the Governments family farm tax, which has sparked a revolt by rural communities. Under the changes, which come into force from April 2026, farms worth more than 1 million will be subject to a 20 per cent levy to a 20 per cent levy half the usual inheritance tax rate. Rural groups have argued that the 1 million threshold will hit the majority of working family farms, which are asset rich but cash poor, rather than targeting wealthy landowners seeking to avoid inheritance tax. In recent weeks, almost two dozen councils have passed motions calling on the Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, and Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, to axe the measure. Tom Bradshaw, the head of the NFU, said: Theres been talk of calls drying up and order books looking sparse for the year ahead - John Keeble/Getty The Governments farm tax raid risks putting rural vets and builders out of business, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has warned. Tom Bradshaw, the NFU president, said the changes to inheritance tax were contributing to a loss of confidence among farmers in their ability to invest. He told an agricultural machinery conference: Farm businesses are often the bellwether of the rural economy and many have curtailed investment on their farms because any penny they had or could have borrowed will now have to go on saving the future of the farm. From builders, vets and feed merchants to fencers, machinery dealers and tool manufacturers, theres been talk of calls drying up and order books looking sparse for the year ahead as their customers Britains farmers face a cash flow and confidence crisis thats been exacerbated by the family farm tax. Farmers protested against the tax raid in Westminster last month - Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images The NFU cited new data from CBI Economics showing that the changes to business property relief could lead to more than 125,000 job losses, with family businesses significantly cutting investment. Under changes introduced by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, in last years Budget, farms worth more than 1 million will be liable for a 20 per cent inheritance tax. Ms Reeves has rejected calls to drop or modify the tax, despite warnings from the NFU and other rural groups that it could devastate family farms. Analysis commissioned by the union has found that 75 per cent of farm businesses could be impacted in some way by the inheritance tax changes, but the Government has maintained that only a few farms will be affected and suggested that a lot of family farms will be below the threshold. Jeff Claydon, the chief executive of the Claydon drill manufacturer, said he was incredibly concerned the inheritance tax changes will curtail privately-owned businesses and growth in family businesses. He added: Without profit you havent got a business, and the current policy and economic outlook means so many are seeing their profits slashed. Farmers are expected to target supermarkets in another round of protests on Friday, after dozens came out on the streets last week to disrupt a speech by Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary. A Government spokesman said: Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast. This Government will invest 5 billion into farming over the next two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our countrys history. We are going further with reforms to boost profits for farmers by backing British produce and reforming planning rules on farms to support food production. Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will mean estates will pay a reduced effective inheritance tax rate of 20%, rather than standard 40%, and payments can be spread over 10 years, interest-free. This is a fair and balanced approach, which fixes the public services we all rely on, affecting around 500 estates a year. The act, passed in 2023 but not brought into force, imposes a duty on universities to promote and secure freedom of speech and academic expression. Photograph: Mark Waugh/Alamy The government is to overhaul legislation imposing free speech duties on higher education in England, scrapping a controversial civil liability that potentially exposed universities to being sued by Holocaust deniers. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, told parliament that while the government intended to retain key parts of the law passed by the previous Conservative administration, she planned to revoke the statutory tort that allowed legal action by anyone claiming their freedom of speech had been restricted, and to largely exempt student unions from the legislation. The revised legislation will still impose a duty on universities to create codes of conduct and to promote free speech on campus, retaining an oversight role for the Office for Students (OfS), Englands higher education regulator. Related: Three in four England universities expected to be in the red next year Phillipson defended the ending of the tort as removing a financial and administrative burden from universities and avoiding clogging up the courts system, as well as calming fears among minority groups that they could be targeted. The fear of litigation could hurt rather than help free speech. Universities may have decided against inviting challenging speakers to avoid ending up in court, and nobody wants that, Phillipson said. But I have a message for vice-chancellors who fail to take this seriously: protect free speech on your campuses or face the consequences. For too long, too many universities have been too relaxed about these issues, too few took them seriously enough, and that must change. Under the revised law, universities that fail to uphold their duties can be fined or even have their licence to operate as a university taken away. Elements of the existing law were opposed by university leaders and groups including the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), which feared that free speech protection could be exploited by Holocaust deniers and antisemites threatening legal action. A spokesperson for the UJS said it supported the changes: The result is that the act will now be less likely to damage efforts to tackle anti-Jewish racism on campus that should be welcomed by everyone. Phillipson said a new complaints procedure would be included in the legislation, to be administered by the OfS, which will retain the role of free speech tsar. A ban on universities entering into non-disclosure agreements with staff or students will also be carried over. A government source said it had been right to take six months to create a workable system, in contrast to the Conservatives unworkable gimmickry that spoke more to them putting party interest over the national interest. The act was passed in 2023 but never implemented under the last government. When Labour took office, Phillipson shelved the law and said it was flawed, leading to claims by Conservatives that she was hostile to free speech on campus. Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, accused the government of wanting to do away with free speech protections entirely after disparaging the act as a hate speech charter. Trott said: Those with natural sympathies to the secretary of states own political positions were compelled into telling her that she was wrong, and its only now, after all that humiliation, that shes finally changed her footing. And I pay tribute to the academics who have led that fight back outside of parliament. Related: Universities in England face fines if they fail to protect students from harassment The National Union of Students also welcomed the changes, including the removal of student unions from much of the legislations scope. Amira Campbell, the NUS president, said: Were delighted to see this culture wars legislation dropped by the new government. After years of campaigning from students unions, the Freedom of Speech Act is now truly focusing on freedom of speech. With the threat of complex legal responsibilities and new regulation no longer hanging over them, our member students unions can get back to doing what we all do best: supporting students to thrive, debate ideas and take part in campus life. Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol demonstrate in Seoul after he was arrested at his presidential compound. Photograph: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images By 4.30am, the streets around Yoon Suk Yeols hilltop residence felt like rush hour, packed with police and protesters despite the early hour. Roads were completely sealed off and thousands of officers were in position on the freezing winter morning, while hundreds of pro-Yoon supporters chanted aggressively while clutching red light sticks and American flags. Behind multiple police cordons, segregated for security, a smaller crowd of anti-Yoon demonstrators had secured positions closest to the gates. Tea and instant noodle stations were set up, serving both sides of the political divide. Related: Arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol in South Korea: why has it taken so long and what happens next? Stop the steal, read banners in English and Korean from Yoons supporters, referring to unfounded claims of election interference used to justify the martial law, while across came chants of Arrest him now! As dawn broke and temperatures rose slightly, the anti-Yoon camps mood turned almost festive: singing, dancing and broadcasting live scenes from multiple angles as the operation to arrest South Koreas impeached president began in earnest. It was buzzing. Unlike their failed attempt earlier this month, investigators came prepared. Television footage showed investigators and police scaling the compounds walls with ladders. Others reportedly approached through mountain paths behind the residence. Inside, clashes reportedly broke out with security personnel, and at least one person was injured and evacuated by paramedics. The security staff arent responding as aggressively as feared, noted opposition lawmaker Han Chang-min at the scene. Police are proceeding while trying to get maximum cooperation. Headlines began flashing that the compounds defences were slowly collapsing. Come out! Come out! the anti-Yoon crowd cheered. Go get him! Despite the gravity of attempting to arrest a sitting president, there was an air of inevitability. For 43 days since declaring martial law, a move that has thrown the country into political chaos, Yoon has remained defiant in his fortress-like residence, protected by loyal security forces. But now, his castle was crumbling. You said you would protect him At about 10.30am, police suddenly lined the roads further. A convoy of vehicles emerged and departed. Within moments, euphoria erupted from the pro-impeachment crowd: They got him! Within a minute, the police lines suddenly melted away as the compounds main gates stood open. Hundreds of investigators and police streamed out like a river. From within their cordoned area, jubilant protesters shouted Thank you so much! and You did a great job! at the departing officers. Then they went back to celebrate to the tunes of K-pop. Related: Communist spies and assassination attempts: how the cold war still shapes South Korean politics On the other side, Yoons supporters were standing in stunned silence. Some collapsed in tears. How can this be? one woman wailed. Another man, visibly distraught, swore viciously at the crowd: You said you would protect him, but what did you do? Minutes before his arrest, Yoon had released another defiant message. As president who must protect the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, my compliance with these illegal and invalid procedures does not mean I accept them. It is only to prevent unsavoury bloodshed. He now holds the distinction of being the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested, a dramatic fall for a leader who just weeks ago had attempted to impose military rule on his country. The mornings events played out like a live television drama, with every development broadcast across multiple news channels. As his convoy arrived at the anti-corruption agencys offices in Gwacheon, investigators prepared to question him over insurrection charges that could carry the death penalty. Yoon faces 48 hours of questioning, after which investigators must decide whether to seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him. Meanwhile, the constitutional court continues deliberating his impeachment. Technically, it could still reinstate him as president. For now, though, many South Koreans were simply processing the extraordinary scenes they had witnessed. The siege was over. The president was in custody. Adrian Portellis lawyers indicated he would plead not guilty to nine charges of assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery. Photograph: Sam Tabone/Getty Images Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli known for his cash and property giveaways, including houses from reality show The Block will plead not guilty to nine charges of assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery. The Adelaide magistrates court heard on Wednesday morning that both Portelli and his company, Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd (which operates under the name LMCT+), would contest the charges. Portelli was not required to appear at the hearing. Related: Its not a loophole: how does a firm that runs a rewards club give away houses from The Block? Ben Lodge, who is acting for both parties, said that they wanted the matter dealt with quickly. Xclusive faces 10 charges for conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery. Portelli bought all the properties in the latest season of The Block to give away, but the winner chose to take $8m prize money instead of the properties. Portellis company offers members subscriptions to a rewards club, and subscribers then get entries to win cars and properties. The model is known as a trade promotion lottery. SAs Consumer and Business Services (CBS) investigated cases including some giveaways from The Block before bringing the 19 charges. According to court documents, the incidents occurred between 29 January 2023 and 16 May 2024. The major prize for the lottery was a property situated in Gisborne in the state of Victoria as seen on the Australian television show The Block, or a cash prize of $3,000,000, the documents said. Giving away the prize involved an element of chance but the defendant did not hold a licence to conduct the lottery in South Australia, it was alleged. Two other Block properties, one valued at about $2.9m and the other not given a value were offered as prizes, with cash prizes of $2.5m and $2m respectively offered as alternatives. Another property on the Gold Coast valued at $1.3m was also a major prize. Lodge asked for a pre-trial conference to be listed for later on Wednesday. Our instructions are that the matter is contested and we are keen to progress the matter to trial as soon as we can, he said. But the matter was adjourned to 6 March. The Metropolitan police are investigating the report. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA Police are investigating an alleged spiking in a bar on the Westminster parliamentary estate. A woman, believed to be a parliamentary researcher, told police and staff at parliaments Strangers Bar that her drink had been spiked, according to Politico. The incident is understood to have taken place at the Palace of Westminster on 7 January at about 6.30pm. A spokesperson for the UK parliament said: We are aware of an incident which took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan police service. The woman who made the allegation is being supported by UK parliament, the Guardian understands. The FDA union, which represents civil servants and public sector professionals, said the alleged incident was deeply concerning and urged parliamentary authorities to assess the risks and take immediate action to prevent this happening again. Mike Clancy, the general secretary of Prospect trade union, said: This is a very concerning alleged incident, especially given the long history of allegations about behaviour in parliament. We will be seeking more information about this case and will continue to work to ensure parliamentary staff can feel safe in their workplace. In November 2023, the head of parliaments complaints watchdog said she did not know whether the Palace of Westminster was a safe workplace for women. Walton told the House Magazine: I dont know is the honest answer. I wouldnt say that nobody feels safe, but I have heard lots of things where women dont from some of the engagement that Ive done. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: Police received reports of an alleged spiking at an establishment in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, 7 January, at around 6.30pm. The investigation is ongoing and the victim is being supported by officers. There have been no arrests at this stage. We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim or witness to spiking, in any form, to contact us on 101, or 999 in emergency. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Commuters waiting at Central station for services to Kiama and the Central Coast as industrial action threw Sydneys train network into chaos with cancellations and delays. Photograph: Graham Russell/The Guardian Sydneysiders have been warned that more than 1,000 train services are expected to be cancelled by the end of Wednesday while those that do run could suffer hours-long delays, as the state government vows to explore legal action to quash intolerable industrial action from continuing into Thursday. By Wednesday afternoon, about 400 services had been cancelled, with just 16% of services having run on time or at all. The T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra, T1 North Shore and Western and T8 Airport and South lines had been the worst affected by work bans from combined rail unions. Some delays on the T4 line reached nearly 300 minutes, Transport for New South Wales said. More than 25% of services in the morning peak were cancelled. On Wednesday evening, online trip planners put the delay to some services on the T4 line at 437 minutes late in excess of seven hours. Related: Australian mining group promotes nuclear with memes about The Grinch and seasoning steak with sawdust On Wednesday night, Sydney Trains released a statement warning that there would be more delays on Thursday worsened by the severe storm that hit the city and surrounding area. Sydney Trains is forecasting another heavily degraded day on the network from early Thursday, the statement said, when passengers will again face lengthy delays, service cancellations and large service gaps as a result of over 350 bans that have been notified. Passengers should also be aware that tonights wild storms have caused trees to fall on overhead wiring at Normanhurst and Bell, and caused power outages at Lidcombe, Cabramatta and Flemington, multiple signal/track failures at Shellharbour Junction and flooding at Town Hall, which have all had varied impacts to services. The chaos wrought havoc throughout the morning, leading to long queues for bus alternatives and reports of 40-minute travel times between two suburban stations, with trains routinely stuck on platforms due to shortages of rail workers to staff them. Transport authorities said disruptions were set to worsen later in the day and further deteriorate on Thursday if certain work bans, especially to do with maintenance, continued to be observed. The acting NSW premier, Penny Sharpe, said the work bans in force on Wednesday had led to serious impacts across Sydney for commuters and businesses, and that were currently looking at all of our legal options to make sure that these conditions can be rolled back and that we can get the trains back running on time. Sydneysiders with critical travel over the rest of the day were told to begin their journeys as soon as possible. Commuter Jesse posted on X on Wednesday: Platforms dangerously overloaded. Train after train cancelled Everyone deserves fair pay but fair go Sydney Trains, youre losing public support with these stunts. Platforms dangerously overloaded. Train after train cancelled. This grey strike is putting the safety of the travelling public at risk. Everyone deserves fair pay but fair go Sydney Trains youre losing public support with these stunts. Jesse (@TravellingStorm) January 15, 2025 One commuter reported they had been sitting on a Blue Mountains Line train on platform 6 at Central station for more than an hour with no announcement on when their delayed service would be leaving. Sydney Trains responded there was no crew for the service and they had no estimated time of departure. Other commuters said they would be late to their shifts at hospitals. The transport department secretary, Josh Murray, said: As we look towards the afternoon and evening, the scenario is going to get worse in terms of train and crew availability, and we also see some inclement weather on the horizon, which may make afternoon travel even more difficult. We are saying to vulnerable travellers, we are saying to emergency workers or those that have critical travel this afternoon, to leave now, to make those arrangements and not rely on afternoon peak services. The Electrical Trades Unions (ETU) refusal to conduct maintenance overnight on Tuesday was responsible for significant delays earlier on Wednesday, according to Sydney Trains chief executive, Matt Longland. But actions by several of the combined rail unions stuck in negotiations with the government for a new pay deal were contributing to the disruptions. Longland said he had received advice from the ETU that it intended to continue maintenance bans on Wednesday evening, an indication the commuter chaos would continue on Thursday. Commuters turned to other modes of transport, with long queues for buses forming outside some train hubs, including Bondi Junction station, while Metro services which are separate to the train network work bans were increased to cope with extra demand. One of the bans in place on Wednesday was an order for drivers to operate trains slower than necessary a speed level that has gradually decreased as the pay dispute continues. The impact of the work bans was felt across the state, with one of the daily Bathurst Bullet services cancelled and replaced with buses between Lithgow and Bathurst. The state transport minister, Jo Haylen, described the unions as a boa constrictor strangling the train network. She first made the comparison late in 2024, leading one of the main groups, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), to redesign its logo, which now features a boa constrictor wrapped around a train set. This weeks fresh industrial action came as the combined rail unions considered an improved pay offer from the state government. Eight months into negotiations for a new pay deal, and amid proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and federal court, Haylen announced an offer of an improved 13% pay rise plus 1% efficiency rise and 1% super rise across four years much lower than the combined rail unions demands of 32% over four years. Haylen said the sweetened offer, made public this week, was possible due to an agreement to merge the two state bodies that run Sydney trains and regional trains over the next four years. The merger was expected to drive productivity gains and financial savings including from possible job cuts that would fund an additional 1% rise. Haylen urged rail unions to act in the interests of taxpayers and consider what she described as the governments final offer. Rail unions have until Thursday to consider the offer. Toby Warnes, the NSW secretary of the RTBU, appeared lukewarm on the proposal. Were a little bit perturbed by the fact that the government only managed to find 1% in savings from it, and that those 1% only came from job losses, he said. So thats obviously something were not extremely happy about. I dont think 13% over four years is going to cut it. In a statement, the RTBU said the government needed to stop playing politics and come back to the negotiating table. It is clear that the governments strategy is to drag this dispute out for longer than necessary in order to sway public opinion against the unions, the RTBU said. The ball is in the governments court. It can choose to take us down the legal avenue again and waste tens of thousands of dollars or they can meet with the union and finally put an end to this dispute. The FWC cannot be asked to settle the substantive dispute pay and conditions until February. As a result of the industrial action, the usually bustling Martin Place station in the heart of Sydneys business district was sparsely populated on Wednesday afternoon, with just a trickle of customers making their way through the barriers. Retiree Sue did not know a strike was happening when she headed out and did not usually commute on a Wednesday. I just noticed theres an issue so Im going to change the course of my day and get on with something else, she said. Another commuter, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had waited at her platform for more than 20 minutes but eventually decided to give up. Its too hot, she said. "Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond" is now open with the Audrey Jones Beck Building at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle "Cavern (Thor's Cave, Staffordshire)" (1789) by William Day in 'Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection' at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle 'A Distant View of Chambery, from the North, with Storm Clouds' (1836) by Joseph Mallord William Turner at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle A close look at John Constables Coal Brigs and Fishing Vessels on the Beach at Hove (1776-1837) at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle A series of mezzotints with etching, by engraver David Lucas, in 'Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection' at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle Curator of prints and drawings Dena Woodall peers into a glass display case at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle "Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond" is now open with the Audrey Jones Beck Building at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle As Museum of Fine Arts, Houston celebrated the 100th anniversary of its inaugural building last fall, MFAH director and Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Gary Tinterow acknowledged that women were responsible for willing the institution into being. And, the descendants of those founders who contribute to the museum's continued success. The opening of "Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond" on Sunday, upstairs in the Audrey Jones Beck Building, cements Francita Stuart Koelsch Ulmer as a legacy member of that sorority. A Houston native, now age 93, whose family, the Allens, were part of the "Old Three Hundred" American colonists who purchased 307 land parcels from Stephen F. Austin between 1823-1825. Back then, the Allens' ranch extended from Buffalo Bayou's southern border to Galveston Bay. Ulmer's great-aunt Ella Stuart Heyer once served as president of Houston Art League, the founding organization behind MFAH. Ulmer's great-grandmother Rosa Christie Lum Allen was a member of the league's companion group, Friends of Art. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Francita Stuart Koelsch Ulmer, a Houston legacy who spent 10 years acquiring British landscapes to establish the Stuart Collection at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston "A View on the Banks of the River Stour at Flatford" (1809-1816) by John Constable instigated the Stuart Collection, which is named for Ulmer's parents, Robert Cummins Stuart and Frances Wells Stuart. The oil sketch of a bucolic countryside in the artist's native Suffolk, England was purchased by Ulmer's grandmother during an auction at The Plaza Hotel New York in the 1920s. The work was given to MFAH in 2017; Ulmer established an endowment for the Stuart Collection the following year. 'Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond' When: Through July 6 Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main Details: Admission $10 and up; mfah.org Dena Woodall, MFAH curator of prints and drawings, has spent the better part of decade building the Stuart Collection with Ulmer. Today there are more than 70 watercolors, drawings, prints, and oil sketches. "It's unusual for a collector and curator to work this way," Woodall says. "She funded the purchase of all (of the work). They now belong to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston." Advertisement Article continues below this ad As the exhibition's name implies, the Stuart Collections begins in the early 18th century with the emergence of landscapes. "They grew the idea as a precursor to impressionism," Woodall explains. "These British artists are capturing nature as fleeting moments of light." A trio of watercolor and graphite on paper artworks from 'Picturing Nature' at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle She also credits this group with flourishing the medium of watercolor. They, in turn, were influenced by Netherlandish artists' naturalistic approach. Woodall suggests that Thomas Gainsborough's "Wooded Landscape with Donkey and Figures" (1759) is an ideal place to start. Via his pencil sketches and wash drawings, he captured nature through the original filter: his own imagination. Nearby, a glass case containing Winsor & Newton watercolor boxes and sketchbooks shows the art supplier's powdered pigments and compositions from the era. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other words of note include "Saint Albans Abbey from the Northwest with the Sun Rising" (1797) by Paul Sandby, known as the father of British landscapes. An adjoining section titled "The Love of Travel" is what Woodall dubs "the money shots." As the young British elite and creative class venture across Europe, they find inspiration in Italy, passing on conventional landmarks, such as the Colosseum, for the Villa Borghese in Rome instead, as depicted in Richard Wilson's "Villa Borgesi" (1754). "Wilson never used watercolor, it was always black chalk," Woodall says. "The Aventine from the River Tiber, Rome" (1780) by one of Wilson's students Thomas Jones hangs nearby. She takes pride in the thoughtful layering and pairings throughout. Several pupils are shown near their teachers' watercolors. Or, one artist may have works on view from two different periods of their lives. "Rochester Castle from the River Medway" (1791/1792) by Thomas Girtin was created when the artist was 16 years old, whereas "Wetherby Bridge and Mills, Yorkshire Looking Across the Weir" (1800) was completed shortly before he died. Deeper into the two-gallery show, the watercolors on paper physically grow larger, into the size comparable to typical oil paintings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A glass display case within 'Picturing Nature' contains sketches of art work by John Ruskin and John Constable at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Dylan Aguilar/for the Houston Chronicle In an effort to better familiarize the public with his work, Constable collaborated with engraver David Lucas to create a portfolio with 22 mezzotints from his 30-year career. They're displayed within a central glass case. Shoplifting is reaching epidemic proportions because offenders think they can steal with impunity, say critics - iStockphoto Six in 10 shoplifters reoffend within 12 months of being convicted, official figures have revealed. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data revealed that nearly 80,000 shoplifters were caught again within a year of their conviction over the five years to March 2022, the latest year for which figures are available. This represented 60 per cent of just under 140,000 shoplifters caught over that period who went on to commit further crimes despite their original conviction, according to the figures. The data expose the scale of repeat offending by shoplifters and will fuel demands for ministers to take a tougher approach to prolific criminals who are not deterred even if they are jailed. Shoplifting hit a record high in the year to June, with 469,788 offences reported to police, up nearly 29 per cent on the previous years total of 365,173 and double the rate in 2020 during the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics. That equates to more than 9,000 offences a week, or 1,290 a day and more than two a minute based on average UK store opening times of about 10 hours a day. Stealing with impunity Sir John Hayes, a former home office minister who obtained the figures through parliamentary questions, said shoplifting was reaching epidemic proportions because of the perception that offenders could steal with impunity. In previous years, shoplifting was done with a degree of subterfuge. Now I am told people bring holdalls into shops and trolleys to take stuff away, he said. Its changed its nature. So the only way of dealing with that is to get tougher so we no longer let them get away with it. They should be stopped, arrested and charged. That is not routine these days. And then when they are convicted, they should receive exemplary sentences. Clearly, the deterrent at the moment is not sufficient to stop people doing this again and again. He backed proposals, set out by backbench Tories as an amendment to last years Criminal Justice Bill, which fell at the election. These would have required a mandatory two-year jail sentence for any criminals once they hit 45 convictions for crimes. A second five strikes and out amendment would require immediate jail sentences to be the starting point for any criminal who committed a fifth successive offence. It followed research by the think tank Policy Exchange, which found that more than half of all criminals with at least 45 previous convictions are spared jail. So-called hyper-prolific offenders were found guilty of almost 10,000 offences last year, but 47 per cent received an immediate custodial sentence, with some receiving no substantive punishment at all. MoJ research showed that shoplifters were more likely than any other type of offender to reoffend after being convicted. Shoplifting offences have hit their highest level since records began in March 2003. Retailers warn that the crisis adds at least 6p to every store transaction by customers. The British Retail Consortium calculates losses at 1.8 billion stolen each year, with a further 700 million spent on extra security. The police-recorded figures are a fraction of the total amount stolen as most shops only report to police when they catch an offender in the act, or have CCTV or other evidence. One in six (17.7 per cent) of the thefts resulted in a shoplifter being caught and charged, up on the previous years 15.5 per cent, but down on the 29.8 per cent in 2016 when the Home Office started publishing such data. Yaroslava Sukach, 77, a resident of Sknyliv in western Ukraine, is in tears looking at her destroyed home following a Russian missile strike - YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGS Nato warplanes were scrambled overnight because of a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraines critical infrastructure. Poland launched fighter jets to defend its skies as Russian strikes targeted areas of western Ukraine close to the Polish border, Warsaws military said on Wednesday morning. The operational commander activated all available forces and resources at his disposal as air defence and radar systems were put on the highest state of readiness, the military added. Russia fired 117 missiles and drones at energy facilities in Kharkiv, as well as the western Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, Ukraines air force said, adding that 77 of these were shot down. Some sites were hit, it said. Families huddle together in an underground station in Kyiv during the Russian bombardment - Alina Smutko/Reusters Ukraines underground gas storage facilities are located in the western part of the country and have become increasingly vital since a gas transit agreement Kyiv signed with Russia before the invasion expired on Jan 1. Two critical infrastructure sites in the Drohobych and Stryi districts of the Lviv region were damaged by cruise missiles, the governor Maksym Kozytskyi said. Ukraines largest gas storage facility is located about six miles north of Stryi. Mr Kozytskyi added that two private houses and several outbuildings in the village of Sknyliv were damaged by rockets during the bombardment. The capital Kyiv also came under attack, and hundreds of people took shelter in metro stations across the city, sleeping on yoga mats and sitting on folded chairs with their pets. Ukrainian personnel use searchlights to find Russian drones over Kyiv - Gleb Garanich/Reusters No deaths or injuries have so far been reported. The Polish military later said that no violation of its airspace was recorded. Russian forces used a variety of air, land and sea-based missiles as well as Shahed attack drones and decoy drones designed to overwhelm air defence systems, the Ukrainian air force said. It said one Iskander ballistic missile was launched from the Belgorod region, while four Kalibr missiles were fired from the Black Sea. Strategic bombers fired 27 Kh-101/Kh-55 cruise missiles from the Volgograd region, while seven Kh-22/32 cruise missiles were launched from aircraft over Tula and four Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missiles were fired from tactical aircraft in Belgorod. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, met Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, in Warsaw on Wednesday - Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reusters Seventy-four drones, including Shahed attack drones and decoys, were fired from the cities of Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, the air force added. Volodymyr Zelensky said: Another massive Russian attack. Its the middle of winter and the target for the Russians remains unchanged: our energy infrastructure. Among their objectives were gas and energy facilities that sustain normal life for our people. The Ukrainian president went on to say that we must continue strengthening the capabilities of Ukraines air shield. Promises made by partners at the Nato summit in Washington ... remain partially unfulfilled, he added. Mr Zelensky called on partners to give Ukraine licences to produce air defence systems and missiles on its own soil, which he said could serve as an effective security guarantee. The Russian defence ministry said: This morning, the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with high-precision weapons and attack drones on critical gas and energy infrastructure facilities that support the operation of Ukraines military-industrial complex. The attack came after Moscow vowed to respond to a Ukrainian bombardment of Russia on Tuesday, when UK and US-made missiles and more than 100 drones were launched at targets across the country. Kyiv claimed it was its largest such attack of the war so far. Meanwhile, Mr Zelenksy visited Poland on Wednesday for talks with senior officials on a range of issues, including continued support for Kyiv against Russia and the exhumation of Poles massacred by Ukrainian nationalists in the Second World War. Russia has increased its attacks on Ukraines power sector since March last year, knocking out half of the available generating capacity and forcing long, rolling blackouts across the country. A report has been made to Met Police about an alleged drink-spiking in a Commons bar - Tim Graham/Getty Images Europe Police are investigating an alleged drink-spiking incident at a parliamentary bar. Early this month, a report was made to the Metropolitan Police by a woman who claimed she had her drink spiked in Strangers Bar, in the Palace of Westminster. A Met spokesman told The Telegraph that they had received reports of an alleged spiking at an establishment in the House of Commons on Tuesday, January 7 at around 18.30. The spokesman added: The investigation is ongoing, and the victim is being supported by officers. There have been no arrests at this stage. A Parliament spokesman told The Telegraph: We are aware of an incident that took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service. Plans to make spiking a standalone offence Spiking involves putting alcohol or drugs into a victims drink without their knowledge or permission. It can also include injecting someone with a drink or drugs, as well as adding such substances to food, vapes or cigarettes. The Government has outlined plans to make drink-spiking a standalone offence under new laws, which would help improve investigation and prosecution. Currently, spiking can be prosecuted as an assault or under the Offences Against the Person Act, but it is not a specific offence. Westminster drinking culture has come under scrutiny in the past few years, with the parliamentary watchdog saying that alcohol was a frequent factor in its misconduct investigations. Police received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023, including 957 cases involving needles. The average age of victims was 26, with women accounting for 74 per cent of all cases. Most reported incidents 80 per cent occurred in public places, particularly bars or nightclubs, according to figures from the National Police Chiefs Council. Tusk said: The latest information can confirm the validity of fears that Russia was planning acts of terrorism in the air not only against Poland. Photograph: Pawe Supernak/EPA Russia planned to conduct acts of terrorism in the air, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday, by plotting a wave of fire bomb attacks that could have brought down planes mid-flight around the world. Warsaw had been involved in countering acts of sabotage conducted by Russia, Tusk added, before he referred to incendiary parcel attacks that took place in the UK, Germany and Poland during the summer. The latest information can confirm the validity of fears that Russia was planning acts of terrorism in the air not only against Poland, Tusk told a news conference in Warsaw, though he did not offer more detail or explanation. DHL parcels caught light at a warehouse in Birmingham and on the tarmac at Leipzig airport in July. Media reports said that the Lepizig parcel was about to be loaded onto a plane, while the Birmingham device travelled on a flight before causing a fire. Two other incendiary devices were found in Poland and western leaders and intelligence officials believe the crude plot to post fire bombs by parcel was orchestrated by Russia, as a dry run for further attacks in the US. A report in the New York Times earlier this week said that senior White House officials reviewed presumably eavesdropped details of conversations amongst senior officials in Russias GRU military intelligence. The Russians, the paper reported, had described the incendiary devices as a test run for an attack on the US. Senior officials were dispatched by US president Joe Biden to warn Russian leader Vladimir Putin, via their counterparts, that Washington would hold Moscow responsible for enabling terrorism if the plot developed further. The devices that caught light in Birmingham and Leipzig were originally posted from Lithuania, with at least one hidden in a massager. The simple method appeared to have exposed a weakness in security scanning for parcel services. Safety procedures are said to have been quietly tightened up, though very few statements have been made to reassure the general public. In September, the then-head of Germanys domestic intelligence agency, Thomas Haldenwang, told the Bundestag that, had the Leipzig package started burning during a flight, it would have resulted in a crash. Photographs of the fire in Birmingham, published the Guardian in December, show a crate of parcels being carried by an electric vehicle bursting into a bright flame, suggesting that it could have created havoc had the parcel caught light mid air. The light is consistent with a magnesium-based incendiary device. Magnesium fires are difficult to put out and are worsened if water is applied, knowledge that may not have been readily available to an under-pressure air crew. Special dry powder extinguishers are used instead. Russias foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment. Moscow has regularly denied any involvement in the courier depot explosions, as well as break-ins, arson and attacks on individuals that Western officials say were carried out by operatives paid by Russia. Keir Starmer The first duty of the British Prime Minister is to defend the interests of the nation. Yet Sir Keir Starmer appears to believe these should be subordinated to tendentious legal interpretations of often questionable court rulings or judicial opinion. How else to explain two decisions that it is hard to see any other UK leader in history contemplating, let alone pursuing? One is the move to reverse a parliamentary block on paying compensation to Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Fein leader. The second is the refusal to back down over an ill-judged agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. The latter keeps being reported as handing back the islands but they were never a Mauritian possession. Indeed, they were purchased by Britain, whose taxpayers are now expected to pay another country 1,300 miles away billions of pounds to take them over a breach of the rights of the exiled Chagossian people to self-determination. The matter is further complicated by geopolitical ramifications because the islands contain a key US air base at Diego Garcia. The concern is that China will expand its influence in this region. Ministers hoped to sign the agreement weeks ago but Mauritian prevarication has delayed the final decision until after Donald Trumps inauguration. The new US administration will almost certainly kill the treaty. Marco Rubio, nominated for the office of US secretary of state, has called it a serious risk to national security that threatens critical US military posture in the region. Sir Keir defended his position to MPs by saying that the agreement is necessitated by an international legal ruling over sovereignty and guaranteed the future of the airbase. But it is clear that the proposed treaty is misjudged and potentially harmful to the UKs relations with its most important ally. It should be abandoned without waiting for Washingtons say-so. This is all of a piece with the move to allow Mr Adams to claim compensation for wrongful arrest because of a technical breach of the custodial orders under which he was interned 50 years ago. Sir Keir is advised by the Attorney General Richard Hermer KC and Philippe Sands KC, another lawyer of his long acquaintance who has been deeply involved in the Chagos saga. The Prime Minister needs to be guided less by their legalistic fixations and more by what is in the national interest. The rule of law does not mean rule by lawyers. Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he does want to block compensation payments to Gerry Adams after criticism of his decision to scrap Tory legislation preventing such claims. The current Troubles Act introduced by the Tories blocks the former Sinn Fein president and up to 400 other Republicans from claiming compensation over their detention in prison in the 1970s for suspected involvement in terrorism. But last year Sir Keirs Government laid an order in Parliament reversing the block and abandoned an appeal against a Northern Ireland high court ruling that the Troubles Act breached human rights laws. On Tuesday, 16 leading lawyers, former judges and ministers warned that the decision would reopen the door to a wave of meritless litigation relating to events dating back more than 50 years. Sir Keir was challenged during Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday by Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, over the shameful decision to write a cheque to compensate Mr Adams. The Prime Minister said he would go ahead with his manifesto commitment to repeal the Troubles Act which he said would have granted immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland. He told MPs: The high court found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework. We are working on a draft remittal order and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. It came after the Government refused to say whether the Attorney General was involved in the decision to reverse the block on compensation payouts. Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, who represented the former Sinn Fein leader in a separate damages case, is facing questions over his role in the Governments decision. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the Government needed to say whether Lord Hermer was involved in the decision to change the law that currently blocks Mr Adams claim for compensation over his detention in prison in the 1970s for suspected involvement in terrorism. But officials refused to say whether he was involved on the basis that it is a long-standing convention that law officers advice to the Government remains confidential. You can join the conversation in the comments section. 03:01 PM GMT That is all for today... Thank you for joining me for todays PMQs live blog. 02:40 PM GMT No10 refuses to say whether Attorney General who represented Gerry Adams was involved in compensation decision The Government has refused to say whether the Attorney General was involved in a decision to pave the way for Gerry Adams to claim compensation. Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, who represented the former Sinn Fein leader in a separate damages case, is facing questions over his role in the Governments decision to repeal Troubles legislation that would have blocked compensation pay-outs. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said the Government needed to say whether Lord Hermer was involved in the decision to change the law that currently blocks Mr Adams claim for compensation over his detention in prison in the 1970s for suspected involvement in terrorism. Officials, however, refused to say whether he was involved on the basis that it is a long-standing convention that law officers advice to the Government remains confidential. You can read the full story here. 02:03 PM GMT Starmer tried to win damages for convicted IRA terrorist Sir Keir Starmer tried to win damages for a convicted IRA terrorist and an armed robber who took part in a violent breakout from a maximum security prison. He went to the High Court in a bid to win compensation for the men over their treatment by prison guards when they were recaptured after escaping from Whitemoor Prison, in Cambridgeshire, in 1994. The legal case from 2001 when Sir Keir was a lawyer in private practice has received fresh scrutiny amid a row over a Government decision to pave the way for Gerry Adams to claim compensation. You can read the full story about the 2001 case here. 01:52 PM GMT UK will not sign off Chagos Deal before Trump in White House, signals No 10 The UK will not sign off a deal to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until Donald Trumps new US administration is installed, Downing Street indicated. We will only agree to a deal that is in the UKs best interests and protect our national security, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said when asked about reports the Mauritian government is seeking further talks. He added: It is obviously now right that the new US administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office. Asked if this meant the UK would not sign a deal before Tuesday when Mr Trump will have officially begun his presidency the spokesman replied: You can take from what I have just said about that the new US administration. He steered away from suggestions Mr Trump would have a veto on the deal, and also said: It is perfectly reasonable for the new US administration to actually consider the detail and we will obviously have those discussions with them. 12:59 PM GMT Starmer says he has not discussed Chagos Islands with lawyer friend acting for Mauritius Sir Keir Starmer said he had not discussed the Chagos Islands with a lawyer friend who is acting for the Mauritian government since he became Labour leader. Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty had asked the PM: Since becoming Labour leader has the Prime Minister ever discussed or communicated with Philippe Sands KC about the Chagos Islands. Sir Keir replied: No. 12:52 PM GMT Labour MP urges Starmer to deliver on pledge to save Grangemouth oil refinery Sir Keir Starmer has faced calls from one of his own MPs to meet an election promise to save the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland, as it winds down. Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, told the Commons during PMQs: In the general election campaign, Labour leadership promised that if we won, we would step in and save the Grangemouth refinery, retain those jobs and invest in its future. Six months later, this hasnt happened yet. If the refinery closes then thousands of jobs will be lost and Scotlands national security will become massively weaker. Now that we are in power, I know that the Government should use it to intervene and save the refinery jobs, protect Scotland and deliver on the promise to build Grangemouth for the future. Will the Prime Minister do that? After jeers from the opposition benches, the Prime Minister replied: This is a really important point because before July, there was no plan at all to support the workers of Grangemouth. Within weeks and importantly we announced a 100 million deal for a growth deal and were jointly funding Project Willow to find a viable long-term future. It is a really serious point, I take it very seriously and well do everything we can to make sure that viable long-term future is there for the workers, for their communities and all that rely on it. 12:46 PM GMT Lib Dem leader urges Starmer to liberalise visa scheme for wealthy Americans Wealthy, high-skilled Americans seeking to move to the UK because of an incoming Trump presidency have no visa they can apply for, Sir Ed Davey has told Sir Keir Starmer. The Lib Dem leader told MPs: An idea for the Chancellor to grow the economy as president-elect Trump prepares to take office next week, there are reports that a number of wealthy, high-skilled Americans are looking to come to the UK for fear of what president-elect Trump will do to their country. But because the Conservatives so broke the immigration system, many of them are finding there is no visa that they can apply for. Now, I know the Prime Minister is rightly seeking to reduce immigration from the record highs of the Conservatives but does he agree if people like this want to come to our country to bring their money and their skills so we can grow our economy and pay for our public services, they should be able to? Sir Keir replied: We welcome all investment into the United Kingdom, and I am very pleased to have record investment in the time that we have been in office. He added: The last Government lost control of immigration as they lost control of health and the economy and the borders and everything else, and it was, of course, the leader of the Opposition who was championing the driving up of the numbers. So we will bring those numbers down. Well get it back under control. Well encourage investment. 12:33 PM GMT Starmer mocks Truss over cease and desist letter Sir Keir Starmer mocked Liz Truss after she sent a cease and desist letter to him demanding that he stops claiming that she crashed the economy. Sir Keir told the House of Commons: I got a letter this week from a Tory voter in a Labour seat, I hope they dont mind me saying who it was, it was Liz Truss. It wasnt written in green ink but it might as well have been. She was complaining that saying she had crashed the economy was damaging her reputation. It was actually crashing the economy that damaged her reputation. 12:27 PM GMT Badenoch slams shameful prospect of Gerry Adams claiming compensation Kemi Badenoch said the prospect of the Government paving the way for Gerry Adams to claim compensation was shameful. The Tory leader highlighted a series of recent Labour rows and then told the House of Commons: Now it turns out his Government may write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams. This is shameful. Sir Keir said: There is one point that I need to address, the Legacy Act , and it will be of real interest across the House. That Act was unfit, not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland nor I believe by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. The courts found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework. We are working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. It is important I say that on the record. 12:22 PM GMT Badenoch questions Starmers judgement over handling of Tulip Siddiq row Turning to the resignation of Tulip Siddiq, Kemi Badenoch asked: At a time of turmoil in the markets the Prime Minister was distracted by the crisis around the former city minister. What does it tell us about his judgement that yesterday he said he was saddened that his close friend resigned? This was an anti-corruption minister under criminal investigation for corruption. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Prize winner advising Bangladesh, said London properties gifted to the former city minister may be proceeds of robbery. So will the Prime Minister offer Bangladesh the full support of our National Crime Agency in ensuring that any properties bought with stolen funds are properly investigated? Sir Keir Starmer replied: The former city minister referred herself to the independent adviser. He found, as she well knows, there was no breach of the code. She knows that he found that there was no wrongdoing and that the former minister fully cooperated. 12:17 PM GMT PM accuses Badenoch of trying to score cheap points The markets do not have confidence in the Chancellor, Kemi Badenoch claimed. The Tory leader said: Does the Prime Minister stand by the Chancellors commitment that there will be only one Budget this year? Sir Keir Starmer said: She will be pleased to know that the Chancellor will be in place for many, many years to come. She will outstrip them [the Tories]. If we all thought that politics was about cheap points I could criticise their chancellors but I dont have enough time to go through all of the chancellors that they had. We had one Budget, that is what we are committed to. Sir Keir Starmer addresses the House of Commons during Prime Ministers Questions 12:13 PM GMT Badenoch: Chagos Islands deal will be disastrous Kemi Badenoch then turned to the deal to give away the Chagos Islands. She said: Let me suggest something that he should cut. There is no way that we should be giving up British territory in Chagos. He is rushing a deal which will be disastrous and which will land taxpayers with a multi-billion pound bill. Why does the Prime Minister think British people should p[ay to surrender something that is already ours? Sir Keir replied: We inherited a situation where the long term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenge. The negotiations were started under the last government. 12:09 PM GMT Starmer wont rule out further tax rises this year Kemi Badenoch claimed that Rachel Reeves had ignored all the warnings about going on a borrowing and tax spree. The Tory leader asked Sir Keir Starmer to rule out any new tax rises this year. The Prime Minister failed to do so. Kemi Badenoch gestures during PMQs in the House of Commons He said: We took the right and difficult decisions at the Budget. Decisions that they did not have the courage to take which left us in the mess in the first place. When it comes to tax she knows very well the limits of what I can say from this despatch box but we have an ironclad commitment to our fiscal rules. We cant just tax our way out of the problems that they left us... 12:07 PM GMT Badenoch grills Starmer over state of economy Kemi Badenoch used her first question to grill Sir Keir Starmer on the state of the economy. The Tory leader said she had met a business owner recently who said he was unsure if his firm would still exist next year because of Labours policies. She asked Sir Keir to admit that his policies mean fewer jobs, lower growth and higher borrowing costs. Sir Keir said that the global economy is experiencing volatility and higher borrowing costs. He labelled the Tories economic vandals and fantasists. 12:03 PM GMT Starmer warmly congratulates Trump ahead of inauguration Prime Ministers Questions is now underway in the House of Commons. Sir Keir Starmer started by extending his thanks to Joe Biden for his steadfast leadership as he prepares to stand down as US president. He also invited MPs to warmly congratulate Donald Trump ahead of his inuguration on January 20. 11:47 AM GMT Chagos Islands deal unlikely to be agreed before Trumps inauguration The UKs proposed deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius looks increasingly unlikely to be agreed before Donald Trumps inauguration on January 20. The Mauritian governments cabinet met today to discuss the deal and there had been speculation that the pact could be effectively signed off. But a Mauritian readout of the meeting revealed there will now be more negotiations with the UK. It said: The Attorney General will travel again this evening in order to continue with the discussions in London. Upon his return, Cabinet will then be apprised of the situation. The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago remains unshaken. Mr Trump and his allies are known to be opposed to the deal because of security concerns. The proposed giveaway prompted a furious reaction from the Tories and Reform MPs. 11:41 AM GMT ICYMI: Tulip Siddiq quits after ethics adviser rules she misled public Tulip Siddiq was forced to quit as anti-corruption minister yesterday afternoon after Sir Keir Starmers ethics adviser found she had inadvertently misled the public. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Siddiq admitted becoming a distraction from the Governments agenda as she faced mounting corruption allegations. Her resignation followed weeks of controversy over her ties to the political party led by her aunt Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh. You can read the full story about Ms Siddiqs exit from the Government here. 11:26 AM GMT Analysis: Starmer risks getting ground down if weekly firefighting continues It seems like every week Sir Keir Starmer heads to the House of Commons for Prime Ministers Questions he does so in stormy seas. Seemingly every week there is a problem or row or scandal for Kemi Badenoch to sink her teeth into, enabling her to go on the attack while Sir Keir is forced to focus on defence. In the past it has been the decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners, the aftermath of the hike to employer National Insurance contributions, the inheritance tax raid on farmers, grooming gangs. The list goes on and on. This week it is likely to be the state of the economy, Rachel Reeves future, Tulip Siddiqs resignation or the Chagos Islands giveaway. Governments which face row after row after row inevitably get ground down as constant firefighting takes its toll. A nervous No 10 will be looking to the horizon and praying for better political weather and smoother sailing in the weeks ahead. 11:18 AM GMT Pictured: Embattled Chancellor arrives at the Treasury this morning Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, is pictured today as she arrived at the Treasury - Tayfun Salci 11:16 AM GMT Starmer facing Badenoch at PMQs at noon Sir Keir Starmer faces another tricky Prime Ministers Questions today as he faces Kemi Badenoch in the House of Commons just after noon. The Tory leader has a wide variety of ammunition to choose from and Sir Keir will know that he is in need of a strong performance to stabilise his wobbling premiership. Mrs Badenoch can choose from numerous issues as she looks to score some points and gain momentum. She could focus on the economy and the fact that the cost of government borrowing has surged in recent weeks, piling pressure on Rachel Reeves and prompting questions about the Chancellors future. Or she could opt to grill Sir Keir on the resignation of Tulip Siddiq or the rising anger at the deal to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. A sample of the unidentified ball-shaped debris found washed ashore at Manly Beach and eight other beaches in Sydneys north. Photograph: Northern Beaches Council Sydneys Northern Beaches council says it has reopened seven of the nine beaches that were closed to the public after marble-sized grease balls washed ashore. Queenscliff, Freshwater, North Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches reopened on Wednesday morning, the day after they were closed after the discovery of the debris. Dee Why and South Curl Curl beaches remained closed, the council said. The council said the composition and source of the balls had not been determined but it had sent debris samples for testing. A spokesperson for Sydney Water on Tuesday described the debris as grease balls. The Northern Beaches mayor, Sue Heins, congratulated the councils clean-up crews for getting the beaches ready to reopen quickly. We will continue to monitor the beaches condition, especially following the high tide this morning, she said. The council said the decision to reopen the beaches was made on criteria provided by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Sydney Water on Tuesday said there had been no issues with the normal operations of the Warriewood, North Head, Bondi, Malabar and Cronulla water resource recovery plants. We comply with our licences as set by the NSW EPA and only discharge compliant wastewater during normal operations, the spokesperson said. They said they were working with the EPA to investigate where the balls came from. Thousands of pieces of spherical debris washed up on many eastern suburbs beaches including Coogee and Bronte in October last year, forcing their temporary closure. Those balls were initially widely reported to be tar balls comprising crude oil until testing coordinated with the EPA revealed they were consistent with human-generated waste or likely lumps of fatberg, according to experts. More ball-shaped debris washed up in Kiama in November, before green, grey and black balls washed up on Silver beach in Kurnell in Sydneys south in early December. The EPA on Tuesday said the balls that washed up on Sydneys eastern suburbs beaches in October were found to consist mostly of fatty acids and petroleum hydrocarbons. But the regulator said testing could not pinpoint a source or identify what caused them to form, because there was no source sample available for comparison. The EPA said analysis of the balls that washed up in Kiama found they had a similar composition to those that washed up on the eastern beaches and it was still awaiting the final results of the Kurnell debris. It said the balls found on the northern beaches this week had a similar appearance to those found in the eastern beaches, and urged people not to touch them. Sydney train delays: the NSW government has vowed to explore legal action to quash further industrial action from the rail unions. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA The chaos across Sydneys train network caused by industrial action on Wednesday is expected to worsen on Thursday, as a standoff over a new pay deal between rail unions and the New South Wales government drags on. Trains on some lines were delayed by up to five hours on Wednesday, with rail authorities warning more than 1,000 train services could be cancelled amid a shortage of staff to operate trains, as they observed a range of work bans and industrial action that the state transport minister, Jo Haylen, described as strangling the network. Wednesdays disruptions were due to a range of industrial action but one unions refusal to perform maintenance at Bondi and Homebush stations was singled out by the head of Sydney trains as being responsible for some of the most worst disruptions. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU), one of the combined rail unions stuck in negotiations, again refused to perform maintenance overnight on points rail infrastructure which guide trains across different tracks. The government said that without the points being certified as safe, signals then revert to a default red position and trains cannot be switched between tracks. Related: Greater Sydney council bans revealing swimwear sparking debate about double standards Signallers are then forced to manually move trains through red signals one by one, leading to a buildup of trains. Delays then flow through that line and the broader network. It led to authorities issuing a warning that disruptions were set to worsen late on Wednesday and into Thursday. Residents were urged to delay non-essential travel. Passengers will continue to experience lengthy delays, service cancellations and very large service gaps on the rail network, Transport for NSW said on Wednesday. Delays will be particularly severe on the T1 North Shore and Western, T2 Leppington & Inner West, T3 Liverpool & Inner West, T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra, T8 Airport and South, Blue Mountains, South Coast and the Central Coast & Newcastle lines, the agency said. Another work ban includes train drivers on some services operating at 23km/h below speed limits of 80km/h. Transport for NSW apologised to affected travellers, conceding some trains on the T4 line on Wednesday were delayed by nearly five hours. More than 25% of services in Wednesdays morning peak were cancelled. The disruptions throughout the morning led to long queues for bus alternatives amid reports of commuters needing 40 minutes to travel between two suburban stations, with trains routinely stuck on platforms due to shortages of rail workers. The turmoil comes as the combined rail unions consider an improved pay offer from the state government. Eight months into negotiations for a new pay deal, and amid proceedings in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and federal court, Haylen announced an offer of an improved 13% pay rise plus 1% efficiency rise and 1% super rise across four years much lower than the combined rail unions demands of 32% over four years. Haylen said the sweetened offer, made public this week, was possible due to an agreement to merge the two state bodies that run Sydney trains and regional trains over the next four years. The merger was expected to drive productivity gains and financial savings including from possible job cuts that would fund an additional 1% rise. Related: I had steam coming out of my ears: Kokkinakis torment in Draper defeat Rail unions have until Thursday to consider the offer, but the Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary, Toby Warnes, indicated the union was lukewarm on the offer. Such a position has created the prospect of rolling industrial action for coming weeks, with the FWC only able to be asked to settle the substantive dispute pay and conditions in February. In a statement, the RTBU called on the government to stop playing politics and come back to the negotiating table. It is clear that the governments strategy is to drag this dispute out for longer than necessary in order to sway public opinion against the unions, a spokesperson said. In the meantime, the NSW government has indicated it could again seek legal action to quash the combined unions actions. Were currently looking at all of our legal options to make sure that these conditions can be rolled back and that we can get the trains back running on time, the acting NSW premier, Penny Sharpe, said on Wednesday. The RTBU said any legal action would just waste tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money. The unions will not accept any offer that removes the safety clause valiantly fought for during the last enterprise agreement campaign, as it would jeopardise safety and leave commuters with inferior trains and services. UK bank notes and a pound coin on top of a council tax bill Town halls that set low council tax bills are to be punished by losing millions of pounds of funding, The Telegraph can reveal. New rules have been quietly introduced by Angela Rayner, under which local authorities that set low council tax will receive less in government grants than those with high bills. Her department has claimed that it would be wrong for the Government to reward places that have been able to keep council tax levels low. The Deputy Prime Minister has been accused of classic socialist redistribution over the move. It could mean that councils that run their areas more economically have to impose savage cuts to services. The move also effectively kills off the possibility of areas choosing to be low tax on principle. The Conservatives said the new rules will encourage all councils to raise bills in April by the maximum amount 5 per cent, or 109 for the average Band D home. Town halls will decide in the next few weeks by how much they will put up their bills. On Tuesday, Newham council in east London asked the Government for special permission to increase the charge by 10 per cent to stave off bankruptcy. Amid expected increases in bills, about a dozen councils have asked for permission to delay local elections in May because they are going through reorganisation. Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow communities secretary, said: Labours plans will devastate councils that have worked hard to keep taxes low and services efficient. It is a classic socialist redistribution from areas that have worked hard to keep bills down to councils who may have not. It could mean tens of millions of pounds being taken from thrifty councils and given to spendthrift ones. By punishing responsible councils and rewarding those who raise taxes, this Government is actively encouraging higher bills for hardworking families. This proves yet again that Labours idea of fairness is filling their pals boots in areas they represent with taxpayers cash raised in areas that they dont. Council tax rose much more sharply under Labour between 1997 and 2010 than under the Conservatives. Under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, there was no maximum limit on council tax rises. But Lord Cameron brought in a law to make councils freeze their bills. For the past few years, a maximum council tax increase of 5 per cent has been allowed. It means that under the last period of Labour rule, council tax rose by 93 per cent, compared with 51 per cent under the Tories. Beyond the threshold on increases, local authorities have flexibility to set their own council tax rates, with some keeping it low to persuade people to move into the area. But the new rules will make this harder. Councils that set low rates of council tax include a number in London, such as Wandsworth (497 a year), Westminster (502) and Hammersmith and Fulham (915). Outside the capital, the lowest bills among county councils are those issued by Essex (1,523) and Hampshire (1,533). At present, Whitehall hands out grants to local authorities, taking into account how much is being raised by council tax. However, in the new local government finance settlement, published before Christmas, Ms Rayners Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that Whitehall would set its grant based on a national average of where they think council tax should be set, not the actual level. That means that if council tax is set lower than Whitehall thinks it should be, local authorities will receive less cash and that they will be rewarded for increasing council tax. Labour planning to punish responsible councils Ms Rayners department published a consultation paper in late December on Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles. It states: By making uniform assumptions, this approach will be simpler than perfectly reflecting each local authorities actual council tax resources through bespoke adjustments for each authority. It will be fairer to local authorities and their residents where they have had to take difficult decisions historically on council tax, often due to having weaker tax bases, as we will remove the impact of these local decisions on council tax allocations. This will avoid perverse incentives and ensure that government doesnt reward places that have been able to keep council tax levels low due to having stronger tax bases. In the draft Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government effectively assumed that council tax bills are likely to rise by 5 per cent next April if so, this would increase the average Band D council tax bill in England by 109. John OConnell, the chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Council taxpayers will be absolutely astonished to see Angela Rayner target local authorities who have done the right thing and kept their rates low. This vicious Labour Government looks like it is actively planning to punish responsible councils, thereby hammering many households already barely keeping their heads above water, all to subsidise reckless town halls who fail to live within their means. Ministers should immediately rule out this disgraceful plan and reward authorities for taking the right decisions, not offer extra cash for failure. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that the reforms the details of which are open to consultation would be brought in by 2026-27. Karla Sofia Gascon stars in the Mexican musical comedy Emilia Perez - Natasha Campos/Getty Images Bafta has included a transgender woman in its leading actress category for the first time. Spanish performer Karla Sofia Gascon, 52, starred in the Mexican musical comedy Emilia Perez, a film about a cartel boss who transitions from a man to a woman to escape vengeful criminals. The British Academy is the latest film body to include the transgender performer in a best actress category, following the Cannes Film Festival and the Golden Globes. The stars latest nomination comes after Bafta moved to better accommodate the identities of stars, with the gender-neutral title of performer introduced in 2024 for the benefit of winners who did not wish to have either actor or actress inscribed on their award. It is understood that Bafta bosses are continuing to ponder the possibility of removing actor and actress categories in favour of gender-neutral categories in future, although this has not been confirmed by the Academy. Gascon (right) with Zoe Saldana in a scene from Emilia Perez Gascon was born in Madrid and has a teenage daughter - Etienne Laurent/AFP/Getty Critically acclaimed film Emilia Perez has received 11 nominations ahead of this years awards ceremony in February, trailing only behind the Catholic thriller, Conclave. The film about a cardinal, played by Ralph Fiennes, organising the election of the next Pope has earned the most nominations with 12, including for best film and leading actor. Fiennes goes up against Adrien Brody for his role in The Brutalist, Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, Sebastian Stan in The Apprentice, and fellow Brit Hugh Grant in Heretic. Gascon could become the first ever transgender best actress at the Baftas if she fends off competition from Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, Mikey Madison for Anora, Saoirse Ronan for The Outrun, and Demi Moore for The Substance. Karla Sofia Gascon (left) with Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, director Jacques Audiard and Adriana Paz at the recent Golden Globes - Michael Buckner/Getty Images Gascon won the best actress award over the favourite, Moore, at Cannes in 2024, raising some concerns among politicians in France. Marion Marechal, the granddaughter of the late Front Nationale founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, complained that the decision meant the erasure of women and mothers. In Britain, gender-critical campaigners questioned the Cannes decision, with the campaign group Sex Matters warning that opening female categories to transgender performers was yet another illustration of the way trans ideology takes from women and gives to men. Madrid-born Gascon, who has a teenage daughter, gave an acceptance speech on behalf of the cast and crew of Emilia Perez when the film won best picture at the recent Golden Globes. Gascon said: I have a lot of things to say to you because you can maybe put us in jail. You can beat us up, but you can never take away our soul, our existence, our identity. And I want to say to you, raise your voiceand say, I am who I am, not who you want. While Gascon has made Bafta film history, in 2016 Bafta Scotland nominated transgender soap star Annie Wallace for the role of Sally St Claire in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks. Wallace was the first regular trans character in a British soap. The five British nominees for acting categories make it equal to 2024 and 2023 at 20.8 per cent of all nominees, and down from the glory days of 2021 and 2022 when a third of nominees were British. There are no British best director nominees for the first time since 2019, and down from 50 per cent last year when Andrew Haigh, Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Glazer all received nominations. Controversy erupts over private firefighters' hiring amidst raging Los Angeles wildfires Xinhua) 09:30, January 15, 2025 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- As multiple wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles, a growing controversy has emerged surrounding the hiring of private firefighters by affluent residents. "Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home? Need to act fast here. All neighbors' houses burning. Will pay any amount," Keith Wasserman, a co-founder of a real estate investment firm, wrote on X. About 45 percent of all firefighters working in the United States today are employed privately, according to Deborah Miley, executive director of the National Wildfire Suppression Association, which represents more than 300 private firefighting groups. "A two-person private firefighting crew with a small vehicle can cost 3,000 U.S. dollars a day, while a larger crew of 20 firefighters in four fire trucks can run to 10,000 dollars a day," Bryan Wheelock, vice president of Grayback Forestry, a private firefighting company in Oregon, told The New York Times. But as these companies rack up cash, the ones who hire them are taking heat from ordinary folk -- more than 100,000 of whom have been forced to flee, leaving their houses under the protection of the overwhelmed public fire department. Private firefighting units have been a controversial topic in recent years, becoming a symbol of access for the wealthy and drawing criticism for heightening class divides during disasters, the Los Angeles Times reported. Access to water -- in particular, whether private firefighters should be able to tap public hydrants during a wildfire -- is another consideration, and has been a recurrent concern among critics of private firefighting, reported The New York Times. "When we see groups like this come in, we don't consider them an asset -- we consider them a liability," said Brian Rice, president of California Professional Firefighters, which represents 35,000 firefighters. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Trump seems to want us to be a nation of one man Trump, said the law professor Barbara McQuade. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images Donald Trumps desperate legal battles to block a damaging special counsel report about his efforts to subvert his 2020 election loss and his sentencing for a 34-count felony conviction in New York ultimately failed, but former prosecutors say they nevertheless reveal his continual disdain for the rule of law and his penchant for rewriting history. One area where that may imminently play out, as Trump prepares to return to the White House, is with his repeated pledge to issue major pardons to participants in the 6 January 2021 assault on the Capitol in Washington. Trump and many of his allies have repeatedly sought to rewrite the events of January 6 as merely an enthusiastic protest by patriots, rather than an attempt to prevent Joe Bidens legitimate election win being certified, underscoring Trumps aversion to truth telling about the insurrection, critics say. With Trump poised to take office, his lawyers scrambled in vain and lost an appeal to the supreme court to stop a New York judge from sentencing him on 10 January with no penalty for falsifying records to hide $130,000 in hush-money payments in 2016 to a porn star who alleged an affair with him, making Trump the first felon to be elected president. Related: Five key takeaways from Jack Smiths report on alleged Trump election crimes Trumps lawyers have spent days battling aggressively in the courts with some success thus far to halt the release of a two-part report by the special counsel Jack Smith detailing federal charges relating to Trumps moves to thwart his 2020 defeat, and charges that Trump improperly took a large cache of classified documents with him after he left office. A Florida federal judge appointed by Trump blocked the release of Smiths report on both federal cases for days, but on Monday dropped her objections to the justice department releasing Smiths report on Trumps drive to overturn his 2020 defeat. The departments Tuesday release of that report dealt a major rebuke to the incoming president. Smith stressed that his office remained fully behind the prosecutions merits, and its belief that it would have won the case if it went to trial as originally intended last year. Although the 137-page report contained few new details, it provided a strong historical account of Smiths two-year investigation, which included grand-jury testimony from over 55 witnesses and voluntary interviews with more than 250 individuals, and stressed Trumps multiple attempts to illegally thwart his loss. The report highlighted Trumps repeated promotion of demonstrably and, in many cases, obviously false assertions about his 2020 election loss, which were integral to Trumps pressure tactics and which helped fuel the January 6 attack. Smith stressed that but for Mr Trumps election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial. Related: Trump promised pardons for January 6 rioters in first hour of his second term. What might this mean? Trump, who has repeatedly denied all the charges, condemned Smith at 2am on Tuesday on Truth Social as a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election. The case was slated for trial last year but short-circuited by a much criticized supreme court ruling that barred prosecutions for a presidents official acts. It was dropped after Trumps election victory, since sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. The justice departments release of the election subversion report by Smith, who resigned as was expected as special counsel on Friday, days before Trump takes office, is seen by legal experts as important for the historical record by summing up the election subversion case against Trump. On another legal battleground, Trump has pledged that in his first hour in office he will make major pardons for some of the 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists who he has called patriots charged in the Capitol attack, despite strong concerns from legal experts that such pardons would hurt the criminal justice system. According to the US justice department, about 1,000 people have pleaded guilty to felonies or misdemeanors. Legal critics worry, too, about potential violence and damage to the rule of law spurred by Trumps drumbeat of dangerous threats to exact revenge against political foes, including Smith and the former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who led a House panels hearings into the Capitol attack. Related: We have our country back: convicted January 6 rioters anticipate Trump pardons Trump has repeatedly called the federal and New York cases against him witch-hunts and examples of lawfare that he portrays in conspiratorial terms as politically driven by Democrats. But ex-prosecutors and legal scholars say Trumps legal gymnastics to block his sentencing and Smiths election subversion report, plus his promised pardons and talk of revenge, undermine the rule of law and are desperate attempts to rewrite history to avoid public stigmas. It is often said that we are a nation of laws and not men, said Barbara McQuade, a former federal prosecutor for Michigans eastern district who now teaches law at the University of Michigan. Trump seems to want us to be a nation of one man Trump. McQuade added that what happens with pardons for the Jan[uary] 6 defendants, Smiths report on Trumps retention of classified documents, and Trumps call for revenge prosecutions will reveal whether the rule of law maintains its integrity. McQuade cautioned: By promising to pardon the Jan[uary] 6 defendants and framing as wrongdoers the law enforcement officials who investigated him, Trump is attempting to rewrite history. As his former attorney general, William Barr, so cynically put it: History is written by the winners. Other former prosecutors concur that Trump has a long track record of retaliating against political critics. Trumps narcissism compels him to attack anything or any person who portrays him negatively, said Ty Cobb, a former justice department official who worked as a White House counsel during Trumps first term. Trump is all for transparency when it comes to the conduct of his enemies, but obstructs transparency in any form when it applies to him. Other justice department veterans have raised concerns about the dangers to the judicial system posed by Trumps drive to block the release of Smiths report and his New York sentencing. We shouldnt be surprised at the unrelenting efforts by Trump to escape accountability for his conviction in the New York case, said the former justice department inspector general Michael Bromwich. That is what he does. But it is nothing short of mortifying that he came within one supreme court justice of nullifying the New York verdict. Bromwich said that the release of Smiths election subversion report is a pale substitute for a public trial, but a form of political and historical accountability. Ironically, he noted that a few of Trumps lawyers who tried to bury the report of the special counsel have been tapped by Trump for top posts in his justice department, where their jobs will be to defend the special counsel regulations. Their arguments should be an interesting line of questioning during their confirmation hearings. Critics notwithstanding, Trump has launched withering personal and political attacks against the New York judge who sentenced him, and against Smith. Although Juan Merchan only sentenced Trump to unconditional discharge with no jail time or probation, and allowed him to appear remotely at the hearing, Trump trashed the whole case against him. It was done to damage my reputation so I would lose the election, and obviously that didnt work, Trump said. Related: Trump supporters and protesters agree sort of on his sentencing: the opposite of justice A week earlier, when Merchan announced the 10 January sentencing date, Trump lashed out, calling him corrupt, on his Truth Social platform, despite recent strong public warnings from the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, who, without mentioning Trump, decried mounting threats against judges and the judicial system. And in apocalyptic fashion, Trump said the judges decision to sentence him would be the end of the presidency as we know it. In a similarly conspiratorial and false vein before the release of Smiths election subversion report, Trump attacked him on Truth Social last weekend, writing that deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DoJ. Trump later endorsed and expanded an online post stating Smith should be disbarred and indicted. Such attacks have prompted legal critics to sound more alarms about Trumps repeated threats to seek retribution against his political foes and to issue large-scale pardons when he assumes the presidency. It is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that we do not prosecute for the purpose of retribution, said the former federal judge John Jones, who is now the president of Dickinson College. Nor should charges be brought selectively, stressing that these are bedrock precepts. Likewise, Jones defended the fairness of the legal system that has led to 1,500 convictions and guilty pleas by January 6 defendants. Those who were prosecuted were given almost excessive due process, he said, adding that blanket pardons would signal to future insurrectionists that they can engage in violence impeding the operation of the government with impunity. Legal watchdogs, too, are concerned about Trumps promised pardons. President Trumps plan to pardon the January 6 attackers signals his intent to abuse his power. Pardoning loyalists for political violence is an action of an autocrat serving his own ends, said Adav Noti, the executive director of the non-partisan Campaign Legal Center. Similarly, Bromwich warned of serious fallout if Trump follows through on his pledge to pardon the January 6 insurrectionists, including those who assaulted police officers. If he does, it will be the most consequential abuse of the pardon power in American history. All the work of prosecutors, agents, judges and juries who were involved in those legitimate prosecutions will be for nought. Justice department officials who stand for the rule of law should do everything in their power to prevent it. The former federal prosecutor Daniel Richman, who now is a law professor at Columbia University, said he saw public benefits with Trumps sentencing and the release of Smiths election subversion report. Richman said both will be markers for history. Trump is now a convicted felon, the first to serve as president. And Smiths report has laid out an account of criminal wrongdoing that only Trumps successful delaying tactics prevented Smith from having a chance to prove up in court. Whether these are just time capsules or small moves toward accountability remains to be seen. A French and British solider pictured together during a military exercise in eastern France in 2015 - SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are discussing sending British and French soldiers to Ukraine as a peacekeeping force after any potential deal to end the war, The Telegraph understands. The French president is championing the idea and has already talked about it with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister. Press spokesmen for Downing Street and the Elysee Palace did not dispute that Sir Keir and Mr Macron discussed the possibility during their meeting at Chequers last week. Details of the conversations are being kept under wraps by officials in London and Paris. However, multiple well-placed UK government sources have stressed Sir Keir is not yet fully signed up. One Whitehall source told The Telegraph: There are challenges over what we could support, what would we want to support, and the broader question about the threat that those troops may be under and whether that is escalatory. The proposal comes as European leaders scramble to work out how to continue supporting Ukraines sovereignty as president-elect Donald Trump pushes for Kyiv to strike a peace deal with Russia. Mr Trump enters the White House on Monday. He has rowed back on his campaign promise to end the conflict on day one as US president but aims to do so in the first six months of his administration. Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer held talks at Chequers last week - NEIL HALL/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Sir Keir has long been expected to visit Ukraine in the early new year, in what would be seen as a symbolic show of support for Mr Zelensky as US backing wavers. Publicly, the UK Governments position is that Western allies should give Mr Zelensky as much support as possible, with the Ukrainians deciding when and if to hold peace talks. In private, ministers and officials are expecting Mr Trump to force Ukraine and Russia to get around the negotiating table, with attempts now underway to map out what would happen next. One idea now increasingly being talked about, not just in public debate but behind closed doors in Westminster, is whether Western troops may need to guarantee any peace terms. The thinking revolves around the idea that Russia could keep Ukrainian land it has captured as part of a peace deal though much uncertainty about that prospect remains. Should that happen, European leaders have been thinking about what can be done to make sure the remaining territory of Ukraine is protected from any future Russian attacks. The challenge is that Mr Trumps past criticism of deploying soldiers abroad, and his political attacks on financial support for Ukraine, mean it is unlikely US troops would take part. Multiple UK officials have come to this conclusion. One US-floated idea is that Western soldiers could man an 800-mile border between the new Ukrainian and Russian borders, with a demilitarised buffer zone established. Mr Macron is pushing the idea that European allies could be deployed on the ground to play such a role. Some of his discussions with other leaders have become public. The French president and Mr Tusk discussed the proposal in mid-December. Mr Tusk played down the idea at the time, saying Warsaw was not planning any such actions. Mr Macron and Mr Zelensky also talked about the potential plans on Monday. The Ukrainian president wrote on X: [We] agreed to work closely with key allies on achieving peace and developing effective security guarantees. As one such guarantee, we discussed the French initiative to deploy military contingents in Ukraine. We addressed practical steps for its implementation, potential expansion, and the involvement of other nations in this effort. British officials have stressed they are yet to fully endorse the proposal. One Government source told The Telegraph: We are getting slightly ahead of ourselves. We are not there yet. However, that the discussions are happening shows the degree to which Downing Street is determined to keep supporting Ukraine, even after Mr Trump takes office. Any commitment of troops, should it happen, would put significant new pressure on the Ministry of Defences budget at a time when the Treasury is looking for spending cuts. In the spring Sir Keir will unveil his timeline for increasing UK defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product a year, up from around 2.3 per cent, but it remains unclear if the level can be reached before 2030. A deployment could involve thousands of British troops at a time when military leaders have already warned that the UK does not have the capacity to fight a war. It would also risk being seen as an escalation by Russia a framing Downing Street has always rejected. Successive prime ministers have resisted announcing that British soldiers will be deployed in Ukraine ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Ukraine is not part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), which has a rule that an attack on one member is an attack on all, though the UK wants it to join one day. Questions about whether a no-fly zone would be established over the new Ukrainian land mass, and how it could be enforced, would also be sure to be raised. Boris Johnson, the former Tory prime minister, has expressed interest in the West putting boots on the ground in Ukraine as a peacekeeping force. Jeremy Hunt, the former Tory foreign secretary, and two former defence secretaries Grant Shapps and Sir Gavin Williamson have also publicly backed the idea. A UK Government spokesman said: The UK is taking a leading role in supporting Ukraine, which is why the Prime Minister committed 3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine for as long as it takes, and this year the UK will spend more than it ever has on military funding for Ukraine. Our focus remains on bolstering Ukraines defence, and we continue to push international partners to ramp up their financial support to Ukraine to ensure Putin loses. The Prime Minister has also made a clear commitment to speak regularly with President Zelensky, and have met in person six times, including hosting him at No 10 twice. A spokesman for the Elysee Palace declined to comment. Musks lawer said the CEO has done nothing wrong and everyone sees this sham for what it is. Photograph: Allison Robbert/Reuters A US financial regulator has sued Elon Musk for allegedly failing to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock and later acquiring shares in the company at artificially low prices, stiffing other shareholders. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against Musk late on Tuesday in federal court in Washington DC for alleged securities violations. According to the suit, Musk did not disclose that he had acquired a 5% stake in the company in a timely manner, which allowed him to underpay by at least $150m for shares he purchased after his financial beneficial ownership report was due. Musk bought Twitter in 2022 for $44bn and later renamed it X. Before the purchase, Musk bought the 5% stake in the company, which typically requires a public disclosure. The SEC alleges that it wasnt until 11 days after the report was due that Musk disclosed his ownership in Twitter. Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Musk, said in an emailed statement that the SECs case amounted to an admission that the agency had no case. Musk, Spiro said, has done nothing wrong and everyone sees this sham for what it is. It is not the first time the SEC has looked into Musks purchase of Twitter. The agency launched an investigation into Musk and his brother, Kimbal Musk, in 2021 over alleged securities fraud and violations of insider trading rules after they sold tens of thousands of shares in Tesla. Musk is the CEO of Tesla and his brother sits on the board of directors. Spiro said the SEC lawsuit was the result of an alleged administrative failure to file a single form. He added that the SECs multi-year campaign of harassment against Mr Musk culminated in the filing of a single-count ticky-tack complaint against Mr Musk. Over the past several months, Musk has forged a tight relationship with Donald Trump. Musk donated millions to his re-election effort and campaigned with him. Trump has since named Musk head of an advisory group, which Trump claims he will create, called the department of government efficiency, meant to oversee government regulations and spending. In its lawsuit, the SEC said that before Musks delayed disclosure of his ownership in Twitter, he allegedly spent more than $500m purchasing additional shares in the company and was able to buy the stock from the unsuspecting public at artificially low prices. When Musk eventually disclosed his ownership to the SEC 11 days later, he said he had acquired more than 9% of Twitters stock. The SEC wrote in its lawsuit: That day, Twitters stock price increased more than 27% over its previous days closing price. A young apprentice who scooped millions on the National Lottery was back working on blocked drains the next day. James Clarkson, 20, a trainee gas engineer from Carlisle, Cumbria, hit the 7,533,329 jackpot by picking the winning numbers for the first lottery draw of the new year on January 4. But it was back to reality the next day, out in the works van alongside his father Stephen, carrying out property maintenance. Mr Clarkson said: I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won. It was a bit grim but thats reality. Im not going to stop working, Im too young. I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there. I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldnt let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day. I know people might think Im mad to still work but I want to and, of course, therell be some nice holidays in between. James Clarkson, 20, celebrates his win with his parents and extended family (Anthony Devlin/PA) Mr Clarkson has already booked an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde and has treated himself to a few designer items, including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself. He is not a fan of shopping but does plan to buy a new car, possibly an Audi, which will make a change from his work van. He added: If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, youd understand. The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive. A huge Manchester City fan, he is looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad stadium and plans to look after his extended family, starting with paying off his parents mortgage. He said: Ive been thinking about it a lot, its what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed. We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isnt just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit. Mr Clarkson played Lotto on the National Lottery app. His winning Lotto numbers, chosen randomly on Saturday January 4 2025 were 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35. An increase in baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospitals neonatal unit in 2015 was not steep enough to be considered an outlier, the public inquiry over Lucy Letbys crimes has heard. Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, emeritus professor of statistics at the University of Cambridge, told the Thirlwall Inquiry that eight deaths at the unit in that year merited a local investigation but does not mean necessarily that there is a special cause for it. According to hospital data, there was one death at the neonatal unit in 2010, two in 2013 and three in 2011, 2012 and 2014 but the number rose to eight in 2015 and five in the first six months of 2016. Former neonatal nurse Letby, 35, started work at the Countess of Chester Hospital in January 2012 and went on to murder seven babies between June 2015 and June 2016. Sir David said the number of deaths between 2010 and 2014 actually shows surprising consistency and he would have expected more variability. Assessing the 2015 figure, he said: That would generally be considered sufficient to trigger an alert and someone should look at this locally but not extreme enough to be considered an outlier. There are about 150 neonatal units in the UK and therefore we would expect that one signal of this magnitude to occur each year just by chance alone through no underlying cause, nothing special changing at all. This is a surprising event within the Countess of Chester but from a national level this is not very surprising at all. We would expect this to happen every year somewhere. Sir David added: The numbers have gone up, they are small numbers but just because numbers have gone up does not mean necessarily that there is a special cause for it, and so it needs to be investigated. He said a real outlier was something that you are pretty convinced is not just normal variation but there is some special cause behind it. Sir David added that no statistical monitoring system could say why something has happened. A classic case of an outlier was Bristol Royal Infirmary in the 1980s and 1990s where failings were found in paediatric heart surgery, he said. Sir David, who headed a team of statisticians for the public inquiry that followed, said: There was clear water between it and the 11 other centres we were looking at which were reasonably tightly clustered, not completely, and Bristol stuck out very clearly indeed. He said that analysis of data from MBRRACE-UK, which collects information on baby deaths in the NHS, showed that in 2015 and 2016 the mortality rate at the Countess of Chester was 10% higher than the average for similar neonatal units with between 2,000 and 4,000 births per year. The Countess of Chesters crude mortality rate the number of deaths divided by the number of births in 2015 was 2.96 per 1,000 which equated to nine deaths, he said. Sir David said it was the highest in its tier of centres but only just, as Blackpool had eight deaths in the same year. He said: One would not call that an outlier. Sir David added the inquiry into Dr Harold Shipmans murders showed his mortality rate was extreme but he was not a clear outlier as some other GPs had even higher mortality rates for the very best of reasons, such as those working with hospices and retirement communities. Letby, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims. The public inquiry, chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, is hearing its final week of evidence at Liverpool Town Hall, with findings expected to be published in the autumn. Interim head coach Simon Easterby believes the availability of Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Jimmy OBrien massively increases Irelands competitiveness ahead of their latest Guinness Six Nations title defence. Easterby is bidding to lead Ireland to an unprecedented third consecutive championship triumph after Andy Farrell temporarily stepped aside to focus on the British and Irish Lions upcoming tour of Australia. First-choice hooker Sheehan has not played since damaging an anterior cruciate ligament during last summers tour of South Africa, while number eight Conan and versatile back OBrien also missed an inconsistent autumn series which ultimately brought three wins from four due to injury. Our squad for the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations! #TeamOfUs Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 15, 2025 Tighthead prop Furlong was selected for that campaign but unable to feature in the defeat to New Zealand and subsequent victories over Argentina, Fiji and Australia because of a hamstring issue. The Leinster quartet were on Wednesday named in Easterbys 36-man Six Nations squad, alongside uncapped provincial team-mate Jack Boyle. Ireland begin the tournament on Saturday, February 1 when England visit Dublin. The Guinness Six Nations is one of the most keenly-contested competitions in the global calendar and theres great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this years tournament, said Easterby. Irelands Jack Conan missed the autumn series through injury after missing last summers tour to South Africa for personal reasons (Brian Lawless/PA) Personally Im hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge. We are delighted to welcome back a number of players who were unavailable for the recent Autumn Nations Series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel. While there is a good sense of continuity in selection, having those players back massively increases our competitiveness. Loosehead prop Boyle, who joined the senior international setup in the autumn as a development player, has been picked ahead of Ulsters Tom OToole, who is unavailable for Irelands first two games of the tournament due to suspension. Simon Easterby, right, is deputising for Andy Farrell (Mike Egerton/PA) The 22-year-old will hope to become his countrys latest Test debutant following the recent emergence of forwards Tom Clarkson, Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu and fly-half Sam Prendergast. Connachts Caolin Blade has been included as third-choice scrum-half, behind Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray, due to Craig Casey being sidelined with a knee issue. Injured centre Stuart McCloskey, Ulster team-mates Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney and Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan are the other players omitted from the last squad chosen by Farrell. Sheehan and wing James Lowe, who sustained a calf issue during the 22-19 win over Australia on November 30, are set to link up with the squad on Sunday, January 26 at a training camp in Portugal, subject to successful returns from injury with Leinster. Ireland v England - February 1 Scotland v Ireland - February 9 Wales v Ireland - February 22 Ireland v France - March 8 Italy v Ireland - March 15 Uncapped quartet Hugh Cooney, James McNabney, Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde will join the group as development players. Following the visit of Steve Borthwicks side on the opening weekend, Ireland travel to Scotland and Wales before hosting France and then finishing against Italy in Rome. The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and theres no room for building or easing your way into competition, said Easterby. Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyones mind to what will be a big task ahead. Sir Rod Stewart and the King joked over secateurs as Charles placed a pair of his own in a time capsule to mark the launch of 35th anniversary celebrations for his charity. Charles was joined by Sir Rod and his wife Penny Lancaster, the newest ambassadors for The Kings Foundation, for the event at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire where it has its headquarters. The Kings Foundation was founded as the Prince of Waless Institute of Architecture by Charles in 1990 when he was Prince of Wales, and works to build sustainable communities and transform lives. Along with gardener Alan Titchmarsh, another ambassador for the charity, Charles, Sir Rod and Lancaster seemed to enjoy looking at the initial items placed in the time capsule, including marmalade, a local newspaper, flowers from the Dumfries House garden and photos. Over the course of the year, the charity will collect items which people feel represent the achievements and legacy of the foundation, and it will then be buried on the Dumfries House estate and opened in 100 years. Noticing a bottle of malt whisky, the King said: That will be really interesting in 100 years time. He also seemed amused at a contribution from Titchmarsh a mug with the slogan The lawn ranger. Alan Titchmarsh, left, with Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster during the reception (Jane Barlow/PA) The time capsule itself was designed and made from oak at the Snowdon School of Furniture, part of The Kings Foundation at Highgrove, by Kings Foundation alumnus Aiden Lawley, who said it was an honour to create it. Before the King entered the room, Sir Rod had jokingly pretended he was preparing to throw his watch into the empty box. He then pretended to cower as Charles picked up his secateurs to place them in the capsule, to the Kings amusement. Charles then put in his personal letter, saying Ill bury this at the bottom. The foundation has its headquarters at Dumfries House (Andrew Milligan/PA) The capsule design has been left intentionally plain to both celebrate the British timber used and to give space for other students and alumni to add decorative elements throughout the year. The foundation works to promote the Kings philosophy of harmony which sees everything in nature as interconnected, including ourselves, and advocates taking a holistic approach to the challenges facing the planet. During the visit on Wednesday, the King spoke to members of the local community, ambassadors and alumni of the foundation. He also met a former Kings Foundation student, Lily Marsh, who now runs a successful sculpting business, who has created a new bust of Charles. Sir Rod, who has just celebrated his 80th birthday, and model, special constable and Loose Women star Lancaster have joined the likes of David Beckham and Sienna Miller in the role of celebrity ambassadors. The veteran rocker, whose hits include Da Ya Think Im Sexy?, Hot Legs and Maggie May, said: We are so pleased to be coming on board as ambassadors for The Kings Foundation and look forward to lending our support to this worthwhile cause, particularly during such a significant year for the charity. Sir Rod Stewart with Penny Lancaster and David Beckham during The Kings Foundation inaugural awards last June (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) Lancaster, also known as Lady Stewart, said: As a volunteer special constable, the foundations approach to building communities and how access to green spaces can help build better, healthier places is particularly important to me. Its an honour to be working with the foundation and I cant wait to meet more of the inspiring people who both learn with and work for the organisation. The charity supports 15,000 students across its education programmes each year and said it has a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people around the world through its community regeneration projects. Its textiles education programmes work to train the next generation of young craftspeople in heritage and endangered skills, but it also focuses on sustainability, farming and agriculture, health and wellbeing, and architecture and urbanism. Titchmarsh said: Its quite evident when you see the King talking to people who have benefited from all the initiatives that are run under the umbrella of The Kings Foundation that he is so thrilled that they have taken up the challenge and discovered things which really do fulfil you in life. Watching the King when he meets people who have enjoyed one of these courses on so many different and disparate subjects, his delight is quite palpable. Sir Rod pretended to flinch as the King picked up his secateurs (Jane Barlow/PA) The foundations headquarters are at Dumfries House, which was saved for the nation in 2007 by a consortium led by Charles. Kristina Murrin, chief executive of The Kings Foundation, said they are thrilled to begin celebrations for the 35th anniversary. She added: We are so proud of what The Kings Foundation has achieved over the past 35 years. I hope those uncovering the time capsule in 2125 will recognise the positive impact both the King and his foundation have had on the world and its communities. An amalgamation of Charless charities in the year he turned 70 created The Princes Foundation in 2018, which was renamed The Kings Foundation in 2023 to reflect his accession to the throne. Socialite James Stunt told his money laundering trial he never suspected he was entering into a criminal agreement when he went into business with a Bradford gold dealer. The former son-in-law of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone is one of five men on trial over an alleged multimillion-pound scheme to turn criminal cash into untraceable gold. Prosecutors say Stunt, 42, who was married to Mr Ecclestones daughter Petra for six years, allowed his prestigious Mayfair office to be used as a trusted hub for money laundering as part of the alleged network, which saw 200 million from the proceeds of crime laundered over two years. Jurors have heard that between 2014 and 2016, cash was brought from all over the country to Bradford jewellers Fowler Oldfield, Stunts business premises in London, and a Hatton Garden company called Pure Nines Ltd. The trial is being heard at Leeds Crown Court (Alamy/PA) The defendants are accused of hiding the origin of the money by washing it through a company bank account and using the proceeds to buy gold, which was shipped to Dubai. On Wednesday, Stunt told Leeds Crown Court he had started his business, Stunt & Co, as a gold bullion dealer and that the plan was to source raw gold and turn it into high-quality gold bars. The court heard he built a refinery in Sheffield, where he was introduced to Fowler Oldfield owners Daniel Rawson and Greg Frankel by a contact at the Sheffield Assay Office, who introduced them as a very respectable supplier of scrap gold. Jurors heard he started a joint venture with Fowler Oldfield in 2015 which would see them running the refinery and providing scrap gold, while Stunt provided the financial backing. Stunt said he later accepted a proposal by Frankel and Rawson for their clients cash to be deposited in his office at Leckonfield House. He said he was told they had cash customers who wanted a place where they could deposit their money in London, before it was collected by G4S or the Post Office. Asked by his barrister, Trevor Burke KC, whether he believed he was entering into a criminal agreement to facilitate the deposit of criminal proceeds of crime, Stunt replied, Absolutely not. Asked if he would ever have agreed to commit a crime or suspected he was becoming involved in a criminal enterprise, he repeated: Absolutely not. He gave the same answer when asked if he had laundered the proceeds of criminal conduct. Stunt told the court he was never in the building when couriers delivered money to his offices. Stunt said he considered Frankel a friend, letting him live rent-free in his London apartment and helping him lease a Lamborghini. Jurors heard the relationship deteriorated when some gold went missing in 2016, and Stunt said that despite a number of meetings with Rawson and Frankel, he never received a satisfactory answer as to where it went. Frankel, 47, Rawson, 47, Haroon Rashid 54, and Arjun Babber, 32, are also on trial at Leeds Crown Court charged with money laundering. Opening the case to jurors in October, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said Fowler Oldfield had become the centre of a multimillion-pound, money laundering operation by the time police intervened in September 2016. The jury heard the dirty money was delivered by couriers to three sites: Fowler Oldfield, Stunt & Co and Pure Nines before being paid into Fowler Oldfields bank account. The defendants deny the charges and the trial continues. It's been over 700 days since Dino first arrived at the Town of Hempstead Shelter in Wantagh, New York. And that's 700 days too long. The Terrier mix has received no interest since arriving at the shelter. Which is such a pity. He'd make the perfect companion and deserves a loving home. The shelter shared Dino's story on Instagram, hoping that the right person sees it and will give the dog a chance. The video shows the Terrier mix in his kennel, just waiting for his forever person to show up. "HELP NEEDED!" wrote the shelter. "Dino, a 3-year-old, deserving boy, has spent 713 DAYS in the shelter with ZERO interest! Hes lost over half his life in a cell. Lets join forces to share his story and find him a forever home!" Dino does have some specific needs as a pet. He's probably best in an adults-only home and could possibly live with another dog with the right training. Sadly, Dino probably wouldn't do well in a home with a cat. He's a bit of a nervous guy, so he needs a home that's quiet and chill. People in the comments section couldn't understand how Dino was still in the shelter. "OMG, why?? Dino is beautiful and so sweet. This breaks my heart. I adore him. Please someone adopt this sweet boy soon," wrote one person. "This is so heartbreaking!! Lets get Dino home everyone, comment and share this beautiful boy. What a sweet face, love his ears. He looks so fun and goofy. PLEASE SHARE EVERYONE," one commenter begged. "Praying for you handsome boy! Someone please give this sweetheart a loving home and a family to call his own," one person chimed in. Adopting From Town of Hempstead Shelter Dino is such a gentle soul. If you or someone you know is ready to open your home to an animal, you can go to the Town of Hempstead Shelter website for more information. You can also tour the facilities to get to know Dino or any of the other needy cats and dogs in their care. You can arrange for a meet-and-greet with Dino to get to know the Terrier mix better. You'll also get a consultation from one of the facility's employees, who will go over the dog's medical history in detail. The shelter does require that all members of the household meet with their animals, so that they can confirm the pup is a match. This includes any other dogs you might have in your home. All other dogs must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccines before the meeting. It might take a little work, but trust us it's worth it. Any one of us could be the right match for Dino. It should gives us all a lot of hope! 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. The Tories will tell the British people the truth even when its difficult to hear, Kemi Badenoch will pledge in a major speech focused on regaining voters trust. The Conservative leader is also expected to criticise the Labour Party for having announced mad and bad ideas on snatching winter fuel and taxing family farms, which Mrs Badenoch insists the Tories rejected time and time again in government. In her first major speech of 2025, Mrs Badenoch will on Thursday signal that she will continue to be outspoken in her language as she leads the Conservative party, just days after she came under fire for blaming peasants from sub-communities in foreign countries for the grooming gangs crisis. After stressing the Conservatives are under new leadership, Ms Badenoch will say: For the next four years and beyond we are going to be telling the British people the truth, even when its difficult to hear. The truth about the mistakes we made, the truth about the problems we face, and the truth about the actions we must take to get ourselves out of this mess. Speaking to GB News earlier this week, the Tory leader said it was important to examine the backgrounds of those implicated in the grooming gangs scandal, adding they were people with a very poor background, a sort of peasant background, very, very rural, almost cut off from even the home origin countries that they might have been in. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if she was right to make the claim, her spokesman was resolute she was not at fault. He said: Quibbling over language is what got us into this mess in the first place. We need to end this culture of fear, this fear of being politically incorrect, and that is why we need a national inquiry, because too many people dont want to talk about this stuff. Elsewhere in her speech, Mrs Badenoch will claim Labour is struggling in Government because it has announced policies without a plan to back them up. When you havent worked out what youre going to do in opposition, you will accept whatever youre given in government, she will say, adding: Thats why Rachel Reeves announced mad and bad ideas on snatching winter fuel and taxing family farms. Those options were presented to us, time and time again by officials, and we rejected them time and time again because they would hurt so many people for so little benefit. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has come under fire amid economic turbulence (Peter Byrne/PA) The public will never trust politicians unless they accept their mistakes, Mrs Badenoch will say while seeking to contrast herself with the Prime Minister. She is expected to say: Labour are making a lot of mistakes. But the difference between me and Keir Starmer is that he doesnt believe hes ever made a mistake. I will acknowledge the Conservative Party made mistakes. The Tory leader has previously said she does not plan to announce a policy platform in her early days of stewarding the party, but will instead focus on regaining voters trust. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves accused Ms Badenoch of doing the exact opposite of rebuilding public trust in the party by offering nothing in opposition but more infighting and unfunded spending commitments. The public rightly lost trust in the Conservatives after 14 long years of failure in government, she said. She accused Ms Badenoch of offering another speech, but no apology for her role in Liz Truss disastrous mini-Budget that crashed the economy and left a 22 billion black hole in the public finances. The Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch have nothing to offer in opposition apart from recklessly continuing to make unfunded spending commitments and overseeing yet more Conservative chaos and infighting. The Tories havent listened and they havent learned, Ms Reeves said. This Labour Government is getting on with delivering our plan for change to grow our economy and put more money in peoples pockets, build an NHS fit for the future, make streets safer, deliver clean energy and increase opportunity for all. Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Abdel Kareem Hana/Associated Press Palestinians celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Relatives and friends of people killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, are reacting to the ceasefire announcement as they take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Oded Balilty/Associated Press Houston religious leaders and activists said they felt Wednesday's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was long overdue, reflecting on their emotions, personal connections and political opinions over the war in the Gaza Strip. The Israel-Hamas war began after Hamas-led militant groups attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages into Gaza. Gaza's health ministry reports that more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Associated Press. "We call on the Trump administration to see the deal through, and we call for concrete steps for ending the occupation of Palestine," said William White, a spokesperson for the Houston chapter of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad CAIR Houston was among a group of local Muslim leaders and organizations in Houston that boycotted the city's main Iftar event last year, saying Houston Mayor John Whitmire and other local leaders had failed to call for a ceasefire deal. The details of the deal were not yet finalized Thursday night, but it would include the release of nearly 100 Israeli and American hostages, around a third of whom are believed to be dead, according to the AP. Rabbi Brian Strauss of Houston's Congregation of Beth Yeshurun said the news of a ceasefire deal brought a mix of optimism and grief, as uncertainty over how well leaders will follow through with the deal and the status of hostages aren't certain. Its definitely hopeful that innocent hostages can be released, Strauss said. There is still a sense of fear that Hamas will not follow through on their commitments. There is also a sense of dread that we dont even know which hostages are alive. Some families of hostages told the AP they are in agony over the uncertainty. The agreement calls for hostages to be released in three phases, starting with the release of 33 women and children in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the AP reported. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston resident Okarys Bonilla was working assessing the needs of damaged hospitals in Rafah, a city in the Southern Gaza Strip, when it was invaded by Israeli forces last May. Bonilla said she remembers exiting Nasser hospital in Gaza, which was shelled by Israeli forces in February, and seeing the world become black and white from the rubble. It smelled like death, Bonilla said. Its like the color had been sucked out of Gaza, she said. Everything weve been seeing on the news and in the media, it's ten times worse. Working now as a clinical research student, Bonilla said it breaks her heart to see the difference between a surplus of medical supplies in Texas compared to the infected, broken and completely destroyed medical equipment she saw in Gaza. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bonilla said the grief she experienced hasnt gone away since shes come home to Texas. Its amplified. But reading news of a ceasefire deal today has brought her some hope amid the sadness. Im very glad there is a ceasefire, and I hope its followed through, she said. When I got the notification about the ceasefire, I had an overwhelming amount of grief for what Gaza has been through and what it's going to take to rebuild their lives. Shifa Abuzaid, a Palestinian-American attorney in Houston, said the last 15 months have felt like a fever dream between losing family members in Gaza and advocating at City Hall, asking Houston leaders to call for a ceasefire. If youre Palestinian and you lost someone, you just wish they were here to see this, Abuzaid said. Abuzaid said she views news of a ceasefire deal as a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal of liberation for Palestinians. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im relieved for the people of Gaza, that theyll no longer have to suffer under bombardment, but Im also sad for the tens of thousands of children whove been murdered and for the family members Ive lost, Abuzaid said. Life is not going to be the same for a single Gazan that is alive. Rabbi Eitan Krul of the Congregation Shaar Hashalom in Houston moved to the U.S. two years ago from Israel. He said as a religious leader, his aim is on being bigger than the agendas of political leaders. "There are consequences that civilians and innocent people in Israel and Gaza are paying, Krul said. As a rabbi, Im minor. I have a small congregation, but we as people can make peace between us. We need to see the people behind the stories. Strauss said while dread hangs heavy over his community, he feels a shared conviction for a peaceful future has emboldened people as well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its definitely strengthened our community, praying for peace for Israel and for Palestinians, Strauss said. It also strengthens peoples conviction that the only way to bring peace to both sides is to stand up to terrorists. Protests and executive orders The war in Gaza struck a deep chord with politicians, activists and religious communities in Houston and in Texas in the past year. Last March, Gov. Greg Abbott responded to pro-Palestinian student protests by issuing an executive order directing Texas universities to crack down on "proliferation of antisemitism." While Abbott did not clarify any specific incidents in his order, he demanded public universities update their free speech policies to include the state's definition of antisemitism, and "establish appropriate punishments, including expulsion from the university" for students who proliferate what Abbott said were anti-Jewish sentiments on campus. Abbott targeted specific pro-Palestine student groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Committee. "From the river to the sea," a rallying cry pro-Palestinian protesters commonly chant at protests to convey a demand for justice in Gaza, faced backlash from critics and the Republican governor, who described the phrase as antisemitic. Pro-Palestinian protesters argued in response to criticism about the phrase that there is a difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and the latter is what they are pushing back against. Anti-Zionism opposes the modern state of Israel, they argue. Representatives of some American Jewish organizations have said, as Abbott has, that the slogan constitutes antisemitic speech, the Washington Post reported. According to the American Jewish Committee, which advocates for Jewish people and Israel, the saying calls for the violent elimination of Israel and ethnic cleansing of Jews who live there. The Anti-Defamation League states that it makes members of the Jewish community feel unsafe and ostracized, and argues that anti-Zionism is also antisemitic. Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist Jewish organization for Palestinian freedom in the U.S, has said the slogan is a call for justice for Palestinians across the lands of historic Palestine. In a statement on Metas content moderation of from the River to the Sea, the organization cited Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International's conclusion that the Israeli government has maintained a system of racial segregation and domination over Palestinians. The Anti-Defamation League gave Rice University a D rating on its antisemitism report card, the Houston Chronicle reported in April 2024. The report pointed to regular anti-Israel rallies taking place, "anti-Zionist student government activity and an LGBT group cutting ties with Hillel, a Jewish campus organization, over Palestinian students concerns. Again, disagreements over whether or not speech criticizing Israel's political actions should be considered antisemitic were at the crux of differing reactions to the grading. For Fouad Salah, a member of the Houston chapter of the Youth Palestinian Movement, the protests on Houston and Texas campuses in the past 15 months speak to the power young people have in calling on local and national leaders for change. I think one of the biggest lessons Ive taken from the last 15 months is that the people of Houston have a lot more power than were led to believe, Salah said. Student protests hold so much power. When we got our numbers up, we showed elected leaders Houston stands against genocide. Salah said while news of a ceasefire deal on Wednesday brought hope, it also signaled the fight for activists is far from over. MORE ON THE CEASEFIRE: Mediators tout a Gaza ceasefire deal and plan to free hostages. Israel says details still in flux CAIR, on behalf of protesters at the University of Houston and University of Texas, sued Abbott in May 2024 over his executive order. Whitmire faced backlash in August from pro-Palestine protestors after he accused them of being paid by Iran without any solid proof in August. Whitmire said at the time that spoke based on the advice of Homeland Security and other government departments. The mayor's accusations against protesters came after they had been demonstrating outside his home to demand his support for a ceasefire deal. Pro-Palestinian activists have continually demanded Houston City Council pass a resolution supporting a ceasefire deal since December of 2023. Houston City Council did not pass a proposal from the mayor in August 2024 to ban targeted protests near residential homes. Local activists and some council members criticized the proposal, arguing that it targeted pro-Palestine groups. Donald Trumps administration will be consulted before any deal for the UK to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is finalised, Downing Street said. Allies of the US president-elect have been critical of the deal because of the implications for the strategically important Diego Garcia military base. The Mauritian government is seeking further concessions over the proposed deal and it is not now expected to be signed before Mr Trump enters the White House. Diego Garcia in the Indian ocean is home to a strategically important military base (Alamy/PA) Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolams Cabinet did not sign off on the proposed deal on Wednesday and is instead sending a delegation back to London for more negotiations. The UK plans to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius then lease back the Diego Garcia base, which is used by the US, at a reported cost of 90 million a year for 99 years. The Government argues that international court rulings in favour of Mauritian sovereignty mean that a treaty settling the future of the archipelago is the only way to guarantee the continued operation of the base. The Labour administration reached an agreement with Mr Ramgoolams predecessor, but the change of government in Mauritius and Mr Trumps election in the US have stalled progress. The president-elects pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, warned in October that the agreement posed a serious threat to US national security, while Reform UKs leader Nigel Farage, an ally of Mr Trump, has warned of very deep disquiet about the deal in the incoming administration. Sir Keir Starmer defended the Chagos Islands plan at Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) But Sir Keir Starmer defended the deal during Commons clashes with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Sir Keir said: We inherited a situation where the long-term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenge. The negotiations were started under the last government. The then foreign secretary came to this House to say why he was starting negotiations and what he wanted to achieve. He said the aim was to ensure the continued effective operation of the base. That is precisely what this deal has delivered. Mrs Badenoch said Sir Keir was negotiating a secret deal to surrender British territory and taxpayers in this country will pay for the humiliation. Downing Street said it was obviously now right for Mr Trumps administration to consider any deal. We will only agree to a deal that is in the UKs best interests and protects our national security, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. He steered away from suggestions Mr Trump would now have a veto on the deal, and also said: It is perfectly reasonable for the new US administration to actually consider the detail and we will obviously have those discussions with them. Kemi Badenoch said the Prime Minister wanted to surrender British territory (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) A statement issued by the Mauritian government said the Cabinet had been informed of developments following attorney general Gavin Glovers talks in London last week but had decided that negotiations should continue. The attorney general will travel again this evening in order to continue with the discussions in London. Upon his return, Cabinet will then be apprised of the situation. The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago remains unshaken. Mr Ramgoolam had previously told the Mauritian parliament that the UK wanted to conclude a deal before Mr Trumps inauguration on January 20. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: This is a complete humiliation for Keir Starmer and David Lammy and marks yet another failure of British diplomacy under Labour. Labour have been desperate to sign off the surrender of the Chagos Islands before President Trump returns to office, and the Mauritius government know. They see the weakness at the heart of this government and are trying to exploit it by pressuring Britain into paying more for an even weaker lease for the military base at Diego Garcia. While Labour have been hiding the details from us, we know they are prepared to blow billions of pounds of taxpayers money for the indignity of this dodgy deal, which will undermine our security and defence. It is high time they abandoned it altogether start focusing on how to strengthen our defence capabilities and get the economy growing. The UK Government has recognised Wales has been hard done by and will provide new funding for rail, the Welsh First Minister said. Eluned Morgan announced that Wales will get extra cash to fund rail projects after UK ministers admitted Welsh railways were underfunded. Politicians in Wales have complained that the country has lost out over the HS2 project, for which Wales received no additional funding. Baroness Morgan declined to say how much money the country will get but said she hopes it will be significant. In a letter to the Welsh Government, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitted Wales has had low levels of enhancement spending in recent years. HS2 has caused tensions in Wales since it was first announced, with the scheme having been designated an England and Wales project despite no track being laid in the latter country. If it had been labelled an England-only project, Wales would benefit from additional funding, which Plaid Cymru estimates to be worth around 4 billion. Speaking on BBC Radio Wales on Wednesday, Baroness Morgan, the Labour leader of the Welsh Government, said: For the first time, the UK Government has recognised that we have been underfunded. (Weve had) a letter from Heidi Alexander saying, OK, something isnt right here. Now there is a discussion about what we are going to do about it, where are your projects so we can invest. She said the funding was likely to come in the form of new stations and rail infrastructure, but did not specify where. Asked how much funding Wales is going to get, Baroness Morgan said she hopes its going to be significant but did not specify an amount. We havent got to the numbers, but I cant tell you what a massive step forward this is, she said. For the first time theyre recognising youve been hard done by. However, Plaids Llyr Gruffydd MS, argued the First Minister had misrepresented the letter. He said: It doesnt reference the unfairness of HS2 nor does it say Labour will right the wrong of the full 4 billion consequential owed to Wales. Eluned Morgan is conflating two very different issues. If Labour were serious about giving Wales fair play, then they would give us the full 4 billion we are owed, just as they said they would. Mr Gruffydd said Welsh railways are in desperate need of investment and Wales needs full power over the network, as is the case in Scotland. Ms Alexanders letter, which has been seen by the PA news agency, said: We recognise that railways in Wales have seen low levels of enhancement spending in recent years, particularly in the context of major investments such as HS2. She said the UK Government will prioritise projects proposed by the Wales Rail Board, which will inform the Treasurys Spring Spending Review. However, Ms Alexander said the Chancellor has been clear on the position of public finances, which must be addressed as a matter of urgency. She added ministers agreed with the Transport Commission that the priority should be on North and South-East Wales. Young Britons who want to work or study across the Channel face a tangle of Brexit red tape, according to an MP who has formally proposed a UK-EU youth mobility scheme. James MacCleary warned that lower barriers for young European Union citizens to live and work in the UK had been mischaracterised as freedom of movement. Ministers have previously declined to give a running commentary on their negotiations with the 27-member bloc, but the Brussels-based European Commission has proposed talks with London to facilitate youth mobility. MPs agreed on Monday that Mr MacClearys Youth Mobility Scheme (EU Countries) Bill should be introduced to the House of Commons for further consideration. He told MPs that the UKs relationship with the EU was botched, adding that Labour ministers had stuck so closely to the Conservative Partys script or the Reform UK script that ministers have even mischaracterised a youth mobility scheme with the EU as a return to freedom of movement. Mr MacCleary, the Liberal Democrats Europe spokesman, had earlier told the Commons: Few thought that young people would be able to go for two years to live and work all the way over in Japan, but not be able to hop across the Channel and do the same in France. Im not sure anyone voted for that kind of increased bureaucracy back in 2016. This Bill gives us the chance to send a different message to a generation of young people who have been denied the opportunities that so many of us in this chamber took for granted growing up. If we wanted to get a job or go and study in an EU country, then we could just go and do it. Opportunity and hope for the future have rarely been in such short supply in this country. Mr MacCleary said a final scheme could be defined, with young people allowed to stay in either the UK or EU countries for a set time period. A limited number of Japanese nationals aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a special Youth Mobility Scheme visa, with similar schemes in place for young people from Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, San Marino and Uruguay. In turn, UK nationals can apply for a limited number of Japanese Working Holiday visas. Mr MacCleary added that a scheme could help plug labour shortages particularly in key sectors like hospitality. He said: These are exactly the kinds of jobs that young people visiting the UK for a few years might take on, whether while studying, immersing themselves in our culture, or improving their grasp of our language. It suggests that this is a Government not serious about making the practical hard-headed choices that would greatly benefit the UK economy and labour market in the long-term, stimulating growth and improving the lives of British people. According to data from ABTA, the number of UK workers in holiday roles in the EU had decreased from 11,970 in 2017 to 3,700 in 2023, a drop of 69%. Responding to previous calls for a youth mobility scheme, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said last October that we will not return to freedom of movement, but added that the Government was committed to finding constructive ways of working together and delivering for the British people. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, also vowed last year not to return to freedom of movement as he said: We will not give a running commentary on the negotiations. The Bill is scheduled for debate on July 25, but it is unlikely to progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time. By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan described the Middle East in late September 2023 as "quieter" than it had been in two decades. That assessment did not age well. Just eight days later, Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack from Gaza into Israel, triggering a war that devastated the Palestinian enclave and spread turmoil across the region - a cascade of crises that has cast a cloud over Biden's foreign policy legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Even with Biden aides having played a major role in securing a Gaza ceasefire deal for Hamas' release of hostages announced on Wednesday, Biden's Middle East record is likely to be remembered not so much for how conflicts ended on his watch but mainly for how they unfolded, seemingly beyond his ability to contain them, analysts say. This also means there will be plenty of unfinished business to hand over to once-and-future president Donald Trump and his incoming administration. Biden's record on the world stage is likely to be heavily defined by his handling of the 15-month war in Gaza, part of what Trump and his fellow Republicans have seized on as a "world on fire" during the Democratic president's tenure. They accuse Biden of weak resolve that encouraged foes to foment chaos throughout the region. Biden's allies contend that he has had to confront a set of Middle East challenges not of his making and has handled them skillfully, weakening Iran and its regional proxies while working to limit civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon. But Biden's steadfast support for Israel in a response that decimated Hamas but also killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza took a heavy toll on U.S. international credibility. It also divided his Democratic Party, one of many factors in Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat by Trump in the November election. "The upside is Biden came to Israel's defense as a reliable ally," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East adviser to Democratic and Republican administrations. "The downside is he had little success constraining (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu in Gaza, and that's done serious reputational damage to the U.S." The Gaza ceasefire plan hammered out in the final days of Biden's term after months of on-off negotiations was based on proposals he announced in mid-2024 and required dogged persistence alongside Qatari and Egyptian mediators to get across the finish line. But the last-minute diplomatic breakthrough in Doha was widely seen by regional players as more a result of Trump's warnings that there would be "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released by the time of his inauguration on Monday, a threat likened by a Middle East source close to the Gaza talks to a "sword" hanging over the negotiators. Trump dispatched his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to collaborate with Biden's chief negotiator, Brett McGurk, and an Israeli official said Witkoff's presence added momentum to the talks. "Witkoff was able to pressure Netanyahu into accepting the deal and moving quickly," an official briefed on the talks said, referring to a meeting with the conservative leader who had forged a close relationship with Trump during his first term. Netanyahu's cabinet will vote on the agreement on Thursday, with a majority of ministers expected to approve it, an Israel government official told Reuters. Though Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday laid out a proposal for post-war Gaza, it will be up to the Trump administration to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire plan and decide how much of a role to play in the "Day After." BIDEN DRAWS CREDIT AND CRITICISM In his final year in office, Biden has been credited with forging an international coalition that helped shield Israel against Iranian missile attacks and for consenting to Israeli counterstrikes against Tehran's air defenses - though he had warned against hitting Iranian nuclear and oil sites. Despite U.S. calls for restraint in Lebanon, Israel last year dealt one blow after another against Hezbollah militants, often with little or no advance notice to Washington. That was seen as the main impetus for the Iran-backed Islamist group's agreement to a U.S.-backed ceasefire in November. The Biden administration was then caught off guard by a lightning rebel offensive that toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, another major Iranian ally, in early December. It has been scrambling since to persuade the new Islamist rulers to form an inclusive government and prevent an Islamic State resurgence, tasks that Trump will now inherit. "The greatest feat is Biden didn't get in the way of Israel, but he constantly counseled 'don't do this, don't do that'," said Elliott Abrams, who was Trump's special envoy on Iran during his first term and now rates Biden's Middle East record as "mediocre." "I don't think he deserves much credit in Lebanon or Syria," he added. Biden, in his farewell foreign policy speech at the State Department on Monday, defended his approach, insisting that the U.S. contributed significantly to Iran now being "weaker than it's been in decades." Some experts have also commended him for helping avert an all-out regional war. But Biden still leaves Trump with what most analysts see as his biggest Middle East challenge - an Iranian nuclear program that has advanced over the past four years and could race toward developing a nuclear weapon if it decides to do so. It was Trump's decision to abandon the international nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 that critics say opened the way to its nuclear moves, and Blinken on Tuesday counted it as one of Biden's successes that Tehran has been deterred from obtaining a nuclear bomb. Once back in office, Trump will have to decide whether to pursue a new nuclear pact with Iran or give Netanyahu the green light to hit Iranian nuclear facilities. "The decision on how to approach Iran ultimately will drive much of Trump's decision-making related to the region as a whole," said Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. deputy national intelligence officer on the Middle East. Trump will also have to respond to another Iran-aligned group, Yemen's Houthis, who for more than a year have fired missiles at Red Sea shipping and toward Israel. Military action ordered by Biden and coordinated with U.S. allies has failed to end the Houthi threat. While acknowledging the Middle East remains "rife with risk," Blinken, in his final policy speech, cited accomplishments he said included helping the U.N. broker a ceasefire in Yemen's civil war, strengthening the international coalition against Islamic State and deepening regional integration. SAUDI-ISRAEL NORMALIZATION EFFORT UPENDED Sullivan was widely mocked by Biden's critics after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas rampage for his comments little more than a week earlier that the Middle East "is quieter today than it has been in two decades" - even as he acknowledged continuing challenges. Though Sullivan later defended his remarks, telling NBC News they were in the context of regional developments in the past few years and the administration had not taken its "eye off the ball," the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict upended Biden's global agenda. Shortly after the attack by Hamas gunmen - who killed 1,200 people in Israel and seized more than 250 hostages - Biden, a self-described "Zionist," became the first U.S. president to visit the country during wartime. He then kept up a steady flow of weapons to Israel for its declared effort to destroy Iran-backed Hamas, despite frequent pushback from Netanyahu against U.S. demands to curb civilian casualties and ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden's resistance to using U.S. leverage as Israel's chief arms supplier alienated many Arab American voters and sent shockwaves through the U.S. diplomatic corps. "Gaza will be the legacy," said Mike Casey, a former State Department official with 15 years as a foreign service officer who was among those who resigned in protest. "They're going to find bodies in rubble. People are going to continue to die from disease ... It's always going to come back to him." The White House did not respond to a request for a response to criticism of its Gaza policy. At the same time, the Gaza war derailed Biden's efforts to broker landmark normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia coupled with U.S. security guarantees for the kingdom. Some Arab governments are now waiting to see whether Trump, who in his first term arranged diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab states under the Abraham Accords, will revive normalization efforts and also take a tougher stand against Iran. Within the Trump camp, there is a sense that an Israeli-Saudi deal is still possible, according to a source familiar with the matter. But even though some Arab allies have had relatively cool relations with Biden, they remain wary of Trump, given his past unwillingness to pressure Netanyahu to agree on a pathway to Palestinian statehood, which has long been a Saudi condition for normalization with Israel. "Biden hasn't been seen as the Arab world's best friend," said one Middle East diplomat in Washington. "But we still also don't know exactly what to expect from Trump 2.0." (Reporting and writing by Matt Spetalnick; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Gram Slattery, Erin Banco, Nidal al-Mughrabi, James Mackenzie and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis) Simply Recipes / Getty Images I was eating mashed-up avocado on toast long before it became a trend on brunch and coffee shop menus. My Chilean father grew up eating avocado on toast and naturally made it for me when I was a child. Whenever I went grocery shopping with my dad, we would find either too many overripe avocados in the produce aisle or ones that were rock hard. Neither was a good option. This appears to be a universal problem. Avocados are seemingly either bruised and mushy or woefully underripe, but finding the perfect avocado is possible! You just have to know how and where to look. How To Choose a Perfect Avocado "Select firm or hard fruit if you will not be eating them for a few days," says Jeff Salchenberg, the produce program and category manager for New Seasons Market. Inspect the avocado for any blemishes before placing it in your cart, too. Rachael Laenen, Sixth generation farmer and Director of Farming and Operations at Kimball Avocados, says, "Check the avocado all over to make sure there arent any bruised spots or places where the avocado is softer than others," says Laenen. Her recommendation is to always choose avocados that aren't ready to eat yet. "Pick one that is on the firmer side; it will ripen quickly and thats easier to manage than one thats already past its prime," she advises. Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock The oil content and dry matter of an avocado are ways growers test if a fruit is mature before harvesting. These factors also influence flavor. "Oil content and dry matter are what gives avocados their great texture and flavor," says Laenen. "So always look for a piece of fruit that is as local as possible." Local or US-grown avocados tend to have better flavor because they are harvested when mature and can ripen naturally, keeping their oil content and dry matter high. Relying on the skin color of an avocado isn't the best way to determine ripeness since there are different varieties of avocados all with skins of different hues of green to black. "Hass, the most commercially available variety, will turn black and yield softly to the touch around the stem," says Laenen. "Fuerte or a Bacon [variety] will always stay green, so the only way to tell is by a gentle squeeze." Read More: How to Cut and Peel an Avocado Why a Perfectly Ripe Avocado Is Hard To Find "Avocados dont ripen on the tree. They only start to ripen once they are picked," Laenen says. Avocados can be found in the produce section year-round because they are flown in from across the globe when they are in season in other regions of the world. The issue with long distance travel is that once an avocado is placed in cold storage the ripening process is halted and can be stopped and started numerous times over the journey, says Laenen. "How they are handled post-harvest has a huge effect on how they ripen and how their flavor develops." How To Store Avocados Unripe avocados should be kept on the kitchen counter at room temperature. "My top tip is to buy an unripened avocado, bring it home, leave it at room temperature, and only refrigerate once it is ripened," says Laenen. "A good quality avocado can last in the fridge for up to a week once it is ripe." Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES Australia violated the human rights of asylum seekers by detaining them on the remote Pacific island of Nauru, a UN panel has ruled, asking the country to pay compensation. The United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Australia violated two provisions of the human rights treaty in cases involving 24 refugees and asylum seekers, including minors, who were detained while trying to enter Australia by boat in 2013. The asylum seekers, who came from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, ended up suffering years of arbitrary detention. A state party cannot escape its human rights responsibility when outsourcing asylum processing to another state, committee member Mahjoub El Haiba said. After introducing a hardline immigration policy over a decade ago, Australia started sending asylum seekers intercepted at sea to detention camps on Nauru and Papua New Guineas Manus Island for offshore processing instead of allowing them to live in the country as refugees. The outsourcing of operations does not absolve states of accountability, Mr El Haiba noted. Offshore detention facilities are not human rights free zones for the state party, which remains bound by the provisions of the covenant. The UN panel found Canberra violated two provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, one on arbitrary detention and the other on protecting the right of refugees to challenge their detention in court. The ruling came on a 2016 petition from a group of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers who said they were held in an overcrowded detention centre with insufficient water supply and sanitation, high temperatures and humidity as well as inadequate healthcare. Almost all of these minors have suffered from deterioration of physical and mental wellbeing, including self-harm, depression, kidney problems, insomnia, headaches, memory problems and weight loss, the committee ruled on Thursday. Australia had argued there was no proof the alleged violations occurred within its jurisdiction. The committee, however, ruled that the Nauru camp counted as being within Australias jurisdiction, citing the countrys role in constructing and financing it. In a second case evaluated by the committee, it found an Iranian refugee held in a Nauru camp had also been subjected to arbitrary detention. The woman, accompanied by family members, arrived by boat on Christmas Island in 2013 but was transferred seven months later to Nauru. She was not released despite being recognised as a refugee by Nauru in 2017. She was transferred to Australia a year later for medical reasons but remained in detention. The UN committee called on Australia to provide compensation to the victims and asked it to ensure similar violations did not happen again. A spokesperson for Australias Department of Home Affairs said in a statement it was engaging with the UN on the complaints. "It has been the Australian Governments consistent position that Australia does not exercise effective control over regional processing centres," the department said in a statement. "We welcome Naurus continued partnership in the effective delivery of regional processing arrangements." At least 12 refugees and asylum seekers have died in Australian immigration detention centres on Manus and Nauru, either by murder by guards or suicide or medical neglect, according to human rights organisations. Human Rights Watch has said Australia forcibly transferred more than 3,000 asylum seekers to the camps where they suffered severe abuse, inhumane treatment, and medical neglect. Australias policy of detaining asylum seekers offshore is popular with voters. Its government claims that they are treated with dignity, fairness and respect and given access to a range of support services. Additional reporting by agencies. Cuba said it will release 553 political prisoners after the Biden administration announced Tuesday it is removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and taking other goodwill actions. The Catholic Church had been negotiating with the communist-run government over the release of the prisoners. Most of them were jailed following unprecedented islandwide protests in July 2021. A brutal crackdown initially led to the arrests of more than 1,000 people. Many faced prison sentences of up to 30 years. "I thank all those who contributed to the decision announced today by the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, where it should never have been," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on X. "Together with two other measures adopted, they have had a high cost for the country and Cuban families." Before Cuba's announcement, a senior administration official told reporters that to support the Catholic Church and facilitate the agreement, Biden would notify Congress that he seeks to remove Cuba from the terrorism list, as well as to take other actions. An assessment has been completed, and we do not have information that supports Cubas designation as being a state sponsor of terrorism, the Biden official said. President-elect Donald Trump designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism shortly before he left office in January 2021, five years after President Barack Obama removed it. Trump can reverse Bidens actions as soon as he takes office next week. Three Cuban American Republican members of Congress from Florida, Mario Diaz Balart, Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez, posted a video on X, rejecting Biden's moves and calling them "pathetic." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose father is Cuban, criticized Bidens actions. Todays decision is unacceptable on its merits, he wrote in a statement. The terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased. I will work with President Trump and my colleagues to immediately reverse and limit the damage from the decision. In Cuba, Havana residents welcomed the news about Biden's actions. "This is definitely good for our country, because we would have more possibilities, more resources. It's an advancement. One step at a time," said Dainerys Hernandez, a bartender. Joel Rivera, a public worker, agreed. I think its a good decision. Its true that we need to be taken off that list, because we shouldn't be there in the first place," he said. In addition to removing Cuba from the list, the Biden administration will issue a waiver for Title III of the Helms Burton Act, which allows the original owners of Cuban properties confiscated decades ago to sue foreign companies trafficking in them. In 2019, Trump was the first president not to waive Title III. Every president before him had waived the 1996 law, officially called the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, every six months, fearing it could harm U.S. trade. We expect and anticipate that these measures announced today will bring very quick relief to the many dozens of Cubans who were arrested in conjunction with the July 2021 protests, as well as bring relief to their family members, the Biden official said. Biden is also easing some economic pressure on Cuba by rescinding National Security Presidential Memorandum 5, which was originally established on June 16, 2017. Todays actions demonstrate that President Bidens Cuba policy, which is focused on achieving practical results with respect to human rights in Cuba, will pay dividends for the Cuban people, the senior administration official said. Speculation over Trumps foreign policy has swirled, particularly because of the potential influence of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Cuban American who is Trump's pick for secretary of state. Rubio, a foreign policy hawk, has always advocated for a hard-line policy toward Cuba. Mauricio Claver-Carone, the architect of some of Trump's tough Latin America policies during his first administration, was chosen as special envoy for Latin America. CORRECTION (Jan. 14, 2025, 9:36 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the status of political prisoners in Cuba. They will be released; they have not been released. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Justice Department -- former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi -- faced questions for more than five hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Democrats asked about her vow to "prosecute the prosecutorsthe bad ones," referring to special counsel Jack Smith and other DOJ lawyers who investigated Trump. Democrats on the committee also pressed Bondi on Jan. 6, the 2020 presidential election results, and how she would be independent of hypothetical Trump demands. Republicans on the committee spent a lot of their time criticizing the DOJ under the Biden Administration, alleging it was weaponized to target Trump. The committee will reconvene to hear from outside witnesses on Thursday. Latest Developments Jan 15, 3:12 PM Bondi suggests Jack Smith's conduct is 'horrible', refuses to say if he will be probed During a contentious exchange with Sen. Adam Schiff, Pam Bondi repeatedly declined to answer whether she would open an investigation into special counsel Jack Smith before suggesting his conduct is "horrible." PHOTO: Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) "Senator, I haven't seen the file. I haven't seen the investigation, I haven't looked at anything," Bondi said multiple times when asked by Schiff about a potential Smith probe. "Are you aware of a factual predicate to investigate Jack Smith, yes or no?" Schiff asked. PHOTO: Sen. Adam Schiff speaks as Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) "Senator, what I'm hearing on the news is horrible. Do I know if he committed a crime? I have not looked at it," Bondi said. Jan 15, 3:35 PM Hearing ends The first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing for Bondi's nomination ended after more than five hours of testimony. The committee will reconvene Thursday to hear from outside witnesses. Jan 15, 2:43 PM Bondi speaks on mifepristone New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker asked Bondi about the abortion pill mifepristone, which despite FDA approval, has faced numerous legal challenges that have threatened access to the medication. Bondi said she has "always been pro-life" but would "not let my personal beliefs affect how I carry out the law." PHOTO: Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department as attorney general, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for her confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Jan 15, 2:30 PM Bondi signals willingness to continue antitrust cases Bondi signaled her willingness to continue the DOJ's historic antitrust cases against Apple, Ticketmaster and Google, telling Sen. Amy Klobuchar that she is committed to protecting consumers. "Senator, I haven't looked at those on a case-by-case basis, but I'm committed to that type of case and protecting consumers," Bondi said. Jan 15, 1:55 PM Bondi praises Capitol Police, evades commenting on Jan. 6 rioters' violence Sen. Dick Durbin denounced violence against U.S. Capitol Police officers during the 2021 insurrection, asking Bondi where she stood on the issue. Bondi did not directly comment on the Jan. 6 rioters, but called the Capitol Police "incredible," saying they "deserve to be safe." Bondi said she does "not agree with violence against anyone, but especially police officers." Jan 15, 1:51 PM Durbin questions Bondi about Patel's support of QAnon During the second round of questioning, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin again brought up Trump FBI director pick Kash Patel's questionable statements and actions, including statements in which he said he agreed with QAnon ideals. The senator asked Bondi why she unequivocally was supporting Patel. Bondi said she did not know a lot about QAnon but would not speak for Patel. "You're going to have to ask Mr. Patel about those statements," she said. "This unequivocal support of Mister Patel should have some reservations," Schiff warned. Jan 15, 1:40 PM Bondi warns of rising crime, attacks Schiff Bondi and California Sen. Adam Schiff got into a testy exchange and the nominee slammed him for his questioning on her independence and Trump's threats to investigate enemies. Bondi dodged all of Schiff's questions and slammed him for not focusing on the crime in his state, which she claimed was going to increasing after the wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in the Los Angeles area. Bondi said she would make crime a top priority and said the election showed Americans wanted a change. "People want law and order so they can be safe," she said. Jan 15, 1:11 PM Bondi says she'll do 'everything in my power' to stop illegal gun runners Bringing up concerns about the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker asked Bondi if she was committed to ensuring the agency had adequate resources to pursue illegal gun runners. "Senator, I will do everything in my power to prevent illegal gunrunners in our country," Bondi replied. Jan 15, 12:57 PM Bondi evades questions about her false claims on 2020 results California Democrat Sen. Alex Padilla brought up Bondi's work in Trump's legal challenges against the 2020 election results noting that she claimed a day after the election that Trump won Pennsylvania even though votes were still being counted. Bondi did not provide details about her evidence or retract her false claims. Things got heated between the senator and Bondi when he asked about the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship. "I did not take your homework assignment. I was preparing for today," she said when asked about the amendment. Jan 15, 12:46 PM Schmidt rips into Democrats, Trump investigations Sen. Eric Schmitt started his questioning by attacking the Biden administration and Merrick Garland's and Eric Holder's Justice Departments and spreading unproven claims about the investigations into Trump. He slammed Democrats for questioning Bondi's independence. Click here to read the rest of the blog. The Texas heiress who went viral for her $59 million Parisian wedding of the century is expecting her first baby with her felony-suspect husband, who is facing time behind bars for allegedly shooting at three cops. Madelaine Brockway shared the life-changing news on Instagram showing off an extravagant cake at her recent gender reveal party in Paris, France. 18 weeks with our bean, she wrote, tagging her husband, Jacob LaGrone. Madelaine Brockway LaGrone and her husband, Jacob LaGrone, are expecting their first child together. Instagram / Madelaine Brockway Brockway, the heir to several Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Florida, chowed down on a pink piece of cake, celebrating her unborn baby girl, photos showed. The soon-to-be dad, however, is in the middle of a court battle as he faces charges for felony aggravated assault against a public servant stemming from a March 2023 police shooting. Police went to a house in Tarrant County, Texas, after receiving multiple calls of a disturbance at the couples $1.4 million home following a night out, the Daily Mail reported. The then-engaged couples fight spilled into the driveway before Brockway fled to her parents nearby home. Bob Brockway, Madelaines father, went to the couples house and called for police to conduct a wellness check on LaGrone. Madelaine Brockway shared the life-changing news on Instagram showing off an extravagant cake at her recent gender reveal party in Paris, France. @madelaine.lagrone/Instagram The couple were married in a $59 million Paris wedding in November 2023. TikTok/@loganmmorris LaGrone allegedly shot at the three officers from inside his garage when police arrived. He was arrested but was released from jail on a $20,000 bond. LaGrone was indicted in August 2023 for intentionally and knowingly threaten[ing] imminent bodily injury and did use or exhibit a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault, namely, a firearm, the indictment charges read. Jacob LaGrone was arrested after allegedly shooting at three police officers from inside his garage in March 2023. Tarrant County Jail A lavish wedding was held at the Chateau de Villette, 25 miles northwest of Paris, for the pair. TikTok/@loganmmorris The couple got married weeks after the felony indictment. A lavish wedding was held at the Chateau de Villette, 25 miles northwest of Paris, for the pair. An over-the-top reception followed the ceremony at the Paris Opera House. Maroon 5 performed during the couples first dance, before putting on an entire private concert. Brockways wedding also included an overnight stay at the Palace of Versailles. Photos of the dream wedding went viral, boosting the once-unknown bride into an overnight sensation. Her internet fame was short-lived as her husband was back stateside for a pre-trial court appearance, two weeks after their nuptials. LaGrone stood with his head down inside the Tarrant County District Court without his wife by his side. Maroon 5 played during the couples first dance. TikTok/@sav4president Brockway deleted her TikTok account and changed her Instagram to private over the court hearing. The expectant mother has since made her Instagram public and continues to share her lavish lifestyle with her 47,000 followers with zero mentions of her hubbys legal troubles. LaGrone was handed a plea deal that would give him 25 years behind bars and forgo a trial during the hearing. The expectant mother has since made her Instagram public and continues to share her lavish lifestyle with her 47,000 followers with zero mentions of her hubbys legal troubles. @madelaine.lagrone/Instagram If the case goes to trial and LaGrone is convicted, he faces anywhere between less than five years behind bars and life in prison. A status conference for the case is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2025, according to court records viewed by The Post. Various factors explain the rise in cocaine use in France including growth in production and the drugs changing image - iStockphoto Frances cocaine consumption almost doubled in a year, putting it on par with Britain, according to a new study. The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) found that 1.1 million people in France took the drug at least once in 2023, compared to 600,000 users in 2022. Research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed that the UK had the worst cocaine habit in Europe in 2023, with 2.7 per cent of adults aged 15 to 64 using the drug. But Frances consumption has now reached a similar figure, with the study also finding that 2.7 per cent of French adults used the drug in 2023. Various factors explain this dramatic rise, including growth in production and the drugs changing image. International production is at an all-time high. The three main producers Colombia, Bolivia and Peru have increased their production by 1,566 tons between 2010 and 2022, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Trafficking networks in France are perfecting their offers and becoming more organised. The study highlighted strong collaboration between delivery workers and producers. French authorities struggle to dismantle these opaque networks. Postal shipping organised on the dark web and Telegram, home deliveries and expanding traffic networks to smaller towns have also made the drug more accessible. Another factor behind the growing use of cocaine is the evolution of working conditions, says Ivana Obradovic, director at the OFDT. Highly stressful conditions and physically demanding labour drive workers to cope by using stimulating drugs, she explained. Finally, the diversification of consumption and the changing reputation of class A drugs in France also explain the growth of occasional users. Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, has vowed to intensify the fight against drug-related crime - Lou Benoist/AFP Cocaine used to be taboo, but is increasingly perceived as less dangerous and is increasingly used in party settings. Popular among the youth, France is seeing a surge in one-off users as young adults have shown the highest increases in experimentation and yearly usage, said Ms Obradovic. In the UK, 3.8 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 had consumed the drug in 2024. Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, has vowed to intensify the fight against drug-related crime. In 2023, French authorities seized 23.5 tonnes of cocaine, compared with 4.1 tonnes in 2010. 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. In this Aug. 27, 2019, file photo, Ronald Haskell, center, appears in Judge George Powell's courtroom for his capital murder trial in Houston. A jury has convicted Haskell of capital murder for fatally shooting six members of his ex-wife's family in Texas. Jurors on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, rejected Ronald Lee Haskell's insanity defense. His attorneys said Haskell believed voices in his head were telling him to kill the Stay family, including four children, at their suburban Houston home in 2014. Steve Gonzales/Staff photographer The Harris County District Attorney's Office included screenshots of body-worn camera footage of death row inmate Ronald Haskell's visit to a Houston medical office in their court filings seeking to recuse a judge. Harris County District Clerk's Office The 351st District Court, where Judge Natalia Cornelio is on the bench, is seen Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Drue Lyon listens to a recording of a jailhouse phone call between Ronald Haskell and his mother during a hearing Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in the 178th District Court at Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston. Lyons sister, Katie Stay, was among Haskells victims. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer A Harris County judge has been removed from the case of a man convicted of killing six members of his ex-wife's family after prosecutors alleged she was biased toward him as he sought a brain scan while on death row. Another judge on Wednesday ordered Judge Natalia Cornelio off Ronald Haskell's case after testimony from her court staff over the handling of a bench warrant. The court's order quietly transported Haskell from death row to Houston last July for an MRI procedure to challenge his conviction or death sentence. Prosecutors first took exception to the bench warrant for ordering Haskell's transfer to the Harris County jail for a potentially bogus court appearance that never happened, believing she acted in the defendant's favor by potentially circumventing any objection they may have had to the brain scan. A motion for Cornelio's recusal followed in October. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cornelio, first elected to the 351st District Court in 2020, inherited Haskell's case from her predecessor. By then, a jury had already found the former FedEx driver guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to die for the 2014 killings of Stephen and Katie Stay, and their four children in Spring. Cornelio was re-elected in November without a Republican challenger. The recusal hearing began later in October but paused for weeks as a host of lawyers battled over who could testify and how far they could go in revealing Cornelios behind-the-scenes communications and sealed orders linked to the bench warrant. Prosecutors lamented that at least one of her orders was missing from Haskells case. Judge Susan Brown, the Eleventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas appointee, limited prosecutors to asking what Cornelio did or said in open court, rather than her actions in chambers. Her decision to recuse Cornelio on Wednesday morning cited court records filed by both sides and other evidence, without elaborating on the reason or saying outright whether Cornelio acted wrongfully in her handling of the bench warrant. Brown could not discuss her decision beyond the ruling. Judges can be recused from a case for a number of reasons, including concerns over impartiality or potential bias or prejudice concerning the subject matter or a party. The decision will transfer Haskell's case to another court. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Christi Dean, a Dallas-based public defender seeking a potential writ in Haskell's case, declined to comment after the judge's ruling. Dean has defended Cornelio's actions and characterized the prosecution's attempt at recusing Cornelio as part of mounting grievances against the judge's rulings in death penalty cases over the past two years. She argued in court that the district attorneys office knew about the bench warrant for weeks and failed to immediately seek Cornelios recusal. The recusal request followed efforts by prosecutors to listen to Haskells phone calls and seek records related to the bench warrant. Dean gleaned testimony that bench warrants require a scheduled court date to be listed in order to be processed regardless of the defendant or the circumstances of their transport. Cornelios coordinator, Christopher Gil, outlined how the bench warrant in question came to be. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gil testified that he received a request not from the judge to bring Haskell to court by filing a bench warrant with the Harris County Sheriffs Office. He refers to the judges approval in filing such records. The document, which is passed from the sheriffs office to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, set into motion the condemned mans Houston return for a midnight court appearance. While in Houston, his mother sent him a sizable amount of commissary funds, county records show. He was then taken to a Medical Centers doctors office for the MRI. During that time, Haskell never stepped foot in the courthouse, according to testimony. Gil said Haskells scheduled court appearance was erased from the docket. Browns limitations stopped him from elaborating on who deleted it and why. The prosecutor who led the recusal attempt, Joshua Reiss, said he respects Cornelio, but disagrees with her handling of Haskell's case and its impact on his victims. He disputed any personal vendetta in case. "I recognize that I am a convenient foil here," said Reiss, now head general counsel for District Attorney Sean Teare. "I can be curt, I understand, and I can be aggressive. But this is not about me." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Drue Lyon, whose sister, Katie, was among Haskells victims, observed the bulk of the proceedings including the judges ruling. He declined to discuss the decision at length other than to say he was happy by the decision. A Colorado apartment complex will close months after it was scrutinized by President-elect Donald Trump and received national attention over claims of it being "taken over" by a Venezuelan gang, city officials announced. The Edge at Lowry Apartments in Aurora, Colorado is anticipated to close sometime in mid to late February, Ryan S. Luby, a spokesperson for the city of Aurora, confirmed to USA TODAY on Monday in an email. City officials currently are working on a plan with Arapahoe County and community partners to help relocate the tenants living in the 60 affected apartment units, he added. The Edge of Lowry Apartments is an epicenter for unmitigated violent crimes and property crimes perpetuated by a criminal element that has exerted control and fear over others residing at this apartment complex, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said in an affidavit regarding the ongoing criminal activity at The Edge at Lowry Apartments. In August, rumors began swirling of Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members taking over the apartment complex and forcing tenants to pay them rent money. Aurora police later confirmed that the Venezuelan prison gang was indeed in Aurora and that they made several related arrests, including 10 alleged members in September. Here is what to know about The Edge of Lowry Apartments' looming closure, and the issues that have plagued the property and its tenants. Boarded up windows and doors are seen at The Edge at Lowry apartments, which U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had claimed during his election campaign was taken over by a Venezuelan gang, in Aurora, Colorado, U.S. December 17, 2024. City of Aurora officials filed petition for 'emergency closure' City officials filed a petition in Aurora Municipal Court on Jan 9. seeking an emergency closure order of the remaining buildings at The Edge at Lowry apartment complex near Dallas Street and East 12th Avenue, according to a petition of injunctive relief obtained by USA TODAY. "Since September 2023, the buildings at the Edge at Lowry Phase 1 Apartment Complex... have been the subject of numerous calls for service, investigations of violent crimes, and quality of life issues," the petition reads. "These include but are not limited to multiple calls and investigations for Aggravated Assault with a Gun and/or Blunt Weapons, Robbery, Larceny, Motor Vehicle Theft Recovery, Disturbing the Peace and Noise Complaints." Presiding Judge Shawn Day agreed with the city and later determined that the properties, which are owned by Five Dallas Partners LLC and operated by CBZ Management, "present an imminent threat to public safety and welfare if allowed to remain open," according to Luby. Day then granted an emergency order to allow the city to begin the temporary closure process at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, he said. Jessica Prosser, Aurora's director of housing and community services, told CBS News that the city plans to have a contracted management company begin evaluating the property next week. The evaluation will include identifying lawful tenants, removing squatters and ensuring resources are available for the displaced, she said "They'll be going door to door to understand who's living there, what their situation is," according to Prosser, who added how officials will be "evaluating whether financial assistance can be provided depending on that individual family." What are The Edge at Lowry Apartment's owners saying? Attorneys for the property owner, CBZ Management, are disputing the city's allegations and have requested a trial to decide the lawsuit filed by the city which requests that all but one building at the complex be declared a criminal nuisance, the Associated Press reported. The process to close the complex will continue as the lawsuit seemingly plays out in court, Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte said at a news conference on Monday. CBZ Management has previously claimed it could not provide maintenance to the complex because the Tren de Aragua gang took over the buildings, but the city argued that the company created the problem by not running them adequately, which allowed crime to flourish. Stan Garnett, a lawyer representing the property owner, said he was not authorized to comment on the order, according to the AP. USA TODAY contacted Garnett and CBZ Management on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response. A tenant looks out the window hours after law enforcement responded to an armed home invasion that Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain has called a gang activity at The Edge at Lowry apartments, which U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had claimed during his election campaign was taken over by a Venezuelan gang, in Aurora, Colorado, U.S. December 17, 2024. Nine charged for gang-related home invasion at The Edge at Lowry Apartments In December, Aurora police announced the detainment of 19 individuals who all allegedly participated in the torturing of two people during a home invasion at The Edge at Lowry Apartments. The two individuals, a man and woman, were taken "against their will" to an adjoining apartment at Edge at Lowry where they were bounded, pistol-whipped, beaten and "terrorized," Chamberlain said during a news conference. The man suffered a non-life-threatening stab wound during the incident, while the woman had other non-life-threatening injuries, police wrote in an X post. During the initial detainment of the 19 individuals, Chamberlain said it appeared that the victims and suspects were immigrants from Venezuela and that this was a "gang incident." On Monday, Aurora police said formal charges have been filed against nine people for the alleged violent kidnapping, according to an X post by the department. The suspects face varying charges including second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, aggravated robbery, second-degree burglary, extortion and menacing, police said. In addition to the announced charges, police also obtained arrest warrants for three additional suspects who are not yet in custody, according to the social media post. An Aurora Police vehicle and two police officers are seen at the scene after law enforcement responded to an armed home invasion that Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain has called a gang activity at The Edge at Lowry apartments, which U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had claimed during his election campaign was taken over by a Venezuelan gang, in Aurora, Colorado, U.S. December 17, 2024. Aurora police chief: 'An incredibly crime-riddled complex' The recent charges came two months after police said they arrested 10 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua and charged them with various offenses including first-degree assault, aggravated assault, shootings, a hit-and-run crash, a domestic dispute and other instances of assault. The multiple arrests, particularly at the Edge at Lowry, led to Chamberlain calling the property an "incredibly crime-riddled complex." Trump: 'They are taking over the towns' When viral images of the alleged gang members spread across social media, it elicited a response from Trump. In September, during the presidential debate on ABC News, Trump said, "We have millions of people pouring into our country from prisons and jails, from mental institutions and insane asylums." "You see what's happening with towns throughout the United States. You look at Springfield, Ohio. You look at Aurora in Colorado," the incoming president continued. "They are taking over the towns. They're taking over buildings. They're going in violently. These are the people that (Vice President Kamala Harris) and (President Joe Biden) let into our country. And they're destroying our country. They're dangerous. They're at the highest level of criminality." Trump's comments prompted Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Member and Public Safety Chair Danielle Jurinsky to release a statement on Facebook about the Venezaulen gang's presence in the city. "TdA has not 'taken over' the city," the statement reads. "The overstated claims fueled by social media and through select news organizations are simply not true. Again, TdAs presence in Aurora is limited to specific properties, all of which the city has been addressing in various ways for months." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aurora, Colorado apartment to close after claims of gang takeover Danielle Fishel is sharing an update about her health. The Boy Meets World star said on Mondays episode of her Pod Meets World podcast that she has completed active cancer treatment following her announcement in August that she was diagnosed with DCIS, which stands for ductal carcinoma in situ and is a form of breast cancer. I am officially done with radiation, which means I am officially done with what is considered active cancer treatment, Fishel, 43, told her co-hosts (and Boy Meets World costars) Will Friedle and Rider Strong on the podcast. Fishel said that she did not undergo surgeries or chemotherapy outside of her radiation treatment, and that she will now start Tamoxifen, a medication that can help reduce breast cancer recurrences, according to the National Cancer Institute. She also said that she did 15 rounds of whole breast radiation and five rounds of targeted radiation, which she described as relatively easy. But, Fishel added, she is now feeling the physical side effects, including dealing with a very bad sunburn, an itchy rash, sleep discomfort and extreme fatigue. It hurts to live right now but you know what? Its not going to last forever, she said, adding that her doctors told her that shell feel better within two to three months. Fishel shared that her doctors also advised her to workout and drink water if she wants to feel better faster, which she is doing, because those efforts can help her body get rid of all the damage that the radiation did. Fishel rose to fame as a youth playing Topanga Lawrence on the hit 90s sitcom Boy Meets World alongside Ben Savage and her two Pod Meets World cohosts Friedle and Strong. She reprised her role in Girl Meets World, a spinoff series that ran from 2014 to 2017. Fishel is married to producer Jensen Karp and is a mother of two. Last August, she revealed her diagnosis on her podcast, explaining that she was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with micro-invasion. According to Breastcancer.org, DCIS is breast cancer at the earliest stage. DCIS isnt life-threatening, but if youre diagnosed with DCIS, you have a higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer later in life, the site states. CNNs Lisa Respers France contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Daily encounters in December along the southwest border were the lowest average since July 2020, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The number of total migrants encountered along the border was 96,000, officials told reporters Tuesday afternoon. "This is a consistent trend we have seen since the president's proclamation went into effect last summer," he said. MORE: US border with Canada faces crisis amid uptick in migrant encounters Last summer, President Joe Biden announced a series of executive actions that established a rule that will turn away migrants who are claiming asylum between ports of entry after there have been seven consecutive days of more than 2,500 encounters along the southern border. The daily average was also lower than in every month of 2019, according to Mayorkas. Mayorkas told reporters that the Biden Administration is leaving the border in a better place than where they found it. PHOTO: Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a press interview on Jan. 10, 2025, in Washington. (John Mcdonnell/AP) "Our administration strategy has been tough, humane, legal and effective," Mayorkas said. "The border is more secure, more safe and more orderly than it was in the prior administration, and the progress we have made can be continued. Ultimately, however, the only enduring solution is for Congress to legislatively reform a system that is so fundamentally broken." Monthly encounters along the southwest border previously reached new record highs during the Biden Administration, prompting Republicans to criticize the administration's policies. MORE: 'Shock and awe': What Trump 'border czar' Tom Homan has said he plans to do starting on Day 1 Mayorkas also touted the number of deportations carried out, which was the highest since 2014. "We have listened to our workforce and invested significantly in helping them do their jobs again within the financial constraints in which we operate," Mayorkas said. "We secured the first significant increase of border patrol agents in more than a decade. This with the help of Congress, increasing the number of agents and officers on the southwest border to over 24,000 also adding 1000s of additional support personnel and searching 1000s of law enforcement and other personnel from across the department." A senior Department of Homeland Security official said it was hard to suggest that the administration should have done something sooner because, among other things, they were still implementing Title 42, which made it challenging to implement policy. The incoming Trump Administration has said it might reimplement Title 42 as a way to expel migrants quickly. December monthly border encounters decrease to lowest daily average since July 2020: DHS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan waves as he enters into the federal court building in Chicago Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) A defense attorney has presented a statement in lieu of testimony from Gov. J.B. Pritzker at the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Lari Dierks, a member of Madigans defense team, read a stipulation saying that if Pritzker were called to testify, he would say he did not recall meeting with Madigan on Dec. 4, 2018. The stipulation also read that Pritzker would testify that he did not recall Madigan discussing or recommending former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis or his daughter, Maya Solis, orally or in writing, for any position on any state of Illinois board. Before Dierks read a series of stipulations Wednesday, lobbyist Heather Wier Vaught reported to the witness stand. Wier Vaught said she served in the speakers office from 2006 to 2018 and was Madigans chief legal counsel from late 2011 or early 2012 until 2016. Wier Vaught testified that she worked as a lawyer for the Democratic Party of Illinois from 2008 to 2021. She said she also worked as an attorney for Madigans 13th Ward Democratic organization in Chicago, the Illinois House Democratic Majority and Friends of Michael J. Madigan. In addition, Wier Vaught said she represented Madigan in her personal capacity as a lawyer. Wier Vaught said there was bipartisan concern in 2016 over Exelon, ComEd's parent, potentially closing two power plants in Illinois, but she said there was essentially no relationship between Madigan and then-Gov. Bruce Rauner. Basically, we were in the middle of a political war, Wier Vaught said. During negotiations over the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) with Exelon, ComEd and elected officials, Wier Vaught said Madigan co-defendant Michael McClain was making her crazy. Wier Vaught said Madigan then told her to treat McClain like a lobbyist. FEJA passed in December of 2016. I think there were a few different celebrations, Wier Vaught said. Wier Vaught later became an external lobbyist for ComEd for about a year. It may have been less than a year, Wier Vaught said. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as "Madigan Enterprise." Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted in 2023 in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors. Madigan also is accused of using his position of power to steer business to his law firm. On the stand, Wier Vaught discussed AT&Ts efforts to push carrier-of-last-resort (COLR) legislation. Wier Vaught said she urged higher 911 fees to be included with the measure, because a separate bill calling for higher fees would be unpopular with lawmakers. Wier Vaught said she met regularly, once or twice a year, with Madigan and his private law partner, Vincent Bud Getzendanner. Wier Vaught said they would discuss potential legislative issues involving any of the firms clients. Wier Vaught said Madigan frequently made job recommendations but did not demand that people hire individuals he had recommended for jobs. In cross-examination with Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur, Wier Vaught said she continued to advise Madigan after she left the speakers office and participated in political discussions with Madigan, members of his staff, and McClain. MacArthur asked Wier Vaught about her activities when she became aware of news reports that former Chicago Alderman Solis had been cooperating with federal investigators. Wier Vaught said she met with former Madigan aide Will Cousineau around the time investigators searched McClains residence. I recall talking to him about the raid on Mr. McClains house, Wier Vaught said. MacArthur asked if Wier Vaughts lobbying work for AT&T overlapped her time lobbying for ComEd. I believed I lobbied for both at the same time, Wier Vaught said. In its deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors, ComEd admitted it paid $1.3 million over nine years to Madigan associates for do-nothing or do-little jobs and contracts. In 2022, AT&T agreed to pay $23 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with the government. Earlier Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald returned to the witness stand briefly for the third time during the trial. McDonald answered questions about statements Solis made regarding contact Solis had with a member of the press. McDonald previously testified in October and November on behalf of the government. Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, said prosecutors are making their case with a lot of circumstantial evidence. Its harder to make the case that there was actually a racketeering enterprise, that there was, as you said, a direct bribe, Mixon told The Center Square. St. Xavier University Professor David Parker said the Illinois House speaker would be expected to have influence in many areas. Networking, the Madigan network versus the Madigan machine, you know, youve got the machine at work, Parker told The Center Square. Parker said the speakers power wasnt really being used if people were not forced to hire his law firm, but perhaps the argument would change if there was apprehension. Do you really fear, are you apprehensive of was there apprehension that if they didnt play ball, if they didnt go along with things, there would be unfavorable consequences, Parker said. Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years. McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois 48th district from 1973 to 1982. The trial is scheduled to continue Thursday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago. Closing arguments are expected to begin next Wednesday, January 22. The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Elon Musk in federal court on Tuesday for allegedly misleading shareholders when he bought hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Twitter stock in 2022, before acquiring the company. The SEC alleged that Musk violated federal securities laws when he amassed more than $500 million in shares of Twitter -- later renamed X -- without properly disclosing his stake in the company, allowing him to purchase the social media company at "artificially low prices," the lawsuit stated. Musk underpaid by more than $150 million by failing to disclose his stake in Twitter, the SEC alleged. MORE: A timeline of Elon Musk's tumultuous Twitter acquisition "Because Musk failed to timely disclose his beneficial ownership, he was able to make these purchases from the unsuspecting public at artificially low prices, which did not yet reflect the undisclosed material information of Musk's beneficial ownership of more than five percent of Twitter common stock and investment purpose," the lawsuit said, accusing Musk of waiting 11 days before disclosing his stake. Musk acquired Twitter for roughly $44 billion in October 2022. The lawsuit asks the court to ultimately order Musk to "pay disgorgement of his unjust enrichment" and to pay a civil penalty. The SEC has requested a jury trial. PHOTO: Elon Musk listens as President-elect Donald Trump addresses a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, Nov. 13, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) In response to a post on X regarding the SEC's lawsuit, Musk called the agency a "totally broken organization." "They spend their time on s--- like this when there are so many actual crimes that go unpunished," he said. The SEC offered to settle the case for $178 million as well as a $40 million penalty and $45 million in interest, according to a letter Musk's attorney, Alex Spiro, sent the agency in late December. Spiro criticized the combined $263 million settlement as "exorbitant and unprecedented" because the SEC did not allege Musk acted willfully to harm investors in the company. Musk poked fun at the SEC's investigation last month, posting on X another letter Spiro sent SEC Chair Gary Gensler along with the caption, "Oh Gary, how could you do this to me?" In the letter, Spiro accused the SEC of harassing and targeting Musk by forcing him to "either accept a monetary payment or face charges on numerous counts." "This series of events makes clear that the Commission is not motivated to seek the truth but instead is engaged in an improperly motivated campaign against Mr. Musk and the individuals and companies associated with him," Spiro wrote. "We demand to know who directed these actions whether it was you or the White House." In a post on X the same day, Musk accused the SEC of being "another weaponized institution doing political dirty work." MORE: Elon Musk shares letter saying SEC sent him 'settlement demand' regarding his purchase of Twitter In its lawsuit filed Tuesday, the SEC accused Musk of misleading shareholders as he began to amass millions of dollars in Twitter stock in March 2022. While Musk would ultimately acquire the company in October 2022, his purchase of five percent of the company in March prompted the stock price to increase more than 27% once it was disclosed. Spiro said in a statement to ABC News that his client "has done nothing wrong" and called the lawsuit a "sham." "[The] SEC's multi-year campaign of harassment against Mr. Musk culminated in the filing of a single-count ticky tak complaint against Mr. Musk under Section 13(d) for an alleged administrative failure to file a single form -- an offense that, even if proven, carries a nominal penalty," Spiro said. The case is likely to be one of the final acts of the SEC under the Biden administration, and Musk has been deeply involved in Donald Trump's return to office, having spent more than a quarter billion dollars to help him with the election. Gensler who President Joe Biden nominated in 2021 plans to leave the agency at noon on Jan. 20. Trump has tapped cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as his nominee to run the SEC. Musk has a long history of feuding with the SEC following a 2018 settlement when Musk and Tesla paid a combined $40 million settlement related to when Musk tweeted that he could take Tesla private for $420 a share, despite no plans being in the works. Musk has unsuccessfully tried to appeal the settlement and has repeatedly criticized the SEC's tactics. "I want to be clear," Musk told 60 Minutes in 2018 following the settlement. "I do not respect the SEC. I do not respect them." Elon Musk underpaid Twitter acquisition by $150M by not disclosing stake, SEC alleges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com DENVER The family of a pregnant woman whom police in Arvada, Colorado, shot and killed after they mistook her for a shoplifter has reached a $2 million settlement with the city, officials said Tuesday. Destinee Thompson, a mother of three from Denver, was killed on Aug. 17, 2021, as she tried to drive away from officers who had surrounded her car as she was leaving an Arvada motel. The lawsuit filed by Thompson's family was settled in July and the settlement was announced this week, said Dave Snelling, a spokesman for the Arvada Police Department. The shooting occurred as officers were searching for a Latina who had brandished a knife while she was stealing a cart full of merchandise from a Target store, according to the lawsuit filed in Denver County District Court. Destinee Thompson. The actual suspect, who also had stolen items from the store two days previously, had a chest tattoo and was wearing a white tank top, and she was believed to have gone to the motel, the lawsuit said. Thompson, who was wearing a white tank top but did not have a chest tattoo, was leaving the motel to eat lunch as officers arrived, it said. After Thompson got into her minivan, she was blocked in by a police vehicle and officers surrounded her, yelling and eventually shattering a passenger window, the lawsuit said. Thompson was scared and tried to back out of the parking space before she drove over the curb and toward the road without posing a risk to officers, it said. She drove about 25 yards before Arvada Police Officer Anthony Benallo fired eight shots, one of which killed Thompson and her unborn child, the suit said. Neither Benallo nor the family's attorney, Siddhartha Rathod, could be reached for comment. District Attorney Alexis D. King declined to press charges against officers in April 2022. I find that the officers use of deadly physical force was legally justified to defend himself and others from the threat posed, King wrote in a statement. Thompsons father, Francis Thompson, said in 2023 that the police department tried to downplay the killing by waiting more than a year to release the incident report. This is the hardest thing Ive ever had to deal with, he said. I want justice. I dont think its fair that the officers are still working without punishment. I wish I could tell her one more time that I love her, and Ill never stop fighting for her. Im not going to let go. Shou Zi Chew was an intern at Facebook before he became Mark Zuckerbergs biggest competitor as CEO of TikTok. Shou Zi Chew may be the CEO of Mark Zuckerbergs biggest competitor, TikTok, but at the start of his career, he worked for Zuckerberg as an intern at Facebook. The Singapore native earned an economics degree from University College London before getting his MBA at Harvard Business School, where during the summer he interned at an up-and-coming company: It was called Facebook, Chew told Harvards Business School alumni website. Soon after he kicked off his tech career at Facebook in California, he moved abroad, stopping in London, Singapore, and Hong Kong, before ultimately landing in Beijing. Chew joined Chinese tech company Xiaomi in 2015, helping take the company public three years later as chief financial officer, according to the Harvard Business School alumni website. Then in 2021, Chews career once again crossed paths with Meta CEO Zuckerberg, this time as a competitor. Chew joined TikTok parent company ByteDance in 2021, first as CFO. Later that year, he became CEO of TikTok, and held both the CFO position at ByteDance and the CEO position at TikTok before ultimately focusing on the short-form video platform. With at least 150 million monthly active users in the U.S. and more than 1 billion globally, TikTok has become a mainstay of social media and a rare top platform that is not under the control of Zuckerberg. But just because he doesnt own it, doesnt mean he never tried. Zuckerberg reportedly spent much of 2016 trying to acquire a key part of what would become TikToka lip syncing app popular with Americans called Musical.ly, Buzzfeed News reported. Yet, Zuckerberg lost out to ByteDance, which acquired the app for $800 million in 2017. ByteDance merged Musical.ly with the already existing TikTok platform, and the resulting social network took off. Meta tried to launch its own competitor to TikTok called Lasso in 2018, but it never caught on. Meta shut down the copycat app in 2020. As efforts to ban TikTok from the U.S. have ramped up over the past few years, so have Zuckerbergs criticisms of the app. Zuckerberg has previously suggested TikTok could be a threat to global free expression on social media. In 2020, he said banning the app could set a bad precedent, but added he also sympathized with the national-security concerns. I certainly think that there are valid national security questions about having an app that has a lot of peoples data that follows the rules of another country, a government that is increasingly is kind of seen as a competitor, Zuckerberg said in an internal meeting in 2020, according to BuzzFeed News. Over several congressional hearings, Chew has defended TikTok against accusations that it is a national-security threat. In a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2023, Chew took a dig at Facebooks Cambridge Analytica scandal, and said TikTok didnt collect more data than American social-media platforms. "I don't think ownership is the issue here, he said during the hearing. "American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security. More on TikTok: Marketing apocalypse hits music industry as TikTok ban looms TikTok influencers threaten to not pay their taxes if the app gets banned TikTok influencers resist a move to Meta under the apps looming ban. The vibes are not the same This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Relatives and friends of people killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, react to the ceasefire announcement as they take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) DOHA, Qatar (AP) Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The three-phase ceasefire deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and to allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It would also flood desperately needed humanitarian aid into the territory ravaged by 15 months of war, mediators said. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the ceasefire would go into effect Sunday and that its success would depend on Israel and Hamas "acting in good faith in order to ensure that this agreement does not collapse. He spoke in the Qatari capital of Doha, the site of weeks of painstaking negotiations. U.S. President Joe Biden touted the deal from Washington, saying the ceasefire would stay in place as long as Israel and Hamas remain at the negotiating table over a long-term truce. Biden credited months of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy for landing the deal, noting that his administration and President-elect Donald Trumps team had been speaking as one in the latest negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Hamas was still not complete and final details were being worked out. An Israeli official familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said those details center on confirming the list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed. Any agreement must be approved by Netanyahus Cabinet. Netanyahu thanked Trump and Biden for advancing the ceasefire agreement, but did not explicitly say whether he has accepted it, saying he would issue a formal response only after the final details of the agreement, which are currently being worked on, are completed. His measured reaction may reflect domestic politics. Netanyahu's governing coalition depends on the support of two hard-line factions whose leaders have threatened to leave the government over the planned release of Palestinian prisoners. Although opposition leaders have vowed to support the ceasefire deal, the loss of his hard-line allies could lead to the collapse of the coalition and trigger early elections. Early Thursday morning, Netanyahus office issued a statement accusing Hamas of backtracking on an earlier understanding that he said would give Israel a veto over which prisoners accused of murder would be released. Netanyahu said he told the negotiators to stand firm on the earlier agreement. Hamas did not immediately respond. Earlier, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on Netanyahus government to approve the ceasefire in a nationally televised speech. Hamas said in a statement the ceasefire was the result of the legendary resilience of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. are to meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal, according to a senior U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Once the first phase of the deal takes effect, it is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting along with the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether. Over those six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though its unclear if all are alive. It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to their homes, and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives. Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilized the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 in Israel and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023. The U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in Gaza. U.N. and international relief organizations estimate some 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be underway in northern Gaza. Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, called the ceasefire deal "the best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people. ... Thank God. Thank God. Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and has been sheltering in Gaza City, said he hopes to return and to rebuild his home. As he spoke to AP by phone, his voice was overshadowed by the celebrations of fellow Gazans. People are crying here. They dont believe its true," he said. In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israels military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages, others hoisted candles in the air. As the deal was announced, some people were unaware it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but wont believe it until she sees all the hostages come home. Im so desperate to see them, if by some miracle my father has survived, she said. The Hostage Families Forum, which has long pressed Israeli leaders to make a deal that would bring the captives home, said it welcomed Wednesday's announcement with joy and relief. After 460 days of our family members being held in Hamas tunnels, we are closer than ever to reuniting with our loved ones, it said in a statement. Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths in Gaza, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework. He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day. The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. Hamas had been demanding assurances of a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas military and governing capabilities. With Bidens days in office numbered and Trump set to take over, both sides had been under pressure to agree to a deal. Trump celebrated the agreement, posting on his Truth Social social media platform: WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU! Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks. But Trumps threats to Hamas and his efforts to cajole Netanyahu deserve credit as well. The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential U.S. foreign policy can be when its bipartisan, Panikoff said. Hezbollahs acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks for Iran and its allies across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated. Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel says it has killed around 17,000 militants though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing it of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes. The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague, has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war. Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts. Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas. Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader. Hamas, a militant group that does not accept Israels existence, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gazas largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who was believed to have helped mastermind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have been killed. But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if its even possible, given the groups deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership. Both sides still face many difficult and unanswered questions. As the war winds down, Netanyahu will face growing calls for postwar investigations that could find him at least partially responsible for the security failures of Oct. 7 the worst in Israels history. His far-right governing partners, who opposed a ceasefire deal, could also bring down the coalition and push the country into early elections. There is still no plan for who will govern Gaza after the war. Israel has said it will work with local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. But it's unclear if such partners exist, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with Israeli forces. The United States has tried to advance sweeping postwar plans for a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza with Arab and international assistance. As part of those plans, the U.S. hopes Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel in return for U.S. security guarantees and aid in setting up a civilian nuclear program. But those plans depend on credible progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu and much of Israels political class oppose. Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza as well as the occupied West Bank, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for their future state. ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem. Magdy reported from Cairo. Fatma Khaled in Cairo, Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Matthew Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, contributed. Simply Recipes / Getty Images Gilmore Girls debuted just as I was starting junior high school, and I immediately felt a kinship with Rory, the bookish teenager dreaming of a journalism career, and her incredibly close relationship with her mom, Lorelai. My mom and I made it our ritual to watch the show every week, passionately debating the girls love lives (I was Team Logan, while she was staunchly Team Luke), collecting the DVDs, and later bingeing the revival specials. Over the years, the show has earned cult status among Millennials, and even Gen Z.Its not hard to see why. The charming town of Stars Hollow feels like a cozy escape, a place to retreat when life gets too chaotic. One of the shows most endearing quirks? Food. Lorelai and Rory gleefully embrace their inability to cook, relying on tater tots, takeout containers, and mukbang-like movie nights. Its both a rebellion against Lorelais traditional upbringing and peak early-2000s cool-girl vibes. When I stumbled across Eating Gilmore, a blog that re-creates recipes inspired by the show, I knew I had to give Lukes special omelet a try. A Recipe Youll Love as Much as Lorelai Loves Coffee Lukes special omelet isnt the kind of thing youd expect from the Pop Tartloving Gilmore girls, but thats exactly why it works. Luke Danes, the sexy diner owner and Lorelais on-again, off-again love interest, is the ultimate food enabler. Hes always there to whip up a plate of pancakes or, in this case, an omelet. His special omelet, packed with melted Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, and a sneaky dose of veggies, is a simple gesture of love (and perhaps a subtle attempt to keep Lorelai and Rory alive on something other than coffee). Simply Recipes / Alexandra Emanuelli Why Lukes Omelet Hits the Spot Omelets are the ultimate anytime food. Theyre perfect for hearty breakfasts, quick lunches, and comforting dinners. Like Lorelai Gilmore, I often throw together midday meals from whatevers in the fridge (a leftover samosa, some hummus, raw veggies, and maybe a slice of bread with cheese), but its never long before Im snacking again. Lukes omelet, on the other hand, is satisfyingly substantial. The gooey cheese and smoky bacon are indulgent, while the chopped tomato sneaks in just enough produce to make it feel virtuous. Pair it with whole grain toast and, if youre feeling ambitious, a simple side salad. Its a meal that keeps me full all afternoon, which is a rare feat! How To Make Lukes Omelet Heres how I make my own version of Lukes omelet. You'll need: 2 slices of bacon 3 large eggs 1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper, dried oregano 1/8 cup diced field tomato 1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese While Eating Gilmore suggests putting the bacon into the omelet raw (bold move!), I prefer to start by crisping it up. That way, we get all that delicious bacon fat to fry our omelet in later. Its maximum flavor with minimal waste. Heres how to start: Take two slices of bacon and lay them in a large, cold skillet. Dont preheat it; starting cold helps the bacon cook evenly. Cook the bacon over medium heat and let it sizzle for about 5 to 7 minutes, flipping it as needed until its crisp. Once its done, set the bacon aside and carefully pour off most of the grease, leaving just a teaspoon behind to work its magic. Crack three eggs into a small bowl and add a 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and dried oreganoor just eyeball them if youre feeling confident. Whisk until everythings blended. Next, prep your fillings. Chop the cooked bacon, dice a handful of tomato (2 tablespoons, but whos measuring?), and grate a 1/2 cup of Swiss cheese. Set them all within easy reach. Turn your skillet down to low heat, and pour in the whisked eggs. Let them cook undisturbed for 1 to 2 minutes, just until the bottom is set but the top still looks jiggly. This is where the magic happens: Sprinkle the bacon, tomato, and cheese evenly across the eggs. The cheese will start melting, and youll know youre on the right track. Now, the trickiest part: folding the omelet. Using a spatula, gently fold it in half, like youre tucking the ingredients in for a nap. Cook it for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the eggs are fully set, and the cheese is melty and irresistible. Slide the omelet onto a plate, and admire your masterpiece! Serve it with a slice of whole grain toast and a fresh side salad, if youre feeling fancy, or just finish it with a squirt of ketchup for that classic Gilmore vibe. One bite, and youll feel like youre sitting in Lukes Diner, dishing with the girls. Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES NRG Stadium is shown on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A Houston area man is accused of watching a young girl while she used the restroom at NRG Stadium over the weekend. Aaron Gould, 24, is charged with voyeurism after he allegedly watched the girl, who is under the age of 14, use the restroom to "arouse and gratify his own sexual desire," according to court records. Gould entered the women's restroom at NRG Stadium while the Houston Texans played the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, according to court records. He peeked over the bathroom stall to watch the child, a prosecutor said during a probable cause hearing Sunday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The child reportedly yelled at Gould several times to stop watching her and told him to leave the restroom; however, he ignored her and instead said he needed to make a phone call, officials said. Gould ran out of the restroom after an adult approached him and asked him what he was doing, according to officials. Gould told police he didn't realize he was in the women's restroom, officials said. Police indicated Gould was intoxicated when they interacted with him and said they found roughly 7 grams of a white, powdery substance that they couldn't identify, according to officials. Gould was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2022. "My concern is that any public place is now a danger if Mr. Gould is there because there is no way to ensure that he will not either intentionally or intoxicatedly wander into the women's restroom and look at anybody, children or otherwise," the judge said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors asked that Gould be held on a $50,000 bail, while a public defender argued for it to be set at $1,000. He was released on a $20,000 bond. As a condition of his bond, Gould is not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs. He can also not be within 200 feet of NRG Stadium or have contact with anyone under the age of 17. Gould's defense attorney Charles Johnson Jr. denied the allegations and said his client was on his phone and did not realize he had walked into the women's restroom. "I spoke with Mr. Gould in detail about this and cross-examined the hell out of him myself," he said. "I believe him, so we will defend him vigorously. He had no intent to be voyeuristic or anything else, so we'll be defending him vigorously, and I expect that he will be exonerated." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Joni Ernst The Interior Department overpaid dozens of employees to the tune of up to $400,000 of taxpayer money after the federal workers improperly claimed to be based in the DC area but were actually scattered all over the US. At least 48 government employees were found to have been inappropriately working outside the capital region despite benefiting from higher pay rates meant for employees based in and around Washington, according to a report from the departments Office of Inspector General (OIG) in response to a review requested by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). Forty employees assigned to Interior headquarters didnt report at least twice per pay period in fiscal year 2023 the bare minimum needed to get locality pay, according to the watchdog report. As a result, the OIG report reads, we estimate DOI paid as much as $401,689 in annualized locality payments that may not have been allowable. In 2023, employees based in DC and surrounding areas received a 33.94% bump from their base pay due to the cost of living in the capital region. Only those located in and around Houston (35%), Los Angeles (36.47%), New York City (37.95%) and San Francisco (46.34%) got more generous increases. A breakdown of where the 40 employees who didnt report to the worksite twice a pay period actually resided. Joni Ernst has been pushing for dramatic reforms for lax government telework policies. AP According to a map provided in the report, some of the workers getting DC-area locality pay had been based in Alabama, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oregon and South Carolina among other places. Interior Department headquarters has been found to be only 14% full on an average working day, according to a Public Buildings Reform Board report from 2024. The Post has reached out to a department spokesperson for comment. Ernst, 54, who helms the Senate DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) Caucus, has been a staunch proponent of cracking down on lax governmental remote work policies and underutilized government office spaces. The Iowan released a report last year that found only 6% of the federal workforce report in-person on a full-time basis compared to about a third who are remote on a full-time basis. Much of those findings were the result of work between her office and many of the 74 statutory inspectors general who supervise government departments and independent agencies. On Wednesday, Ernst announced she is forming a bipartisan Inspector General Caucus aimed at empowering government agency watchdogs tasked with spotting waste and fraud. Inspectors general serve a vital role in uncovering waste in Washington and must be empowered to continue looking out for taxpayers, Ernst told The Post. From identifying billion-dollar boondoggles to exposing a federal workforce that is permanently out of office, their work has been invaluable in my decade-long mission to uncover waste and make Washington squeal, she added, alluding to her famous 2014 campaign ad about reining in government excesses. DOGE is a blue-ribbon out-of-government commission intended to help flag and root out government bloat. X/DOGE Ernst will lead the bipartisan caucus, while Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will serve as co-chairs. The Hawkeye State senator has been coordinating with DOGE leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to uncover government bloat and pursue reforms. She believes that bolstering the dozens of inspector general offices across government could be helpful in identifying those inefficiencies. Trump has selected North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to helm the Department of the Interior. AP Back in November, after President-elect Donald Trump announced the formation of DOGE, Ernst unveiled a plan aimed at rooting out $2 trillion in government waste. During the 2024 campaign cycle, Musk indicated that he believed DOGE could reduce government spending by about $2 trillion, but he has since acknowledged that might not be a realistic target. A draft deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release has been agreed to in principle and, if all goes well, will be finalized by Israel and Hamas this week, Arab, U.S. and Israeli officials told CBS News. If final details are approved, and the Israeli government also votes to approve it shortly thereafter, implementation of the deal could begin this weekend, U.S. and regional sources said. That means President Biden's long-sought ceasefire deal could come together in the final days of his presidency, and incoming President-elect Donald Trump would oversee its implementation. Sources tell CBS News that the parties have begun drafting public statements of success and hopes are high on all sides. Getting to a ceasefire and hostage release deal In Doha, the talks have been underway for the past few weeks and were continuing Tuesday. Mr. Biden's top Mideast adviser, Brett McGurk, has been in the region for the better part of a month working to close the deal, coordinating on a regular basis with Steve Witkoff, who has been tapped by Trump to be special Middle East envoy. Witkoff was in Israel over the weekend for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Qatari prime minister is set to meet Tuesday with Mossad Director David Barnea to help finalize the details of the agreement. While the Biden administration has been drafting a detailed plan for the so-called "Day After" the Israeli withdrawal in Gaza, its implementation and enforcement would be left to the Trump administration. Privately, U.S. officials acknowledge this plan for governance is aspirational, and it would be up to the Trump team to help shape the future of Palestinian Gaza and pressure the Netanyahu government and Hamas to adhere to later phases of the deal. "I think the pressure is building for Hamas to come to yes, and I think Israel also has achieved a huge amount of its military objectives in Gaza, and therefore, they are in a position to be able to say 'yes,'" U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. Sullivan said Israel and Hamas had been close to a deal before, and things had fallen through, but on Monday there was a "general sense that this is moving in the right direction." "The question is now, can we all collectively seize the moment and make this happen?" Sullivan said. "We are in advanced stages of negotiations," an Israeli political source told CBS News, saying a deal could be agreed in hours or days. "There is progress in all components of the agreement formula." What would the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal look like? On Sunday, President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone about the ongoing negotiations. The White House said the two leaders discussed the deal based on the arrangement outlined by Mr. Biden last year. The deal presented to Israel and Hamas appears similar to that arrangement, according to a copy of the deal from mediator sources seen by CBS News and a senior Israeli official. The deal consists of three phases, according to the copy viewed by CBS News, each one to be negotiated as things progress. During the first phase, which would take place over a 42 days ceasefire period, Hamas would release 33 women and children hostages, as well as hostages over 50 years old. For each woman or child hostage returned to Israel, Israel would release 30 Palestinian women and children from its prisons. Hamas would release all hostages over 50 years of age, and Israel would release 30 Palestinian prisoners aged 50 or older. On the first day of that ceasefire, Hamas would release 3 hostages, according to the document viewed by CBS News. On the seventh day, Hamas would release 4 hostages. Thereafter, Hamas would release 3 hostages taken from Israel every seven days, starting with the living and then moving on to return the bodies of those who have died. During the exchange of hostages and prisoners, there would be a complete ceasefire in Gaza to allow aid to enter, the draft viewed by CBS News said. International aid groups and the United Nations would resume operation in Gaza, and reconstruction of its infrastructure, like water, electricity and sewage systems, would begin. There would also be negotiations over the next phase of the deal. The second phase of the deal would involve the release of all the Israeli male hostages and the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, according to the document viewed by CBS News. The third phase, which would be partially negotiated during earlier phases, would include the exchange of bodies of deceased hostages and prisoners, the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza, and the opening of its borders. Despite the intense mediation by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, the talks have repeatedly stalled over issues including the details of the hostage and prisoner exchanges, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and whether the ceasefire would be permanent. Hamas and other groups in Gaza are still holding captive around 100 hostages kidnapped during the Oct. 7 2023 attack. Militants killed around 1,200 people in that attack and abducted 250. Over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israel in its response to the Oct. 7 attack, according to the Hamas-run ministry of health, and the majority of Gaza's 2.3 people have been displaced. Humanitarian groups have struggled to deliver aid and experts have warned of famine. Marwan Al-Ghoul, Michal Ben-Gal and Mais Al-Bayaa contributed to this report. Close call between passenger jets over Phoenix airport Jeffries reacts to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, hostage release deal Breaking down the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, hostage release deal Kamala Harris is poised to land the biggest book deal of any vice president in history, said Keith Urbahn, president and co-founder of the literary agency Javelin. WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris has a lot of options for her next act including possible runs for governor of California in 2026 and president in 2028 but writing a book may be first up, according to six people familiar with internal discussions about her future. Two of the people said that Harris, who will find herself out of elected office for the first time in more than two decades on Monday, has already decided to write a book. The others said the topic is under discussion. Thrust into the 2024 presidential campaign when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July, Harris quickly locked down the Democratic Partys nomination but lost the general election to former President Donald Trump. Since conceding to Trump, Harris has said little publicly about her 107-day sprint to try to save the presidency for her party. Not only could her written take recount the past, it could help shape her future. Kamala Harris is poised to land the biggest book deal of any vice president in history, said Keith Urbahn, president and co-founder of the literary agency Javelin. But the real question isnt the advance its whether the book can redefine her for 2028. Urbahn said Harris has an opportunity to get personal, acknowledge where she and the Democratic Party misread the sentiments of the electorate, and potentially reach out to a broader audience than her base. Theres a version of this book that is full of platitudes but safe, and then theres a version that reinvents her to lead a Democratic Party in need of rebuilding, he said. She gets a payday either way, but only the latter gets her a second shot at the presidency. Many of Harris advisers think she has a full-length story to tell, and that voters will want to read it. I think she owes it to people to write a book, one Harris confidant said. Ashley Etienne, who previously worked as Harris vice presidential communications director, said that if Harris does write a book, she plans to buy copies of it for all the women in her life, including her daughter. The vice president is a historic figure with an incredible story to tell. From her leadership to tackle COVID, rebuild the economy and to protect the rights of women in this nation, Etienne said. People love her -- 70 plus million in fact. And I can imagine theyre desperate for her to pull back the curtain on her groundbreaking journey from a child of immigrants to commanding the mantle of the most powerful country in the world. Harris last book, The Truths We Hold, released in conjunction with her first presidential campaign, landed at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2019. At the same time, she released a childrens picture book, called Superheroes are Everywhere. And in 2010, she wrote a memoir called Smart on Crime. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is set to have his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday morning to become the next secretary of state under President-elect Donald Trump. Rubio, 53, would be entering the position with prior foreign policy experience and an agenda that closely aligns with Trump's. The two have not always seen eye-to-eye, with Trump calling Rubio "Little Marco" on account of his "small hands" when they were adversaries in 2016, but the politicians have since become closer. Rubio even became a finalist to serve as Trump's running mate during his 2024 campaign. Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me," Rubio said in a statement about his nomination. "As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else." "I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate so the President has his national security and foreign policy team in place when he takes office on January 20. Here is what to know about Rubio and his confirmation hearing. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) walks on Capitol Hill on the day U.S. Senate Republicans meet to vote on leadership positions, including Senate Majority (Republican) Leader, for the 119th Congress in Washington, U.S., November 13, 2024. How to watch Marco Rubio's confirmation hearing live Rubio's confirmation hearing will take place on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, according to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will be livestreaming the proceedings. Rubio currently serves on the Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Who is Marco Rubio? Rubio, born to working-class immigrants who left Cuba, grew up in West Miami, Florida. He earned degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Miami Law School, according to the bio on his Senate profile page. Rubio went on to serve as a city commissioner in West Miami and the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the bio reads. In 2010, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate. Rubio has held his Senate seat since 2011, most recently winning re-election in 2022 over Democrat Val Demings. Rubio also launched a presidential campaign in 2016, running against what could be his new boss, Trump. Where do Trump and Rubio stand? With their seemingly tumultuous relationship in the rearview, Rubio has appeared to align with Trump in the past year, particularly when it comes to the incoming president's "America First" agenda amid the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas wars, as USA TODAY previously reported. Rubio, who had expressed support for Ukraine's war against Russia, voted against providing additional aid for the Eastern European country in 2023. "Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom," Trump said in a statement about Rubio's nomination at the time. "He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!" In addition to Rubio's stance on Ukraine aid, he has advocated for a tough approach to American adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. He has also become a supporter of Trump's promised mass deportation program for undocumented immigrants, which is a twist from his approach to immigration earlier in his political career. Rubio was a key part of the 2013 immigration reform bill, Gang of Eight, which included a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people. During an interview on NBCs "Meet the Press" in 2024, Rubio explained his shift by noting how there are significantly more undocumented immigrants in the country than in 2016, when he was not a supporter of mass deportation. What does the secretary of state job mean for Rubio? Rubio, a Cuban American, would be the first Latino person to serve as secretary of state if he is confirmed on Wednesday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would name Rubio's replacement if the senator gets confirmed to serve in the Trump Cabinet. The shortlist of potential candidates includes Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and DeSantis chief of staff James Uthmeier. Contributing: Riley Beggin, Zac Anderson & Antonio Fins, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch live: Marco Rubio's confirmation hearing for Secretary of State Britain will await approval from Donald Trump before signing a controversial deal on relinquishing control of the Chagos Islands, it has been revealed. Sir Keir Starmers government had reportedly been optimistic about a deal to cede control of the islands to Mauritius, following a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), before the US president-elect is inaugurated on 20 January. But officials briefed on the talks told the Financial Times that while good progress has been made in the protracted talks with Mauritius, they are no longer seeking to push through a deal before Mr Trump returns to the White House. The president-elect has made it clear that he does not agree with the Biden administration over the handover of the British Indian Ocean colony and would seek to block or veto it once he is in office. The island is home to a crucial UK-US military base and Mr Trumps incoming officials have expressed concern that Chinese influence over Mauritius could undermine the use of this facility. There are also concerns over the possibility that Mauritius could lease a nearby island to China. The UK has offered to frontload a tranche of payments to Mauritius for the proposed 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, the largest atoll in the archipelago and home to the crucial defence base. The Mauritian government will hold a special Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss these latest proposals and, potentially, approve them. Reports from Mauritius suggest that the deal is almost done, although one senior government source there told The Independent that he was startled by suggestions it was to be signed in the next few days. However, another source in the Mauritian government told The Daily Telegraph: We intend to agree before January 20. Chagos Islands The PM has decided to discuss it in the cabinet on Wednesday and all the ministers are on the same page, supporting prime minister [Navin] Ramgoolam on the agreement. The deal will be concluded this week. We understand Keir Starmers government is facing immense internal pressure, but we will have historic news this week for the people of both countries. It will be in the interests of both the nations. The ICJ ruled in 2019 that the islands belonged to Mauritius because it used to be the colonial administrative centre for the islands. However, the last Tory foreign secretary Lord David Cameron shelved the talks and critics have pointed out that the ICJ ruling status is only advisory. Foreign secretary David Lammy and Sir Keir have argued that they had no choice to do the deal which they have described as good and secures the use of the crucial Diego Garcia base for at least 99 years. However, Trumps advisers and critics of the deal in the UK are concerned about the status of the crucial base, a potential block on nuclear weapons being taken to the island and the possibility that Mauritius could lease a nearby island to China. But the real problems with getting the dea over the line came after the change of government in Mauritius last year with new prime minister Navin Ramgoolam saying the deal was not good enough. Reports have suggested that the UK has resolved the disagreement by promising to front load payments for the use of Diego Garcia. Gretchen Whitmer Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for a reset with President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday as she warned of growing competition from Republican-led rivals threatening to steal her states bedrock auto industry. Whitmer, tipped by many observers as a potential front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2028, sounded a bipartisan note as she implored her fellow Democrats and Republican friends to find common ground in remarks at the Detroit Auto Show. In the Whitmer house, compromise was a good thing, the 53-year-old said. I just want to get things done. Things that make a real difference in Michiganders lives. Gretchen Whitmer underscored the importance of bipartisanship during her speech at the Detroit Auto Show Wednesday. AP Michiganders elected both me and Donald Trump twice, just two years apart, she added. The people expect us to find common ground, especially when it comes to lowering costs, creating good-paying manufacturing jobs, boosting research and innovation and cutting red tape. Whitmer won re-election by double-digits in 2022 and enjoyed a Democratic trifecta in Lansing. However, she could only watch Nov. 5 as Trump won the Wolverine State for the second time in three consecutive White House bids, while Republicans squeaked out a majority in the state House of Representatives. On Wednesday, Whitmer said she needed Republican help in a serious moment. Right now, the future of the entire auto industry is at stake. The very core of Michigans economy is on the line, she claimed. President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan in the presidential cycle last year. AP Michigan is still the number one auto state, but others have gained grounds, especially in the South. They want to steal this vital industry away from us, she charged. These other states are using every tool at their disposal. Some of them are just writing blank checks to companies. Thats bad policy. For years, Republican governors have been aggressively courting heavy industry from the Rust Belt, pitching a low-tax, business-friendly environment to encourage companies to set up shop. Tesla boss Elon Musk has moved some of the electric car giants business endeavors to red states like Texas. Additionally, international competition has been ratcheting up. Chinese firms like BYD have been cranking out cheap electric vehicles globally at a furious clip, prompting the Biden administration to quadruple tariffs to 100% last year. Make no mistake, other states and nations like China are gunning for Michigan auto jobs, Whitmer said. For America to win, we must all recognize that all of us are on the same team. Both our state and national economy depend on our ability to work together. Trump has expressed a strong desire to protect domestic industry from foreign competition, including in China, with tariffs as his top weapon. The Michigan governor expressed concerns about the auto industry in her state. Bloomberg via Getty Images Whitmer, who campaigned aggressively for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, walked a fine line on tariffs, which she noted could have repercussions for the auto industry. Im not opposed to tariffs outright. We cannot treat them like a one-size-fits-all solution, and we certainly shouldnt use them to punish our closest trading partners. Doing so hurts all of us, damaging supply chains, slowing production loads and cutting jobs on both sides, she said. The Wolverine State governor previously told the Associated Press that she hasnt yet spoken with Trump but intends to do so over the coming weeks. She outlined five ideas to boost the auto sector, including a payroll tax cut, more investments in housing as well as development, and infrastructure improvements. I dont want to pretend were always going to agree, but I will always seek collaboration first. I wont go looking for fights. I wont back down from them either. So Im not here to play games, she said. Gretchen Whitmer had campaigned heavily with Vice President Kamala Harris. AP During the 2024 cycle, Whitmer actively shot down rumors that she was in the running to be Harris running and had warned against a second Trump administration. Whitmer is term-limited and cannot seek another four years as governor in 2026, leaving her future uncertain. Author Neil Gaiman, who's been accused of sexual assault by numerous women, opened up about the allegations in an open letter Tuesday. Neil Gaiman, who's been accused of sexual assault by nearly a dozen women, is speaking out on the allegations. In a lengthy open letter shared on his official website Tuesday, the British author said he's "watched the stories circulating the internet about me with horror and dismay." "I've stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation," Gaiman, 64, wrote. "I've always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters." He added: "I've now reached the point where I feel that I should say something." Background: Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault by 9 women Allegations against Gaiman, the writer behind fantasy titles including "The Sandman," "Good Omens," "American Gods" and "Coraline," began in summer 2024 when a six-episode podcast series from U.K. media outlet Tortoise, titled "Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman," outlined five allegations of sexual assault. The abuse claims continued on Monday as Vulture published a report detailing four additional allegations that "share elements" with the accounts of Gaiman's other accusers. The outlet is said to have reviewed texts, diary entries, emails with friends and police communications. The youngest alleged victim was 18, but most of the women were in their 20s when the alleged assaults occurred, while Gaiman was in his 40s or older, with one exception in which a woman claims the writer forcibly kissed her in 1986 (when Gaiman was in his mid-20s). Some of the women were fans, and a few worked with him at the time of the alleged incidents. Neil Gaiman says he 'never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity' Following the allegations, which range from forcible oral and anal sex to physical beatings, Gaiman's representatives responded to some outlets, claiming the alleged incidents were consensual and instances of practicing BDSM (bondage, discipline/dominance, submission/sadism and masochism). "As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognize and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen," Gaiman reflected on Tuesday. "I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." Gaiman said he's reviewed his messages with the women who've accused him of assault and claims the communications demonstrate "two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again." "At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides," Gaiman wrote. "I also realize, looking through them, years later, that I could have and should have done so much better." He continued: "I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could or should have been. I was obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings, and that's something that I really, deeply regret. It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people's." Since last summer, some projects connected to Gaiman have reportedly been paused or trimmed. IndieWire reported in September 2024 that Disney had paused its film adaptation of Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book." And in October, it was reported that the Amazon Prime Video series "Good Omens" would end with a 90-minute TV movie episode, as opposed to a full third season, which Amazon MGM Studios later confirmed to USA TODAY. "Like most of us, I'm learning, and I'm trying to do the work needed, and I know that that's not an overnight process," Gaiman wrote. "I hope that with the help of good people, I'll continue to grow. I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care what I say but I'll be doing the work anyway, for myself, my family and the people I love." However, Gaiman concluded that some of the allegations brought against him are "horrible stories ... (that) simply never happened," while others are "so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality." "I don't accept there was any abuse," Gaiman wrote. "I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I'm not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can't accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn't do." If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINNs National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Espanol RAINN.org/es. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations in open letter BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazil's government said on Tuesday it is "seriously concerned" about Meta Platforms' recently announced changes to its hate speech policy, adding that it believes they do not comply with the country's legislation. Facebook owner Meta last week reduced curbs on discussions around contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity, while also scrapping its fact-checking program in the United States. The Brazilian government ordered the social media company, which also owns Instagram and Threads, to explain its plans, which President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had previously labeled "extremely serious." Brazil is a top market for Meta, where government data show Facebook alone has about 100 million active users. Social media platform X was temporarily suspended in the country last year for not complying with local law. The government did not immediately clarify which aspects of Meta's policy might be illegal, but said the latest changes "could represent fertile ground for the violation of laws that protect fundamental rights of Brazilian citizens." Local legislation forbids some forms of hate speech, such as racial slurs and remarks that attack people for their religion. Meta in a letter to the South American country reiterated that changes to the fact-checking program for now would only apply to the U.S., and said that changes to its community standards were "limited" to the hate speech policy. The move, the company added in the document shared by Brazil's government, was aimed at securing greater freedom of expression. The office of Brazil's solicitor general (AGU) in a statement criticized Meta, saying that "some aspects" of the letter caused the government "serious concern." It highlighted the changes to the hate speech policy, which apply to Brazil. "AGU and other ministries understand that the current terms of use, as well as the changes now informed by Meta, do not fit with Brazil's legislation and are not sufficient to protect fundamental rights," it added. Brazil will hold a public hearing later this week to discuss the topic with experts. The country's Supreme Court last year suspended X's local operations for more than a month over the social media platform's failure to comply with court orders, including some related to moderation of hate speech. X owner and billionaire Elon Musk at the time denounced Justice Alexandre de Moraes' orders as censorship, but X later complied with the court demands, including blocking some accounts, in order to resume its service in Brazil. (Reporting by Ricardo Brito. Writing by Gabriel Araujo. Editing by Mark Potter) BUCHAREST (Reuters) -A Romanian court lifted a house arrest order against internet personality Andrew Tate, replacing it with a lighter preventative measure pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, a spokesperson for Tate said on Tuesday. Tate has been under house arrest since August when prosecutors started a second criminal investigation against him, his brother Tristan and four other suspects. They face accusations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have all denied wrongdoing. A first criminal case against Tate failed in December when the Bucharest court of appeals ruled not to put Tate on trial but rather send the case back to prosecutors. The decision, which cited flaws in the indictment, dealt a blow to Romania's anti-organized crime prosecuting unit DIICOT. On Tuesday, judges lifted the house arrest measure as part of the second criminal investigation. "This ruling marks a decisive step forward, granting (Tate) the freedom to travel throughout Romania while adhering to the required legal conditions," his representatives said. Under the lighter preventative measure, known as judicial control, Tate is required to check in with police at regular intervals and is not allowed to contact other suspects or witnesses in his case. He cannot leave Romania. The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual U.S. and British citizenship, are the highest profile suspects facing trial for human trafficking in Romania. The Tate brothers also have a British arrest warrant and will be extradited after Romanian trial proceedings finish, a court ruled in March. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Alan CharlishEditing by Gareth Jones) Law enforcement officers salute as slain Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas is escorted by honor guard into the Harris County Forensic Science Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A Brazoria County Sheriff's Office deputy was killed Wednesday while trying to arrest a man as part of the U.S. Marshal's Violent Offenders Task Force. The suspected shooter was later found hiding in a nearby dumpster and shot and killed by police, Houston Police Department confirmed. The violent end came hours after Deputy Jesus "Jesse" Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. The man, later identified as 56-year-old Robert Lee Davis, also known as Sean Christopher Davis, then fled the scene, leading officers from multiple agencies to blanket the scene searching for him, authorities said. Hours into the search, a U.S. Marshal's Office K9 alerted police to a dumpster Wednesday afternoon, a short distance from the scene of the shooting in the 9300 block of Stella Link Road, north of the South Loop, Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz said. As officers approached, Davis allegedly shot the dog twice and officers returned fire, killing the man. The gunfight came on a secondary check of the area and all officers who fired a gun were U.S. Marshal's Office deputies, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE ON VARGAS: What we know about the Brazoria County sheriff's deputy who was killed in southwest Houston WANTED IN THIS SHOOTING: Robert Lee Davis AKA Sean Christopher Davis, 56. He is a black male, approx. 200 pounds, 5'10" & last seen wearing a blue Nike hoodie with white lettering, blue jeans & blue sneakers. Anyone with information should call HPD or @CrimeStopHOU. https://t.co/YS1Vwr2pD8 pic.twitter.com/t6cvc1PP2t Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 15, 2025 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 Stallman described Vargas as a dedicated member of the department who had "three beautiful children" and a wife. "This is a tragic day in our community and a sad day," Diaz said. "Someone lost their life trying to make the community safe." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jesus Vargas Brazoria County Sheriff's Office A Ben Taub Hospital medical worker wipes tears as they are watching the body of Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas is being transported to Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman holds a note about deceased deputy Jesus Vargas during a press conference outside Ben Taub Hospital Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer The body of slain Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas is escorted to the Harris County Forensic Science Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A window shattered by a bullet is visible as law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer People arrive with deputy sheriffs from Brazoria County on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. An officer who was injured in a shooting was taken to the hospital. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers salute as slain Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas is escorted by honor guard into the Harris County Forensic Science Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers line up to salute Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas as his body is taken to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences from Ben Taub Hospital Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers investigate the scene where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas was shot and killed in the 9300 block of Stella Link on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was slain while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer MORE ON THIS SHOOTING: Blue Alert issued for suspected shooter in Brazoria County deputy's death Madison Polston, spokeswoman for the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, described Vargas as a man who deeply loved his family and that the entire 400-person agency was reeling from his loss. Vargas served on the office's special services unit and spent around the last two years working on the U.S. Marshals' Violent Offenders Task Force, Polston said. Before joining the sheriff's office, Vargas spent one year with the Danbury Police Department. His 15-year-old daughter just celebrated a birthday, Polston added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Law enforcement officers embrace as they wait for the procession of slain Brazoria County Sheriffs Office deputy Jesus Vargas to arrive at the Harris County Forensic Science Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Deputy Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, was shot and killed while trying to make an arrest, as part of the U.S. Marshals Violent Offenders Task Force, in the 9300 block of Stella Link. He was taken to a hospital in Houston where he later died. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Information on suspected shooter Lt. Jorge Sosa, of Iowa Colony Police Department, said Davis had a warrant from Oct. 11 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He declined to elaborate on the allegation amid HPD's investigation, adding that Vargas was his friend. Davis had also been wanted since Dec. 16 in Harris County on aggravated sexual assault of an adult charges stemming from accusations that he raped a relative in April 2024 at gunpoint, according to court records. His known criminal history in Harris County stretches back to 1986, when police arrested an 18-year-old Davis for trespassing. His last conviction in 1994 for an armed robbery prompted a 25-year prison sentence. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Loading... Houston Mayor John Whitmire, from left, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, right, arrives a press conference to speak about the passing of Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas outside Ben Taub Hospital Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Rocky the dog expected to survive The police dog who was shot, Rocky, is in stable condition, Diaz said. He is a Belgian Malinois. The earlier shooting, and the manhunt that followed, kept pet owners away from the nearby All Cats Veterinary Clinic except for an off-duty police officer who already had an appointment for his cat. During his appointment, the officer heard at least five gunshots erupt near the dumpster about 50 feet away and warned Dr. Cynthia Rigoni and her staff to get down. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rigoni looked outside soon after and spied a police officer bolting toward a helicopter outside, holding Rocky in his arms "like a baby." People from nearby businesses look at the large presence of law enforcement officers working at a shopping plaza in the 9300 block of Stella Link Road where suspect Robert Lee Davis was shot and killed in exchange of gunfire Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Jesse Vargas, a 17-year veteran of the office, was shot and killed by Davis while approaching the suspect and serving a warrant with a partner, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Major manhunt was launched for suspected shooter Helicopters flew overhead and multiple agencies were on-scene, including officers from Houston Independent School District's Police Department, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, Brazoria County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. A light rain fell as detectives surveyed the parking lot and walked around the scene underneath umbrellas. Forensic investigators took pictures of a lifted brown Ford F-150 Super Duty that had a bullet hole in the window. U.S. Marshal of the Southern District of Texas Thomas Michael O'Connor, center, meets with Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, left, and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, right, at a shopping plaza in the 9300 block of Stella Link Road where suspect Robert Lee Davis was shot and killed Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Jesse Vargas, a 17-year veteran of the office, was shot and killed by Davis while approaching the suspect and serving a warrant with a partner, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Employees at a nearby optometrist's office said police with dogs had been searching buildings in the area. Employees at a salon supply store next to a Dollar Store that had been roped off with red tape said they heard six or seven gunshots, and then saw police performing CPR on a body. Faisal Artaimeh, the owner of a gas station and garage next to the shooting scene, said he saw a man running away shortly after hearing around half a dozen gunshots. Artaimeh said there had been no sign of police in the area before the shooting, but that Vargas was helped by an ambulance that was getting tires put on a nearby tire shop. Vargas is the third Houston-area police officer to be shot and killed in less than a year. In July, Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Fernando Esqueda was shot during a manhunt for an aggravated robbery in northeast Houston. In September, Harris County Deputy Constable Maher Husseini was shot and killed while on his way to work. KieferPix // Shutterstock Amaryllis Castillo gets to work at 7:45 a.m. for her job as a certified home health aide. The mother of two, who is 26 weeks pregnant, works a six-hour shift caring for elderly patients, taking them to activities and out for lunch. At 5 p.m., she clocks in for her second job providing customer service, which she works until 9 p.m. She does that from home, which allows her to be with her children, who are 12 and two. But despite working these two jobsfor a combined 50 or more hours a weekCastillo, who lives in Philadelphia, barely makes enough to cover rent, daycare, car payments, utilities, and groceries (though she makes too much to qualify for food stamps), Next City reports. Neither job comes with benefits: No health insurance, no paid sick leave, no 401(k), and no paid time off to recover from the upcoming birth of her baby. "I'm just making it happen," she says. The American approach to pregnancy and birth has largely been to leave families to manage the transition to new parenthood on their own. The United States is one of the only countries in the world without paid parental leave, and while a handful of states have started their own paid-leave initiativesthough Pennsylvania isn't one of themeven these programs do not cover all workers. Nor is there a national program for preventing or treating postpartum mood disorders, or PPMDsmental health conditions that include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, PTSD, and postpartum psychosiswhich affect about 15-20% of new mothers in America. Financial stress is among a myriad of factors that can trigger PPMDs. Being low-income is a risk factor for developing depression, and one of the greatest predictors for developing a PPMD is having previously experienced a mental health disorder. When it comes to postpartum depression in particular, financial strain and hardship have been found to exert a "small but significant" impact on the likelihood of developing it. This effect, researchers assert, is "consistent across different cultures and countries." The impacts of postpartum mood disorders are significant: One of the drivers of the U.S.'s maternal health crisis is suicide, which accounts for about one in five pregnancy-related deaths during pregnancy or up to a year postpartum. PPMDs are also costly in other ways, with a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health estimating that over five years, each mother and baby affected by PPMDs cost $31,800from their higher usage of health care, lost time at work and greater use of public services like Medicaidadding up to an estimated $14 billion public cost over five years. New programs in Philadelphia and Flint, Michigan have implemented a simple solution to the patchwork of paid leave programs and potentially protect against some of the harm of PPMDs: a universal basic income during pregnancy and for the first year postpartum. The Flint program, Rx Kids, is so promising that Kamala Harris modeled her proposed tax-credit initiative on it. These programs are expected to demonstrate improved health outcomes for mothers and babies: maternal stress has been linked to preterm birth and low birth weight, for instance. And there's ample evidence for their efficacy in reducing parents' symptoms of anxiety, initiating changes to infant brain activity, and increasing the likelihood that children of recipients will finish high school and college. A 2022 review of 20 studies of cash transfer programs in Canada, which has hosted such initiatives since 1945, demonstrates similar improvements to parents' and children's health over time. Here in the U.S., these programs demonstrate the unique role that cities can play in reducing high financial stressand thereby reducing the risk of developing a PPMD and initiating a cascade of harms. Though some amount of postpartum mood disorders cannot be prevented, reducing financial stressors may prove protective. Three Cities Take On Post-Partum Health Castillo is one of 250 mothers from three Philadelphia neighborhoods receiving $1,000 a month from the city's new Philly Joy Bank, beginning in their second trimester of pregnancy and lasting until their baby's first birthday. The money has already made a difference: She opened a savings account and now can afford life insurance, both tasks that alleviate existential fear about the future. The funds will also enable her to put money toward school, she says, which will help her work toward a job in optometrythat would pay $7 an hour more than what she's currently making. Castillo also plans to put the money toward taking six weeks off from work after her baby's birth, though she notes that the monthly $1,000 isn't enough to cover her bills for that whole period. The Philly Joy Bank, which launched in June 2024, is funded by local philanthropic organizations and administered by the city's Department of Health's Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health. The initiative emerged from the city's Community Action Network, a collaborative group that includes parents, physicians, and community organizations focused on reducing infant mortality in the city. Together, the group agreed that guaranteed income would significantly reduce pregnant people's stress. The program enrolls mothers from three neighborhoods with the city's highest rates of low birthweights and preterm birth. The money is offered unconditionally. Participants are also offered a menu of other supportfinancial counseling and other programs, for instancebut they do not have to participate in them. Mother of four and new enrollee Briana Mitchell is using some of the money to move. In September 2024, she was doubled up with family. She will be relocating to a three-bedroom house, which wouldn't have been possible without the Philly Joy Bank money, or the assistance from a program that provides security deposits. Mitchell, who works independently to do hair, does not have access to paid leave. Her husband, who recently started his own construction company, does not have access to paid leave either. "Entrepreneurs don't get paid leave at all," she says. And while she's accustomed to working as much as possibleseeing as many as 20 clients in a three-day span"I don't have to do as much" because of the Philly Joy Bank funds, she says. "I don't have to take as many people." Rx Kids, the Flint program, differs slightly from Philly Joy Bank's design. For one, it's universal: Every new mother in Flint is eligible. The initiative, launched in January, is a public-private partnership that uses $16.5 million of government Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, funding, earmarked for low-income people, over five years and $30 million in philanthropic and other funds, including corporations and American Rescue Plan money. Participants receive $1,500 once during the second trimester of pregnancy and $500 each month for the first year of their baby's life. This money, too, is no-strings-attached. "Families have the freedom of choice to best meet their needs," says Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids cofounder, associate dean of public health and professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Hanna, a pediatrician, identified elevated levels of lead in Flint's children from the city's water in 2015 and led a community initiative to respond to the crisis. Luke Shaefer, a cofounder of the program and a professor of social justice and social policy and director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, identified an "obscure provision" in state TANF funds that allows families to receive four months of financial aid during an acute economic crisis without triggering time limits or work requirements. Shaefer and Hanna made the case that childbirth qualifies as an acute crisis. At that point, a person is at her poorest; earnings go down toward the end of pregnancy and mothers step out of the workforce, while babies also bring on additional costs. Yet pregnancy and the newborn period are "the most critical for child development," says Hanna. "It's crazy when you think of the science of it." The philanthropic money Hanna and Shaefer raised enabled them to make the program available to every person who has a baby in Flintas opposed to only those who would be eligible for Medicaid or a small pilot serving only a few familiesand to extend the support to a year. The initiative, she says, is a "place-based intervention. It's not about poor people, but about poor places." The universality of the program is key, says Hanna. It "conveys dignity, as opposed to" programs "that convey shame or stigma." More than 90% of newborns in Flint have participated since its inceptionabout 1,185 families. So far, the program has shown a reduction in depressive symptoms and increases in positive wellbeing, with larger numbers of participants indicating that they feel loved, hopeful and respected. Preliminary outcomes also show lowered anxiety scores (though these findings were not statistically significant). Other data that's still emerging shows lower rates of smoking during the third trimester and that mothers are starting their prenatal care earlier in their pregnancies. Shaefer adds that they're seeing improvements in birth weight, with fewer babies born in the very lowest birthweight category (under three pounds, four ounces) and fewer extremely premature babies (those born before 28 weeks). Participating families have shown profound improvement in housing stability, and no low-income Rx Kids families have been evicted. Several other communities in Michigan are planning to adopt Rx Kids, Shaefer and Hanna says, including Kalamazoowhich will begin in February. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included $20 million more TANF dollars in the state's 2025 budget to make it possible to expand the program to other low-income parts of the state. Shaefer and Hanna have raised another$40 million to make that public-private partnership possible, and are still raising money to explore how such a program might work in rural parts of Michigan such as the Upper Peninsula. Dr. Stacey Kallem, director of the Philadelphia's Department of Public Health's Maternal, Child and Family Health division, says that if programs like Philly Joy Bank demonstrate their efficacy, they might also provide leverage to change how federal funding can be used for maternal-child health. Presently, many public maternal and child health funding mechanisms like the Healthy Start program cannot be used to give cash to people as guaranteed income programs. But, says Kallem, "if programs like ours show they're effective," and ultimately improve outcomes and save money for communities, "shouldn't we change the way that government funding flows?" In that way, the cash transfer programs in Philadelphia and Flint attest to how nimble local governments can be, says Rachel Louise Moran, associate professor of history at the University of North Texas and author of "Blue: A History of Postpartum Depression." Previous attempts to pass federal legislation supporting mothers with postpartum depression stumbled over unrelated issues that ultimately stripped the legislation of real power or funding or killed it altogether. "When you're going big and national, you're dealing with some really entrenched political issues," she says. But with local governments, she points out, the "intense performing for CSPAN politics are not there." That's how the California Abundant Birth Project has functioned; the program, which provides no-strings-attached cash and started in 2021, has enrolled 561 mothers so far at risk of preterm birth in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties, who each receive money starting in their first or second trimester and lasting through the first year of the baby's life. (Mothers in San Francisco, in Contra Costa County, receive $1,000 a month; mothers in other places receive slightly less.) Doing this work requires overcoming an entrenched American ideology about maternal mental health, which is that it's an individual, private problemsomething a mother must overcome on her own. But that approach is inadequate, not least because the impacts of postpartum mood disorders extend far beyond a mother's life and relationship to her child and last longer than the first few months after birth. But it also matters how and whether a city indicates that PPMDs are an issue of public health. On its city website, Santa Barbara includes information and links to Postpartum Education for Parents, one of the country's earliest organized postpartum depression advocacy groups, that helps mothers with postpartum mood disorders; the City of Toronto does so too. In doing so, these cities demonstrate that PPMDs aren't a private problem; they're definitively a public issue, deserving not only of attention, but resourcesa critical argument to make given that research and treatment of PPMDs has historically been underfunded. Still, the Philly Joy Bank, Rx Kids, and Abundant Birth Fund initiatives differ from other supports because they provide cash unconditionally. That also stands out from the kind of support that large postpartum depression advocacy groups have pushed for, Moran points out. "The large organizations have had a very strong emphasis on bipartisan support for legislation, sometimes to the detriment of being able to think systemically," she says. "I feel like [programs like] Philly Joy Bank should be everywhere," Castillo says. "You can see the economy is bad. The cost of food is bad. And as you can see, these jobs are not paying [anything]. If they paid us more money, we could possibly make things happen, but we're really making under what we should be making." Which is why the extra money from Philly Joy Bank is so critical: "Having the extra money makes me feel less stressed," she says. "Way less stressed." This story was co-published with The 19th, a nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics, and policy. This story was produced by Next City, a nonprofit newsroom covering solutions for equitable cities, and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. At least 78 bodies have so far been pulled out from the Stilfontein mine in Johannesburg. (Ihsaan Haffejee/Reuters) The South African government has launched a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine in the countrys North West province, where at least 109 men have died, a group representing the miners said, after local authorities cut off vital supplies in a dramatic bid to crack down on the countrys illegal mining trade. At least 51 bodies and 106 survivors have been pulled from the Stilfontein mine, South African police said Wednesday, with many more feared trapped inside. While estimates varied on how many men were in the mine, Meshack Mbangula, head of the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), had earlier estimated that 500 people were trapped underground. Mbangula told CNN Tuesday that the men had possibly died from hunger and dehydration. Conditions in the shafts, which are several kilometers deep, are continuing to deteriorate, he said. Video shared by Mbangula and seen by CNN shows multiple bodies wrapped in plastic in the mine, located around 97 miles (156 kilometers) southwest of Johannesburg. The video, filmed by one of the miners last week, according to Mbangula, also shows shirtless, emaciated-looking men with protruding bones and ribs. A man speaking in Zulu pleads to be rescued in one scene. Another man says: How many days must we live in a situation like this? CNN cannot independently verify the videos. A letter written by the miners and obtained by CNN further illustrates the grim conditions the miners are facing. Please take us out. Please assist us to come out or if not, please give us food because [there are] people who are dead. Weve got 109 people dead and we need plastic to wrap them because the smell is too much, we cant stand the smell, the miners said in the letter. Community-led groups such as MACUA say they have led the effort to help the trapped miners for months, he said, as police cut off food and vital supplies to the men in November in an attempt to force them out and close the mine. The polices move a self-described crackdown on the illegal mining industry has drawn criticism from community groups and South Africas Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), who in November called it vindictive, saying it could end in a tragedy. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe told reporters in November that food and water supplies to those underground had been halted. We are stopping and preventing food and water to go down there as a way of forcing these illegal miners to resurface because what they are doing is criminality, she said. Miners would face arrest upon resurfacing, according to police. In November, a South African court ordered police to halt the standoff, provide food to the trapped miners and allow rescue teams to access the mine. The nations Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) also said it was investigating the police service for halting vital supplies to the miners. On Sunday, facing intensifying public pressure and reports that many of the miners had already died, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said it had begun plans to conduct a rescue operation at the abandoned shaft. The mineral resources department said the decision to deploy rescue services was made independently and not mandated by a court. South Africa harbors up to 100,000 artisanal miners, known locally as zama zamas with most of the minerals derived from artisanal mining sold to the black market, and international illicit mineral traders, according to SAFTU. The nation also loses more than $1 billion to illegal mining annually, with the black market trade in gold linked to violent turf wars, according to a parliamentary brief. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Shes not getting away this time. The Russian stowaway who snuck onto a Paris-bound flight from JFK Airport then ditched an ankle bracelet to try to flee the country again was finally ordered detained Wednesday. Svetlana Dali, 57, pleaded not guilty to one count of stowaway on an aircraft at her arraignment in Brooklyn federal court after she was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this week. Svetlana Dali was detained by a Brooklyn federal judge at her arraignment Wednesday. Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages The platinum blond serial flight risk, who sported a tan prison jumpsuit in court, was caught in December trying to cross into Canada on a Greyhound bus from Buffalo just 10 days after she was released on a GPS ankle monitor. Her latest stunt was enough for Brooklyn Federal Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo to finally side with prosecutor Brooke Theodora and detain Dali, saying no conditions of release would ensure she wouldnt flee again. The defendant will continue her evasive behavior if given the opportunity, the judge said, adding that he believed Dali would attempt to go on the lam again if she could. Dali is accused of secretly hitching a ride on a Delta flight Nov. 26 from the Queens airport to Paris by slipping past airline workers distracted by holiday travelers. She was later discovered after the plane landed in France but was flown back to the Big Apple and placed in custody. Dali was set free with a GPS monitoring device at her initial appearance despite prosecutors warning the judge that she was a serious risk of flight. She was ordered to avoid any airports as part of her release conditions, but the order did not mention anything about bus stations. Dalis attorney said the Russian stowaway is hopeful to get a plea deal before trial. Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages Dali then allegedly cut off her GPS ankle monitor and boarded a Greyhound bus to Canada in her latest bolt but she failed to show her passport when asked, prompting local authorities to search her name, law enforcement sources said. The officers found an active warrant was out for Dalis arrest for violating her release conditions and took her into custody in Buffalo, where she appeared before a federal judge and was promptly shipped back to the Big Apple. Dalis attorney, Michael Schneider, reserved a bail application but he said that they were hopeful of getting a plea deal before the case heads to trial. She faces up to five years in prison if convicted on the stowaway charge. Dalis next court appearance in March 5. WASHINGTON Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, will vote for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, she announced Tuesday night after his first confirmation hearing. "He was adequately able to answer all of my questions, he pointed out the woke issues at the Pentagon, and I think we're at a point where now we can start moving forward," Ernst told local radio host Simon Conway. Ernst was the senator to watch during Tuesday's confirmation hearing. As a military veteran and a sexual assault survivor, Ernst has been skeptical of Hegseth, who has been accused of sexual assault which he denies and has said women should not serve in combat. In November, she said he would "have his work cut out for him" getting confirmed in the Senate. But Ernst was deferential when it was her turn to question Hegseth, reading a letter of support for the nominee and noting that she had the chance to "thoroughly" question him about the issues that matter most to her, including women's roles and combatting sexual assault in the military. "You and I have had many productive conversations. And for our audience, we have had very frank conversations," she said. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, delivers remarks during a Senate Armed Services committee hearing on the expected nomination of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Hegseth only needs to a majority of senators to support him in order to lead the Department of Defense in President-elect Donald Trump's second term. In the chamber controlled 53-47 by Republicans, that would be simple for most nominees. But Hegseth has been dogged by allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and accusations that he has abused alcohol on the job. The woman who claimed Hegseth assaulted her filed a police report, and Hegseth paid her a settlement amount to avoid losing his job at Fox, according to his lawyer. Hegseth has repeatedly denied the allegations and called it a "coordinated smear campaign" against him. He also told Ernst and other senators Tuesday that women would be able to serve in combat roles under his leadership, "given the standards remain high" for them to qualify. If he lost the support of just a few Republican senators, he would be unable to get confirmed. Ernst's support is a good indication that he get enough GOP votes to be confirmed. Ernst met with Hegseth in December after she received a tsunami of criticism from the right over her hesitance to his nomination. A conservative commentator threatened to run in a Republican primary against Ernst if she seeks reelection in 2026, and the state's GOP attorney general wrote a column for the conservative outlet Breitbart deriding "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents." A group backed by Trump ally Elon Musk ran an ads in her state saying "the deep state is trying to stop his nomination." One of Trump's nominees has dropped out of consideration in the face of sexual misconduct allegations: Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Trump's pick to be attorney general, dropped his bid in November due to claims, which he denied, that he had sex with prostitutes including one minor. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joni Ernst says she will support Pete Hegseth for defense secretary The Mexican drug lord who founded the Sinaloa cartel with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is in plea talks with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, to resolve his case before a trial that could yield the death penalty, an assistant United States attorney said during a hearing Wednesday. Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, 76, has pleaded not guilty to a slew of federal drug and weapons charges. He had been wanted in the U.S. for more than two decades when he landed over the summer at a small airport in New Mexico where he was taken into custody. MORE: Top Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of El Chapo, taken into US custody: DOJ A frail-looking Zambada appeared at the hearing in a beige smock over an orange T-shirt and reading glasses dangling from the collar. He held an earpiece to his right ear with an index finger to listen to the interpreter. "The parties have been engaged in discussions to resolve the case pre-trial," federal prosecutor Francisco Navarro said. The judge asked the parties to return to court on April 22 and, in the meantime, to keep working on a plea deal. No trial date has been set. PHOTO: Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada is seen in this undated image taken from video. (GDA via AP Images) During the hearing, Judge Brian Cogan also allowed Zambada to keep his lawyer, Frank Perez, despite a conflict over Perez's representation of El Mayo's son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, who is cooperating with the government and who is likely to be called to testify against his father. "Because Vicente has information that might be used against you, and indeed because Vicente may testify against you, Mr. Perez has conflicting loyalties," Cogan said. "You don't have to proceed with a lawyer like Mr. Perez, who is conflicted." Zambada put on his glasses to read a prepared statement that said he wished to retain Perez as his lawyer despite the conflict. "I understand that upon representing two people in the same case there will be problems," Zambada said in Spanish. "But I don't want a different attorney. I want Mr. Perez to represent me even if this presents a conflict." MORE: Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of 'El Chapo,' pleads not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges The successors of El Mayo and El Chapo have been waging a bloody fight for control of the Sinaloa cartel after El Mayo accused El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, of betraying him and turning him over to the United States. Zambada and Guzman Lopez were arrested in New Mexico in July, following an operation that a Homeland Security Investigations official told ABC News had been planned for months. Zambada faces multiple federal indictments in jurisdictions across the U.S. and has been on the run from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement for years. He was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court in September on 17 counts related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses and money laundering. The charges make El Mayo eligible for the death penalty. He was ordered detained pending trial. Federal prosecutors allege that under El Mayo's leadership, the Sinaloa cartel expanded its drug business into fentanyl manufacturing and distributed thousands of kilograms of fentanyl into the U.S. The co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, El Chapo, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017, convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. His son, Guzman Lopez, has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges. Sinaloa cartel leader 'El Mayo' in plea talks in Brooklyn federal case, prosecutor says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SEOUL, South Korea South Korean authorities detained President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his botched declaration of martial law, weeks after a first attempt ended in a dramatic standoff at the residence where he had been holed up since he was impeached. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), which is leading a joint investigation, said the arrest warrant was executed at 10:33 a.m. (8:33 p.m. Tuesday ET), hours after hundreds of police officers arrived at Yoons presidential compound in central Seoul. Yoon, who was impeached last month after his short-lived martial law order plunged South Korea, a key U.S. ally, into political chaos, is South Koreas first president to be arrested in office. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arriving at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials in Gwacheon on Wednesday. Unlike the first execution attempt, this time there were no individuals or security staff actively obstructing the execution, and there were no significant physical clashes, the CIO said in a briefing. In an address to the nation, Yoon said that the warrant was illegal but that he decided to comply to prevent an unfortunate and bloody confrontation. Unfortunately, the rule of law in this country has completely collapsed, he said, according to his office. Investigators who arrived before dawn at Yoons presidential residence were met by members of his security service, who blocked them from detaining Yoon during their first attempt on Jan. 3. Lawyers for Yoon and lawmakers from his People Power Party were also on the access road leading to the residence, arguing that the warrant was illegal and blocking the police from progressing toward the residences entrance. Nearby, thousands of Yoons supporters and critics held dueling protests in below-freezing temperatures. Many of Yoons conservative supporters carried American flags and placards with slogans inspired by President-elect Donald Trump, such as Stop the Steal a reference to Yoons unsubstantiated claims of election fraud which he cited among his reasons for declaring martial law. Police officers could later be seen making progress toward the hillside villa after they pushed through multiple blockades made up of vehicles and barbed wire. Yoons legal team said Wednesday that he was willing to appear for questioning voluntarily rather than be taken into custody. But a convoy of black SUVs was later seen leaving the presidential compound with a police escort, and Yoon arrived at the CIO office shortly afterward. Police officers at Yoons residence in Seoul on Wednesday. The president remained very composed as he was being arrested, Yoon Sang Hyun, a PPP lawmaker who was with Yoon at his residence as he was taken into custody, said in a phone interview. He even comforted me, instead. The CIO said in a briefing that Yoon had exercised his right to remain silent during daylong questioning that included two meal breaks. It was possible that questioning would continue late into the night, and it was likely that Yoon would spend the night at the Seoul Detention Center. Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours, after which investigators would need to apply for another warrant to formally indict and continue to hold him. He faces possible charges of insurrection, one of the few crimes for which South Korean presidents do not have immunity. The main opposition Democratic Party hailed Yoons arrest as the first step towards restoring constitutional order. Although delayed, it is a relief to confirm that public authority and justice are still alive in South Korea, floor leader Park Chan-dae said in a text briefing. Many of Yoons supporters have relocated to the anti-corruption agency, where they planned to continue protesting overnight. Rhee Gyung-ae, who has been camping in Yoons neighborhood for the last week in the hope of stopping the warrants execution, told NBC News she would fight till the end, echoing Yoons own words. I hoped that President Yoon would stick it out to the end, but he caved because the president wanted to prevent any physical clash that could harm people, she said in a phone interview. A Yoon supporter outside the anti-corruption agency where he was being questioned on Wednesday. Yoon, 64, also faces trial in South Koreas Constitutional Court to determine whether to uphold his Dec. 14 impeachment by lawmakers, which suspended him from presidential duties. He did not attend the first day of proceedings Tuesday, citing security concerns. The hearing ended after about four minutes. A second hearing is set for Thursday. The warrant was executed far more smoothly Wednesday than during the first attempt, when Yoons presidential bodyguards faced off with law enforcement officers for almost six hours, saying they were required by law to protect the president. Investigators withdrew but said they would take all necessary measures in their next attempt, and the warrant was re-issued last week after having expired. South Koreas acting leader, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, had raised concerns about possible clashes Wednesday between authorities and the presidential bodyguards. This moment is a crucial one for maintaining order and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea, he said, using South Koreas formal name. The entire nation and the international community are closely watching this situation. The CIO had said about 1,000 police officers would be deployed Wednesday to assist with executing the warrant. Authorities also warned that anyone who tried to obstruct them could face arrest themselves. Yoons supporters have said that opponents are trying to humiliate him and that dragging him out of his residence in handcuffs could spark a civil war in a country deeply divided along ideological and generational lines. He is being treated as though he were a member of a South American drug cartel, Chung Jin-suk, Yoons chief of staff, said Tuesday. Lawyers for Yoon said that the warrant was invalid for jurisdictional reasons and that the law does not allow searches of locations that could contain military secrets, such as the presidential compound, without consent. Yoon, who took office in 2022 for a single five-year term, has struggled to advance his legislative agenda against the opposition-controlled parliament. In a surprise late-night address on Dec. 3, he accused anti-state forces of paralyzing the government and sympathizing with communist North Korea and declared emergency martial law, which included a ban on all political activity. He lifted the martial law order, South Koreas first since 1980, about six hours later, after lawmakers voted unanimously to reject it. Though Yoon has apologized for the order, which he said was within his power as president to issue, he has repeatedly defied summonses to appear for questioning in the criminal investigation. The episode has deeply shaken South Korea, which has a long history of military-authoritarian rule but has transitioned into one of Asias most vibrant democracies and the worlds 10th-largest economy. Stella Kim reported from Seoul and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong. Getty Images / NurPhoto Texans have let us in on a few (dozen) secrets. Texas Sheet Cake, brisket, Dr Pepper, Whataburger, ranch water, and Blue Bell top this list, of course, as classic representations of Texas innovation and long-standing hospitality. Theres Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Big Bend National Park, and the pecan groves of San Saba to consider, as well. The Lone Star State is one of endless possibilitiesin food and adventurewith a healthy dash of down-home kindness. Exemplifying some of the best that Texas has to offer is one famous grocery store with hometown pride: H-E-B. In the South, we call H-E-B an if you know, you know type of establishment. If youve had a chance to browse the grocery stores many aisles, you'll see local Texas brands plus many beloved in-house products. Take H-E-Bs freshly made tortillas and perfectly zingy guacamole, for instance. (One editor considers the guacamole her best hosting shortcut.) These store products rival the best brand names. Its no wonder that, in a national survey, H-E-B took first place for the best grocery store in the country. Getty Images As reported by KHOU-11 in Houston, H-E-B is no stranger to this best-of-the-best award. The grocery chain has actually topped the list four times in eight years. Its quite a remarkable achievement for a company that was founded 120 years ago in Kerrville, Texasa testament to the brands century-old commitment to service, community, and customer service. As their slogan says, Here, everythings better. The ranking, which comes from dunnhumby's Annual Retailer Preference Index (RPI), focused on price, promotion, and rewards, with a pool of over 11,000 consumers and 72 of the countrys largest grocers. Customers acknowledged H-E-Bs savings, quality, shopping experience, and product selection. Overall, the survey showed that shoppers deemed savings most important to their grocery choices, which included reward programs and pricing. Quality, operations, and convenience also stood out as key factors in choosing where to shop. This years RPI shows that the fundamentals still apply as H-E-B has proven year over year, Matt OGrady, dunnhumby's President of the Americas, said in a release. The first step is to understand your customers and how customers perceive you. Secondly, prioritize efforts to save your customers money that is consistent with your positioning. And finally, use the RPI as a framework to help you determine where you should invest and where you should make tradeoffs. Seems like H-E-B is doing something right! Whether youre stopping at H-E-B on your regular grocery run or planning a trip from out of state to stock up on that green sauce (a creamy jalapeno, poblano, and green tomato creation you just cant miss), take a little pride in this award-winning grocery store with Texas character. Read the original article on Southern Living LOS ANGELES Krissy Simmel stopped her Jeep at an intersection inside the fire-scorched Pacific Palisades neighborhood and lowered the window when she saw a military police officer. Were animals rescued today? she asked. Just a lady with some spiders, the officer replied. Im serious. The wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 25 people, destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 homes, businesses and other structures and triggered something else: a massive pet rescue effort. The rescued include untold cats and dogs, goats and fish, and, according to the officer, Army reservist Jimmy Garcia, on Monday in the Pacific Palisades, arachnids. The woman apparently talked her way into an area recently blocked to residents, as officials try to protect properties from looters, squatters and fire-related risks. That would align with some of the pet rescue methods: cajoling, a little fibbing and a lot of TLC. Simmel, who is in her 50s and grew up in Pacific Palisades, was in midmission on Monday. Krissy Simmel evacuated the LA fire zone but returned for the animals. She had been forced to evacuate her home in the area six days earlier. Now she was back for the animals. All that awfulness, and theres life still in there? Simmel said, referring to the more than 23,000 acres burned in the Palisades Fire. The prospect of their survival, of rescuing them, she said, is "beautiful and amazing. On the front lines of the pet rescue effort Simmel is an unofficial volunteer on the front lines of the pet rescue effort. And she has the time for it. She lost a job at a local supermarket in October and then the dress shop where she had been helping a friend burned down last week. She pulled her Jeep into the driveway of the property where she lived a guesthouse she stayed in for the past 2-1/2 years. Carrying a bucket, she opened a wooden gate. The main house and the guest house were spared by the fires. She headed to a small pond. Hi! Simmel said, looking into the water. So everybodys present and accounted for? All seven koi fish, present and accounted for. Krissy Simmel evacuated the LA fire zone but returned for the animals. Simmel tossed in fistfuls of food. Nearby homes were burned down. Id say its a miracle that the water didnt get hot enough to harm them, Simmel said of the fish, who have been in the homeowners' family for 15 to 20 years. She couldn't move them, but she could feed them. Its just giving all of us that live here a sense of normalcy and peace of mind to know that Gods creatures are going to be OK for another night. Cowboy and Luna stranded The rescue tales of the pets of the Palisades are not hard to come by. In Simmel's case, there was the 97-year-old man and his wife who needed help reuniting with their dog. And the 35-year-old nonprofit consultant who drove to the Palisades on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, to rescue cats belonging to his aging mother-in-law and her roommate. In the chaos of the evacuation on Tuesday, the cats were left behind. The consultant, Erik Morentin, told USA TODAY he was turned away each day while being told residents could enter only to retrieve medication, not pets. On Friday, Morentin said, he was ready to give up. I'm begging the police officers and they're telling me no and only for medication purposes, and that's about the time when Krissy and her friends jump in, he said. (They) just said, 'hes in my neighborhood and I can take him in my car, and we know we can just swing by his mother-in-law's house and we can get these cats and he can pick up his medication for his mother-in-law.' Which really at that point, she was just trying to help me get through to get to the cats. The house was intact and the cats were alive, Morentin said. I ran back to Sunset (Boulevard) and Krissy met me up in her Jeep, and it was just completely overwhelming, he said. I just said, Thank you so much. You just saved these cats' lives. These cats had been out without food and water for four days. They were incredibly dehydrated. Morentin texted USA TODAY photos of the cats an orange tabby, Cowboy, and a gray tabby, Luna. Don't forget about the pet oyster As the late afternoon sky began to darken, the white Jeep still was parked in front of the home with the well-fed koi. But Simmel wasnt done. On a table outside the guesthouse, she poured food for the birds and squirrels. I also have a pet oyster who survived, she said, noting the shellfish didn't have any water after the fire had swept through. "Hopefully, hes OK. As she drove out of the charred neighborhood, she stopped by Fire Station No. 69. She hugged the firefighters. Tears ran down her cheeks. God bless, she told each of them before climbing into the Jeep, distinguishable by the Trust Jesus bumper sticker on the inside lower corner of her front windshield. "Suddenly, we strangers become a family. Thats the beautiful part," Simmel remarked. And off into the night she drove. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LA fires pet rescue: Meet the folks saving our furry friends As wildfires continues to rage across Southern California, residents and rescuers are doing everything possible to protect not only the people endangered in this horrific disaster but also the many animals being affected by the blaze. As rescue centers fill with lost and missing dogs, cries for help have reverberated all over social media. Theres a lot of anger out there, too, at the presumption that these lost pets were abandoned when the forest hit the homes. But in many cases, they are indeed lost. Often, the homes went up in flames while people were gone at work. Other times, the chaos and fear of an approaching fire could cause skittish animals to bolt or hide. Lets try to have sympathy for all the peopleand the petscaught up in this terrible situation. There are also some truly beautiful stories, such as this report of a teenage equestrian who is determined to help the horses boarded in places that are in the path of destructioneven if the horses give her a hard time. View the original article to see embedded media. Kalyna Fedorowycz is a sixteen-year-old equestrian who has been helping to transport horses away from the Southern California wildfires. But when a horse recently was too scared to get aboard the transport trailer, she took a more hands-on approach and actually rode the animal out of the canyon herself. Related: Horse Gently Eating Grass From Little Girl's Hands Has People So Touched When this horse wouldnt load, she rode it fourteen miles to safety. Kalyna is brave beyond her years and we are so proud to know her, writes a local equestrian supply shop on their social media page showing the efforts that Fedorowycz and other volunteers are undertaking to keep these animals safe. A Harrowing Journey Through the Fire In the video, taken by the girls father as he follows behind them in his car, Fedorowycz is seen sometimes riding and sometimes walking alongside the creature as they navigate many dangers during the evacuation. Pillars of smoke, burning debris-laden streets, downed telephone poles, and hillside in flame are all obstacles to getting this majestic animal to safety. And Fedorowycz remains a calm and calming presence, softly nudging the horse on, holding their heads close and presumably saying words of encouragement, and keeping her hand gently on the animals neck to let the horse know shes right there. Its deeply touching, and a testament to her enduring love and careful consideration of the horses feelings and understandable fear. Fedorowycz posted the video on her TikTok, explaining that the horse was not hers, but he would not load on the evacuation transport and she felt she had no choice if she wanted to save his life. I was behind this girl and her dad in the canyon that day, said one person in comments. We talked while the canyon was burning. They were so amazing with this horse who was tired and spooked. Much love, Kalyna, you are amazing. How to Help Animals Affected by the Fires To support Fedorowycz and other animal rescuers in Southern California, there are donation and other opportunities available at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and the Pasadena Humane Society. Also, individual people and organizations such as farms and equestrian centers could also use your monetary support during this difficult time. 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. Sidney Lanier Middle School in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles said Monday the district's maintenance team is addressing rodents at Lanier Middle School in the River Oaks area. "And so, that's happening, and they're encouraging any school that sees anything like that to call the maintenance department, and they'll get on it," he said of the issue, reported first by KHOU 11 News. The school's principal, Marcus Williams, linked the introduction of rodents to the cold weather in a Tuesday email to parents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We understand that this situation can cause concern, and I want to assure you that the safety and health of our students is our top priority," Williams said of the school established in 1926. Williams said the district's facilities team was addressing potential entry points for rodents and updating weather stripping for all exterior doors. The district also added traps and deterrents against rodents around the school. Lanier with around 1,400 students "enhanced" its daily cleaning procedures and "reset" cleanliness standards with its custodial staff, he wrote. Separately, the Houston Police Department is addressing rats after a purported rat colony in a downtown Houston police property room ate some mushrooms intended as evidence against two defendants, prosecutors on Monday said, warning thousands of additional cases may be at risk of contamination. Police also said on Jan. 10 that it will destroy unneeded drugs and other evidence that have caused rat infestations and property rooms to overflow for decades. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lanier parent Kathleen Christman said a rat appeared in her eighth-grader's class, and students had to stop what they were doing to run away from the rat. She also said there were dead rats in the ceiling leading to an odor and rat urine and feces in the school. She believes there are not enough custodians to address cleanliness. Hundreds of custodial and maintenance employees are no longer with the district as of the end of last academic year according to records, and it is unclear to what extent they were hired back. President Joe Biden, center, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Sec. of State Anthony Blinken, right, speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are both claiming credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza on Wednesday after the White House brought Trump's Middle East envoy into negotiations that have dragged on for months. Trump wasted no time in asserting he was the moving force behind the deal. Biden, meanwhile, stressed that the deal was reached under the precise contours of a plan that he set out in late May. This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies, Trump wrote on social media. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones. Trump added that his incoming Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff who was participating in the talks in Doha, Qatar would continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. Biden said from the White House that "my diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done. It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy, Biden said. The jostling comes with both Biden and Trump determined to see the deal become a set piece of Middle East success for the legacy of their presidency. Biden's administration worked for months to broker peace in talks that inched frustratingly close to success before repeatedly breaking down. Trump, for his part, had warned of hell to pay if a deal wasnt done by his inauguration in five days. While Biden's refusal to impose meaningful restrictions on sending arms to Israel may have helped the key U.S. ally seriously degrade Hamas and fellow Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, it also came with enormous suffering for innocent Palestinians and Lebanese who have been caught in the crossfire of the 15 months of grinding war. Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks despite repeated failures. But Trumps threats to Hamas and his efforts through Witkoff to cajole Netanyahu deserve credit as well, he said. The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential U.S. foreign policy can be when its bipartisan, he said. Both the outgoing and incoming administration deserve credit for this deal and it wouldve been far less likely to happen without both pushing for it. In his White House remarks, Biden said his administration negotiated the deal but that Trumps team will soon be charged with making sure its implemented. For the past few days, we have been speaking as one team, Biden said in a nod to Witkoff being part of the talks. Trump's team pushed back, saying Biden couldnt get the deal done until Trump and Witkoff intervened. The Biden administration was handing the Trump administration a detailed roadmap to win a lasting peace that has broad support in the region, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. The involvement of President-elect Trumps team has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line, Miller told reporters. "And its been critical because obviously, as I stand today, this administrations term in office will expire in five days. Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered his gratitude to both the incoming and outgoing U.S. presidents. Nancy Okail, head of the U.S.-based Center for International Policy, said acceptance of the deal in the face of Trumps insistence that a ceasefire be in place when he takes office ironically shows how effective actual pressure can be in changing Israeli government behavior." The Biden administrations open embrace of the Trump team's involvement in the talks was rooted in far more than the president-elects influence with Netanyahu and his threats to get a deal done before he's back in the White House, three current U.S. officials said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer candid details, said their interest in having Witkoff participate in the talks alongside Bidens Mideast pointman, Brett McGurk, was primarily designed to ensure that an agreement which will require a lengthy American commitment would have continued U.S. support after Biden leaves office. Yet, since Witkoff entered the latest round of talks alongside McGurk, these U.S. officials have downplayed Trumps relevance to the process, apart from the importance of ensuring his support for a deal painstakingly negotiated over the past year. They also want backing for a plan pushed by the Biden administration for the governance, reconstruction and security of Gaza that will take many months and significant U.S. backing to succeed. One fear about not including Trump officials in the negotiations was that the post-conflict plan for Gaza that has been worked out over the past year might be abandoned by the new administration. It calls for an international presence in Gaza to help the Palestinian Authority with governance and reconstruction as well as a temporary foreign security presence to address Israeli security concerns. Implementation of the agreement could begin Sunday, when the first group of hostages may be freed, according to a senior U.S. official involved in the talks. Negotiations intensified over the past four days, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official described McGurk and Witkoffs coordination as a fruitful partnership" in which the two closely coordinated as they pressed parties to come to terms. At at critical point last week, Witkoff left talks in Doha for Israel to meet with Netanyahu. That allowed McGurk to remain in Doha and continue to work with Qatari negotiators who were chief interlocutors with Hamas. The U.S., Qatari and Egyptian negotiators, along with Israels team nearby, worked until the wee hours of Wednesday morning, just a floor above where the Hamas negotiators were holed up, the official said. Later Wednesday, Hamas made several last-second demands, but we held very firm, and the group eventually agreed to the terms of the deal, the official said. Over the course of the war, Bidens relationship with Netanyahu was strained by the enormous Palestinian death toll in the fighting now standing at more than 46,000 dead and Israels blockade of the territory that has created a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza by leaving access to food and basic health care severely limited. Pro-Palestinian activists have demanded an arms embargo against Israel, but U.S. policy has largely remained unchanged. Biden's critics say his approach could come with long-term ramifications for U.S. standing in the Middle East and may well prove to be a stain on his legacy. After his remarks Wednesday, Biden was walking away from the podium when a reporter asked who would be credited in the history books for the ceasefire deal. He turned, smiled and said, Is that a joke? ___ AP writers Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, and Zeke Miller and Colleen Long in Washington contributed reporting. WASHINGTON John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trumps pick to lead the CIA, said he plans widespread reforms at the nations premiere spy agency at his nomination hearing Wednesday, but promised he would not hire or fire employees based on their political views. Ratcliffes pledge, made repeatedly in response to questions from Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee, may put him at odds with Trump and some of the president-elect's other national security picks who have vowed to test intelligence officials based on their support of Trump. But Ratcliffe, citing his time as Director of National Intelligence in Trump's first administration, said he will not waver. "If you look at my record as DNI, that never took place. That is never something anyone has alleged, and it is something that I would never do," Ratcliffe told the committees top Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia. More: Team Trump faces the Senate: Six top picks in confirmation hearings John Ratcliffe speaks during a Senate Intelligence committee hearing on his nomination to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ratcliffes hearing lacked the fireworks that marked the hearing this week for former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense. Republicans and Democrats alike praised Ratcliffe, calling him well-qualified, having also served on the House intelligence committee and as a top federal prosecutor in Texas. More: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin risked national security 'unnecessarily,' Inspector General says Ratcliffe pledged repeatedly to focus more on the rising threat posed by China, to upgrade the agencys technological capabilities and to hire and promote spies and analysts based on merit alone, in a reference to Trump's vow to weed out diversity programs from the national security realm. Today we face what may be the most challenging national security environment in our nations history, Ratcliffe said in his opening remarks. More: Assault allegations, women in combat: Takeaways from Hegseth confirmation hearing The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency is shown at the entrance of the CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia, U.S., September 24, 2022. The Chinese Communist Party remains committed to dominating the world economically, technologically and militarily," he said. "Transnational criminal organizations are flooding American communities with violence and deadly narcotics. The Russia-Ukraine War wages on, and Iran is closer to nuclear breakout than ever before. He also promised to revisit the origin of the Covid-19 virus and whether Russia or another foreign power is behind the largely unsolved cognitive injuries known as Havana Syndrome suffered by many CIA employees in recent years. More: Pam Bondi, Trump's choice for attorney general, declines to talk about TikTok ban at Senate hearing Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., asked about one controversy Ratcliffe helped create as DNI, in which he was accused of selectively declassifying intelligence from the Justice Department investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election to portray Trump in a more favorable light. Ratcliffes actions might reasonably draw the question of whether or not there was some political impetus, behind his decision, Ossoff said. Ratcliffe responded that the process "was an iterative, collaborative process" that included many other top Trump officials "to respond to these requests or demands to put that information out. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, the committee chair, kicked things off by saying the CIA had failed repeatedly in its core mission of stealing secrets handling spies hacking computers. Suffice it to say, were too often in the dark, Cotton said, citing the intelligence communitys failure to predict the fall of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad and other geopolitical events. The CIA must get back to its roots." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Ratcliffe sails through nomination hearing as Trump CIA director FILE - Vivek Ramaswamy arrives before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Santander Arena, Oct. 9, 2024, in Reading, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest in the Ohio U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance, two people with direct knowledge of the biotech entrepreneur's wishes told The Associated Press. The 39-year-old from Cincinnati had been weighing a campaign for Ohio governor in 2026 and hoped to build his policy portfolio as partner to billionaire Elon Musk leading a non-governmental effort to cut federal government spending, regulations and personnel. But in recent weeks, Ramaswamy had multiple conversations with President-elect Donald Trump about filling the Senate seat, according to one of the people. That person said Trump approached Ramaswamy to consider taking the seat as someone familiar with Trump's goal of slashing the federal bureaucracy. The people with direct knowledge of Ramaswamys interest in the Senate seat spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose a private discussion. Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint the successor to Vance, who was elected to the Senate in 2022 but is scheduled to be sworn in as Republican President-elect Donald Trump's vice president on Monday. The person DeWine appoints will serve until December 2026. They would need to run again for the remainder of the term in November 2026. Neither Gov. DeWine nor our office has commented on any possible candidates for the pending appointment, Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for the governors office, said in a statement. Ramaswamy waged an outsider bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination last year but suspended his campaign after a fourth-place finish in Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses. Ramaswamy endorsed Trump, and became a regular surrogate for the campaign, headlining fundraisers in battleground states. Ramaswamy had expressed interest in the Senate seat after the election, but originally took his name out of consideration as he was asked to help lead the Department of Government Efficiency, an outside effort with Musk to drastically reduce the size and cost of government. A spokesperson for Ramaswamy did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Ramaswamy's renewed interest in the seat was first reported by The Washington Post. 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. Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Bluesky (@octaviajnews.bsky.social), TikTok (@octaviaj_news) and Facebook (Octavia R. Johnson). Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast-paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. Distributor Arrow Electronics has made the decision to shut down its enterprise computing solutions (ECS) business across Australia and New Zealand. In a statement to ARN, the distributor said it will honour its global contractual obligations, maintaining a limited presence to support these commitments. Arrow Electronics has made the strategic decision to close its enterprise computing solutions business operations in Australia and New Zealand as part of a continuing initiative to invest in growth areas across the companys businesses, the statement said. Arrow is committed to providing a smooth transition for its employees and channel partners during this period. Customers will receive continued support through Arrows channel partner network. The decision will not impact Arrows global components business located in Melbourne, Arrow Electronics Australia. Cyber security vendor SentinelOne has hired Brad Perriott as its area vice president for A/NZ. He steps into the role vacated by Jason Duerden, who has transitioned to the position of area vice president of social media, to drive the companys brand awareness strategy. Perriott will head up a regional team of sales representatives to spearhead the companys efforts to expand and accelerate adoption of SentinelOnes cyber security platform among government organisations and enterprises. With over 20 years of experience as an information technology business leader, Perriott was the senior director of APAC at New Relic. Prior to that role, he held positions in sales, marketing and alliances with companies such as Dell, Optus and Sun Microsystems. Earlier this year, SentinelOne APJ area VP of channel sales Joe McPhillips retired. Today's news: South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol arrested and interrogated. In one week, air strikes by the coup junta in Myanmar killed 60 civilians. In India there are fewer and fewer camels. In Vietnam, state broadcasters close down due to bureaucratic restructuring. GAZA - ISRAEL After eight hours of talks in Doha, Qatar, last night a senior Hamas official said the group was waiting for maps from Israel showing withdrawal from the Gaza Strip before signing the ceasefire agreement. According to mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the text has been presented to both sides and talks are underway to work out the final details. Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli army has continued to strike a number of targets in Gaza, killing 24 people this morning alone. SOUTH KOREA President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested and interrogated by more than 3,000 policemen who marched on his residence in the early hours of this morning. I have decided to respond to the IOC investigation, despite the fact that it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent unpleasant bloodshed, said Yoon, who must answer charges of insurrection and may be detained for up to 48 hours. MYANMAR Air strikes by the Burmese junta have killed more than 60 civilians in the past week, targeting regions and outposts controlled by ethnic militias, such as the Arakan Army, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. In Rakhine alone, 40 people were killed, including children, and 390 houses were destroyed. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 100 people had been killed in December, almost half of them by aerial bombardment. INDIA In contrast to the rest of the world, the number of camels is in drastic decline in India, where they have fallen from one million in 1961 to around 200,000 today. And the decline has been particularly sharp in recent years. In the state of Rajasthan, there has been a 35% reduction in seven years. According to local residents, the situation is a consequence of a 2015 law, desired by the BJP, which prohibits the transportation, illegal possession and slaughter of camels, clashing with traditional breeding methods. VIETNAM This morning, one of Vietnam's largest state-owned broadcasters suspended broadcasting following a radical reform involving a 20 per cent cut in civil servants. Some Communist Party officials have called it a revolution: eight ministries and government agencies will be cut and four other TV stations have been forced to close. RUSSIA Despite the abandonment of Russia by Western companies, US companies still active in Russia (Philip Morris, PepsiCo, Mars, Procter&Gamble and others) paid over billion to the tax authorities out of the total .5 billion in tax revenues, more than they paid before the war due to increased tariffs. US companies are followed by those from Germany (693 million) and Austria (579 million). BELARUS From the beginning of 2025 in Belarus child protection bodies can more easily remove children from the care of their parents, thanks to a new regulation on the dissemination of extremist materials that defines as socially dangerous people who spread criticism of Aleksandr Lukasenko's regime on any undesirable social platform. by Vladimir Rozanskij The video of an exorcism performed on a little girl that has gone viral on social networks is sparking heated debate in Kazakhstan. The denunciation of intellectual Gaziz Abisev: The ultra-conservative part of society, behind the slogans of passionate ideologies, is trying in various ways to drag the nation back to the darkness of the past. Astana (AsiaNews) - The exorcist rite of expulsion of the Jinn from a nine year old girl, conducted by a self-appointed healer who has become very popular, Kejkuat Ospanov, who spread the video on the web, has caused a stir and great discussion in Kazakhstan. In it, the alleged exorcist wrestles with the 19-year-old Ljazzat, an evil spirit (a Jinn, according to Islamic tradition) that had taken possession of the little girl's body, lying with her hands tied on the floor, screaming and crying while two adults hold her down. Ospanov asks the spirit questions in the Kazakh language, which the Jinn answers through the little girl. In the dialogue it is revealed that Ljazzat is 19 years old, but a thousand years old, and that he has taken possession of the girl without spells along with eight other spirits. The girl had been brought to the healer because she was behaving strangely as an adult, according to her parents' account, she didn't want to play with anything and didn't give any explanations, she claimed to be 19 years old and did the house cleaning without being asked, and because of this sudden maturity her parents were frightened. The Kazakh political scientist Gaziz Abisev commented on this scene on his Telegram channel, calling it a symptom of the degradation of society, wondering how parents can believe in Sajtans (Satan in Islam) and spirits that take possession of their daughter, to whom such rituals can only cause enormous harm. Abisev proposes to put this specialist in fighting black magic in front of some jailbirds, to see how he fares. In his opinion, phenomena of this kind are consequences of the falling level of education among the population of Kazakhstan. He recalls that the Kazakhs for a few decades tried to rise above the other peoples, producing engineers, doctors, programmers and other professionals of the highest level, while now the ultra-conservative part of society, behind the slogans of passionate ideologies, tries in various ways to take the nation back to the darkness of the past. The healer Kejkuat offers on his Facebook page the chart of his sessions, touring different cities in Kazakhstan, and in one of his latest posts he claims to have gone to heal people in Moldova. As Imam Altynbek Utyskhanov has made known, prior to engaging in exorcism activities, Ospanov was one of the custodians of the central mosque in the city of Atyrau, without ever having received any religious appointments from the Spiritual Administration of Muslims. According to the imam, these rituals and mystical ideals, apart from the characters who perform them, speak of the growth of nostalgic feelings for customs that are justified without foundation through religion. According to Abisev, religion is an important part of life, and offers many positive dimensions, but one must be able to distinguish authentic faith from the excesses of obscurantism. He recalls the responsibility of parents and adult members of all families to maintain common sense. The guarantor for children's rights, Dinara Zakieva, in turn commented on the ritual on Instagram, assuring that we are working with the interior ministry and regional officials to investigate the personality of this exorcist and the data of the child subjected to exorcism, and we will give explanations for the incident. Several sites report comments on the incident, reminding of the importance of protecting children as the most important part of the entire society. On Orda.kz, a case is reported of a father with six adopted children in Simkent, who uses violence on the children with pseudo-religious motives, beating them regularly without allowing them to wash themselves, and feeding them with food from the dogs and cats at home to preserve them from evil spirits. by Daniele Frison The World Watch List 2025, a list of the 50 countries with extreme levels of oppression, has been released for the period from October 2023 to September 2024. Violence is up in Central Asia, most notably in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In Myanmar, Christians have been caught up in the ongoing fighting. Pakistan and India remain among the countries most at risk. The situation is improving in Indonesia. Rome (AsiaNews) Anti-Christian persecution is growing all over the world. Over a year, the number of heavily persecuted and discriminated Christians for reasons of their faith jumped from 365 to 380 million: one in seven globally. North Korea has been the country most opposed to Christianity for years. But rampant authoritarianism in Central Asia is also worrying sign, even in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, for example, where violence against churches, and restrictions on freedom of association are increasing. This alarming picture emerges from the annual report by Open Doors, a Christian advocacy NGO. From October 2023 to September 2024, 4,476 Christians were killed and 3,944 were victims of abuse, while 7,000 attacks were carried out against churches, as well as 28,000 on homes or shops owned by Christians. The Evangelical organisation, which has defended the rights of Christian communities of all denominations in the world since 1955, released its annual World Watch List 2025 (WWL) with the list of the 50 countries with the highest level of persecution. The report is based on the contribution of 4,000 people, including local sources, researchers and analysts. Since 2016, persecution has grown steadily. As in 2024, 13 countries including eight in Asia and the Middle East come in with the highest level, out of the approximately 100 countries monitored. Open Doors focused on six aspects of Christian life private life, family, community, church, public life, violence and considers four types of communities - migrants, non-traditional, converts and members of historic Churches. As far as Asia is concerned, North Korea has had a zero tolerance for Christians for years, the report points out with 50,000 to 70,000 Christians held in forced labour camps. Fugitives are subjected to brutal interrogations" after they are "forcibly repatriated, mainly from China. The climate of repression by the North Korean regime has forced Christians into a hidden Church. Here, as in Afghanistan, the Christian faith is lived "totally underground. Afghanistan, which has been again under Taliban rule since 2021, is 10th on the WWL. Many Christians have been killed (in a real manhunt), many have fled abroad, while a small number has managed to hide. In Iran (9th position), Christians are "forced to meet in small groups at home", reports Open Doors. Myanmar moves up the sad ranking for the first time, reaching 13th place among the countries with an extreme level of oppression. As in Yemen (ranked 3rd), civil war has entrapped Christians in the ongoing war situation", Open Doors points out. After the country plunged into civil war after the 2021 military coup, over 100,000 Christians are languishing in displacement camps in Kachin state alone, while the army increasingly attacks Christian churches where they are suspected of harboring insurgents. Ethnic rebel forces and groups benefitting from a drug trade and other lawless activities are also persecuting Christians. The 2025 report highlights the worsening situation of Christian communities in Central Asia. The case of Kyrgyzstan is emblematic, which had the biggest move on the list, from 61st to 47th place. Open Doors cites the hostile acts against a Christian organisation in Karakul and the Catholic Church of St Nicholas in Talas. Such incidents raise fears for Kyrgyzstans future, as President Sadyr Japarov is concentrating power. Kazakhstan moves up by nine places into 38th position; at least 20 Christian women were sexually abused because of their religion, and at least as many were forcibly married to Muslim men. Police reportedly raided four worship meetings of three unregistered Protestant communities in southern Kazakhstan. South Asia remains in the top 10 list with Pakistan in eighth position, the second nation in the world for the most anti-Christian violence after Nigeria (where 3,100 Christians were killed), Open Doors reports, largely due to the countrys blasphemy legislation, which affects Christians, 1.8 per cent of the population, "disproportionately". India remains in 11th place. "For years, we have been denouncing the decline of the fundamental freedoms of the Christian minority, the target of violence and discrimination," reads the new report. In the period under review, 20 Christians were killed, more than 2,000 detained without trial in prison or psychiatric hospitals, and 459 churches or Christian public properties were attacked. Not all is gloom. The WWL 2025 also has some encouraging news. In Indonesia, extreme violence against Christians is down over the previous year. Since October 2023, "documented killings of Christians for religious reasons and attacks on churches have decreased," says Open Doors. This change might seem statistically minor, but is extremely significant, and sees the Southeast Asian nation move from 42nd to 59th place. Meeting pilgrims in the Paul VI Hall he recalled the millions of children exposed to dangerous activities despite their young age or kidnapped for organ transplants. Proximity to the populations of Kachin State in Myanmar where landslides have sown death and destruction. We pray for the conversion of the hearts of arms manufacturers. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - No child should be abused. Even one case is already too many. Pope Francis returned to denounce this today in the Wednesday audience held in the Paul VI Hall. With his voice still cold, the pontiff nevertheless personally pronounced his reflection that, as announced last week, in this Christmas season is dedicated to children the most loved by the Lord. On the other hand, even today in the world, the Pontiff recalled, hundreds of millions of minors, despite not having the minimum age to be subject to the obligations of adulthood, are forced to work and many of them are exposed to particularly dangerous work. Not to mention the boys and girls who are slaves of trafficking for prostitution or pornography, and forced marriages'. Francis dwelt in particular on the scourge of child labour: I know a country in Latin America (Colombia ed.) - he said in addition to the written text - where a special fruit grows called arandano, a kind of blueberry. It takes tender hands to harvest thearandano and they make children do it, they enslave them as children to harvest it'. Widespread poverty, the lack of social tools to support families, marginality that has increased in recent years along with unemployment and job insecurity, the pope commented, are factors that burden the youngest with the greatest price to pay. In the metropolises, where the social divide and moral degradation bite, there are children employed in drug dealing and the most diverse illicit activities. How many of these kids have we seen fall as sacrificial victims'. He then cited the story of Loan Danilo Pena, a five-year-old boy from the province of Corrientes, in northern Argentina, who has not been heard from since last June. He was kidnapped and his whereabouts are unknown, he commented. And one of the hypotheses is that he was sent to remove organs, to do transplants. This is done. You know very well. Some come back with a scar, others die. That is why I would like to remember this boy Loan today. It costs us,' Francis added, to recognise the social injustice that drives two children, perhaps living in the same neighbourhood or apartment block, to take diametrically opposed paths and destinies, because one of them was born into a disadvantaged family. An unacceptable human and social divide: between those who can dream and those who must succumb. But Jesus wants us all free and happy. In the face of such widespread plagues, what can I do? First of all, replied the pontiff, we should recognise that we cannot be accomplices. And when are we? For example when we buy products that use children's labour. How can I eat and dress knowing that behind that food or those clothes there are exploited children, who work instead of going to school? Awareness about what we buy is a first act in order not to be complicit'. However, institutions, including Church institutions, and businesses must also be called to their responsibility: they can make a difference by shifting their investments towards companies that do not use and do not allow child labour, said Francis, who also called on journalists to do their part: they can contribute to making the problem known and help find solutions. Do not be afraid: denounce these things. Finally, he cited the example of St. Teresa of Calcutta, mother of the most disadvantaged and forgotten children, citing a prayer in which she gave them a voice: I ask for the right to be a child, she wrote, to be hope for a better world. I ask to be able to grow as a person. Can I count on you? At the end of the catechesis, the Pope wanted to express his closeness to the people of Kachin State in Myanmar, where in the town of Hpakant, a landslide in a mining area swept away about fifty houses, killing at least 12 people and causing other missing people and extensive damage. I am close to the people affected by this disaster, he said, and I pray for those who have lost their lives and for their families. May these brothers and sisters who are in the ordeal not lack the support and solidarity of the international community'. Myanmar, along with Israel and Palestine, the tormented Ukraine and Sudan were also in the pope's thoughts today as he recalled the countries at war, for which he urged continued prayer invoking peace. War is always a defeat, he added, inviting today in particular to pray for the conversion of the hearts of the manufacturers of weapons because with their product they help to kill. A moment of celebration today was brought to the Paul VI Hall by the artists of a circus present in Rome these days, who briefly performed before the pope and the pilgrims. The work of the circus is a human work, of art, which requires a lot of effort, said Francis praising their performance. Family of Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas walk with his body as it is taken to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences from Ben Taub Hospital Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Law enforcement officers line up to salute Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas as his body is taken to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences from Ben Taub Hospital Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Officials are mourning the death of Brazoria County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jesus Vargas, who was shot and killed while attempting to execute an arrest warrant Wednesday morning, according to authorities. Vargas was a 17-year law enforcement veteran, and a member of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force. Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman described Vargas as a "very dedicated servant to Brazoria County." Here's what we know about Vargas: Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Friend, mentor and inspiration' Vargas joined the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office in October 2007. He began his career as a law enforcement officer with Danbury Police Department the year before, according to employment history maintained by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Stallman said Vargas was a father of three and asked the public keep Vargas' wife and children in their thoughts as they grapple with the loss of their father and husband. MORE ON THE SHOOTING: Brazoria County sheriff's deputy killed in southwest Houston, suspected shooter on the run "I would ask that we all send our prayers and our condolences to the family," Stallman said at a news conference. "That's what we're doing as a department and as a community of Brazoria County." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Vargas also had a brother, Stallman said. People arrive Ben Taub Hospital, where Brazoria County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jesus Vargas, was taken to after he was shot Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Houston. Vargas, a 17-year-veteran of the office, approached a man at a strip mall in southwest Houston with a partner and was shot, Sheriff Bo Stallman said. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer In a post made to Facebook, the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office said Vargas was an inspiration to those around him. "He was more than a team member he was a friend, mentor and inspiration to everyone who knew him," the post read. "His professionalism and kind nature left a lasting impact on our office and the residents he served." Shot during arrest attempt Stallman said Vargas, who had been a part of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force for two years, was shot after he and another officer approached a man at a strip mall on the 9300 block of Stella Link in southwest Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Loading... Vargas was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to Stallman. Police said a 56-year-old Robert Lee Davis, also known as Sean Christopher Davis, was wanted in connection to the shooting. He was located Wednesday evening and shot and killed by police, who said he shot a police dog. The dog was expected to survive, police said. Davis was found hiding in a dumpster not far from the location where Vargas was shot. "He's a repeat violent offender; that's why this task force was pursuing him out of the U.S. Marshals Office," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire in a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "It's an operation that includes our surrounding county partners ... and they followed him into the City of Houston, and they saw an opportunity to move on him." 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. Aliyev threatened last week to put an end to fascism in Armenia and to forcibly open a land corridor through Armenias strategic Syunik region to Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave. Critics of the Armenian government have portrayed his statement as a further indication that Baku is gearing up for a large-scale invasion of Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has likewise suggested that Aliyev may be preparing the ground for unhindered aggression against his country. Nevertheless, he has pledged to stick to his peace agenda. Rhetoric aside, any aggression needs grounds, Papikian told a news conference As defense minister, I do not see that there are grounds for escalating [tensions in] the region because Armenia has proposals and solutions for every problem. Armenia acts with a narrative of establishing peace in the region and those narratives and proposals are quite substantiated, he said. Papikian declined to say whether Azerbaijan had grounds to attack Armenian border areas in 2021 and 2022. Armenian opposition leaders and commentators warned of a growing risk of fresh Azerbaijani aggression even before Aliyevs latest threats. They pointed, in particular, to increased contacts between Azerbaijani and Turkish military officials reported in November and December. Critics also claim that Yerevans pro-Western foreign policy and heightened tensions with Russia are only aggravating security threats facing Armenia. They argue that the United States and the European Union are not offering the South Caucasus country security guarantees or even significant military aid. Papikian acknowledged that a U.S.-Armenian agreement on strategic partnership signed on Tuesday does not call for U.S. arms supplies to Armenia. He said the United States will continue instead to train Armenian military personnel, help Armenia reform its armed forces and hold joint military exercises. Asked about the agreements impact on Armenias security, Papikian said: We must guarantee the security of Armenias borders with a balanced policy. Pinning hopes only on the armed forces or a single [foreign] partner is not a solution. The agreement took the form of the charter of a newly established U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership Commission signed by outgoing U.S. Secretary of States Antony Blinken and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday. Blinken described it as a framework to expand our bilateral cooperation in a number of key areas, including defense and security. The relevant section of the charter publicized by the Armenian Foreign Ministry says that the United States will hold defense consultations with Armenia and assist its armed forces through professional military assistance training and with reform programs intended to increase Armenian interoperability with Western armies. It says nothing about U.S. arms supplies or other tangible military support. Pro-Western groups allied to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other Armenian pro-government actors said on Wednesday that Armenia received a massive boost to its national security and territorial integrity. Some of them claimed that the document will deter Azerbaijan from invading Armenia. This is not a document about security guarantees, countered Tigran Grigorian, the head of the Yerevan-based Regional Center for Democracy and Security. This is not a document about mutual military aid. If [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev decides to embark on some escalation against Armenia he will hardly look at that document. At the same time, Grigorian described the charter signed at the U.S. State Department as a serious diplomatic achievement for Yerevan. Even if nothing happens in the next four years, the very existence of this document will allow us to work with the United States on various issues in the long term, the analyst told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Eduard Abrahamian, an expert on international relations, was more skeptical, saying that the charters provisions related to defense and security are more ambiguous than those of similar documents signed by the U.S. with Georgia and Ukraine in the past. The issue of external threats is not mentioned, whereas the Georgia and Ukraine documents stressed U.S. commitment to support the enhancement of [those countries] military capabilities, he said. We cant talk of any security guarantees in our case. The document does not mention that Armenia's environment is conflict-ridden, complained Abrahamian. It does not mention that Armenia is facing existential problems. The charter was signed almost one year after Pashinian froze Armenias membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) amid mounting tensions with Russia. While Moscows official reaction to its signing was rather cautious, senior Russian lawmakers issued stern warnings to Yerevan on Wednesday. Im afraid that the galloping activity of Armenian representatives in signing various kinds of binding documents on cooperation with everyone and in everything may have unexpected and complex consequences for that country and its people, said Grigory Karasin, chairman of the foreign relations committee of Russias upper house of parliament. Another lawmaker, Alexei Zhuravlev charged that Washington is trying to turn Armenia into another Ukraine and a Russophobic enclave in the Caucasus. 15 January 2025 13:26 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, has addressed an open letter to international human rights organizations, ombudsmen of foreign countries, and national human rights institutions, calling attention to Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing and deportation against Azerbaijanis based on racial discrimination and hatred, Azernews reports. In her letter, Aliyeva outlined Armenia's long-standing policies targeting Azerbaijanis, stating: Armenia's policy of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and deportation against the Azerbaijani people on the basis of racial discrimination and hatred has continued for centuries and has been clearly manifested in different historical periods. She emphasized that the large-scale and systematic acts of violence committed against Azerbaijanis during the late 20th century were deliberate and aimed at achieving ethnic cleansing in regions such as Western Azerbaijan (present-day Armenia). Aliyeva pointed to statements by Armenias former leaders, such as Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Robert Kocharyan, and Serzh Sargsyan, which openly admitted to these acts. The views expressed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan in his videos circulating on social networks confirm that the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and genocides committed in Garabagh were deliberate policies under his leadership. His words demonstrate that the Armenian leadership pursued a systematic and organized ethnic cleansing policy. She further highlighted that Ter-Petrosyan described the expulsion of Azerbaijanis as a great success for the Armenian people, boasting about the complete cleansing of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and Garabagh. The Ombudsman urged international organizations to investigate these crimes and ensure justice: There is sufficient evidence regarding the numerous acts of war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and deportation committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis. Although relevant reports, statements, and appeals have been sent to international organizations, there has been no adequate response due to double standards applied against Azerbaijan. She stressed the need for Azerbaijanis to return to their ancestral lands in present-day Armenia and called for international pressure on Armenia to ensure their safe and dignified return. The letter included several demands for action: Recognition of the acts of genocide committed against Azerbaijanis. Restoration of property and compensation for damages incurred by displaced Azerbaijanis. Prevention of racial hatred and discriminatory practices by Armenia, especially those targeting the younger generation. Support for the early restoration of the rights of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia. I hope that international human rights organizations, ombudsmen, and the global community as a whole will take this issue seriously and will not spare their support for a fair investigation of the crimes committed in the territories of Azerbaijan, as well as for the restoration of the rights of Azerbaijanis, Aliyeva concluded. The letter serves as a renewed call for justice and accountability for decades of atrocities committed against Azerbaijanis, urging the international community to act decisively to address these historic injustices. 15 January 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more On January 13, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a pivotal business visit at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit underscores Azerbaijan's significant role in global sustainability efforts, as the country joins other selected nations, including leaders from the Turkic world, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) summit. This event gathers global leaders to discuss vital issues of sustainability and climate action. Besides, President Ilham Aliyev's participation highlights Azerbaijans growing influence in regional and international affairs, reflecting his multifaceted diplomatic approach and Azerbaijan's role as an important partner for the UAE. Throughout the visit, President Ilham Aliyev's strategic politics and the strengthened ties between Azerbaijan and the UAE were emphasized, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy and regional cooperation. In a meeting held one-on-one, the UAE President fondly recalled his official visit to Azerbaijan in 2024 and his trip during COP29, along with the meetings and discussions he had with the Azerbaijani President during these visits. In his turn, President Ilham Aliyev praised the excellent level of political relations and pointed to the expanding economic and trade ties. He underscored that the UAEs investments in Azerbaijans renewable energy sector serve as a testament to the friendship and partnership between the two countries. It is a fact that the economic relationship between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to grow, and it is marked by strategic collaboration in diverse sectors, with green energy emerging as a key area of cooperation. The diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations have evolved over the years, underpinned by shared interests in sustainability, energy security, and economic development. Strengthening economic ties: Azerbaijan and the UAEs growing partnership The economic relationship between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has continued to thrive in recent years, characterized by a strategic collaboration across various sectors, with green energy standing out as a key area of cooperation. The diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations have evolved significantly, supported by shared interests in sustainability, energy security, and economic development. Azerbaijan and the UAE continue to enhance their relationship, grounded in mutual friendship and respect. Their partnership is founded on shared values and a strong foundation of trust, aligning their common objectives and fostering an environment conducive to long-term collaboration. This growing alliance has not only strengthened bilateral trade but also positioned both countries as key players in the global push for sustainable energy solutions and economic transformation. As their relationship progresses, Azerbaijan and the UAE are focusing on new opportunities for joint ventures, particularly in the realm of green energy. Their commitment to further enhancing their strategic partnership serves as a foundation for future growth and deeper collaboration in various sectors, ensuring both nations' prosperous and sustainable future. Green energy: A cornerstone of strategic partnership Azerbaijans energy sector is central to the country's economic relations with the UAE. While Azerbaijan has long been a key player in Europe's energy security due to its vast oil and gas reserves, it is increasingly focusing on diversifying its energy portfolio by investing in renewable energy sources, particularly green energy. This strategic shift aligns with Azerbaijans goal of becoming a significant electricity supplier, especially from renewable sources, by harnessing its renewable energy potential. Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea region holds substantial wind energy potential, estimated at 157 gigawatts. The government has set a target for renewable energy to account for 30-40 percent of the countrys electricity production by 2030. In line with these objectives, Azerbaijan and the UAE have strengthened their cooperation, particularly in solar energy projects. The Garadagh Solar Power Plant, the largest of its kind in the Caspian region and the CIS, is a prime example of this collaboration. The plant, which was inaugurated in October 2024, was established as part of a broader agreement between Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy, AzerEnergy OJSC, and the UAEs Masdar company. The foundation for the Garadagh Solar Power Plant was laid in 2022, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, underscoring the importance of this project. During the opening ceremony, President Aliyev highlighted the high level of bilateral relations and expressed optimism about the future of Azerbaijan-UAE cooperation in energy, trade, tourism, and other sectors. The successful completion of the Garadagh project reflects the shared commitment to green energy and sustainable development, and it is expected to provide a substantial contribution to Azerbaijans renewable energy targets. Expanding trade and economic relations Beyond energy, Azerbaijan and the UAE have made significant strides in expanding economic and trade relations. A joint intergovernmental commission on economic, trade, and technical cooperation has been instrumental in fostering business ties, with eight meetings held to date. Both governments are focused on strengthening cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and increasing trade volumes. The volume of trade turnover between the two countries has steadily increased. In 2022, trade between Azerbaijan and the UAE reached 94.62 million USD, a reflection of the growing commercial partnership. This upward trend in trade is complemented by an increase in tourism, with the number of UAE citizens visiting Azerbaijan more than doubling in 2022. Azerbaijan's attractiveness as a tourist destination is contributing to the deepening economic ties, alongside the flourishing energy and trade sectors. Looking ahead, the potential for further strengthening Azerbaijan-UAE relations remains significant. As both nations prioritize green energy and sustainability, opportunities for collaboration in other renewable energy sectors, such as wind and hydro, are ripe for exploration. Furthermore, the ongoing developments in the energy sector are likely to create a more diversified and sustainable economic relationship, benefiting both countries in the long term. In addition to energy and trade, both countries are keen on enhancing bilateral cooperation in regional and global contexts. Azerbaijan's role in global energy security and the UAEs leadership in sustainability initiatives, such as the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, provides a platform for continued collaboration on international matters. The UAEs role as a key investor in Azerbaijans renewable energy projects and its involvement in the development of Azerbaijans energy infrastructure are poised to make a significant impact on the region's energy landscape. As the UAE continues to champion sustainability and innovation, its partnership with Azerbaijan will play a crucial role in shaping the future of both nations, contributing to regional stability and global sustainability goals. In conclusion, the economic relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE are on a promising trajectory. The cooperation between the two countries in green energy, trade, and tourism serves as a solid foundation for future development, with mutual benefits anticipated across various sectors. Both nations are committed to working together to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future, marking an exciting phase in their growing strategic partnership. 15 January 2025 20:45 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The signing of the Strategic Partnership Charter between Armenia and the United States on January 14 in Washington is a pivotal step in deepening bilateral relations. With Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as signatories, this agreement signifies a new chapter in US-Armenian cooperation. This Charter signifies a deepening of bilateral relations, emphasizing shared values such as democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It outlines cooperation across various sectors, including diplomacy, economy, energy, technology, education, defense, and security. This move aligns with the Pashinyan administration's post-Trump strategy of anchoring Armenia firmly within the US sphere of influence. Building on growing support from the Biden administration, the partnership is a calculated effort to secure Armenias geopolitical standing amidst shifting alliances in the South Caucasus. It is indeed without any doubt, a notable achievement for Armenia. The U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership Charter is not an isolated event but part of a broader geopolitical recalibration. The date of the agreement's signing is particularly significant. I would like to remind you that in just two days, on January 17, Russia and Iran are set to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement consisting of 47 articles that cover various areas of cooperation. Both of the events are taking place just a few days before Trump's inauguration, which adds to its importance. The major players in the region, especially Iran and Russia, will undoubtedly assert their strong concerns about this process. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is strategically making critical policy decisions before Trumps inauguration, clearly aiming to put him in a challenging position. However, this partnership raises other critical questions for Azerbaijan. As the US strengthens ties with Armenia, will it continue an Armenian-centric policy at the expense of relations with Baku? Azerbaijan has long urged Washington to adopt a more balanced approach, warning that prioritizing Armenian interests risks perpetuating regional tensions. President Ilham Aliyev has consistently advocated for equitable relations, emphasizing Azerbaijans strategic importance as an energy corridor and regional stabilizer. One pressing issue is whether the U.S.'s deepening ties with Armenia will influence its approach toward Azerbaijan. Baku has already expressed concerns about the perceived imbalance in U.S. policy, particularly regarding the unresolved issues stemming from Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories in the past. For Armenia, aligning with the US could come at a cost. Speculation abounds about whether Pashinyan might sacrifice Armenias membership in the Russia-led CSTO to further solidify US support. Such a move would be a significant geopolitical gamble, potentially inviting Russian economic and political retaliation while straining Armenias security guarantees. The implications of this partnership extend beyond the South Caucasus. A new US strategy could emerge in the CSTO region, with Armenia and Kazakhstan as potential focal points. Moreover, the agreement may signal a shift in US posture towards Iran, given Armenias shared border with the Islamic Republic. For Baku, the documents details remain critical. Will it contain provisions that directly affect Azerbaijans interests? And how will the Trump administrationor a future Biden continuationnavigate these complex dynamics? Answers to these questions will likely shape regional politics in the coming months, especially as the US formulates its broader foreign policy strategies concerning Ukraine, the Middle East, and its relations with the EU. The strategic partnership agreement with the United States is likely to become another loud but ultimately inconsequential document that serves a purely declarative purpose. This is expected to happen following the announcement of Armenia's "freezing" of its membership in the CSTO and the initiation of the process to join the European Union. The real implications of this move will lead to a significant deterioration in relations with Russia, which is responsible for nearly 40% of Armenia's trade turnover. While Armenia celebrates this achievement, Azerbaijan remains watchful. The trials of Armenian citizens accused of crimes against Azerbaijan persist, and the absence of external mediators reflects Bakus resolve to ensure accountability. Note for further notice: It has now been over four years since the Second Garabagh War, yet the Biden administration has failed to secure a peace deal between Baku and Yerevan, as well as with the Pashinyan administration. This situation demands urgent attention and decisive action. For now, the signing of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership Charter marks a significant shift in regional dynamics, one that will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for all players involved. 15 January 2025 14:30 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan's export of non-oil products to Georgia decreased during the first 11 months of 2024, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 15 January 2025 17:42 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The 10th meeting of the Heads of Customs Services of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is set to take place tomorrow in Baku. Azernews reports that this high-level gathering follows the 9th meeting, which was held in December 2023 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The previous meeting saw the participation of customs chiefs from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and representatives from the OTS secretariat. The upcoming session in Baku is expected to build on the outcomes of the Tashkent meeting and further strengthen collaboration among member states in customs and trade facilitation. Officials will address various initiatives aimed at enhancing regional cooperation, streamlining customs procedures, and fostering economic integration within the Turkic states. 15 January 2025 12:37 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more On January 13-15, 2024, a government mission from the Republic of Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elnur Mammadov, visited the Republic of Maldives, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the visit, Deputy Minister Mammadov was received by the Vice President of the Maldives, Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef. Additionally, a bilateral meeting took place between Mammadov and Maldives Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed. The Maldivian side highly appreciated the Azerbaijani government mission, and issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meetings. As part of the visit, the first political consultations were held between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives. These consultations were led by Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elnur Mammadov, and Maldives Foreign Affairs Secretary Fathimath Inaya. The discussions focused on expanding bilateral and multilateral political relations, as well as cooperation in sectors such as economics, trade, energy, logistics, transport, tourism, and humanitarian affairs. The two sides positively assessed their cooperation in international organizations and emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual support in multilateral formats. An information forum was organized by relevant government institutions and numerous local companies from the Maldives for representatives of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, State Tourism Agency, and companies from Azerbaijan participating in the government mission. During the forum, detailed presentations were made on investment opportunities in tourism, hotel management, transport, and other sectors in the Maldives, followed by meaningful discussions. Additionally, the members of the mission toured several industrial zones in the Maldives. 15 January 2025 15:53 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The Uzbek Transport Ministry is working on diversifying international transport routes, including the creation of new transit corridors through the territory of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports Uzbekistan's Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov, as he told the local media outlets. He noted that in Uzbekistan, the main directions for the future development of the country's transport and logistics system have been identified. A unified program has also been developed, and within its framework, a concept for transport, logistics, and cargo transit until 2030 has been approved. Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov noted five key areas that will be the focus of the department: reducing the cost of cargo transportation, diversifying international routes, creating convenience in transportation along new routes, and reducing transportation costs. The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan faces the task of developing transport routes that bypass countries with transportation issues. Another goal is to raise Uzbekistan's position in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) from 88th to at least 55th place by 2030. In addition, a list of addresses for the creation of logistics centers, camps, truck parks, and other infrastructure along international highways is being prepared. According to the presentation by the Minister of Transport, the following routes have been identified as alternative transport corridors: Turkmenistan Iran Turkiye European Union; Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Georgia Europe; Andijan Osh Irkeshtam Kashgar; as well as Uzbekistan Afghanistan Pakistan. These transit corridors are designed to ensure the stability of foreign trade operations. For the efficient operation of new routes, Uzbekistan plans to conclude new international agreements in the field of road transport with Belgium, Serbia, Norway, Croatia, and Albania. Official Tashkent also intends to review existing agreements with China, Iran, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania. Aerial photograph of Klyde Warren Park, formerly Woodall Rodgers Deck Park, shot Monday, September 24, 2012 in Dallas. A new $2 million grant will allow Harris County officials to study whether it's possible to put park space above the Katy Freeway between White Oak Bayou and Old Katy Road. G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer Interstate Highway 10 is photographed looking East from Washington Avenue Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Aerial view of the arts district, including Booker T. Washington High School (bottom left) the AT&T Performance Center (middle left) Woodall Rodgers Freeway, (Texas 366, center) and Klyde Warren Park with downtown at left and uptown at right on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Dallas. A new $2 million grant will allow Harris County officials to study whether it's possible to put park space above the Katy Freeway between White Oak Bayou and Old Katy Road. Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer Interstate Highway 10 is photographed looking West from Durham Drive Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A March 2019 aerial view of Klyde Warren Park (right), and the area over Woodall Rodgers Freeway where the deck park will be expanded to the west (left). A special events pavilion will be located on the block between North St. Paul St. 9 (center right) and N. Akard St. (center left). A new $2 million grant will allow Harris County officials to study whether it's possible to put park space above the Katy Freeway between White Oak Bayou and Old Katy Road. Dallas Morning News/Klyde Warren Park A new $2 million grant will allow Harris County officials to study whether it's possible to put park space above the Katy Freeway in Precinct 4. The grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation is part of a $5 billion investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to address infrastructure barriers across the nation, according to a news release. The funds will go toward the Interstate 10 Inner Katy Cap Park planning study, which will also be funded by $500,000 from Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This Reconnecting Communities study will allow us to prioritize future infrastructure investments focused on enhancing safety, connecting our community, and improving access to schools, healthcare facilities, and workplaces," Briones said in a statement. Map of where the study will be conducted on Katy Freeway. Harris County Precinct 4 A cap park is a recreational park built over high-density roadways, per the Federal Highway Administration. However, for Katy Freeway's cap park, proposed between White Oak Bayou and Old Katy Road, there may need to be smaller parks, or "parklets," above the highway, according to Luis Guajardo, director of planning and community development for Precinct 4. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The section of land between Memorial Park and White Oak Bayou is a large area that could pose challenges if the plan was to build one park above the highway, Guajardo said. "But what is feasible is that we could have a series of small parks," he said. Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, Thursday, October 18, 2018. A new $2 million grant will allow Harris County officials to study whether it's possible to put park space above the Katy Freeway between White Oak Bayou and Old Katy Road. Tom Fox/Staff Photographer The commissioner's office and local partners will look into opportunities to improve public space, creative placemaking, and introduce different ways of walking and biking, Guajardo said. Guajardo said hike and bike trails could interconnect Memorial Park to the three or four smaller parklets which would end at White Oak Bayou. "You'd have one seamless connection to the bayou from Memorial Park," Guajardo said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Reynaldo Guerra, chief infrastructure officer at Harris County Precinct 4, said in a statement the study could help reconnect the communities through the cap park. The widening of Katy Freeway has created barriers between neighborhoods such as Houston Heights, Memorial Heights, Crestwood, Glen Cove, Cottage Grove, the Washington Avenue Coalition and Rice Military, according to the release. "These parklets will not only create safer, more accessible connections for people walking or biking between the north and south portions of the freeway but also reimagine how we utilize urban spaces to place-make and bring communities together," Guerra said. Katy Freeway was constructed in the 1960s and has become the widest highway in the nation. Big News for #HCPrecinct4! Weve been awarded a $2M grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the I-10 Inner Katy Cap Park! This project will explore reconnecting neighborhoods divided by I-10 with safe, continuous pathways, enhancing bike, pedestrian, and pic.twitter.com/sQapR5DMq9 Office of Commissioner Lesley Briones, Precinct 4 (@HCPrecinct4) January 14, 2025 Guajardo said county officials have heard issues of noise and vibrations coming from the area, pollution, and economic and racial segregation and hopes the study could enhance the current infrastructure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We've come a long way from a technology standpoint, from a society standpoint, both social and economic ways, and the way we built highways prior generations isn't the way we would build them today," he said. TRAFFIC DELAYS: Union Pacific maintenance may bring road closures in Montgomery, Harris counties Guajardo said the commissioner's office will work to secure agreements with the Department of Transportation and other local partners before starting the study. They expect it will be a year and a half before the study launches, he said. The study could take 18-24 months as county officials work with engineers, landscape architects, planners and partners. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Once the study is over, we'll have a better grasp on the engineering viability and financial components of what something like this would cost," Guajardo said. 15 January 2025 17:58 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan State Film Fund has solemnly celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Honored Artist, film scholar, and laureate of national awards Aydin Kazimzade, Azernews reports. The event opened with a photography exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the jubilarian, a cinema researcher. The speakers included Azerbaijan Deputy Culture Minister Saadat Yusifova, Director of the Azerbaijan State Film Fund and Honored Artist Jamil Guliyev, First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Film-makers Union, People's Artist Shafiga Mammadova, Director of the AzerbaijanFilm studio Azar Guliyev, People's Writer Natig Rasulzade, People's Artists Rafig Azimov and Gamida Omarova, People's Artist Arif Huseynov, Professor Abbasgulu Nadjafzade, Honored Artists Ayaz Salayev and Jahangir Zeynalov, Honored Journalist Etibar Babayev, Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, Associate Professor Firudin Gurbanov, who spoke about Aydin Kazimzade's merits, conveyed their congratulations, and wished him success in his future endeavors. In the circle of filmmakers, he is referred to as the "chief archivist" of Azerbaijani cinema. It is noteworthy that it was Aydin Kazimzade who, at one time, clarified the birth date of Azerbaijani cinema (August 2, 1898), which domestic filmmakers have been celebrating as their professional holiday for many years now. Aydin Kazimzade was born on January 15, 1940, in Baku. He was named after the hero of the famous play by Jafar Jabbarli, "Aydin." His childhood was very difficult. His father died during World War II, and after finishing seventh grade, Aydin Kazimzade had to transfer to an evening school to work during the day to help his mother and brother. By the age of 16, he got a job as a worker in one of the workshops producing theatrical decorations for the Azerbaijan Theater Society (now the Azerbaijan Theater Workers Union). Two years later, Aydin Kazimzade enrolled in the journalism faculty of Baku State University, where he began actively collaborating with the university newspaper. After graduating from university, he worked as a photographer for the "Kino" newspaper of the Filmification Management. In 1963, his professional career in journalism began; over the years, he worked as a proofreader, then as a literary editor, a distribution editor, and later as the chief editor of the "Kino" newspaper and the "Film" magazine, which Aydin Kazimzade initiated in Baku in 1966. Thus, he permanently linked his destiny with Azerbaijani cinema. From 1971 to 1991, Aydin Kazimzade served as the director of the advertising and information department at the State Committee of Cinematography, which was later renamed Azerkino Video. At the same time, he was the chief editor of the "Kino" newspaper and the "Film" magazine. Aydin Kazimzade then transferred to Azerbaijani television and later began teaching the history of Azerbaijani cinema at the State University of Culture and Arts. Currently, he is a leading specialist at the Film Museum of the Azerbaijan State Film Fund. 15 January 2025 15:13 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Armenia has proposed constructive solutions to all issues concerning its relations with Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on social media, Azernews reports via Armenian media. "The balanced and balanced foreign policy pursued by Armenia is reaching its initial limit," Pashinyan wrote. Discussing relations with neighboring states, the prime minister highlighted progress in several areas. A visible basis of mutual understanding has been formed with Turkiye, he stated. On Armenia's relations with Russia, Pashinyan described them as "more practical," adding, "Armenia aims to develop them on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation and sovereignty." He also underscored the strong ties with Iran, noting, Cooperation with Iran is based on natural interests. This is the most reliable basis for interaction and a guarantee of stability of relations. Furthermore, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of relations with Georgia, describing them as being within the "orbit of strategic partnership." The Armenian prime ministers comments come amid ongoing tensions in the region and efforts to address key diplomatic and security challenges. 15 January 2025 16:22 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more In January, the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited once again the persons of Armenian origin about whom the Azerbaijani side provided information, Azernews reports citing Ilaha Huseynova, head of the public relations department of the ICRC's Azerbaijani representation's response to local media APA. It was reported that in January, the staff of the ICRC visited again the persons of Armenian origin about whom the Azerbaijani side provided information. Individual meetings were held with the detainees, and conditions were created for their contact with their families: "In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC assesses the treatment of detainees and the conditions of detention during such visits. The ICRC also creates conditions for the restoration or continuation of contacts with the families of the individuals. In accordance with ICRC procedures, observations and recommendations related to the visits are shared and discussed only with the detaining party." It should be noted that Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies arrested Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Araik Harutyunyan, former "presidents" of the so-called organization in Garabagh, former "foreign minister" David Babayan, as well as "parliament speaker" David Ishkhanyan, generals Lyova Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, and former "state minister" Ruben Vardanyan and brought them to Baku. 15 January 2025 10:44 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories at the UK Foreign Office, Steven Doughty, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and stated that British officials are in close contact with their Azerbaijani and Kazakh counterparts regarding the matter. He also emphasized that the UK is working intensively with all parties to support an independent investigation into the incident. Besides, the British government has announced its support for an independent and comprehensive investigation into the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25th. The investigation involves the cooperation of Brazil, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, Azernews reports. This information was disclosed in the British Parliament in response to a question posed by Conservative Party member Wendy Morton to the British government. Morton inquired about the UK's assessment of the international investigation into the crash. This support demonstrates the UK's commitment to international cooperation and humanitarian initiatives, highlighting its dedication to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation. 15 January 2025 11:27 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons held a meeting with citizens set to be resettled in the village of Ballca in the Khojaly region, Azernews reports. The event aimed to raise awareness about social protection measures for former internally displaced persons. A video presentation informed participants about key issues, including the suspension of the single monthly allowance after three years for individuals returning to their permanent residences. The initiative aligns with the Action Plan of the First State Program on the Great Return, which emphasizes legal awareness and social reintegration for returnees. The State Committee has been actively organizing similar meetings, distributing informational booklets, and producing educational video content to ensure internally displaced persons are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities under the legislation. Such efforts are part of Azerbaijan's broader strategy to support former internally displaced persons as they rebuild their lives in liberated territories. 15 January 2025 14:53 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more A trilateral meeting involving Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran in the transport sector is scheduled for January 28, 2025, Azernews reports via Iranian media. The announcement was made during video talks between Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzana Sadiq and Russia's Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit. According to reports, the discussions covered preparations for a joint Memorandum of Cooperation and the 2025 roadmap for regional transport collaboration. A key focus was the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway, a crucial segment of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The talks also explored the potential for maximizing the Caspian Sea's transport capabilities through enhanced bilateral cooperation between Iran and Russia. 15 January 2025 14:06 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The ongoing efforts of the Great Return to the liberated territories continue to bear fruit. On January 15, another migration caravan consisting of families temporarily settled in various parts of the republic, mainly in hostels, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings, was dispatched from Agdam to the cities of Shusha and Khojaly, as well as to the village of Ballija in the Khojaly region. Azernews reports that in this phase, a total of 28 families, comprising 135 individuals, are being resettled to Shusha and Khojaly and the village of Ballija. These former internally displaced persons expressed their heartfelt gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state care they have received. They also extended their thanks to the courageous Azerbaijani Army, the heroic soldiers and officers, who liberated Azerbaijani lands from occupation. Additionally, they prayed for mercy for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this cause. The Great Return initiative symbolizes the resilience and determination of the Azerbaijani people to rebuild and reclaim their ancestral lands. The resettlement of families to Shusha, Khojaly, and Ballija is a testament to the nation's commitment to restoring and developing these liberated territories. Currently, in Garabagh and East Zangezur, in addition to the resettled former internally displaced persons, over 30,000 people are working on various projects. These efforts include the implementation of infrastructure and development projects, as well as the resumption of operations in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions. The presence of state agencies and professionals in these regions underscores the comprehensive approach taken to ensure the successful reintegration and development of these areas. The resettlement process is not without its challenges, but the unwavering support of the government and the dedication of the people involved have been crucial in overcoming obstacles. The families returning to their homes are provided with necessary resources and support to facilitate their reintegration. This comprehensive state care includes the provision of housing, healthcare, and educational facilities, as well as opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. The Great Return is also an opportunity to showcase Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage and promote tourism in these historic regions. The cities of Shusha and Khojaly, with their significant cultural and historical landmarks, hold great potential for attracting visitors and boosting local economies. The Great Return to the liberated territories is a significant milestone in Azerbaijan's journey towards healing and reconstruction. The resettlement of families to Shusha, Khojaly, and Ballija reflects the nation's commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing these regions. With continued support and strategic initiatives, Azerbaijan is poised to achieve long-term stability and growth, ensuring a bright future for all its citizens. 15 January 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Swedish company Saab unveiled a new technology for controlling advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a press conference titled "People and Defense," held in the city of Selene, Azernews reports. The technology, named "Gnadd" (literally translated as "small annoying insects"), will be tested for the first time during the upcoming military exercises "Arctic Strike," set to take place in a month. The drone fleet consists of hundreds of UAVs capable of performing various functions, such as tracking vehicles, identifying hidden soldiers, and gathering intelligence. The control system uses a regular mobile phone, while built-in artificial intelligence (AI) helps to systematize and analyze the data collected in real time. Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson emphasized that the use of such technologiesbased on automation, robotics, and AIis an essential step in adapting the countrys defense capabilities to the rapid evolution of military technology. The Swedish military is also planning to introduce armed drones that could be used as part of a drone squad. However, this initiative is still under development by Saab, and the army is not yet equipped with weapons for these UAVs. The use of AI-controlled weapons, however, remains a controversial issue in defense circles. "There are definite risks associated with the use of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Our position is clear: the human factor must remain at the center of decision-making, particularly when it comes to decisions about opening fire," said Minister Jonson. This innovation places Sweden at the forefront of integrating AI into military systems. While the potential for UAVs and AI-driven technology in defense operations is vast, questions about the ethics and control of autonomous weapons continue to spark debate within the international defense community. 15 January 2025 11:33 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Former Director of the National Security Service of Armenia, Artur Vanetsyan, has suggested that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan may soon announce Armenia's withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Azernews reports via Armenian outlets. Vanetsyan criticized the recent signing of the strategic partnership document between Armenia and the United States, labeling it a rushed decision that disregards potential consequences. "Any government decision should be based on the interests of the country," Vanetsyan stated on social media. "But in the case of this agreement, there is a rush to please others. According to the laws of the genre, Pashinyan will also announce his withdrawal from the CSTO in the near future." He further noted that Pashinyan's foreign policy decisions remain adventurous and could lead to new disasters for Armenia. Vanetsyan's remarks highlight growing internal dissent over the country's strategic alignments. 15 January 2025 19:25 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Flying cars, long envisioned in the world of science fiction and technological innovation, are now becoming a reality. According to Xiaosong Dong, an aerospace engineer at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, the technologies needed to create flying cars already exist, and some companies have begun to take practical steps in this direction, Azernews reports. The use of flying cars in real life relies primarily on a combination of aviation and helicopter technologies. Aerospace engineer Pat Anderson explains that these vehicles will typically have vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. The wings will help reduce air resistance during flight, making it more practical and safer. One such company, Alef Aeronautics, is working on prototypes of cars that can drive on roads and simultaneously take to the air. However, the initial production price of such vehicles is expected to be around $300,000, which poses a significant obstacle to the widespread adoption of the technology. One of the biggest challenges facing the mass adoption of flying cars is the high production cost and stringent safety standards. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already begun developing regulations for flying cars. The FAA's air taxi rules, adopted in October 2024, have brought the introduction of this technology one step closer. However, energy supply remains a critical issue. Current lithium-ion batteries can only provide flying cars with a flight time of 20-30 minutes. This limitation means there is a strong need for more efficient batteries, as the depletion of energy mid-flight could be dangerous. Experts predict that flying car-sharing services, like flying Ubers, could become commonplace within the next 10-20 years. This would require significant advancements in both technology and infrastructure, as well as improvements in safety standards and cost-effectiveness. Flying cars are currently in a transition phase from science fiction to reality. Optimizing costs, improving safety measures, and developing sustainable energy sources could make this technology widely accessible. In addition to the technological and logistical hurdles, there are also environmental considerations. Flying cars will need to be designed with minimal environmental impact in mind, both in terms of noise pollution and energy consumption. The race to develop eco-friendly and quieter flight technology is already underway, with some companies exploring electric propulsion systems that could significantly reduce carbon emissions. If these obstacles can be overcome, flying cars could revolutionize transportation, making it faster, more efficient, and less dependent on ground infrastructure. Research and innovation in this field could completely transform the future of mobility, leading to a world where flying cars are as commonplace as traditional vehicles today. Interstate Highway 10 traffic is photographed from Washington Avenue Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Allstate on Tuesday alleging the company covertly monitored customers' driving habits in a bid to raise rates. The suit, which was filed in Montgomery County, accused Allstate and its subsidiaries of collecting trillions of miles worth of location data from more than 45 million consumers across the U.S. using trackers embedded in third-party apps. Allstate allegedly paid developers to embed tracking software in applications unaffiliated with the company, and users were not made aware their data was being harvested, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Our investigation revealed that Allstate and Arity paid mobile apps millions of dollars to install Allstates tracking software, Paxton said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. The personal data of millions of Americans was sold to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent in violation of the law. Texans deserve better and we will hold all these companies accountable. Allstate did not immediately respond to the Chronicle's request for comment. The suit alleged the software, which was packaged as a software development kit called "Arity SDK," was embedded in a number of apps including Life360, a family tracking app marketed toward parents. Allstate used the data collected through these apps to build the "worlds largest driving behavior database," which the company sold to insurers and used in its own underwriting process to justify raising customers' rates, the lawsuit alleges. Several other apps, including Routely, Gas Buddy and Fuel Rewards, also allegedly embedded the Arity SDK in their apps, according to the suit. Users unwittingly granted Allstate access to their data by agreeing to share their location with these apps, which is required to access the majority of their features, according to the suit. "App users would likewise be unaware that Defendants were directly collecting Arity SDK data from their phones," the suit claimed. "Defendants never notified nor otherwise informed consumers that they were collecting their data." Advertisement Article continues below this ad While the software was ostensibly designed to flag unsafe driving habits, the suit alleged it was incapable of differentiating between someone driving and someone using a ride-sharing service or public transportation. "If a person was a passenger in a bus, a taxi, or in a friends car, and that vehicles driver sped, hard braked, or made a sharp turn, Defendants would conclude that the passenger, not the actual driver, engaged in bad driving behavior," the suit alleged. Allstate's data collection violated the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, the Data Broker Law and the Texas Insurance Code's prohibition on unfair and deceptive business practices, according to the suit. 15 January 2025 19:40 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The air forces of South Korea, the United States, and Japan recently conducted joint military exercises involving supersonic strategic bombers, specifically the B-1B, Azernews reports. In addition to the strategic bombers, South Korean F-15 and Japanese F-2 fighters also participated in the drills. The exercises were held shortly after North Korea conducted tests of hypersonic and short-range missiles. According to the respective defense ministries, the maneuvers were designed to enhance the three nations' joint capabilities to deter and respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. These joint exercises are part of a broader effort by the United States and its regional allies to strengthen security cooperation in the face of increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The B-1B bombers, which are capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads, are seen as a show of force, signaling a commitment to regional stability. Moreover, the involvement of South Korea and Japan highlights the importance of trilateral defense cooperation in maintaining security in the region, especially in the face of North Korea's advancing missile technology. Interestingly, these exercises come at a time of growing concerns about North Koreas military advancements, including its ongoing development of hypersonic weapons, which are considered more challenging to intercept due to their speed and maneuverability. The alliance between the US, South Korea, and Japan is becoming increasingly crucial not only for deterring North Korean aggression but also for addressing broader regional security concerns, including China's growing military presence in the Asia-Pacific. 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? 21.43% 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.66.67% 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.11.9% Why should I care about the public's education? Sound trade ties benefit China, Britain 09:43, January 15, 2025 By Zheng Bofei, Larry Neild ( Xinhua LONDON, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in Beijing, concluded on Saturday. During the dialogue, 69 mutually beneficial outcomes were reached, and both sides expressed their shared will of upholding multilateralism and economic globalization and commitment to supporting the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core and building an open world economy, according to a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday. Experts in the UK highlighted the importance of fostering open trade between the two countries, particularly amid growing global trade tensions. The trading relationship has long been a cornerstone of bilateral ties. According to the latest data from the UK Department for Business and Trade, China was the UK's fourth-largest trading partner in goods by the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, accounting for 7.7 percent of the UK's goods trade. In total, trade in goods and services between the two countries reached 87.7 billion pounds (approximately 107 billion U.S. dollars) in the four quarters by the end of Q2 2024. In a Times article on Saturday, Chancellor Reeves wrote, "We cannot ignore the fact that China is the second-largest economy worldwide and our fourth-largest trading partner, with exports supporting close to half a million jobs in the UK." According to the British Treasury, exports to China supported over 455,000 UK jobs in 2020. Reeves also highlighted that renewed engagement with China could add up to 1 billion pounds (1.22 billion U.S. dollars) in value to the UK economy. Commenting on the outcomes of the dialogue, Reeves said, "It shows that pragmatic cooperation between the world's largest economies can help us boost economic growth for the benefit of working people." She also noted that China's economy is expected to be the largest driver of global growth this decade, presenting significant opportunities for the UK. Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London, emphasized that Britain must maintain a relationship with China given the challenges facing its economy. "Britain would be looking for three things -- investment, finance, and technology," Brown said in an interview with Talk TV's David Bull on Saturday. "The UK government needed to be clear-sighted about what the UK needs." Professor Patrick Minford of Cardiff Business School also stressed China's importance as a trading partner, noting that pursuing free trade is always a sound policy for the UK government. Minford added that free trade provides countries with high-quality, competitive goods while ensuring fair and low prices, which is the object of trade. Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham told Xinhua, "One could argue that the UK should be the great trading nation, and even the greatest trading nation." He added that strengthening trade ties between China and the UK would bring numerous benefits. "Politicians have a role to play here, but the key players are those directly involved in business," Bryson said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Construction continues on the Golden Pass LNG Terminal, photographed Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Sabine Pass. The photo was taken from the Louisiana side of the Sabine River. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The clock is ticking, and the stakes could not be higher. The deadly, costly threat of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports looms over communities across the Gulf South, and we are counting on President Biden to take decisive action before it is too late. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released an analysis of LNG exports, and the findings are clear: New LNG exports are too expensive for working families and too dangerous to our communities. This doesnt come as a surprise to the frontline communities who have been sounding the alarm for years. They know these projects pose a grave threat to our climate and to families on the front lines of the sickening pollution and environmental degradation created by LNG exports. The call to action posed by these communities has been echoed widely, from nurses and doctors warning of public health catastrophe to economists concerned about rising costs for consumers to retired generals worried about shipping U.S. gas right into the hands of our geopolitical adversaries. Now its time to get this analysis over the finish line, and for President Biden to act on this analysis by rejecting the pending LNG export licenses still up for consideration. When he does, he can seize the opportunity to cement his administrations climate and environmental justice legacy by curbing the dangerous LNG export buildout before President-elect Trump tries to open the floodgates. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LNG exports are not just a climate disaster; they are an environmental justice crisis. These projects lock us into decades of pollution, undermining our efforts to combat climate change while hitting the most vulnerable communities the hardest. In Louisiana, a single proposed CP2 LNG project could export gas with lifecycle emissions that add up to 190 million tons of climate-disrupting carbon pollution per year. According to the Sierra Club, thats the equivalent of 51 coal-fired power plants. That means even greater risks for families and businesses already grappling with flooding and extreme weather. For frontline communities, the cost of LNG exports is paid in lives, jobs, and health. In Liquefying the Gulf Coast, a report I co-authored with Dr. Robin Saha and Liza Powers, we found that the buildout of LNG infrastructure follows the same dangerous historical pattern as other fossil fuel infrastructure, concentrating polluting facilities in areas already overburdened with pollution. The results are devastating. These neighborhoods, disproportionately home to low-income families and communities of color, suffer higher rates of cancer, asthma, and heart disease. Our children grow up breathing toxic air, and our elders live in fear of health emergencies exacerbated by environmental hazards. This is not abstract it is the lived reality of communities where polluting facilities are built. Beyond that, in frontline communities, heavy dredging and construction for LNG export facilities destroy ecosystems that sustain local economies adding economic devastation to the physical and emotional toll of pollution. Fishing and tourism industries, which many Gulf communities rely on, are being jeopardized for the sake of oil and gas profits. President Biden has shown a commitment to listening to science and the voices of those most impacted when it comes to LNG exports. The broad and growing coalition of economists, national security experts, public health professionals, and concerned Americans lauded his step to pause new LNG export approvals. Now it is time to take the next step before Trump and his cadre of oil and gas allies take office. This is a crucial moment for the president to honor his pledge to environmental justice and protect the communities most affected by these projects. To truly uphold his environmental justice commitments and slow down the damage a Trump administration could do, President Biden must deny six pending export applications controversial projects including the massive CP2, Commonwealth, Lake Charles, Magnolia, Port Arthur Phase II, and Saguaro Phase II proposals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The LNG industry wants to push ahead with a massive buildout, relying on outdated data to justify projects that threaten our climate and communities. President Biden cannot allow corporate polluters to shape our future at the expense of human health and climate action when he has this vital opportunity. Mr. President, your leadership is needed now more than ever. We urge you to stand with communities fighting for clean air, safe water and a livable climate. By taking decisive action to limit LNG exports, you can cement your environmental justice legacy and secure a better future for all. Conor Murphy in his office at Parliament Buildings in Belfast (David Young/PA). Economy Minister Conor Murphy visited Titanic Quarter to unveil a plan for boosting tourism spending to 2bn by 2035 Peace tourism and more funding for the industrys cross-border body may help boost NI visitor spending to 2bn by 2035, Economy Minister Conor Murphy has said. Mr Murphy unveiled a 10-year plan on Wednesday for increasing spending by overnight visitors from 1.2bn to 2bn, an increase of two-thirds. But the industry will also be fighting the impact of the Home Office's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, introduced last week. It requires international visitors to the UK to have an additional permit. The plan was unveiled by the Sinn Fein Minister at the Titanic Quarter, home of one of NIs most visited attractions, Titanic Belfast. It's also the location of a Belfast Met campus where tourism students develop skills for the industry. The Minister, whos due to step down from the role in order to run for the Seanad in the Republic, said: My Tourism Vision and action plan sets out how we plan to create a thriving, sustainable tourism industry for the future, enriching local quality of life and creating a year-round destination, across the north, that will stand out in international markets. To drive our ambition for the next 10 years, I have set a strategic goal that the economic value of our tourism expenditure from overnight visitors will exceed 2bn by 2035. This is ambitious but achievable. Actions include restoring funding for Tourism Ireland in its drive to draw international visitors to Northern Ireland, and ensuring theres enough accommodation to meet visitor expectations. And it also includes what the Department for the Economy described as expanding our visitor experience portfolio through the development and promotion of peace tourism. In addition, it would involve an aviation policy to improve international connectivity, and pressing for a solution to the ETAs impact on Northern Ireland. Mr Murphy previously announced a new tourism partnership board to help achieve the plans targets. He said he was indebted to the board and said it had helped identify 17 activities to help achieve the 2bn ambition while meeting his wider aims of promoting regional balance, raising productivity, creating good jobs and lowering carbon emissions. He added: We have a unique story to tell we are renowned for our authentic experiences, landscape, heritage and culture and our welcoming people. "This vision and action plan aims to help our tourism industry thrive and give our visitors an experience they will never forget. Stephen McNally, chair of the tourism partnership board, said: I am grateful to Minister Murphy for inviting me to steer the work of the TPB which has been most rewarding especially given the extensive breadth of industry experience across the group. "Collaboration has been central to shaping this vision. I am excited about the opportunities that implementing this vision and action plan will present for ensuring long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for future generations. Primark's new Primark Home will open at Fountain House in Donegall Place, Belfast in March Primark has said its first-ever standalone Primark Home store will open in Donegall Place in Belfast in March. The store at Fountain House will span around 8,700 sq ft across one floor and marks a significant milestone for the retailer, it said. Already known for homeware items like cotton bedding and towels, soft furnishings, decorative pieces and kitchen ceramics, Primark said the store will sell an even greater selection of home products. Fintan Costello, head of Primark Northern Ireland and Ireland, said: This is a truly proud moment for Primark as we open our first standalone Primark Home store. "Belfast felt like the perfect place to bring this concept to life, and Fountain House offers an incredible setting in the heart of the city centre to showcase our expanded homeware range. "Our Home collection has always proven to be a real hit among our Belfast customers and we cant wait to welcome them into our very first Primark Home store. Read more Planning permission secured for new Primark store in Ballymena The new store will be Primarks 10th in Northern Ireland and marks a new lease of life for the Fountain House building. It was previously used as a temporary location for Primark from 2019 to 2022, while the Bank Buildings store was renovated following a fire in August 2018. Primark said that with the opening of Fountain House, its homeware offering will move out of Bank Buildings, allowing it to expand its kidswear and menswear collections in that space. Primark's new Primark Home will open at Fountain House in Donegall Place, Belfast in March Hunt on for missing man Gary Patterson last seen in Larne three months ago Courts TV presenter and DJ who crashed while more than twice the drink-drive limit is fined and banned A west Belfast man who was unlawfully at large for 43 hours the last time he was granted bail has had another bid for temporary release rejected. A teaching union leader has called on politicians to sacrifice pet projects and prioritise giving schools the funding and flexibility needed to meet childrens needs. Speaking ahead of his appearance on Wednesday at the inquiry into the funding of public services being held by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Dr Graham Gault, national secretary of NAHT NI, said there had been a collective failure of politicians to address the financial crisis facing the education sector. The year-on-year, cumulative impact of inadequate funding for children in Northern Irelands schools has had a devastating impact on the financial situation of our schools, said Dr Gault. He first made headlines in 2018 when, as principal of Maghaberry PS, he revealed how parents had been bringing essentials like pencils and toilet paper to school due to a lack of funding. Teachers and parents are subsidising basic learning and teaching roles of schools to startling levels and essential services, such as mental health support, are predominantly being funded by voluntary contributions rather than core funding, leaving stark inequities across the board, he said. Education Minister Paul Givan The funds available to employing authorities have, likewise, declined to crisis levels, leaving employers unable to provide sufficient support and advice to schools to maintain basic services effectively. These factors, combined with industrial unrest associated with continued pay inequity for the wider education workforce and a failure to make enough progress in reducing school leaders unsustainable levels of workload, have left our members in a very invidious position. Dr Gault directed his attention to the collective failure of politicians: Every major political party in Northern Ireland has emphasised education in election manifestos, pledging to increase school funding to address rising costs and demand, prioritise the needs of vulnerable children, particularly those requiring support with special educational needs, invest in school infrastructure and modernise outdated facilities. However, these promises have not materialised into sustainable funding increases for schools. Political instability, including prolonged periods without a functioning Executive, has further delayed critical decisions on education funding and reforms. Instead, politicians should direct funding to schools, trust our school leaders and their workforce, and facilitate and support their flexibility to use these resources to meet childrens needs, removing the shackles around procurement and bureaucracy that stifle their creativity and professionalism. There is hope the building could be brought back into use for heritage and arts purposes Belfasts historic Assembly Rooms has been selected for the World Monuments Funds prestigious 2025 watchlist, it can be revealed. The news marks a significant milestone in efforts to have the building brought back into public ownership and restored, with a view to transforming it into an events and cultural space. Launched in 1996, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) watchlist is announced every two years and 25 heritage sites across the world are chosen, with a view to raising awareness of restoration and protection efforts. The renowned list, which was announced today, also serves to open the door to potential investment for the chosen locations. Belfast's Assembly Rooms Alongside the Assembly Rooms on the 2025 watchlist is the historic city of Antakya in Turkey, as well as Gazas historic urban fabric and the Kyiv Teachers House in Ukraine, where the countrys new parliament sat when it declared its independence in 1918. Also on the list is the Moon, due to the 90 historic landing and impact sites that mark humankinds presence on its surface. Built in 1769, the Assembly Rooms building is situated at the intersection between Bridge Street, North Street and Waring Street in Belfast city centre, an area previously known as the Four Corners, the commercial and geographical hub of what was then a town. It was the scene of many historic events, including when a proposal to establish a slave-trading company in Belfast was shot down in 1786. It was also a meeting place for Presbyterian merchants, many of whom were radical liberals, and the place where United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken was sentenced to death in 1798. The Assembly Rooms was previously used as a bank, but it has been derelict since 2000 and fallen into disrepair. It is currently owned by London-based property firm Castlebrooke Investments. The Assembly Rooms building was nominated for the WMF 2025 watchlist by the Assembly Rooms Alliance, which was set up in February 2023 with the objective of preserving the property and bringing it back into use for heritage and arts purposes. John Gray, the convenor of the alliance and former librarian at the Linen Hall Library, welcomed the news. The WMF will be giving us two years of mentoring and professional support to develop the project, which will be hugely beneficial, he said. They also are the gatekeepers to a variety of potential funding sources, particularly in the United States, which, given that were talking about a prospective cost of probably 15m to restore the building, would be vital. Assembly Rooms in Belfast The alliance is proposing that the Assembly Rooms banking hall, which has a potential capacity for 250 people, be used as a multi-purpose cultural venue for events, running from theatre exhibitions to conferences. For the rest of the building, the Assembly Rooms Alliance has partnered up with the Museum of Troubles and Peace, with a view to installing an exhibition portraying the story of the conflict. John Darlington, director of projects at the WMF, said: The reason we picked it Well, first we looked at the site in a historical sense. Clearly, the Assembly Rooms as an early 18th century building in Belfast, with all the history attached to it, makes it very important to the city. Then we look at what the threat is. The Assembly Rooms has been on the Heritage at Risk Register for a long time and it needs a solution. Then we look at the partners i.e. other people who are going to kind of lead this project. Are they credible? And, again, the Assembly Rooms Alliance is really strong, a really articulate group of clever people. Then the final thing we look at is, because we can only pick 25 sites across the world, we have to make sure those really deliver not just in, say, Northern Ireland, but that they also have resonance elsewhere. Belfast's Assembly Rooms News Catch Up - Wednesday 15 January One of the worlds fastest growing global tea brands Gong cha is opening its first store in Northern Ireland. It will be located on Botanic Avenue in an old branch of coffee shop Clements, and will open its doors on Friday January 24. To celebrate the opening the first 100 customers through the door will receive a free bubble tea. Following that, all drinks will be half price across the standard drink menu for the day. Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha is known for its consistently high-quality, freshly brewed drinks from whole leaf tea, made with premium ingredients. It first expanded overseas in 2009 and has grown significantly to operate nearly 2,100 stores in 26 markets. The new opening in Belfast has created 10 jobs locally. It also brings the Gong cha brand and menu here for the first time. Customers in Belfast will now be able to create fully-customisable drinks from Gong chas menu of premium ingredients from brown sugar tapioca pearls to coconut jelly - on a variety of bases. More than 600 product combinations are available, in addition to dozens of the Gong chas most popular drinks including its brown sugar milk tea. Gong cha Belfast franchisee, Adam Heyes said: We're really excited to bring Gong cha to Ireland for the first time and start serving cups of happiness to the people of Belfast, a unique city with a fantastic blend of students, locals and tourists. Bubble tea is a fast-growing phenomenon which continues to spread globally thanks to its international appeal to a diverse demographic. The new store is the first on the Isle of Ireland and we are confident it will be a huge success offering a variety of bubble tea premium products and recipes to a new audience. Gong cha has more than 2,100 locations globally but is currently executing an ambitious strategy to scale up to 10,000 stores by 2032. Gong cha Belfast team News Catch Up - Tuesday 14 January The PSNI has condemned attacks on police after a man arrested in Newtownards on Wednesday morning allegedly attacked three officers during an arrest. Police said the 20-year-old had been arrested following a proactive search in the Victoria Avenue area of the town. They said the man had been arrested following patrols in the area and was detained in order to carry out a drug search. Police said the man became violent while speaking to officers and was arrested for three counts of assault on police and also arrested for possession of controlled drugs when officers located class B and C drugs on him. They confirmed he remains in police custody at present. PSNI Superintendent Johnston McDowell said: Whilst in attendance, three officers sustained minor injuries after being assaulted by this individual. This is not acceptable, and I must reiterate the message that assaults on police will not be tolerated. We continue to appeal to anyone who witnesses anything unusual, or out of the ordinary, particularly where drugs may be concerned, to call us on 101 or if it's an emergency, call 999. Your information can and does make a difference." Stock photo. Hunt on for missing man Gary Patterson last seen in Larne three months ago The Coahuiltecan creation story tells of a cormorant spirit whose flight brought life to the San Antonio region. Fran Ruchalski/The Enterprise Five years ago this winter, the COVID-19 pandemic upended the world, and governments responded by restricting large swaths of public life. Since then, Americans have grappled with that experience, working to decide how we should respond to similar situations in the future. For their part, Texans have already given a partial answer: in 2021, they amended the Texas Constitution to stop the government from prohibit[ing] or limit[ing] religious services. The Supreme Court of Texas is currently considering a case that tests whether that promise will ring true for people of all faiths, or only for some. For millennia, local Indigenous peoples have regarded a bend in the San Antonio River (known as Yanaguana) as sacred ground. The river bend mirrors the constellation Eridanus, symbolizing a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. The surrounding trees are home to cormorants, creatures central to the Coahuiltecan creation story, which tells of a cormorant spirit whose flight brought life to the San Antonio region. The sites spiritual ecology makes it irreplaceable for believers. Today, the sacred site lies within San Antonios Brackenridge Park. And its threatened by a construction project the City of San Antonio is pursuing. To renovate a retaining wall next to the river, the City wants to remove nearly 70 of the areas 83 sacred trees and is preventing cormorants from nesting there. Once completed, these actions will make it impossible for Native Americans to worship there. Yet City officials never considered less destructive alternatives, refusing to reconsider their design because it would take time and money. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unfortunately, the Citys dismissive attitude is another episode in our nations long history of disregard for Native American sacred sites. Despite our nations commitment to religious freedom, Indigenous spiritual practices often havent received equal respect. For instance, in Arizona, the Apache sacred site Oak Flat is at risk of being obliterated by a government-enabled mining operation that would transform the land into a massive crater. Similarly, the Karankawa, once a prominent tribe in Texas, have been driven to near extinction, leaving their sacred sites vulnerable to government-backed development. This case is more of the same. But two members of the Lipan-Apache Native American Church are working to protect their rights. Theyve sued the City to stop it from needlessly destroying the sacred site. The case, Perez v. City of San Antonio, is now before the Supreme Court of Texas, and the survival of their spiritual practices may depend on how the court interprets the constitutional amendment ratified in the wake of the pandemic. When Texas voters approved the amendment, they affirmed that religious services deserve special protection from government interference even when the government claims an urgent need to restrict these services, as it claimed during the pandemic. That principle should apply here. The Citys planned construction project will destroy the sacred site and make it impossible for members of the Lipan-Apache Native American Church to perform their religious services. But the City, joined by the State of Texas, is trying to dodge the amendment by invoking arguments that have rightly been rejected in other contexts involving more traditional religious beliefs. For example, the City says that the amendment only stops the government from changing the character of a religious service. That interpretation invites courts to judge the importance of religious practices something the First Amendment has long forbidden and disadvantages less mainstream religions, whose character may be unfamiliar to outsiders. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The question, now, is whether groups like the Lipan-Apache Native American Church will get to enjoy the benefits of the new amendment. As we mark the fifth anniversary of the pandemics beginning, its worth reflecting on the lessons weve learned about protecting fundamental rights like religious exercise. That requires also that we recommit to showing due respect for people of all faiths, including lesser-known ones. Too often, our nation has failed to do that for Native American spiritual practices. Fortunately, Texass new constitutional amendment offers an opportunity to correct course: to affirm that the principles of religious liberty apply to all people, equally. DUP leader Gavin Robinson claimed it would be absurd if money from the public purse was handed to Gerry Adams and his ilk, as Arlene Foster branded the situation as a kick to victims Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has spoken out after the Prime Minister said he is looking at every conceivable way to stop him and other Troubles internees from seeking compensation. Responding directly to the Prime Minister, Mr Adams claimed no one should be surprised by a British government seeking to dodge its lawful and human rights responsibilities. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer was responding to criticism of the Governments proposed repeal of legislation that had put a stop to such civil claims. He took aim at the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and said he will continue with efforts to replace the existing legislation, which stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and others. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Henry Nicholls/PA) Meanwhile, Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer KC, who previously represented Mr Adams as a lawyer, came under fire when questioned by MPs for refusing to confirm whether he had advised the Government on repealing the laws. Speaking out on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Adams said there is a need for caution around the comments. We need to see the detail of what is being proposed, especially in light of the British Prime Ministers comments, Mr Adams said. The decision by the Supreme Court in 2020 was explicit. Interim Custody Orders not authorised and approved by the Secretary of State are illegal. The British government has accepted this. It is a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. When the legislation is changed there will almost certainly be further legal process in the courts before there is clarity on this matter. But no one should be surprised by a British government seeking to dodge its lawful and human rights responsibilities. Mr. Starmers comments reflect the infamous assertion of British General Frank Kitson who said: The law should be used as just another weapon in the governments arsenal, in which case it becomes little more than a propaganda cover for the disposal of unwanted members of the public. Both the current and former DUP leaders have also waded into the row, with Gavin Robinson saying it would be absurd if money from the public purse was to be handed to Gerry Adams and his ilk. Mr Robinson added: People are appalled that someone with such a background could now avail of compensation funded from taxes. I note the Prime Ministers statement today that the Government will look at every conceivable option to stop any compensation being paid but the Government needs to stop hiding behind court judgements. Parliament is sovereign and should legislate accordingly. It is imperative that we prioritise the needs and concerns of victims and their families, ensuring that justice and common sense prevail in such matters. Meanwhile former DUP First Minister Dame Arlene Foster branded the situation as a kick to victims. She told GB News: I have to say... not only is that wrong from a justice point of view but for those victims in Northern Ireland and indeed across the UK, who have been through so much and who have been overlooked by governments at best and at worst have been kicked and abused and retraumatised by what has happened to them since 1998. "This is another kick to those victims and I think it is completely unjustifiable. The Policy Exchange has published a report criticising the Governments proposed repeal of legislation that had put a stop to such civil claims. The relevant sections of the Legacy Act had been agreed by Parliament in 2023 in response to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020 that paved the way for former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment without trial in the early 1970s. Mr Adams won his appeal to overturn historical convictions for two attempted prison breaks, after he was interned without trial in 1973 at Long Kesh internment camp, also known as Maze Prison, near Lisburn. The Supreme Court ruled that his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him had not been considered personally by then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Willie Whitelaw. At the time of the case, the previous government contended that the ICOs were lawful due to a long-standing convention, known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the Secretary of State. Mr Adams subsequently successfully challenged a decision to deny an application for compensation for his detention. However, the Legacy Act stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and other former internees. The Act retrospectively validated the ICOs to make them lawful and halted civil claims related to the orders. At the time, the then UK government said the legislation would prevent up to 400 compensation bids by former internees. However, in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act related to the ICOs were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The current government has not appealed that judgment and has tabled a remedial order in Parliament that will repeal various parts of the Legacy Act, including the sections on ICOs. The Policy Exchange paper criticising the move has been backed by 16 peers, including Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson KC. The Governments decision to repeal sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Troubles Act 2023 is inexplicable and unexplained, he said. Policy Exchanges compelling new paper lays bare the many constitutional and practical problems to which this decision gives rise. Parliament must now ask hard questions about why the Government is determined to override Parliaments recent, unanimous decision to vindicate the Carltona principle and to block Gerry Adams from being paid public money. The Governments defence of its decision to abandon a winnable appeal that this signals its absolute commitment to the Human Rights Act makes no sense and warrants the sharp criticism that this paper ably provides. Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (PA) News Catch Up - Tuesday 14 January We see the crisis everyday (Left to right) Damian McNairney from the People's Kitchen, DfC Minister Gordon Lyons and the People's Kitchen program coordinator Paul McCusker A coordinator for a Belfast homeless support charity has warned theres an emergency on our streets following a visit from the Communities Minister and other MLAs. Peoples Kitchen programme coordinator and Independent Oldpark Councillor Paul McCusker is calling for more support from Stormont to combat the crisis which he says is increasing. The north Belfast charity supports over 80 people with breakfast every morning and links those in need with health and addiction services as well as the Housing Executive to help secure stable accommodation. Mr McCusker called for a long-term commitment from Stormont to tackle homelessness. I dont believe theres enough being done, Mr McCusker explained. We need to look at prevention and early intervention. We see the crisis every day, we see the devastation that homeless men and women and their families are having to face. He added: So we know theres not enough being done and we need a long-term commitment from the minister to look at a long-term approach. Mr Lyons plating food It comes after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, North Belfast MLA Caral Ni Chuilin and local MP John Finucane visited the Peoples Kitchen to discuss strategies to combat homelessness in Belfast. Mr Finucane praised the incredible work and vital services that the Peoples Kitchen, which relies solely on public funding, throughout Belfast. He said: Today, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visited the Peoples Kitchens premises to see first-hand the amazing role this organisation plays in supporting those without a home. Remarkably, they receive no public funding for delivery of these services, relying on the generosity of the public to support homeless people. The MP for North Belfast said Stormont will aim to build more homes and ensure organisations such as the Peoples Kitchen have adequate support, tools and resources to carry out this work which is desperately needed on our streets. He added: We asked the minister to look at potential funding streams for the organisation to ensure they can continue to provide this necessary support, now and into the future. Following his visit to the Peoples Kitchen, Mr Lyons also hailed the charity for their efforts of those involved who work on the frontline of homelessness in Northern Ireland. Mr Lyons with kitchen staff To combat the issue, Mr Lyons unveiled the Executive Housing Supply Strategy which plans to address several problems with housing, including homelessness. Mr Lyons said: I said then, and repeat now, that we must be radical in our approach, seeking innovative solutions, thinking of different ways to respond to need. Work on delivering this continues at pace, and initiatives to provide more cost-effective accommodation, and housing for those moving on from temporary accommodation, are progressing, he added. The Minister of Communities supplied the Housing Executive an additional 6.7m to prevent the closure of homeless services and ensure statutory obligations can continue to be met. The Peoples Kitchen have also launched their own charter to end rough sleeping. The charter will put a focus on the organisation committing to enforcing concrete change to homelessness by the end of this current Assembly term. A nighttime homeless support unit is also in the works for the organisation which will offer housing advice alongside a local pharmacy to provide medical support. Damian McNairney from the Peoples Kitchen said: In the year 2025 there shouldnt be people the streets - were a wealthy enough society. So, the peoples kitchen has launched a charter to end rough sleeping. Mr McCusker added that the initiative would extend the support for vulnerable displaced people noting that after five oclock in Belfast services tend to step down a bit. The Oldpark councillor said the issue has continued year on year and has went from initially only feeding several people nine years ago to over 1,000 people a week. He began to notice a particular surge following the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. People were losing employment, were unable to their landlords and I think the cost-of-living issues as well, he explained. There are a range of different reasons why people become homeless and that has continued to increase year on year. That long-term stability is really important for someones life, most people who come into the Peoples Kitchen today struggle with addiction. Mr McCusker explained that due to a lack of housing support many homeless people will spend the night in the Emergency Department because they have nowhere else to go putting further pressure on an already exacerbated health service. Mr Lyons said there are a number of ways the Executive can work across departments to tackle the homelessness crisis and it aims to achieve success in easing through a combined effort. He added I recognise that it will take time and a combined effort to achieve this ambition, and our immediate short-term focus must continue to be supporting those currently in crisis. A Foyle MLA has called on The Executive Office to reverse its decision to remove security from Ebrington Square in Derry from March of this year. Ebrington Square has recently seen clashes involving teenagers which were said to be motivated by sectarianism. Police responded to two reports made around 7.30pm on December 30, 2024, in relation to a large gathering of young people in Ebrington Square. In one of the calls, it was reported these youths were chasing each other; in the second, it was reported it may have been related to an arranged fight. Police responded, but when officers arrived in the area the youths had dispersed. The Belfast Telegraph has also learned that complaints have been raised about drug-taking in public toilets at the site. A member of the public had raised concerns that this sort of activity could increase during the summer and questioned why daytime security had been removed. A Freedom of Information request was submitted to The Executive Office asking for a breakdown of incidents in 2023 and 2024, but no response was provided. Its understood security currently operates onsite between 7pm-7am with 32 CCTV cameras monitored by the City Centre Initiative. Security is said to be a significant cost which is passed on to businesses operating at the site. Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin said: It is deeply worrying that The Executive Office have taken this decision to remove security from Ebrington Square. This site has a long and complicated history, but its regeneration is something we should all be proud of. Ebrington offers both cultural and economic opportunities and has recently seen both Alchemy and EY NI make Ebrington Plaza their new headquarters. I am concerned that the recent violence, which has largely involved young people, has been deemed to be sectarian in nature. We cannot allow our young people to get caught up in this and risk harming themselves or others and putting their futures at risk. The community in the surrounding area cannot be made to feel intimidated and unable to use this shared space. It is hard to understand why The Executive Office has taken the decision to remove security and replace it with CCTV cameras. Having robust security measures in place is the only appropriate way to secure this site. We must send a clear message that violence of any kind is not acceptable. I will continue to lobby The Executive Office to reverse this decision to discourage anti-social behaviour in this area and to ensure that everyone using Ebrington and living in the surrounding area can feel safe in their own community. Ebrington Square in Derry-Londonderry (Pic: Martin McKeown) The PSNI said it is engaging with local representatives to gain an understanding of the situation and establish what exactly occurred. In the meantime, our neighbourhood team will continue to engage with local people, focusing our patrols where they are needed and taking positive action where we can, and we encourage the community to continue to report crimes or incidents that impact on their quality of life on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Inspector Spence added: Anyone who engages in anti-social behaviour needs to consider the consequences of their actions and of the dangers of getting involved in this type of behaviour. Ultimately, they could end up with a criminal record, which may impact their future employment and travel prospects. Anyone with information in relation to these reports is asked to call us on 101, quoting reference 1457 of 30/12/24. The Executive Office has been contacted. Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy and Stephen McNally, chairman of the Tourism Partnership Board at the launch of a plan to help grow the tourism sector over the next 10 years (PA) Peace tourism is hoped to aid a plan to almost double income from visitors to Northern Ireland over the next decade. A new Tourism Vision and Action Plan has set a target of increasing tourism expenditure from overnight visitors to more than 2 billion by 2035. This would be almost double the statistics that show tourism expenditure for 2023 was at a record 1.2 billion. However, there is also concern that the UKs new visa waiver scheme, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), will challenge the efforts to grow tourism numbers. Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy said the tourism target is ambitious but achievable'(Liam McBurney/PA) All non-European visitors to the UK who do not have residency rights and who do not require a visa need to purchase an ETA in advance. From April 2, European visitors will also need the digital travel permission, which costs 10 and is linked to a travellers passport. It does not apply to Irish citizens travelling into Northern Ireland who are exempt under the Common Travel Area arrangements. Stormont Economy Minister Conor Murphy said the tourism target is ambitious but achievable. There is no doubt that that (ETA) casts a cloud over this, he said. We were working on this tourism strategy, we were lobbying the British Government to change their view in terms of bringing in a travel authorisation issue. They have moved with it. We will continue to lobby them to point out that it is a bad idea, a bad idea for Ireland, and for international tourism on the island of Ireland. We will continue to press that, but we have a duty in the meantime to continue to support the tourism industry, to try and help it grow, and the business and jobs that flow from that. Murals on the International Wall in west Belfast in March 2024 (Niall Carson/PA) The plan includes proposals to restore funding to Tourism Ireland to press for overseas tourists to come to Northern Ireland and develop a long-term programme of events for Northern Ireland. It also proposes expanding the visitor experience portfolio by developing and promoting peace tourism. Speaking at the launch of the plan at Titanic Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Murphy said he believes peace tourism is an aspect that has been underplayed and undervalued. He pointed to the popularity of the Museum of Free Derry, and murals and black taxi tours in Belfast which take in miles of peace walls to still separate communities in parts of the city. Black taxi tours of peace walls across Belfast are popular with tourists who come to see the legacy of conflict and see the history of Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) A lot of tourists who come here come to see the legacy of conflict, to see the history of the place, but there has always been a sensitivity around how you promote that so I think were giving confidence to develop a way to promote that which is sensitive to all of the issues that flow from the conflict, he said. There are already significant attractions, the Museum of Free Derry when you see the numbers going there, when I come out of our (Sinn Fein) office on the Falls Road at any time of year, there are people at the murals, people doing black taxi tours around Belfast. That has already been going for 10, 15 years, it had been difficult to promote. Its a sensitive area so we want to make sure we assist those people in promoting that, recognising it is an important part of our overall tourism package which is very varied. Stephen McNally, chairman of the Tourism Partnership Board (TPB), said collaboration has been central to shaping the plan. I am grateful to Minister Murphy for inviting me to steer the work of the TPB which has been most rewarding, especially given the extensive breadth of industry experience across the group, he said. Collaboration has been central to shaping this Vision. I am excited about the opportunities that implementing this Vision and Action Plan will present for ensuring long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for future generations. Donegal County County has raised concerns over cross-border pollution Dalradian has been working on the site near Greencastle in the Sperrins since 2009 A public inquiry into a controversial gold mine in the Sperrins has been suspended for a second time to await submissions from the Irish Government. The move came after it was found that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) failed to properly consult on transboundary issues relating to the proposals. Its seen as a necessity for the Irish Government to have input to the inquiry on what many view as an all-island matter. The inquiry, which began on Monday, has been adjourned until March 26. The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) has been contacted for confirmation. Dalradians plans for a major mine at Curraghinalt were first submitted in 2017. Last May, the PAC decided to put the inquiry which was set to commence last September on hold because of confusion relating to two licence applications for water abstraction and storage. Going into the inquiry, anti-mining campaigners saw transboundary consultations as a key issue that would have to be addressed. Shortly before the inquiry was due to take place, Donegal County Council raised cross-border concerns about the potential risk posed by a proposed gold mining operation in Co Tyrone. The PAC was asked whether submissions from Donegal council could cause further delays as the consultation process ends on January 6, after which a formal response has to be submitted to the Department for Infrastructure NI. In response, the PAC said these matters were to be the subject of the public inquiry process and the commission could not comment. At the heart of concerns for Donegal County Council is the potential risk posed to the River Finn, which is a special area of conservation. It says there is a clear hydrological link between the proposed development site and River Finn which connects to the Mourne River at the Tyrone-Donegal border. The river is also important for fish and otter. Lough Finn holds a population of Arctic char - a relative of salmon and trout, and represents an Arctic-alpine element in the Irish fauna. In Ireland, this fish appears only in a few cold, stony, oligotrophic lakes. The Arctic char in Lough Finn are unusual in that they are dwarfed. These only occur in one other lake in Ireland, Lough Coornasahom, Co Kerry, and they are therefore of national importance. Ciaran McClean, a longstanding campaigner against the gold mine, said the pre-public inquiry hearings in Omagh in March 2024 ended as quickly as they began and at huge expense to the public purse. Speaking ahead of the inquiry, he said the potential for the same thing occurring again was very real. He wrote to chief commissioner, Andrea Kells, asking if the PAC was satisfied the DfI has fulfilled the legal requirements as set out by the PAC. The environmental campaigner also asked how a public inquiry could proceed in the absence of meaningful input from Donegal County Council. Mr McClean suggested the PAC should have deferred the public inquiry until all critical assessments were completed. Now, on the third day of the inquiry, a decision has been taken to suspend it to allow the Irish Government to have its say. Speaking after the latest suspension, Mr McClean said: The Infrastructure Minister must ask Dalradian to submit a new application. The principle of fair play must apply evenly for all concerned. Alliance councillor Stephen Donnelly has said there is a deep disappointment across the community at the delay, which has increased concerns that residents were already feeling. It did not come as a surprise to anyone here cross-border considerations would come into play, so it is astonishing the department did not seem to take this factor into its plans, he said. The inquiry was an opportunity for the people of Tyrone and further afield to input their opposition to this proposed gold mine. "Thanks to the departments failings, this has now ground to a halt. It shows a complete disrespect to our entire community. We need to see sustainable development in the west of Northern Ireland which does not require exploitation of our natural assets and instead showcases a green recovery for our society. Looking to the future, it is vital the department ensures it has carried out the proper work before we get to this stage again. "I have stood alongside residents in their opposition to this gold mine it is crucial they have the opportunity to make their voice heard on these proposals. Before the inquiry began, DfI said: Any response made by Donegal County Council will be fully considered by DfI. Dalradian previously said it had submitted extensive proposals for an environmentally responsible project which will bring economic and social benefits for our local community. A spokesperson believed the public inquiry was the appropriate forum to discuss all aspects of the project. Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Two men have been arrested after police intercepted a stolen car in Belfast. The incident happened at the Junction of York Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Police received a report that a vehicle had been stolen from the Carmel Street area of south Belfast at around 7.00pm on Monday, 13th January. Officers were made aware that the vehicle, a blue Volkswagen Passat, had been reported stolen, and it was spotted by a local policing team on patrol in north Belfast just after midnight on Tuesday, 14th January. Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) The vehicle was stopped at the York Street junction and two men, aged 38 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle without authority and handling stolen goods. Sergeant White said: "This is a great example of the team work of our vigilant officers, who are committed to helping victims of crime, in action. "Our enquiries continue and we would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist with our investigation into the theft, or who may have relevant CCTV , dashcam or other footage to contact us on 101. Police stop a stolen VW Passat on Great George Street in Belfast on January 14th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Hunt on for missing man Gary Patterson last seen in Larne three months ago Two properties across Northern Ireland have been ransacked on Tuesday night in what police are treating as being potentially linked. The burglaries happened in Belfast and Craigavon. Police said three men were seen leaving the properties in an SUV. PSNI Detective Sergeant Stewart said: Police first received a report at approximately 6.20pm of a burglary in the Gracefield Lodge area of Craigavon. Its understood entry was gained to the house via a rear door which had been smashed. A number of rooms had been ransacked inside the property, and enquiries are ongoing to determine if anything, was stolen. A short time later at around 7.45pm we received another report of a burglary at a house in the Shore Road area of north Belfast. Entry was gained through a front door and areas of the property were also ransacked. Were also continuing to investigate if anything was taken. Three masked men were observed leaving this property and are all described as being of slim build, and wearing dark-coloured clothing. They left the scene in a dark-coloured SUV type vehicle which we believe could be potentially connected to the earlier burglary in Craigavon. Both of these properties were vacant when the burglaries occurred, and we would encourage homeowners to make security a central part of the daily routine. Please do not keep large amounts of money at home or carry it on your person. Thieves have been known to employ a number of tactics to establish the routines and habits of business owners, such as following them to and from their home, place of business, wholesalers or suppliers, and even determining the frequency of trips to the bank to determine if cash deposits from the business are being kept in the home. Conduct regular security checks of your home and business - are doors and windows secure, is there an alarm or other security system fitted and working? If you dont have CCTV or a doorbell camera, consider installing one. Invest in a dash-cam. Most importantly, if you see anything or anyone suspicious, or have any concerns that your business may be a target, contact police right away. Police urged anyone with information to contact the non-emergency 101 number. Independent TD Michael Lowry (centre) speaking to the media at Leinster House in Dublin, after a deal was reached to form Irelands next government (Brian Lawless/PA) Smaller class sizes, reduced childcare costs, more gardai, a proposed ban on selling energy drinks to children as well as a clampdown on who can administer dermal fillers, are among the measures in Irelands draft programme for government document. The document was published on Wednesday as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael held their parliamentary party meetings to sign off on the 162-page document. Among its measures includes the aim to reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of government; creating a new public transport security force which would have similar powers to the existing airport police; reducing the cost of childcare to 200 euro per month per child. The draft document includes a pledge to establish a new unit for future planning as well as commitments on a focus on reform at the heart of all Government. Members of the Regional Independent Group Michael Lowry (second right) and (left to right) Gillian Toole, Kevin Boxer Moran, Noel Grealish, and Barry Heneghan, speaking to the media at Leinster House in Dublin, after a deal was reached to form Irelands next government, with an agreement finalised between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group (Brian Lawless/PA) A new public sector pay deal will be linked to the reform agenda, it said. There will also be a new Infrastructure Division in a re-named Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. On housing, the programme includes a pledge to ramp up construction capacity to meet new targets of more than 300,000 new homes by the end of 2030. The Government would also enact a new Compulsory Purchase Order Bill to bring more land in for home building. It would also create a Land Price Register and a rent price register. Elsewhere on health measures, the Government says it will explore restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children as well as ensuring the administration of dermal fillers is only undertaken by trained healthcare professionals. It also pledges to roll out contactless fare payments on all public transport and keep fares low and affordable. In a nod to Simon Harris proposed acorn savings scheme for newborns, the government said it will explore the establishment of a managed savings account for newborns with an initial once-off contribution by the State, ensuring lower income families benefit most from its inception. It also has plans to introduce paid surrogacy leave. The draft plan includes a pledge to ensure a transgender healthcare service that is based on clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness and compassion. It has also pledged to create 9,000 new jobs in international financial services by 2030; a pledge for a new Disability Strategy, with increased staffing and shorter waiting lists; and a plan to recruit at least 5,000 new gardai over the next five years. The draft programme also commits to a health-led approach to drug addiction. Fianna Fail campaigned on a manifesto pledge to decriminalise cannabis possession for personal use. The draft programme includes a pledge to divert those found in possession of drugs for personal use to health services. No explicit reference to decriminalisation is used under that section. The Apple tax money will be spent on housing, infrastructure, energy, water, transport and health digitalisation. Turning to migration, the government said that those who are processed under the border procedure will not be authorised to enter Ireland. Their applications, appeals and removal decisions must be processed within three months, and that this includes will include people who have arrived bycrossing the land border with Northern Ireland. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Cillian Sherlock/PA) The programme for government also confirms that Micheal Martin will hold the office of taoiseach until November 16 November 2027. It will then rotate to the leader of Fine Gael, Simon Harris for at least two years. The two leaders welcomed the agreement that will shape the countrys political landscape over the next five years. The document will now be the subject of approval by the party memberships over the coming days. An Irish premier will then be nominated when the Irish parliament returns on January 22. The agreement comes following negotiations by teams from Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Regional Independent Group. In a joint statement, Mr Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said the focus was on a strong and stable government to deliver continued progress on the economy, infrastructure, housing and public services over the coming years. The leaders said that if the document is agreed by both parties, they will work together with the Independent TDs to deliver for families and tackle the challenges facing the country. It has also been confirmed that Regional Independent Group member Noel Grealish will take up the role as super junior minister in the Department of Agriculture, while Sean Canney will be the super junior minister at the Department of Transport. Meanwhile, Longford-Westmeath TD Kevin Boxer Moran will take up a junior role in the Office of Public Works, while Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin will take a junior role in the Department of Higher Education. Members of Regional Independent Group (left to right) Michael Lowry, Barry Heneghan and Kevin Boxer Moran at Leinster House in Dublin, after a deal was reached to form Irelands next government (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking on behalf of the Regional Independent Group, Michael Lowry said: Weve worked hard, weve put in a long stint, and we have got a result that is very satisfactory for us. Boxer will take up his position in the Office of Public Works. Hes very familiar with it. He did a fantastic job the last time he was in the Office of Public Works. For Boxer to lose his seat at the last election, to bounce back, command the respect and support of the people of his constituency and to come back here on his first week to be appointed to the Office of Public Works is a massive personal achievement. Marian Harkin is a long-serving member of the European Parliament. Shes recognised as a woman of exceptional ability and talent, very capable. She has a particular interest and has always shown an interest in the educational sector, particularly in adult education and in regional development. Shes very supportive and has been very much involved in delivering the Technological University of Sligo. So Marians position will be as Minister of State in the Department of Higher Education. No doubt shell do an excellent job. Earlier on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae will take a junior minister post in the next government. Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Healy-Rae speak to the media outside Leinster House, Dublin, after it was confirmed that Michael will take up a junior role in the new government (Cate McCurry/PA) The Kerry TD refused to say which department he will be in, adding it is a matter for the incoming taoiseach. Mr Healy-Rae, who will take up a position in government for the first time, also declined to say if he had secured any deals for his constituency but that the people of Kerry will see the benefits of having the Healy-Rae brothers in government. Speaking on Wednesday morning, he said that after many years in opposition, he and his brother Danny want to work in government to better their home county of Kerry. Asked which department he will be in, Mr Healy-Rae said: At the end of the day, the giving out of any positions, its obviously a matter for the incoming taoiseach, we will respect that role. It is fair to say that there is an arrangement in place where there will be a role at a department at a minister of state level for the Healy-Raes. Its fair to say that that role will be going in my direction but as for what thats going to be, thats obviously for the direction of the incoming taoiseach. He also said he wants to see a return of common sense in government. What we would like most of all is that this government gets back to basics and gets back to the basic things that the people need, what the farmers need, what the tourism sector needs and all the different things that weve been highlighting, he added. Whatever the issue is, were not slow to come out and well be still doing that. We will try and make sure that common sense prevails, thats the thing that is needed more so than anything else. He also praised his brother Danny for his negotiation skills over recent weeks. If President Trump is looking to get any able person to assist him in stopping the war in the Ukraine, he couldnt carry a better person than Danny Healy-Rae with him, he added. His negotiation skills over the last number of weeks are second to none. The work we have done, we are ensuring that government are taking on board the issues and the concerns that are County Kerry. Remember, if they are in County Kerry, they are reflected throughout the rest of the country. Those issues are taken on board at the heart of government. We are going to use our position, the two of us, in supporting the government and in supporting Kerry in what I would like to call a better and stronger way than what we might have been able to do in the past. The support of the Healy-Raes now brings the number of TDs backing the next government to 95 TDs. A full draft programme for government is to be published later on Wednesday, following Fine Gael and Fianna Fails parliamentary party meetings. The document took several weeks to compile following a lengthy negotiation process. Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has said rail investment was at the top of her shopping list (Peter Byrne/PA) Wales rail settlement is not good enough, Jo Stevens has said, as she insisted she would fight for as much cash to fix the situation as possible. The Welsh Secretary could not reveal how much Wales will get to invest in its trains, but said she was making representations to the Treasury for sustainable funding. Ms Stevenss appearance at the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee came after Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, told the BBC the UK Government had recognised Wales has been hard done by when it comes to rail. Welsh politicians have complained that the country has lost out over the HS2 project, for which Wales received no additional money. The high speed rail project is classified as an England and Wales project, meaning the latter country loses out on consequential funding, which Plaid Cymru has estimated would be worth around 4 billion. By contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland are receiving extra funding as a result of HS2. Speaking at the Welsh Affairs Committee for the first time since taking up her role as Secretary of State, Ms Stevens said she wanted to be perfectly frank about Wales rail settlement. Its not good enough, and that is a direct consequence Im afraid of the last 14 years of underfunding by prior governments, and that is why I am determined to change that. I cant change the past. I hope that that I can change the future, she told MPs. Ms Stevens said she had been working with the Welsh Governments transport minister Ken Skates, and the Department for Transport in Westminster, and had agreed a direction of travel which she hoped would deliver new rail investment for Wales. A tunnel boring machine clearing the way for HS2s first phase on its approach into London (Jonathan Brady/PA) Three key points had underpinned these discussions, she said recognition that Wales had not received a fair share of funding in the past, that there is already a really good blueprint for which investments to prioritise, and that the UK and Welsh governments needed to work together. A letter from Ms Stevens and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to the Welsh Government admitted railways in Wales have seen low levels of enhancement spending in recent years, particularly in the context of major investments such as HS2. The UK Government will prioritise projects proposed by the Wales Rail Board, the letter said, including upgrading the railway in south-east Wales and building new stations between Cardiff and the Severn tunnel, as well as upgrades to the North Wales mainline and to connections between Wrexham and Liverpool in the north. Speaking at the committee Ms Stevens stressed the Government cannot fix this overnight, adding: It has gone on for a long time, and the legacy of under investment is going to take time to resolve, but I am clear, both governments are clear, that we have got to break this cycle of underinvestment that had been a political strategy. When asked by Plaid Cymrus Ben Lake (Ceredigion Preseli) if HS2 should be reclassified as an England-only infrastructure project, Ms Stevens signalled this was not an approach the Government would take. I want us to have a sustainable pot of rail infrastructure funding for Wales, and I think we need to stop deriving the future of railing Wales from HS2 alone, she replied. Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, told the BBC the UK Government had recognised Wales has been hard done by when it comes to rail (Andy Buchanan/PA) The Welsh Secretary could not give a timeline for when the funding would be set out, or how much it might be, as this will be subject to negotiation as part of the Governments spending review later this year. Ms Stevens insisted she was on the side of the Welsh travelling public, and added: I just want the committee to be reassured that this is top on my shopping list for the spending review. Welsh First minister Baroness Morgan had earlier said she hopes the amount on offer will be significant. For the first time theyre recognising youve been hard done by, she said of the UK Government. Plaids Llyr Gruffydd MS argued the First Minister had misrepresented the letter she had received from UK ministers, and was conflating two very different issues. He said Ms Alexanders letter did not mention the unfairness of HS2 and would not right the wrong of the full 4billion consequential owed to Wales. If Labour were serious about giving Wales fair play, then they would give us the full 4 billion we are owed, just as they said they would, the Senedd member added. But a Labour source said: We recognise that Wales has suffered chronic underinvestment under successive Conservative governments, including through HS2. We cannot fix that inherited injustice. But we can and will fight for a funded pipeline of future rail projects across Wales for the first time in decades. Texas state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the members after being named speaker of the house during opening day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Stephen Spillman/AP The Texas House elected Dustin Burrows as its new speaker on Tuesday, elevating an establishment pick from within former Speaker Dade Phelans circle over Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican who consolidated support among far-right Republicans. Burrows is a trial lawyer from Lubbock who runs his own firm focused on construction, agriculture, civil litigation and mediation. The Republican has served in the Texas House since 2015, slowly building his stature and overcoming a scandal in 2019, when he was caught on tape discussing an effort to target 10 Republicans in their upcoming primary races. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Then-Speaker Dennis Bonnen resigned over the incident, and Burrows stepped down as chair of the House GOP Caucus. I will be shocked if either of them survive this, former Republican state Rep. Jonathan Stickland said at the time. But Burrows remained influential in the chamber, later emerging as a top lieutenant to Phelan and establishing himself as the heir apparent when Phelan stepped aside late last year. Heres what to know about the new speakers background and how he could lead. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How long has Burrows been in office? Burrows was first elected in 2014, winning the Republican primary in a safe district in the Lubbock area being vacated by Charles Perry, who ran for state Senate. His first bill aimed to prevent school districts from suspending or terminating teachers for permissible teaching about the Bible. It ultimately failed. During the 2017 session, Burrows authored 42 bills, two of which became law: one regulating certain agricultural contracts and another assisting first responders with workers compensation claims. By 2019 he had emerged as a power broker. Just before the scandal that year, he was elected chairman of the House Republican Caucus and tapped to chair the House Ways and Means Committee, a powerful group that leads tax-writing efforts for the state budget. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Burrows also authored the chambers property tax reform bill that year. In 2023, Burrows joined 59 other Republicans in voting to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton on corruption and abuse of office charges. Paxton was later acquitted by the more conservative Senate, and Burrows didnt play a big public role in the process. What are Burrows legislative priorities? In the 2019 tapes, which were secretly recorded, Burrows and Bonnen also spoke about their desire to rein-in cities and counties. "Any mayor, county judge who's dumbass enough to come meet with me - I told them with great clarity, 'My goal is for this to be the worst session in history of the Legislature for cities and counties,'" Bonnen said on the recording. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I hope the next session's even worse," Burrows added. Burrows went on to endorse a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, which would prevent cities, counties or school districts from using any public funds to advocate at the Legislature. In the 2023 session, he authored the controversial Death Star" bill, which broadly blocked local government ordinances that go further than state law on everything from agriculture to housing. Burrows said at the time the bill was designed to keep cities and counties focused on public safety and road and sewage maintenance, rather than implementing progressive priorities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "What I am starting to see is a different category of ordinances that have emerged, where some of the same advocates that come to the Legislature with their agenda ... have now gone to some of our cities -- maybe our more progressive cities -- and had those adopted there," Burrows said. In 2022, Burrows chaired the Houses investigation into the Robb Elementary School shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead. He went on to author a school safety bill in 2023 that created a host of new security requirements for schools and set aside more than $1 billion extra dollars. The centerpiece of that bill was a requirement for districts to hire armed guards on each campus, which a Hearst Newspapers analysis found most districts could not comply with due to its high cost and lack of available officers. That same year, Burrows served as chair of the powerful Calendars Committee, which decides what bills receive votes on the House floor. Families of the Uvalde victims visited the Legislature repeatedly to lobby for an increase to the minimum age to purchase an assault-style weapon. When the bill unexpectedly passed out of a Republican-led committee, Burrows did not schedule it for a vote. "Uvalde families didn't fail, Texas politicians did," Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter Lexi died in the shooting, said at the time. "We were up against a brick wall, but the dent we left is notable. We'll be back." Burrows will now oversee a session that could largely center on private school vouchers, water infrastructure and the GOP push to introduce more Christianity into public schools, such as in-school prayer or the display of the Ten Commandments. Burrows voted in favor of Gov. Greg Abbotts voucher plan in 2023. His public statements have emphasized a need for both vouchers and public school funding. In his speech after winning the speakership Tuesday, Burrows named a few priorities for the session, including property tax relief, increased support for public schools, investment in water infrastructure and policies to address the risk of terrorism in the wake of the New Years attack in New Orleans by a Houston man. A ban on taxpayer funded lobbying has also been discussed for this session. Each of you brings unique wisdom, from the districts you serve, from the Panhandle to the Valley, from East Texas to El Paso, our strength lies not in conformity but in how we harmonize these diverse perspectives, Burrows said in his victory speech. Who are Burrows biggest donors? Burrows largest donor throughout his political career has been Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, a group that lobbies to curb what it sees as frivolous litigation against business. The PAC contributed $116,000 over the years, followed closely by former Speaker Dade Phelan, whose campaign gave just shy of $109,000. Other groups donating substantial amounts include the PACs for the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Association of Realtors, the Texas Medical Association, a group for Texas correctional officers. Empower Texans, a PAC funded largely by the West Texas billionaire Tim Dunn whose political organizations backed Cook in the speaker race, donated to Burrows twice in 2015. What are lawmakers saying about Burrows? As a conservative Republican with a track record of bills opposed by Democrats, especially the Death Star bill, Burrows appeared an unlikely compromise speakership pick for a bipartisan coalition. But Democrats heaped praise on Burrows during nominating speeches, with 49 ultimately voting for him. When I was having issues, he was the first one to say, what can I do to help? What do we need to do? said Toni Rose, D-Dallas. This is the kind of leader we need, one who will make sure everyone is able to represent their district. I'm supporting Dustin Burrows, not because we agree on everything, but because he understands that this house, this is the people's house, said Mihaela Plesa, D-Plano. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, said Burrows had deftly navigated the Calendars Committee in 2023, noting that the role with the power of deciding winners and losers comes the risk of ruining relationships. You can't have a job like Dustin has had running Calendars without making somebody mad, Geren said during his speech nominating Burrows on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate, slammed Burrows after the vote for having been "handed the speakership by Democrats, as has happened behind closed doors session after session since 2009." He laid out several of his priority items for next session, including school vouchers, bail reform and banning ownership of Texas land by "foreign adversaries." The family of a banker who was shot on the doorstep of his home more than two decades ago have expressed their extreme disappointment that Scotlands most senior police officer has refused to meet with them. Alistair Wilson was murdered at his home in Nairn in the Highlands on November 28 2004 by a man who called at the door and asked for him by name, before handing him an envelope and shooting him. On Wednesday, Fergus Ewing MSP, whose constituency includes Nairn, told the Scottish Parliament the Wilson family had suffered unending grief since the killing, and that they had pursued a 20-year campaign for justice. He said he had met with the family on Tuesday and they had asked him to express their disappointment that their requests for a meeting with Chief Constable Jo Farrell to discuss the unsolved case had so far been refused. Today, they wish me to express their extreme disappointment that the chief constable of Scotland, the top police officer in the land, has thus far refused to meet with them, he said. He added: They hope, presiding officer, that that is something that can be put right. He pointed out the family had met with Scotlands top law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, who last September ordered a complete reinvestigation of the case, with a new team of police officers and prosecutors. They also had a meeting with First Minister John Swinney earlier this month, who agreed to look into issues they brought to his attention. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said she would not abuse her position by requesting that the chief constable meets the Wilson family (Jane Barlow/PA) Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the Scottish Government recognises the Wilson family have endured an unimaginable loss. She said would not abuse her position as Justice Secretary by making requests or orders that are not appropriate to me. However, she stressed the importance of extending the hand of engagement even in difficult cases. Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said he had also spoken to the Wilson family, and that he cannot understand the thought process of the chief constable in refusing to meet with them. He said: If the head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland, the Lord Advocate, can meet with the family, if the head of the Scottish Government, the First Minister, can meet with the family, surely the head of Police Scotland can also meet with the family. Support for children is often dictated by their postcode or how well their parents can navigate the system (Alamy/PA) A lost generation of children could leave school without receiving the help they need if action is not taken to address Englands inequitable special educational needs system, MPs have said. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said too many families are struggling to access the help their children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) desperately need. In a damning report, the committee said whether children receive support depends too much on their postcode, or how well families can navigate an often chaotic and adversarial system. It highlighted long waiting times for assessments and support and an increase in the number of parents who are appealing education, health and care (EHC) plan decisions via tribunals. Nearly all (98%) of the cases taken to tribunal were found in favour of parents which the PAC report said undermines families confidence in the system. The Send system remains unviable with current piecemeal interventions doing nothing to provide a financially sustainable system, according to the cross-party committee. The PAC has called on the Government to urgently take action to improve the system which it warned is putting nearly half of councils in England at risk of effectively going bankrupt. In December, the Government announced that it had earmarked 740 million of funding to create more specialist places in mainstream schools in England for children with Send. The funding, which forms part of the 6.7 billion of education spending announced in the budget, can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with Send, and to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools to deliver more support. It came after a National Audit Office (NAO) report in October said the Send system was not delivering better outcomes for young people or preventing councils from facing significant financial risks. Only half of the EHC plans which set out the provision of Send support a child or young person needs were issued within the statutory 20-week time limit in 2023, it highlighted. The PAC report, published on Wednesday, found that even families in neighbouring local authorities have markedly different experiences. Nearly three in four (71.5%) of EHC plans were written on time in Lambeth in London, while fewer than a fifth (19.2%) were written on time in Southwark. The committee said: Without fully understanding why demand for support has increased, the departments ability to provide value for money is undermined. It has called on the Department for Education (DfE) to, within the next sixth months, set out the provision which children with Send should expect and what inclusive education looks like. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the PAC, said: Urgent warnings have long been issued to Government on the failing Send system from every quarter. This is an emergency that has been allowed to run and run. Families in need of help have been forced to spend precious energy fighting for the support they are legally entitled to, and local authorities to bear an unsustainable financial burden. The fact that 98% of cases taken to tribunal find in favour of families is staggering, and can only demonstrate that we are forcing people to jump through bureaucratic hoops for no good reason. It is long past time the Government took action matching the gravity of this situation. And yet our inquiry found no sense of urgency amongst officials to do so. The immensity of this situation cannot be overstated. As a nation, we are failing countless children. We have been doing so for years. He added: This report must serve as a line in the sand for Government. Every day that goes by, for families not receiving the right support, is another day closer to a lost generation of young people. Pepe DiIasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: It is hard to imagine a more damning report. Not only are children being failed by the pressures on the Send system, but almost half of councils are in danger of going bust because of the Governments failure to get to grips with the problem despite repeated warnings over many years. It is truly lamentable. This isnt a problem of the current governments making but it has inherited this shambolic situation and now bears the responsibility of acting with the sense of urgency that has proved so elusive in the past. Arooj Shah, who chairs the Local Government Associations (LGA) children and young people board, said: It is vital the Government urgently sets out a comprehensive reform plan that ensures children and their families get the support they need and deserve. This must include ensuring councils are on a financially stable footing, with high needs deficits written off. Otherwise, many councils will face a financial cliff edge, and be faced with having to cut other services to balance budgets through no fault of their own, or their residents. Schools Minister Catherine McKinnell said: The system weve inherited has been failing families with Send children for far too long this is unacceptable and thats why we set out our Plan for Change to ensure no child is left behind. These problems are deep-rooted and will take time to fix but we remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver the change that exhausted families are crying out for by ensuring better earlier intervention and inclusion. We are already making progress by investing 1 billion into Send, 740 million for councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools and through our Curriculum and Assessment Review which will look at barriers that hold children back from the best life chances. Ian Jones, the founder of Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd after being made an OBE by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle (Andrew Matthews/PA) An engineer who pioneered space communications in the UK has said Artificial Intelligence is to become a real helper of humanity in the years to come. Ian Jones is the founder and chief executive of the Goonhilly Earth Station Limited, the worlds first private deep space operator, which helps organisations like Nasa and ESA, as well as some private companies, to communicate with their space crafts in deep space all from the Goonhilly Downs site near Helston, Cornwall. Ian Jones, founder of Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd after being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Andrew Matthews/PA) The 62-year-old engineer, who was made an OBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday for services to Space Communications, said the UK should look more into the benefits AI can bring the country, its people and its economy, as he himself is moving into the field. Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Jones said: Its really astonishing whats happening in AI now. Commenting on Sir Keir Starmers announcement earlier this week that the Government has plans to make the UK an AI superpower, Mr Jones said: I think that in the UK, weve been looking at the potential problems that AI could bring. Actually, the lens that we should be looking through is what benefits we can get from AI. Its using the knowledge that AI has. AI by now has read every book and has read every page on the internet, and so, it has the ability to really help and inform us, to move more quickly, and to use that capability to get ahead and to help others to get ahead. He added: I think its going to be a real helper. Obviously there are concerns about it getting ahead very quickly, but actually, AI is very good at following rules. So, if you set the rules and you give it a set of documents to abide by, it will do so really, really well. Asked about the risks of AI being used for malicious reasons such as the illegal or invasive collection of personal data, or the use of AI to create deepfakes Mr Jones said: I think thats right but you could say that of very many things. For example, the telephone can be used for great good or it can be used for bad, the internet can be used for great good or bad AI is the same. So the point is: yes, you need regulations and you need rules and laws that we obey, or are held into account by if we dont. But that shouldnt stop up from using those tools and using them for good, for growth, and to really make our lives better. We live in an amazing time where, for most of the world, we dont want for too many things and yes, we know that there are exceptions. But all of these things have come through technological advances. As the population of the Earth grows, we need to use technology to help this growing population. According to Mr Jones, AI could be used in a variety of fields, including not only space communications, but healthcare and administration. He said: Its things like, when you go to a doctor, you get your doctors opinion. But if your doctor could use AI to get the massed knowledge of all doctors, and then use that to inform their opinion, I think that thats a really good thing to do. Ultimately people are making the decisions, but they are being guided by a much broader base of knowledge. And I think, particularly over the next few years, its going to make a massive difference to how we can be productive and help each other to grow. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister unveiled plans to expand use of AI in a bid to boost growth. He conceded there would be teething problems involved in the process but insisted changes would help revolutionise creaking public services and turn around Britains economy. The Government also said it will take forward all 50 recommendations made by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who was commissioned by Science Secretary Peter Kyle in July to come up with a plan to identify AI opportunities. Among the proposals are greater use of the technology in the public sector to enable workers to spend less time doing administrative tasks and more time delivering services, as well as a series of AI growth zones around Britain to help speed up planning approvals for data centres and improve access to the energy grid. Michelle Sadio, 44, was killed outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Harlesden (Met Police/PA) An 18-year-old man has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of murdering a woman in an indiscriminate drive-by gang shooting outside a church. The victim, Michelle Sadio, 44, was killed outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Harlesden, north-west London, on December 14. That day, a wake was being held for 80-year-old Dianne Boatong who had died nine days earlier. At about 5pm a group of young people arrived and congregated in the area outside the church, having been denied entry as some were drinking and smoking. Just after 9.10pm, a dark-coloured Kia pulled up and shots were fired into the crowd before the vehicle drove away. Ms Sadio, who had been standing with mourners, was fatally shot and died at the scene. Kenneth Amoah, 39, suffered a gunshot wound to the back and Kadeem Francis, 30, was shot in the foot. Both were taken to hospital for treatment and survived. Children as young as five years old were said to be among the crowd when the shooting happened. The Kia was later abandoned and set on fire in Barnhill Road in nearby Wembley Park, police have said. Tahjin Sommersall, 18, was arrested at his home on January 9 and charged two days later with Ms Sadios murder. He was also charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. On Wednesday, Sommersall, from Feltham, north London, appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing before Judge Judy Khan KC. Outlining the alleged offences, prosecutor Ben Holt told the court: The investigation suggested this offence is the result of an ongoing gang dispute between two rival gangs. Judge Khan noted that the alleged gang shooting appeared to involve the indiscriminate use of a firearm. She set a plea hearing for April 2 and a provisional six-week trial for October 13. The defendant, who spoke only to confirm his identity, was remanded into custody. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that a further five men were arrested at addresses in Brent and Hounslow in connection with the killing. The suspects, two aged 18 and the others aged 21, 24 and 33, remain in custody. Police said the victims family had been updated on the developments and continue to be supported by specialist officers. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced on Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war. Three officials from the US and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said final details were still being ironed out. Mr Netanyahus office said in a statement that it hoped details will be finalised tonight. Rockets fired from Gaza and intercepted by Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system (Fatima Shbair/AP) Any agreement needs to be approved by Mr Netanyahus cabinet. Once official, the deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether. Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though its unclear if all are alive. It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives. Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilised the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. Hamas triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gazas population and sparked a humanitarian crisis. More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a week-long truce in November 2023. Palestinian children play next to buildings destroyed by Israeli army strikes in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The US, along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in the Gaza. Israel responded with a brutal air and ground offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. UN and international relief organisations estimate that some 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be under way in northern Gaza, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents. In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israels military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air. US President Joe Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework. He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day. The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. Hamas had been demanding assurances for a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas military and governing capabilities. The various players have conducted months of on-again, off-again negotiations. But with Mr Bidens days in office numbered and President-elect Donald Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal. Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Donald Trump has hit out at Jack Smith in an angry 1am rant after the special counsel published his report, concluding the president-elect tried to criminally overturn the 2020 election. Trump inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence in the January 6 riots and knowingly spread a false narrative about fraud in the 2020 election, the Department of Justice report found. The document written by Smith also claimed Trump would have been convicted for the role he played had he not been re-elected by voters in a landslide victory last year. Responding, Trump slammed Smith as a deranged lamebrain prosecutor in a furious tirade posted to his social media platform TruthSocial. Deranged Jack Smith... is a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election, which I won in a landslide, Trump wrote. [He] was unable to successfully prosecute the Political Opponent of his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, so he ends up writing yet another Report based on information that the Unselect Committee of Political Hacks and Thugs ILLEGALLY DESTROYED AND DELETED, because it showed how totally innocent I was, and how completely guilty Nancy Pelosi, and others, were. Referring to the bipartisan House select committee led by Representative Bennie Thompson that investigated the effort to subvert the 2020 result, Trump alleged the panel had destroyed evidence because it showed how totally innocent he was but provided no evidence to support the claim. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that there would be a formal probe into the House committee in question, which featured Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger among its members a gesture widely seen as an act of retaliation on the incoming presidents behalf. Smith defended his investigation, saying: The claim from Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable. President-elect Trump has consistently criticized Smith and allies have suggested the special counsel should now face criminal charges for pursuing the case against him. In different sections, the report goes into Trump putting pressure on state officials, as well as on his own deputy Mike Pence to weaponise his ceremonial role in certifying the election results in Congress and also discusses the so-called fraudulent electors plan. Smith curtailed his probe into the 45th presidents alleged election interference plot in November after Trump beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 vote to secure a return to the White House. Justice Department protocol forbids it from investigating a sitting president, ending Smiths hope of securing a conviction against Trump and prompting his resignation last Friday. But the special counsel leaves office with a report that makes clear his feelings about the future presidents efforts to mislead the American public about his defeat to Joe Biden four years ago. Those efforts included, he argues, attempts to induce state officials to ignore true vote counts; to manufacture fraudulent slates of presidential electors in seven states that he had lost; to force Justice Department officials and his own vice president, Michael R Pence, to act in contravention of their oaths and to instead advance Mr Trumps personal interests. But for Mr Trumps election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial, Smith writes. Smith says it was his duty to investigate the former presidents conduct, adding he stands by his decision fully and that prosecutors cannot control outcomes and must simply commit to doing their jobs. The special counsel cites Mike Pences own words from his memoir So Help Me God as he outlines the intensity of Trumps pressure campaign against his own vice president. Trump sought to persuade him to weaponize his ceremonial role in certifying the election results in Congress, the event underway on Capitol Hill on January 6 2021 when the attempted insurrection broke out. Smith alleges that Trump told his erstwhile running mate Mike Pence that hundreds of thousands of people would hate his guts and think him stupid if he did not comply with the plot to reject legitimate results from the states, also angrily rebuking Pence for being too honest. The Independent Mr Tusk accused Russia of attempting to carry out acts of sabotage against airlines (Justin Tallis/PA) Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused Russia of planning acts of sabotage worldwide that included acts of air terror against airlines. Mr Tusk spoke at a news conference in Warsaw alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Polish leader said: I will not go into details, I can only confirm the validity of fears that Russia was planning acts of air terror, not only against Poland, but against airlines around the world. The Kremlin has dismissed previous Western claims that Russia sponsored acts of sabotage and attacks in Europe. Western security officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind a plot to put incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes headed to North America, including one that caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another that ignited in a warehouse in England last year. The pro-European Union government in Warsaw says that Russia is pursuing acts of hybrid war against Poland and other Western countries in retaliation for their support for Polands neighbour Ukraine in its struggle against Russias full-scale invasion. The government has accused Russia, and its ally Belarus, of fomenting a migration crisis on the EUs eastern border with Belarus in order to create chaos and division in the EU. Last year, Polands foreign minister ordered the closure of one of three Russian consulates in the country in response to acts of sabotage, including arson attacks that he said were sponsored by Moscow. The west Belfast mans body was recovered in Spain last week after an almost month-long searchSpanish Police believe the father-of-two was shot before ChristmasBilly George has said he will never return to the area where his son went missing Twenty-four days after John George was reported missing in Spain, a body was found. John George, also known as John Hardy, had travelled to Alicante in early December for a holiday. The west Belfast man contacted his family for the last time on the 14th of December, four days later his flight home left without him. His family soon voiced fears the 37-year-old father-of-two from Twinbrook had been murdered. Then on Christmas Eve, those fears deepened as a video emerged showing Mr George appearing intoxicated in an apartment. As the days passed, Johns father said he accepted his son was likely dead. The Belfast Telegraph can now reveal that Mr Georges return flight, which was booked for the 18th December, was booked in the days following his death. A 32-year-old man from the Czech Republic, arrested in connection with his death, has been released on bail after appearing in court in Alicante. Belfast Telegraph crime correspondent Allison Morris, who was in Spain investigating the disappearance, joins Ciaran Dunbar. After Park Sung Hoon gained international recognition in his previous role, Jeon Jae Joon from "The Glory," the actor has wowed audiences across the world as Hyun-ju, a transgender special forces officer in Netflix's "Squid Game 2." Park offered details about his portrayal of the multilayered character at a recent interview in a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul. "That was something I wanted to depict, the anxiety below the strength and decisiveness of Hyun-ju," Park said. "So instead of showing simply her hard and determined side, I thought it would be more well-rounded to add a portrayal of her leadership style juxtaposed with vulnerability." Many have commended Park's showing for straying from the stereotypical images of trans figures often seen in dramas. Hyun-ju is feminine in both looks and personality, but it can still bring out the fighting ability of the special forces when the plot calls for it. Park worked closely with the production team to strike this balance. "Hwang Dong Hyuk (director), costume and makeup team leader, and I tried a bunch of hairstyles and makeup. We did some various nail polish colors," he said. "I took one look at myself in character and thought, 'Wow, I look like my older sister.'" Park even changed his voice depending on the scene, rarely using the same tone twice. "I was like, I sang in a higher register than my Sheriff voice -- I set a limit! When it was just a matter of life and death when Hyun-ju was going to die a more masculine voice came out," he said. "I had many conversations ahead of time with the director about which emotion would be communicated in each of these moments so that it not only made sense in the context of the beat but also the context of the overall piece." The character was partially inspired by Byun Hui-su, South Korea's first openly transgender soldier. Rest in peace to Byun Hui-su, one of the first out trans soldiers in South Korea, and the clear inspiration for Squid Game Season 2 character Cho Hyun-ju (aka Player 120). I wrote about her multiple times and could never forget her story https://t.co/JoAEKUD0dD Juwan the Writer / 'The #Fight'-er (@juwanthewriter) December 29, 2024 Park found out that the character was written for Byun by Director Hwang. Park said, "When he came on board the project, director Hwang told me he had written the role for Byun Hui-su. But I didn't set out to impersonate her, per se. So I created the film with the different challenges Hyun-ju would have had to face over the course of her life and I put those into the performance." Park's "Squid Game 2" performance has received positive reviews, helping to broaden his acting palette, despite causing controversy around the world after mistakenly uploading an explicit image onto social media. Park said: "Jeon Jae-joon was like a gift to me and I don't feel like I have to leave him quickly. Each role I take is too precious, so I think Jeon Jae-joon in the past will soon be buried." Park's performance was a highlight of a series that has kept global eyeballs on "Squid Game 2" since its release. Shutterstock.com It is becoming more and more evident that we are living in dark, perilous times. Many believe the plagues, natural disasters, politics, current foreign affairs, violence, and brutality worldwide are all indicators that the end times are near us now. It is hard to question that there is a lot at stake. As our nation continues to be divided and in turmoil, many wonder about America, its role in the end times, and the future of America. While there are no specific references to America in Bible prophecy, there are statements in Scripture about what the nations in total will be doing during the tribulation period. Some of these passages include Haggai 2:6-7, Isaiah 66:18-20, and Zechariah 12:2-3. These are the passages that speak to the nations that will be involved in the end times. While these references undoubtedly include the U.S. in prophecy fulfillment, they dont teach us directly about Americas role in Bible prophecy. What other passages in Scripture can tell us anything about Americas role in Bible prophecy? Scripture references the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty in Revelation 19:15. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, the Bible exults that, Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come. God sends Jesus to us directly to deliver us from His own wrath. Romans 5:8-9 says, But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him." There are also various references to Gods judgment through the Bible. Romans 1:18,24 indicates, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness...Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." When we look throughout history, we see Gods punishment falling on nations like Israel and others. The Bible says, "You will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and an object of horror to the nations around you when I inflict punishment on you in anger and in wrath and with stinging rebuke. I the LORD have spoken" (Ezekiel 5:15). We also know from Bible readings that there will be a final judgment on all people at the end of history. Scriptures also says, "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:5). When we look at examples of judgment throughout Scripture and know that there is a final judgment, its only natural to want to know if that same judgment falls on America. There are various leading Christian voices that indicate that the end times are near, and we are facing final judgment. One of these leading voices is Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the late evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham. She warns not only that the end times are near, but that Gods judgment will be coming to America. "Our nation is in a mess," Lotz said, according to the Christian Post. "Why? Could it be because America is losing God's blessing? His favor. Could our sin be provoking His judgment? Judgment that is not necessarily in the form of a nuclear dirty bomb, or another ISIS attack, or an economic collapse. But a Romans 1 judgment as God backs out of our national life and turns us over to ourselves." She also went back over the Old Testament story that talks about Gods punishment upon the nation of Judah for going their way and disobeying Him. God warns a nation that judgment is coming. He doesn't want any to perish. But if a nation does not heed His warnings, He unleashes His anger and there is nothing no one who can prevent it. If God would judge His own beloved nation of Judah, why would we think America could escape?" Lotz shared in an important call to action, emphasizing that Americans have to turn back to God in true repentance, seeking God in these perilous times. Some believe that President Donald Trump fulfilled one of the last prophecies in the Scripture prior to Jesus return by moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel back to Jerusalem. In Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, this was another end-times prophecy being fulfilled. There are also voices like R.R. Reno, one of Americas leading scholars of religion and politics, who believe our society is on the brink of collapse. He warns that if America isnt restored to a Christian society, our nation and culture will quickly descend to a lawless, unhappy, shallow, and brutal place. This space will be divided even more between rich, poor, vulnerable, and elite demagogues, Reno says. While these things can be very scary to think about, we do have hope. While we can see that America is falling and failing, there is something that can save us. This begins with a renewal of Christian ideals. These include things like integrity, compassion, hard work, and love. If we really want to restore America at this pivotal time, Christianitys public influence needs to be restored. In order to do this, we should put on the full armor of God, and contend against the principalities, against the world rules of this present darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12). There is no way we can ignore whats taking place in America. We cant step aside and just watch our nation crumble. We owe our fellow neighbors a faithful witness to the truth. Be aware that this may provoke controversy, but it is important. Ephesians 6:15 reminds us that the armor of God includes the equipment of the Gospel of peace . There is no greater place that we can turn to than God because He reflects the love and will show us the proper way. We are at an important crossroads. We have to ask ourselves whether we will live in the ideals of a Christian society or listen to the instructions of a secular one. We cant deny or underestimate the danger we are in. One great thing we can do is restore our voices as Christians in the public sphere. Our God is active, and we are called to show His love to others through our discipleship. When light is standing with darkness, the light always reigns supreme. We may be living in dark times, but we have hope in God, who is the Light. He never fails. Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. BENNINGTON A Bennington man was arraigned Monday for allegedly striking a female family member several times in the head until the victim was unconscious. Nathaniel Armond Serre, 34, of Pleasant Street in Bennington, was charged with two felony counts aggravated assault and aggravated domestic assault. He faces a possible life sentence after being classified as a habitual offender in Vermont. According to a police affidavit, on Wednesday, September 18th, police spoke with a female who reported Serre physically assaulted her. The victim told police she was bringing Serre home with another older female when he became angry about a money matter. Serre allegedly cursed at the female and told her he hated her before punching her several times in the face and head. The victim reportedly lost consciousness. When the victim regained consciousness, she told police she witnessed Serre then beating the other victim. Serre allegedly then turned his attention back to the first victim, punching her in the head several more times. Serre has a criminal history in Vermont, which includes domestic assault, simple assault on a corrections officer with injury, burglary, larceny from a person, disorderly conduct, violations of an abuse prevention order, and five convictions of violations of conditions of release. Serre is currently on probation on one of the violations of an abuse prevention order and a DUI. Serre was released after pleading not guilty to both counts, although he is still being held on a second-degree aggravated domestic assault from March on a $10,000 un-met bail amount. The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available. 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. Employees at the FedEx distribution center on Federico Drive in Pittsfield have been informed the location will close later this year. Some employees will be offered jobs at other sites, the company said. On the back side of the stone theres an inscription for Wesley Ford, a 16-year-old who died at the Battle of the Wilderness in May 1864. But theres no veterans marker, and Im wondering why," an inquirer wrote. PITTSFIELD A late-night effort, a run to Connecticut for needed parts and the assistance of a local business restored heat and electricity to Herberg Middle School, clearing the way for the resumption of classes Wednesday morning. The middle school had to send students home at 11 a.m. Monday and cancel class on Tuesday when an electrical problem rendered the buildings boiler inoperable. That left the citys building maintenance department in a race against time and dropping temperatures. Their challenge? Fix the problem, restore power and get heat radiating through classrooms, hallways and bathrooms, or winterize the pipes to keep them from freezing and causing an even bigger nightmare. They pulled it off, fully restoring electric power and heat at 11:30 p.m. Monday night after a very long workday. "I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our city and district maintenance teams for their hard work and dedication in addressing these issues as quickly as possible," Herberg Principal William M. Wood said in a letter to families. "Their efforts have ensured that our school is safe, warm, and fully operational. Superintendent Joseph Curtis also expressed the schools' gratitude "for the maintenance department's quick response and tireless work in resolving the matter to minimize disruption for our students, staff and families." Brian Filiault, the citys building maintenance manager, praised department employees for their effort in tackling the problem, and Shawn Cook, owner of Reliable Electric Motor Solutions in Lenox Dale, for its help in securing and installing replacement equipment. "We worked diligently on this mess, Filiault said. We sent a guy to Connecticut to get a new controller, and Reliable Motors came in to assist. By 8:30 [Monday] night we put the controls in and put new motors back in place. By 11:30 that night we were back in business. Herberg has a rooftop three-phase power unit electrical equipment that turns voltage transmitted at higher voltage into power the school can use. One of those uses is the schools natural gas-fired boiler. Sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning, the motor on that equipment failed. The result was a 480-volt jolt that fried the boilers control panel. In fact, given the high voltage, the school was lucky the damage was limited to the control panel. For this [equipment] to short out, it could have been catastrophic," Filiault said. Cook, who owns Reliable, said a drive and four motors burned out on the roof. "It actually blew the main breaker in the school," he said. Herberg personnel discovered the building was without heat at 5:30 a.m. Monday, Filiault said. While the schools sent teachers and students home for the day, the city maintenance department, which cares for the Pittsfield Public Schools buildings and grounds as well as city property, sprang into action. Two plumbers, two electricians, a heating ventilation and cooling technician from the building maintenance department and Cook, joined Filiault at Herberg. The plumbers were needed because the building was unheated for quite a long period of time, so we were trying to prepare for the possibility of no heat by winterizing the system, Filiault said. It made for a long work day and a long night, too. But everyone stepped up to the challenge, he said. I wasn't sure we were able to do all this in one night, he said. The maintenance crew really stepped up and Reliable Motors was a major, major help to us. When I was first learning how to navigate my way through the Scriptures, Id always jumble up the last few books of the Old Testament. I knew there were a few that started with Hs, and Ms, and Zs. But I found myself really attached to at least one verse in one of those Z books. I was intrigued by this vision of a singing and dancing God that we find in Zephaniah 3:17: The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Now, all these years later, I think I can keep my Ms and Hs and Zs straight. And Im still intrigued by this concept of a God who sings and dances. It still captivates me because its really the story of the gospel. Zephaniah is, in some ways, a micro story of the whole Bible. Ill show you how the gospel weaves its way throughout this book. How Do You Find the Gospel in the Old Testament? I suppose before understanding how to find the gospel in the OT, itd be helpful for us to define the gospel. The simplest definition is one given by JI Packer: God saves sinners. If youd like to put a bit more meat on your gospel presentation, I use two different frameworks with four points each. The first is GodManChristResponse. The second is more of a story: CreationFallRedemptionGlory. The first presentation centers upon Gods character and how humanity fails to meet Gods holy standard, as such the judgment of God is upon us. But the good news is that Jesus Christ fixes this by fulfilling what is required through his life, death and resurrection. Our only fitting response, then, is to respond to Him in repentance and faith. When this happens, we are united to Christ and his record becomes our record. The second presentation centers upon the overarching story of the Bible. God lovingly created us to love Him and enjoy Him forever. We were made for rest, rule, and relationship. But we made shipwreck of this, and so rather than having the blessings of obedience we are under the curse of disobedience. Rather than having peace (rest), purpose (ruling), and healthy relationship we often experience the opposite. Ultimately, we are alienated from God. But thankfully God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our curse and to fulfill what God intended for humanity. As such we now experience the blessings of Jesus obedience in our place. He restores the rest, rule, and relationship we were created to enjoy. Someday everything will be ultimately restored and we will live in a new heaven and a new earth. We could write entire books focusing on these various themes of the gospel. But every gospel story follows this basic skeleton. No matter where you find yourself in the Old Testament (or the New Testament) you can find one of these various threads. Every place in Scripture is either telling you something about God, something about our rebellion, something about His rescue, or something about our future restoration. If you can spot this, then you can fill out the rest of the story. How Do You Find the Gospel in Zephaniah? I had a professor in college who liked to sum up the story of the Bible with two phrases: mans ruin and Gods remedy. Zephaniah would appreciate his summary statement as it seems that this is how hes structured his book. Zephaniah begins with a sweeping declaration of judgment. He will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth. Its a shocking statement. And the universal scope is intriguing, but Judah and Jerusalem are just lumped in with the nations, it seems. Nobody escapes this judgment. But we also have to be aware of where God is taking us in this book. There is a reason for this judgment. Its a bit like a surgeon who cuts open a patient, removes all the cancer, and really cleans everything out. One might say that the judgment of a doctor removing cancer is also sweeping. The family breathes a huge sigh of relief when the doctor says, I got all of it. Well, it is similar with the Lord. He is removing everything that keeps us from dancing and singing. He is, to use my professors language, overturning all that man has ruined. Chapter 2 is a call to repentance. An invitation to seek the Lord in the midst of this judgment to be the remnant who will trust him in the midst of this. Perhaps we could liken this to white blood cells or parts of the body that will remain as the cancer is removed. Its essentially the doctor saying, will you let me do this surgery? The final chapter shows the switch from judgment to hope. In 3:9-20, Zephaniah envisions a future where God has purified the people and now His presence dwells with them. And this is where we get our beautiful picture of a dancing and singing God. God has gathered His people, removed their shame, and is now rejoicing over them with singing. The surgery happens so that the dance can follow. And this is really the story of the gospel. Zephaniah shows us the reality of sin and judgment sin is not a trivial matter but an offense against a holy God. But sin and rebellion doesnt get the last word. God is radically dedicated to redeeming a people for Himself, which means that Hes willing to be a surgeon. Zephaniah points to Gods heart for restoration. As stated earlier, Zephaniah 3:17 is one of the most tender pictures that we have in all of Scripture. This is the surgeon with amazing bed-side manner walking with us through the process of healing. But that image is too sterile. Hes so much more than a successful surgeon. Hes a dancer. He forgives and cleanses, but Zephaniah fills out the picture for us so that we see He does this with delight. He rejoices to forgive. Hes begrudging. He loves to see the hurtful cancer removed. Zephaniah also points to our only fitting response to this work. Zephaniahs urgent plea to seek the Lord (2:3) underscores the necessity of turning from sin and turning towards God. It is a call extended to all of the nations. It is in this book where we see Gods heart for the nations. Israel is like the other nations in their sinfulness, but they are also like the other nations in their redemption. Christ redeems humanity from all peoples. In Zephaniah we also see a little glimpse of the new creation. The vision of a purified people and renewed world in Zeph. 3:9-20 finds its culmination in Revelation 21. This is where God is taking us. What a beautiful story this is for us. Imagine a couple that love to dance together. They enjoy being in one anothers presence. But sickness has ravaged the body of the beloved. Her knees are now so inflamed that she cant dance anymore. And shes become bitter and angry. Hope has all but left. Whats a lover to do? And I suppose if we really want to make this accurate, wed have the sickness be somehow self-inflicted. Maybe even through some foolish idea that her husband didnt love her, didnt like to dance with her, and so she did this to herself to somehow punish him. Whats a lover to do with this added layer of resentment and causation? Well, Zephaniah tells us what God does. He grabs a scalpel and removes all the junk standing in the way of the dance. He woos her. She finally sees (but certainly not fully) the depth of His love for her, and she agrees to go under the knife. Its painful. At times, it doesnt even feel worth it. Maybe its better living with bum knees and never dancing again. But His gentle work leads the charge and eventually all of the yuck will be removed. And then theyll dance. And He will sing over her the most beautiful song of redemption. This is what Zephaniah tells us is the story of the gospel. So lets dance. Photo credit: SparrowStock BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Aragen secures $100 M investment from Quadria Capital January 13, 2025 | Monday | News Investment will fund expansion to meet rising demand for CRDMO services image credit- shutterstock Aragen, a globally renowned Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO), has secured a $100 million investment from Quadria Capital, an Asia healthcare-focused Private Equity fund. The investment will result in Quadria acquiring a minority stake in Aragen, at an approximate valuation of $1.4 billion, primarily through a fresh capital infusion, with a small portion from the sale of shares by existing investors. This funding will support Aragens strategic expansion of its capabilities and infrastructure, enabling the company to meet the growing demand for outsourcing services from innovators in the US and Europe With this investment, Quadria joins Goldman Sachs as the second strategic investor in Aragen. This partnership further solidifies Aragen's reputation for delivering high-quality concept to clinic and concept to commercial services to its global customer base comprising all sectors of health Human, Animal and Plant. The announcement comes ahead of JPM Week 2025, where Aragen is expected to secure additional outsourcing partnerships. Manni Kantipudi, CEO, Aragen Life Science said, Our expanded capabilities will allow us to support the rising demand for integrated discovery and manufacturing services, and, most importantly, help our customers accelerate their programs to market faster and more efficiently. Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General has welcomed Wednesdays announcement of a deal to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza following 15 months of war New York, US (PANA) - The UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls has welcomed a ruling by a federal district court in the United States that reaffirms sex-based protections in education Six animal welfare charities have gone to the High Court seeking to stop the upcoming ban on them rehoming or exporting XL bully dogs in their care. The court heard on Wednesday that the organisations are seeking an urgent injunction before the February 1st ban. Advertisement Last October it became illegal to import, breed, rehome or resell XL bullies, which are the largest of the American bully breed. However, animal shelters and charities with XL bully dogs already in their facilities were given until February 1st to re-home or export them. A ban on owning the breed without an exemption certificate also comes into force at the beginning of next month. Local authorities can grant certificates for the dogs only if they are licenced, microchipped and neutered. The court action brought by My Lovely Horse Rescue, Clare Animal Welfare, Working Animal Guardians, Dogs Angels Ireland, Wicklow Animal Welfare and the Haven Rescue alleges the regulations underpinning the ban are unlawful. On Wednesday, barrister Mariana Verdes, instructed by KOD Lyons solicitor Stephen Kirwan, was granted an urgent date for moving an application seeking permission for the charities to continue with their judicial review case. Advertisement Ms Verdes said there was an urgency to the matter as her clients are seeking injunctive relief ahead of the February 1st ban on rehoming. Noting the case is time sensitive, Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty said she will hear the application next Monday. The proceedings are against the Minister for Rural and Community Development, the Attorney General and Ireland, who have not yet had a chance to respond to the claims in court. Ireland Family settles after father died three weeks after... Read More Irelands human rights watchdog, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, has been listed as a notice party. Advertisement The restrictions on XL bullies are being phased in via regulations signed by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys last September. Ms Humphreys introduced the changes on grounds of public safety after Limerick woman Nicole Morey died in an attack by an XL bully at Ballyneety, Co Limerick, in June. An owner found to be in breach of the regulations by keeping an XL bully after February 1st without an exemption certificate will have committed a criminal offence under the 1986 Control of Dogs Act. The animal may be seized and euthanized and the owner subject to imprisonment of up to 3 months and/or a fine. Two teenage girls in Pakistan have been arrested after they doused their father in petrol and burned him alive in revenge for him repeatedly assaulting them. The father, who was not publicly identified by authorities, was attacked by the girls on January 1. However, he survived and remained in the hospital with severe injuries until he died on January 7. The girls were stepsisters. The father had been raping one of the children for a year and attempted to sexually assault the younger sister twice. Both admitted to taking petrol from their father's bike and dousing him in it before setting him on fire. They also used ropes to tie their father up prior to the burning. Reports of the girl's ages vary. Some claim they are 12, and others claim they are 15, according to Daily Mail. A sibling of the girls alerted their father's sister of the burning. She later called emergency services. What Did the Man's Family Do? The man had 10 children from three wives. His first wife has, however, died. He lived with his wives and children together in a rental. It was noted that their mothers knew about the rape but did not know about the girl's plan for revenge. It is unclear if they had ever attempted to report about their daughters' sexual assault. It is also unclear whether the teenage girls would face charges. They are scheduled to appear in court within the next few days. Sex Crimes in Pakistan The teenagers' case is the latest in a series of sex crimes in Pakistan. In one highly publicized case in Punjab, a teenage girl went to the police after she was kidnapped at gunpoint and gang-raped. The girl was later dumped near her aunt's home in a deteriorating medical condition. In mid-August 2024, Pakistani media reported the case of a 28-year-old Belgian tourist who was abducted and repeatedly raped by multiple men over a five-day period in Islamabad. She was discovered in Sector G-6 with her hands bound. She later told police that she had been "thrown out" of a vehicle. A carpenter who bit a garda, assaulted another garda and two other men while intoxicated, has been jailed for 18 months. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court previously heard that Nathan McCarthy (25) of Lower Kimmage Road, Terenure, Co Dublin was foaming at the mouth when assaulting one of the officers. Advertisement The gardai had been called when he attacked two men eating a takeaway in their car in South Dublin, after he had been refused food by a takeaway restaurant. McCarthy had pleaded guilty to six charges, including three assaults causing harm, one ordinary assault, one criminal damage, and one unauthorised taking of a car. They all arose out of an incident on November 1st, 2023 at Ballymount Lower in Walkinstown. Imposing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan noted McCarthy was intoxicated on the night and had behaved in a disgraceful way. The judge said it was serious misbehaviour to attack four people in the way he did and to cause criminal damage as he did was a serious matter. Advertisement People are responsible for their own actions, intoxication is no excuse, Judge Nolan said. Having considered McCarthys personal circumstances and the mitigation, the judge imposed a three-year sentence, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions to encourage rehabilitation. Judge Nolan said McCarthy was a young man with a future, but a person cant behave in the way he has and not undergo a custodial term. The judge noted that McCarthy acknowledged he was intoxicated and said he had no recollection of events. However, Judge Nolan said McCarthy was still responsible for his actions. Advertisement If you render yourself so intoxicated you commit crime, you must pay a price for that crime, Judge Nolan said. The court previously heard that McCarthy had entered Hillbillies Takeaway shortly before it was due to close at 10pm. He repeatedly shouted at the manager: Wheres my food?, became aggressive and punched the counter. He was told that he hadnt ordered any food and that gardai would be called if he didnt leave. He then grabbed the card machine and pulled the screen of the till from its wires. He banged it a few times before throwing it and smashing a glass lampshade, which prevented it hitting the manager. Advertisement McCarthy then left the takeaway and approached two men sitting in a parked car, having their takeaway. He aggressively asked them where they were from, said he had a knife and that he would kill them if they didnt get out of the car. They tried to close the door, however, he lunged in and began choking one of the men, who became lightheaded but managed to get out. They managed to lock him in the car, during which time he moved it slightly by letting off the handbrake. He caused 1,500 worth of damage to the interior and a window; the court saw CCTV footage of him smashing the drivers window with his feet and climbing out. He then ran straight at one of the men, who tried to flee, but tripped. McCarthy began kicking him on the ground and choked him again. He also threw punches at the other man before gardai arrived. Advertisement One of the gardai gave chase, and McCarthy punched him three times to the head. He continued to lash out, even after the garda withdrew his baton and struck him with it. The second garda arrived and withdrew his incapacitant spray. Warning him and deploying the spray had no effect on him, and gardai observed that he had white froth coming from his mouth. He then bit one of the officers in the forearm, drawing blood. He was arrested, and when eventually fit to be interviewed, he claimed no recollection, saying he had drunk two bottles of wine. He was shown CCTV footage and commented: Its f***ing not on, I shouldnt have done it. The court heard that he had 21 previous convictions for road traffic matters, and none for violence. The garda who sustained the bite received booster injections for infectious diseases. McCarthys barrister said that there was no particular motivation for the attack, that he seemed to have snapped. Ireland Animal charities seek court's intervention ahead o... Read More He didnt get his food, remarked Judge Martin Nolan. His barrister suggested that a confluence of factors ran up to this incident, and handed in a letter of apology from him. A letter from his grandmother, who had raised him, set out that it was out of character for him. The court heard that he had 20,000 drug debt at the time. His barrister said that hed had a breakdown of sorts, but he is currently in full-time employment and has cleared his drug debt. He brought 200 in compensation to court as a small token of remorse. The operator of Dublin Airport has said it is "baffled and bewildered" by Fingal County Council's decision to reject a bid to increase the passenger cap at the transport hub. The DAA had applied to expand the cap from 32 to 36 million, after it broke the limit by 1 million passengers last year. Advertisement Fingal County Council said the application was invalid because it failed to comply with planning and development regulations. Kenny Jacob, chief executive of DAA, described the decision as bizarre. "What we find most bizarre about this flip-flop by Fingal Council planning department is that this is an operational application, this is not us building anything this is a straightforward no-build application," he told RTE's Morning Ireland. "[The council] validated it on December 23rd. We have that in writing from Fingals planning department. The second time they validated it was on January 6th, so they appear to be in some type of chaos," Mr Jacob said. Advertisement "This is the third piece of communication we've had on this same simple, straightforward, no build application. They're describing the reason as the description of the project being inadequate. Now, I don't quite get that myself because it's a very straightforward project. This just removes the 32 million cap at Dublin airport. "So we're baffled by this. It's a flip flop. It's quite bizarre and it's not helpful, this situation." Mr Jacob said the DAA believed the entire process should be faster and more consistent. He called on the new government to address such issues and make planning for critical infrastructure, such as airports, more efficient. However, Fingal councillor Jimmy Guerin said the DAA behaved with "arrogance and incompetence" as senior management seemed "incapable of submitting a basic application". Advertisement Mr Guerin, an Independent councillor for the Howth-Malahide area, said he supported the proposed increase in the passenger cap but that the decision taken by Fingal County Council was the correct one. Ireland Residents protest over Dublin Airport night flight... Read More "This is not a decision that Fingal necessarily wanted to take but is obliged to because of the basic rules that dictate planning applications," he said in a statement. "Senior management within the DAA seem incapable of submitting a basic application to address the important passenger cap issue. Instead the DAA issue statements expressing shock at decisions and then misinform those affected by this issue so as to cover up their incompetence and basic misunderstanding of the planning process." He added: "The number of problems with this current application suggests the DAA do not have the personnel with the skillsets required to ensure that planning applications are in line with both regulations and legislation. "The application was declared invalid as it failed to comply with various articles of the planning regulations 2001. It is also invalid because the public notices are non-compliant and described by Fingal planners as inadequate and misleading." Taoiseach Simon Harris was sent a lengthy list of questions to get himself prepped for an interview with The 2 Johnnies including whether he still did housework and what he would do if he found a genie in a bottle. The advance outline was sent to one of Mr Harris advisers ahead of the Taoiseachs appearance on the podcast in November, just days before the general election was called. Advertisement The interview was to be separated into two parts covering the personal and the general according to an email released under Freedom of Information laws. The Department of the Taoiseach at first said no records of the podcast existed and the outline of questions was only released following a request for internal review. In the personal section, the first question listed was: When you become Taoiseach, can you have a personal life? It would be followed by: Do you still do housework now youre leader of a country? Whos harder to deal with, the kids or the Healy-Raes. Advertisement As well as broad questions about his sporting and music interests, the Taoiseach was also briefed to expect a question on whether he listened to the 2 Johnnies podcast. Other items in the outline included: Do people wreck you [sic] head when youre out an about? Do you have to have security with ya all the time? What do you think of the newspapers? The general section dipped into more controversial topics including immigration. A suggested question was: Johnny Smacks is from Roscrea, thoughts on the situation there? Closing the towns only hotel to accommodate refugees. Advertisement What is the governments plan to deal with the large number of asylum seekers who are arriving to Ireland? Lack of housing, emigration, and rural Ireland were also on the interview outline. Is there an urban-rural disconnect? Why do you think so many young Irish people are going to Australia? Yer plan to get them back, said one question. Housing? Many young working couples are not able to afford to buy or build. Conditions for young nurses and guards. Advertisement The future of Irish pubs and Irish agriculture were flagged as well as topics for the interview. There are a lot of farmers listening to the podcast. Many tillage and vegetable farmers are being priced out. Reducing the national herd, said the outline. The unavailability of transport in rural Ireland was raised too. The 2 Johnnies find it very hard to get a lift home after the pub. The Taoiseach was told of a possible question over catfishing including the notorious case where somebody online tried to dupe one of the podcast hosts as well as high-profile GAA players. Will we see any changes to the rules of social media? the interview outline said. Your own approach to social media? Is it important as a way to communicate. The brief said there would likely be a question on whether well ever see a 32 county Ireland and one on the Taoiseachs biggest challenges and ambitions. Another item said: If you found a gene [sic] in a bottle and had three wishes, you could make anything happen with the click of a finger, what three things would it be. Sir Keir Starmer has said he is looking at every conceivable way to stop former Troubles internees such as Gerry Adams from seeking compensation. The UK prime minister was responding to criticism of the UK's governments proposed repeal of legislation that had put a stop to such civil claims. Advertisement He criticised the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and said he will continue with efforts to replace the existing legislation, which stopped such payouts to former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams and other former internees. Kemi Badenoch said at Prime Ministers Questions that Sir Keirs Government may write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams. Sir Keir Starmer said the UK Government would look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages Photo; Henry Nicholls/PA. This is shameful, the Conservative Party leader said. Sir Keir replied: That Act was unfit not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland, nor I believe by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. Advertisement The court found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework, were working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. Its important I say that on the record. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said nobody wants to see Gerry Adams paid compensation for his detention. He told the Commons: Nobody wants to see that but the Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the interim custody orders following internment were not lawfully put in place, in which the Carltona principle was much discussed, was in 2020. Advertisement The last government did nothing about that for three years until they belatedly accepted an amendment in the House of Lords which has now been found to be unlawful. He was urged by his shadow counterpart Alex Burghart to return to the previous cross-party position that we have to block compensation payments to terrorists such as Gerry Adams. The minister vowed to continue to see if we can find a lawful way of dealing with the issue that he has identified. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said nobody wants to see Gerry Adams paid compensation for his detention. Photo; Lucy North/PA. The relevant sections of the Legacy Act had been agreed by UK Parliament in 2023 in response to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020 that paved the way for Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment without trial in the early 1970s. Advertisement Mr Adams won his appeal to overturn historical convictions for two attempted prison breaks, after he was interned without trial in 1973 at Long Kesh internment camp, also known as Maze Prison, near Lisburn. The Supreme Court ruled that his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him had not been considered personally by then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Willie Whitelaw. At the time of the case, the previous government contended that the ICOs were lawful due to a long-standing convention, known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the Secretary of State. Mr Adams subsequently successfully challenged a decision to deny an application for compensation for his detention. Advertisement However, the Legacy Act stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and other former internees. The Act retrospectively validated the ICOs to make them lawful and halted civil claims related to the orders. At the time, the then UK government said the legislation would prevent up to 400 compensation bids by former internees. However, in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act related to the ICOs were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Ireland US attorney general wanted to stop Gerry Adams fun... Read More The current government has not appealed that judgment and has tabled a remedial order in Parliament that will repeal various parts of the Legacy Act, including the sections on ICOs. A Policy Exchange report criticising the move has been backed by 16 peers, including Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson KC. The Governments decision to repeal sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Troubles Act 2023 is inexplicable and unexplained, Lord Wolfson said. Taoiseacj Simon Harris has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal following 15 months of immense human suffering and destruction. Mr Harris said he hoped the deal will now receive the formal approval of the Israeli government. Advertisement Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal which promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Mr Harris said: The brutal war we have witnessed has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including more than 17,000 innocent and vulnerable children. More than 100,000 have been physically injured or maimed, many of them losing limbs or suffering other life-altering injuries. Hostages have been held in captivity for more than 465 days, away from their families and loved ones. Advertisement They too have endured the most horrific suffering and distress. I hope that all sides will seize this opportunity, fully honouring their commitments, allowing hostages to return to their families and the people of Gaza to begin rebuilding their lives and I hope that it will lead to a permanent arrangement. The Taoiseach said the international community must play its part by working to put a process in place that can lead to lasting peace. He said: This will only be achieved through a two-state solution, with the state of Israel living in peace and security alongside a sovereign state of Palestine. Advertisement Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheal Martin said the ceasefire deal had been a long-awaited development (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it had been a long-awaited development. World Officials claim Gaza ceasefire, but Israel says de... Read More He said: We need to see a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza, return of basic services and a clear framework under which those displaced as part of the conflict can return. Palestinian Authority governance is crucial in this regard, as is the role of UN and humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA, who must be allowed to operate fully and without hindrance. I commend the facilitators, notably the US, Egypt and Qatar, for their sustained efforts over recent months and urge that these discussions are sustained with a view to ensuring full implementation of this agreement. A 25-year-old man has been jailed for three years for biting part of a mans ear off in a brawl on the Luas four years ago. CCTV of the incident, which was widely publicised at the time, was shown to court. The brawl took place on a Luas between the Georges Dock and Busaras stops. Advertisement The tram had to be taken out of service because of the nature of the incident. Brandon Cunningham of Amien St, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault and violent disorder on February 15th 2021. The injured party boarded the tram and punched Cunningham, who was a passenger, and a brawl ensued which was witnessed by bystanders who had to get out of the way. Garda Conn Maguire gave evidence that Cunningham admitted to having an altercation on the Luas but said he thought he would be stabbed. Advertisement Gda Maguire told the court the incident arose out of a dispute between brothers of both the injured party and Cunningham. Judge Martin Nolan described it a savage thing to do and jailed Cunningham for three years and backdated it for time spent in custody. Carol Doherty BL, defending, said Cunningham had very unfortunate beginnings in the world. She said he was a child of addiction and a heroin baby who had to detox after birth. Ms Doherty said her client had two young children - one of whom is autistic. Advertisement She said her clients brother is serving a sentence in Wheatfield Prison and he would like to join him there to have some sense of family while in custody. Ms Doherty said it was a heinous incident and there was no getting away from that but said her client had expressed remorse. Judge Nolan said Cunningham didnt start the attack but biting part of a mans ear off was a pretty savage thing to do before jailing him for three years. Anthony McDonald (26) of Cromcastle Court, Cromcastle Park, Dublin 5, was also sentenced for violent disorder. He was involved in the incident on the Luas, the court heard. Mr Derek Cooney BL for McDonald said his client wasnt the one who inflicted the injury but couldnt get off the Luas until it stopped. He said his client had come to court with a large suitcase. Judge Nolan said his culpability was the lesser of the two but McDonald participated in the incident and jailed him for 18 months. Bangladeshs supreme court has acquitted former prime minister Khaleda Zia in the last corruption case against her. The move paves the way for her to run in elections that an interim government says will be held either in December or in the first half of 2026. Advertisement Ms Zia is ailing and travelled to London earlier this month for medical treatment after being cleared in another corruption case brought under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted last August in a mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Hasina and Ms Zia are arch rivals who have dominated Bangladeshs politics for decades, and Hasinas removal has created an opportunity for Ms Zia to make a comeback. On Wednesday, a five-member appellate division of the supreme court overturned a 10-year jail sentence handed down by the High Court in 2018 on charges of embezzling some 250,000 dollars (around 205,000) in donations meant for an orphanage trust established when Ms Zia became prime minister in 1991. Sheikh Hasina, her niece Tulip Siddiq, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, pictured in 2013 (AP) The High Court had also sentenced Ms Zias son, Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years in prison for involvement in the case. Mr Rahman is the heir apparent in Ms Zias party under Bangladeshs dynastic political system. Advertisement Wednesdays verdict by the supreme court also cleared Mr Rahman and the others. Ms Zias lawyers said the verdict means she will be able to contest in next election. Under Bangladesh law, anyone imprisoned for more than two years cannot run for political office for the next five years. She had faced a total of 17 years in prison 10 years in this case and seven years in the other corruption case. She was acquitted in the other case after Hasina was ousted from office in August. Defence lawyers and Ms Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party denied any wrongdoing involving the trust fund and said the charges were politically motivated. Advertisement Ms Zia is the wife of late president Ziaur Rahman and Hasina is the daughter of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Hasina fled into exile in neighbouring India following her removal amid violence that left hundreds of people dead in July and August. She faces charges of mass killing under the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. A special tribunal has sought help from international police organisation Interpol for Hasinas arrest and requested her extradition from India. Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been taken to a detention centre near the countrys capital, Seoul, after being questioned over his imposition of martial law last month. Mr Yoon underwent about 10 hours of questioning by the countrys anti-corruption agency after he was detained at his presidential residence earlier in the day. Advertisement He had defiantly insisted that the agency, which led the raid with police, did not have the authority to investigate his actions, but said he had complied to prevent violence. Mr Yoon, the countrys first sitting president to be apprehended, now faces the prospect of a lengthy prison term over potential rebellion charges. In a video message recorded shortly before he was escorted to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency, Mr Yoon said the rule of law has completely collapsed in this country. Mr Yoon will be held at a detention centre in Uiwang, South Korea (Yonhap via AP) Mr Yoon had been holed up in the Hannam-dong residence in the capital, Seoul, for weeks while vowing to fight to the end the efforts to oust him. Advertisement He has justified his declaration of martial law on December 3 as a legitimate act of governance against an anti-state opposition employing its legislative majority to thwart his agenda. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials said Mr Yoon was brought into custody about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential compound and about three hours after they successfully entered the residence, in their second attempt to detain him over his imposition of martial law. A series of black SUVs, some equipped with sirens, were seen leaving the presidential compound with police escorts. Mr Yoon was later seen stepping out of a vehicle after arriving at the agencys office in the nearby city of Gwacheon. Hundreds of his conservative supporters rallied near the anti-corruption agencys office as he underwent questioning, shouting slogans and holding signs that read: We will fight alongside President Yoon Suk Yeol. Advertisement Also on Wednesday, an unidentified man was in life-threatening condition after an apparent self-immolation near the site, according to the Gyeonggi provincial fire department. After he was questioned for more than 10 hours, a vehicle carrying Mr Yoon arrived at a detention centre in Uiwang, near Seoul, escorted by police and presidential security vehicles. Mr Yoon could be held in custody for weeks, possibly even months or longer. The anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with the police and the military over whether Mr Yoons martial law declaration amounted to an attempted rebellion, has 48 hours to request a court order for his formal arrest. Advertisement If it fails to do so, Mr Yoon will be released. If Mr Yoon is formally arrested, investigators can extend his detention to 20 days before transferring the case to public prosecutors for indictment. If prosecutors indict Yoon on rebellion and abuse of power charges, which are the allegations examined by investigators, he could possibly remain under arrest until the initial court ruling, which is typically made within six months, said Park Sung-bae, an attorney specialising in criminal law. Under South Korean law, the leader of a rebellion can face the death penalty or life imprisonment, if convicted. A surprising photograph of an undamaged Volkswagen van surrounded by destruction from a Los Angeles wildfire has astonished viewers. Among those who were surprised was Megan Krystle Weinraub, a surf and skate board designer who owns the van. Advertisement She calls it Azul Spanish for blue. Her friend and business partner Preston Martin bought the 1977 vehicle on a whim and even lived in it for a year before selling it to Ms Weinraub. The two friends went surfing the Sunday before the Palisades Fire erupted and then parked the van in a Malibu neighbourhood that was later destroyed. Mr Martin figured the retro blue Volkswagen van he slept in for a year during college was a goner, so the surfboard maker was stunned to find that the vehicle survived. Advertisement Not only that, a photo of the vibrant bus taken by an Associated Press (AP) photographer was circulating widely on television and online, giving viewers a measure of joy. There is magic in that van, Mr Martin, 24, said in an interview with the AP. It makes no sense why this happened. It should have been toasted, but here we are. Mr Martin purchased the 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 somewhat on a whim sometime around his junior year studying mechanical engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Advertisement His mother, Tracey Martin, of Irvine, yelled at him for blowing his money, but Mr Martin told her he would save on rent by fixing up the inside and living in it in his senior year, which he did. She came to love the bus, and sewed curtains for the windows. Last summer he sold the van to his friend and business partner, Megan Krystle Weinraub, 29, who designs surf and skate boards under the Vibrant Boards brand. Mr Martin makes carbon fibre surfboards under Starlite. Advertisement On January 5 the friends went surfing with the van. Afterwards Mr Martin parked it on a flat spot up the hill from her apartment by the Getty Villa, as she is still learning to drive the manual transmission. Two days later the Palisades Fire erupted, and Ms Weinraub fled with her dog, Bodi, and some dog food in her primary car. The VW van in Malibu, California (Macy DiCenso via AP) She felt sad about Azul, but that was minor compared with those who lost homes or loved ones. Advertisement On Thursday a neighbour sent her a photo. In the background was the bus, still blue and white and not at all damaged. I freaked out, she said. I was in the bathroom, and I screamed. She called Mr Martin, who also freaked out. He called his mother, who was ecstatic. Ive never cried for a car before, Tracey Martin texted her son. They were even more surprised when the AP photo aired on television and popped up online. We made the news, Mr Martin said in a reel on an Instagram page, and Ms Weinraub contacted the photographer. Ms Weinraub, whose home survived, has not been able to visit Azul because the area remains closed to the public. The two are thrilled that the vans survival has touched so many people. Its so cool that its become this, like, beacon of hope, Mr Martin said. Everything around it was toasted, just destroyed. And then heres this bright blue shiny van, sitting right there. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced on Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Advertisement It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war. Three officials from the US and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said final details were still being ironed out. Mr Netanyahus office said in a statement that it hoped details will be finalised tonight. Rockets fired from Gaza and intercepted by Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system (Fatima Shbair/AP) Any agreement needs to be approved by Mr Netanyahus cabinet. Advertisement Once official, the deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether. Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though its unclear if all are alive. It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives. Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilised the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. Advertisement Hamas triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gazas population and sparked a humanitarian crisis. More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a week-long truce in November 2023. Palestinian children play next to buildings destroyed by Israeli army strikes in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) The US, along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. Advertisement It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in the Gaza. Israel responded with a brutal air and ground offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed. UN and international relief organisations estimate that some 90% of Gazas 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. Advertisement They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be under way in northern Gaza, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents. In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israels military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air. US President Joe Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework. He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day. The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war. Hamas had been demanding assurances for a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas military and governing capabilities. The various players have conducted months of on-again, off-again negotiations. But with Mr Bidens days in office numbered and President-elect Donald Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal. A former school custodian in New Jersey is now facing eight years in prison after he admitted to tainting the utensils and food in the cafeteria with bleach, feces, and urine. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 27, has pleaded guilty to official misconduct and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He was working at Elizabeth F. Moore School in 2023 when he allegedly tainted children's food by urinating in the mixing bowls and putting feces in the food. He was arrested after school officials received anonymous tips about "alarming posts" uploaded on Telegram. The videos allegedly showed "disturbing videos" of Impellizzeri at work. The officials later reported these to authorities, leading to his arrest, People reported. School Custodian Posted Disturbing Videos While at Work The tipster said the posts showed Impellizzeri "performing sexual acts" with items from the school, including masturbating on pillows. The posts also showed him urinating in kitchen bowls, spraying bleach into a container of cucumbers, and wiping bread and various utensils on his private parts. The food and utensils were later served to the students. In an interview with authorities, Impellizzeri admitted to tainting the food and utensils and said he did so to make the children sick. He also added that his behavior sexually aroused him, according to Patch. After he was arrested, authorities discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials of toddlers and infants and was involved in the distribution of child pornography in an unrelated case in Vineland. What Is His Sentencing? Prosecutors charged him with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child pornography) as well as distribution of child pornography. Impellizzeri entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Under the deal, prosecutors will recommend a five-year sentence on the official misconduct charge and a three-year sentence on the child-endangering charge. He will also be permanently barred from holding any future public employment as well as getting parole supervision for life, as reported by NJ.com. Impellizzeri is scheduled to attend his sentencing in March. However, he will undergo a psychological evaluation with the aim of determining whether he would benefit from receiving sex offender treatment. The Palestinian Prime Minister has said it will not be acceptable for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future. Mohammad Mustafa made the comments on Wednesday as he visited Norway, one of three European countries that formally recognised a Palestinian state in May. Advertisement Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, confining the Western-backed Palestinian Authoritys limited self-rule to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US has called for a revitalised Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood, which the Israeli government opposes. Mr Mustafa said: While were waiting for the ceasefire, its important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine. He added that any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or creating transitional entities, will be rejected. Advertisement Mr Mustafa also said that we should not leave Gaza to vacuum We are the government of Palestine, ready to hold our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before. Florida senator Marco Rubio has promised to implement President-elect Donald Trumps America First vision as secretary of state, vowing in his confirmation hearing that the incoming administration will forge a new path by placing American interests above all else. Placing our core national interests above all else is not isolationism, Mr Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Advertisement It is the commonsense realisation that a foreign policy centred on our national interest is not some outdated relic. The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us, Mr Rubio said. Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me. As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 13, 2024 It is a remarkable opening salvo from Mr Rubio, who was born in Miami to Cuban immigrants and who, if confirmed, would become the first Latino to serve as the nations top diplomat. The confirmation hearing begins a new chapter in the political career of the 53-year-old Florida Republican, whose relationship with Mr Trump has evolved over the last decade. Advertisement Once rivals trading schoolyard insults as they campaigned for president in 2016, the two men became close allies as Mr Trump campaigned for another White House term last year. Mr Rubio first came to Washington as part of the tea party wave in 2010 and once advocated for allowing a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. But like other Republicans, Mr Rubios views on immigration have shifted toward the hardline stance of Mr Trump, who has pledged to aggressively pursue deportations once he takes office on Monday. Unlike many of Mr Trumps cabinet selections, Mr Rubio is expected to easily win confirmation, notching support not only from Republicans but also Democrats who endorse him as a responsible pick to represent the US abroad. Advertisement Many expect he will be among the first of Mr Trumps cabinet picks approved. Democratic senator Brian Schatz, who served alongside Mr Rubio on the Foreign Relations Committee, said he has high hopes that the Florida Republican will reject the isolationist approach of other Trump allies. I think Marco is a hawk, but hes also an internationalist, and I think the challenge for him will be to maintain the long bipartisan tradition of America being indispensable in world affairs, the Hawaii politician told The Associated Press. And there are people in the Trump world who want us to run away from being the leaders of the free world. And Im hoping that Marcos instincts towards American strength will win the day. Advertisement Mr Rubios approach to foreign affairs is grounded in his years of service on the Foreign Relations committee and the Senate Intelligence panel. In his speeches and writings, he has delivered increasingly stern warnings about growing military and economic threats to the United States, particularly from China, which he says has benefited from a global world order that he characterises as obsolete. China, Mr Rubio told the committee, has lied, cheated, hacked, and stolen their way to global superpower status, at our expense. The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday declined to comment on Mr Rubios remarks. Advertisement If confirmed, Mr Rubio will become the leader of US foreign policy though his role will surely remain secondary to Mr Trump, who relishes the global stage and frequently uses the bully pulpit against Americas allies. In an ambitious plan to expand the mineral deposit, Golden Deeps has kicked off a new diamond drilling program targeting untapped extensions of its Nosib strata-bound copper-silver deposit in the northern Namibian province of Otavi Mountain Land. The Nosib deposit has already yielded promising results. The mineral-rich province of Otavi Mountain Land hosts Golden Deeps Nasib copper-zinc deposit. Previous exploration defined a wide zone of copper-vanadium-lead-silver oxide and supergene mineralisation at surface levels, culminating in mid-2024 with a maiden resource of 707,660 tonnes grading 1.06 per cent copper equivalent. The associated metal grades included 0.67 per cent copper, 0.15 per cent vanadium oxide, 0.84 per cent lead, 0.04 per cent zinc and 3.56 grams per tonne (g/t) silver. The real intrigue, however, may lie underneath the shallow oxidised deposit. Following it to depth and towards the west, the oxide mineralisation transitions into a primary zone of copper-silver strata bound sulphide deposit, which management says may offer significant opportunities for an expanded resource. The hotly anticipated Netflix series about notorious Australian influencer and cancer conwoman Belle Gibson will be hitting TV screens on February 6. The official trailer for Apple Cider Vinegar, the true-ish story based on a lie, has dropped, showing what audiences can expect from the tale of a woman who built a social media following by claiming an all-natural lifestyle had cured her of cancer a diagnosis that turned out to be entirely faked. The limited series is set during the ascendant Instagram era, following Gibson and other personalities who gained traction as the social media influencer emerged as a force in the exploding wellness industry. The trailer details Gibsons increasingly glamorous lifestyle as she gains online clout, and the surging competition between Gibson (played by Kaitlyn Dever) and rival influencer Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey), before allegations of fraud and revelations of the fabricated disease bring it all crashing down. Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Grossi jumps Kew following split with high-profile hospitality group Puttanesca at the Clifton Hotel, which was previously owned by embattled Public Hospitality, is in the hands of a new operator as Publics financial unravelling continues. Dani Valent January 15, 2025 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 The Grossi family has ended its association with Puttanesca, the flagship restaurant at the Clifton Hotel, owned until recently by Public Hospitality Group. The Kew Junction pub, built in 1868, had been vacant for many years before its splashy reopening in August 2023, which marked Sydney-based Public Hospitalitys first serious move into the Melbourne market. At the time, restaurateur-chef Guy Grossi told Good Food, For me, a new project has to feel right and be fun. When Im here, and I look around, I feel good about it. Jon Adgemis (left) with Guy Grossi outside the Clifton Hotel in Kew in July 2023. Joe Armao Its safe to say the good feels are gone. Advertisement We dont share the same business values so we couldnt continue with the association, said the Grossi family, as part of an announcement on Monday that all ties had been severed with the restaurant and Public Hospitality. Grossi Group was engaged as a supplier of consulting services to the Puttanesca Osteria restaurant operated by Public Hospitality Group, the family said. We have never been involved in the day-to-day operations of Public Hospitality Group. We can confirm we have now ceased our arrangement with Public Hospitality Group and will no longer be involved with Puttanesca Osteria. Owned by former KPMG dealmaker turned publican Jon Adgemis, Public Hospitality disintegrated after refinancing in 2024. Many businesses within the group collapsed, including Sydneys Oxford House, The Norfolk and Strand Hotel. The dining room at Puttanesca in September 2023, shortly after opening. Paul Jeffers Advertisement Last September, Good Food reported that Puttanescas future was uncertain as Public Hospitalitys financial woes affected several businesses. We are waiting to see whats happening and trying to work through everything, said Grossi Restaurants co-owner Elizabeth Grossi-Rodriguez at the time. Since November 1, Linchpin Hospitality has been running the Clifton Hotel. It has also taken control of three of the groups former Sydney venues the Empire Hotel, Lady Hampshire and Bayswater Hotel. Linchpins management team includes chief executive Terry Soukoulis and well-known chef George Calombaris. Soukoulis previously managed Hotel Sorrento, where Calombaris also had ties. George Calombaris Sydney expansion plans fall over after only five months There arent many changes at Puttanesca, says restaurant manager Johnny Mathias, also a Hotel Sorrento alumnus. Its still Italian food. Advertisement The menu retains Mammas Lasagne, which Guy Grossi was proud to introduce to Kew. Its our nonnas recipe for bolognese sauce with bechamel and pasta sheets, gooey and yummy, he said in 2023. Publics second Melbourne venue was Saint George in St Kilda, with chef Karen Martini at the helm. Mathias also worked there. He says Linchpin briefly oversaw the venue but was no longer involved. Saint George is still accepting online bookings, but the phone number on the website is disconnected. Martini was approached for comment but did not respond before publication. Correction: an earlier version of this story stated that Linchpin Hospitality now owns the Clifton Hotel. In fact, Linchpin is the operator of the hotel. As a nearly 43-year-old bloke who had major abdominal surgery just over 12 months ago, I try to look after myself, but Im not especially fit. I try to go to my local YMCA and get on the treadmill and rowing machines a couple of nights a week to maintain some sort of fitness, but thats it. Im no swimmer either. I was once. Now, Im lucky to jump in the gym pool and swim three or four times a year. Still, Ive always thought Id be able to handle myself at the beach. I never expected how close I would come to drowning. A lazy day at the beach turned into a terrifying situation. Credit: Anthony Blunden My wife and I are both teachers in Melbourne and lucky enough to spend some of our holidays in Queensland. A few days ago we took our young children down to Maroochydore beach, as we often do. While we dont often put up our beach tent near or between the flags, we like to think we are safe with our children. Our daughter Harriet is seven and our son Henry is about to turn five, so we never allow them to go into the ocean without us holding their hands, and we never take them beyond waist depth. After four hours of blissful relaxation on a perfect sunny day, Harriet and I were packing up the sand castle toys and getting ready to go home when a mans voice behind me asked, Is that your son out there? We met on a steaming night, got married three summers later, and had our first baby four summers after that. Youre asking me to choose which was the summer that changed everything? OK, the steaming night. It was a wedding in 1995. The bride and her mother had schemed to set us up. Theyd known us for years but our paths had never crossed. They told her something like, He has red hair but dont worry, hes funny. They told me nothing. Id arrived in my mothers maroon Toyota Camry. I was last to the table and worse for wear. Though I wasnt in on any set-up plan, I was an architect of going hard early before sobering up for the drive home. She was in deep dewy-eyed conversation with the guy on her other side, this charismatic fairly well-known TV executive. She gave me the back of her head. Assuming she was TV guys gorgeous but way-too-young girlfriend, I got chatting with the woman on my left. Mary, in her 60s, was non-stop fun. We had so much in common we got lost in laughter. Meanwhile, on her way past the table, a girl I knew, a beautiful Amazon, slipped me her wallet and keys to look after; she had nowhere to put them in that skin-tight thing. Another plan that I wasnt in on, maybe not. Mary was making me laugh so much it was hard to keep track. If youre a long-time renter, youve likely had at least one bad or outright traumatic experience with a landlord or real estate agent. I had my first about 10 years ago, when I was living in an old, rundown house near the beach. The list of claims at the end of the tenancy was unreasonable at best, so we engaged the Residential Tenancies Authoritys dispute resolution service. Despite the RTA acting as a mediator (meaning they cant enforce any action), we were able to argue against most of the claims. This felt like a victory until the house was knocked down a few months after we vacated. Legislation to improve renters rights came into effect in late 2024. Credit: Courtney Kruk No one wants an end-of-tenancy dispute, but how do you advocate for yourself in an increasingly tight and competitive rental market when the thing thats on the line is whether you have somewhere to live? Champion jockey Danny Nikolic and disgraced underworld lawyer Patrick Lennon have been arrested and charged with theft offences after allegedly becoming trapped inside a Carlton home while trying to steal a swag of luxury handbags and jewellery. Police were called to the three-storey townhouse of a wealthy Melbourne businessman in the early hours of Thursday morning following a neighbours report of a break-in. Danny Nikolic and Patrick Lennon. Credit: Matthew Absalom-Wong Both men were arrested at the scene after they allegedly filled bags with luxury goods and then found themselves trapped inside the house by deadlocked doors. Police confirmed a 61-year-old man from Sandringham and a 50-year-old Port Melbourne man had been arrested at a house in Berkeley Street in Carlton about 2am on Thursday. The pair were interviewed and later charged with burglary and theft. They have no power or running water and the beach they face has precious little sand to spread out on, but the humble boat sheds of Werribee South have no shortage of fierce defenders. The sheds, which have occupied the narrow, weed-strewn foreshore on Melbournes south-western fringe since the 1930s, are being assessed for heritage protection as well as a possible hefty increase in fees for owners. From left: Sandy Bowen, Juanita Fernando, Bruce McLeod, Steven Fernando and Rob Lawry outside a boat shed at Campbells Cove, Werribee South. Credit: Simon Schluter The proposed heritage overlay would give the sheds the same protected status as Brightons bathing boxes on the other side of Port Phillip Bay despite them selling for a fraction of the price. There are 144 boat sheds in Werribee South, dozens more than the 96 bathing boxes that have lined Brighton beach since the 1840s. 3rd batch of 44 new freight wagons purchased from China arrives in Cambodia Xinhua) 09:45, January 15, 2025 PHNOM PENH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The third batch of 44 new freight wagons purchased from China arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday, bringing the total number of delivered freight wagons to the kingdom to 140, said the operator of Cambodia's railway. The Royal Railway Plc., a part of Royal Group, said in a news release that this latest addition to Royal Railway's fleet represented a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to delivering efficient and reliable rail freight services across the Southeast Asian country. "The addition of these new wagons underscores Royal Railway's dedication to developing Cambodia's rail infrastructure, with a focus on increasing capacity, improving efficiency, and strengthening its position as a key player in the country's logistics and transportation sector," the news release said. Royal Railway, as the sole rail transport service provider in Cambodia, has been a vital part of the nation's logistics network since it commenced operations in 2010, following the successful rehabilitation of both the southern and northern railway lines. The 44 wagons were part of a larger order of 221 flat wagons, the news release said, adding that the first batch of 60 wagons and the second batch of 36 wagons were delivered to the kingdom in December last year. 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In addition, Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells is the biggest winner from the reshuffle and will move into federal cabinet in her current portfolio, replacing Shorten with a Queenslander and a rising star of the Labor Right faction. Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells is a major winner from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reshuffle. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the changes on Thursday morning in a low-key statement about the updates to the ministry, overshadowed by news of the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is also working on a reshuffle of his senior ranks to replace Senate leader and foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham and government services spokesman Paul Fletcher, both of whom are leaving parliament. Perth house prices have hit new highs, surpassing a median of $900,000 for the first time, with a new report predicting it could hit $1 million by the end of 2025. The latest Domain House Price Report revealed home values lifted 19.5 per cent over the year to reach a median of $913,011, the largest increase in the nation. Perth house prices have recorded double digit growth this year. Credit: Getty Images But there are signs the rapid rise is stagnating, with a gain of 1.6 per cent recorded over the December quarter, the weakest outcome for Perth since 2019. In fact, Perth has experienced the sharpest slowdown in price gains throughout 2024, with a 14.1 per cent increase in the first half of the year, followed by just 4.7 per cent in the second. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size How was your first night, did you have any visitors? Ruben, the bartender at Playa Escondida in Sayulita, a boutique surf hotel in one of Mexicos designated Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns) on the Pacific coast, asks this as he hacks away at a pineapple for a Pina Colada order. He doesnt need to explain what he means by visitors. Hours earlier, I was near panic-stricken after spotting something moving about my suitcase a flash of spindly legs attached to a bulbous greyish-brown body. Its a tarantula, I thought. Oh, god is it a scorpion? What colour are scorpions? Villa balcony spa terrace. Id summoned enough courage to drag the suitcase onto our balcony terrace, where my sister and I commenced several rounds of nervous prodding, flinching, kicking items of clothing around and squealing, in that order, until finally a culprit emerged: not a spider but a timid little crab. It was, to be fair, actually adorable. Caught out, it performed an awkward two-step, looking embarrassed in that way crabs always seem to, before we gave the suitcase a final nudge and sent it on its way. That same morning, I spotted a stubby little gecko with eyes like saucers sunning itself on our terrace love seat; upon noticing me, it dived into a heap of cushions and disappeared. Soon after, a larger crab strutted right up to where I was sitting, throwing up its pincers in exasperation or as if to mime, What are you looking at? Move! before bustling past. Advertisement I list off the various houseguests to Ruben. So a quiet morning then? he deadpans. Some villas immerse you in fairytales, others in ancient Mayan spirits. In the early rainy season, from about June to October, Playa Escondidas adorably anxious crustacean population becomes as much a feature of the resort as its gloriously retro beach villas. Thousands of these shy land crabs march en masse towards the ocean, creating a spectacle for guests. Moving through the property requires high-level alertness crabs in all colours and sizes, some barely bigger than an ant, traverse its private beach, open-air yoga studio, and jungle-flanked passageways as we dart out of the way, trying to anticipate their next move. The great Nayarit crab migration thousands appear early in the rainy season. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto A handful of villa regulars eventually get names Sebastian, a pale-orange and purple crab, has set up house in our beautiful sun-dappled shower. Each morning, he stares us down from the furthest reaches of the shower ledge while we slink towards the tap, so as not to spook him. He remains there, barely moving a foot, for the duration of our stay. The resort is also frequented by coatis, curious racoon-like creatures who live in the surrounding jungle and are capable of using their agile front paws to open cupboards and fridges when hapless guests forget to lock up, though we dont spot any during our stay. Advertisement Poolside dining Playa Escondidas restaurant overlooks the resort infinity pool. The villas rudimentary design a thatched-roof compound akin to traditional Aztec or Mayan adobe huts (though with a lot more colour and pizzazz) means it isnt exactly hermetically sealed off from critters, though the kitsch aesthetic is very appealing, and a deeply welcome alternative to the bland luxury mega-resorts that seem to dominate the Nayarit coast. Beachside soak watch the sun set from a jacuzzi. Outside on our terrace, an inbuilt jacuzzi bubbles next to two ruby-hued day beds; the exterior walls radiate in vibrant shades of sky blue and peach, adorned with white handpainted pre-Columbian-style motifs. Joyous levels of colour pervade the resort, from handpainted murals and lush jungle greenery to beautiful multicoloured soft furnishings, ceramics and trinkets. The 32-room property, which shot to onscreen fame in recent times (at least in North America) as the location of the American Bachelor in Paradise TV series, remains a beacon of retro charm in Sayulita. Its once-inaccessible beach, flanked by two giant rock outcroppings, was discovered by an American surfer and architect in the 1980s, as the story goes. In the following decade, the architects friend purchased the land, and together they designed and built the first homes on Playa Escondida, in what would eventually become the resort. Playa Escondidas vibrant villa design borrows from Mesoamerican culture. The hotel evolved organically, without a master plan a fact thats charmingly evident in the design. Some of its villas immerse you in fairytales, others in ancient Mayan spirits. Rooms on the upper part of the property, made of teak wood and bamboo, transport you to Thailand. Some feature jacuzzis, some dont even have air-conditioning. Theres a warmth and unpretentiousness to them. Advertisement Loading Its easy to see why this spot was chosen, too. Each happy hour, after wandering down to Rubens tiny beach bar to imbibe uncivilised amounts of Miami vice cocktails (the MVP of tiki libations a decadent blend of Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri), were treated to a sunset for the ages. It begins with searing intensity. We flit between our bar stools and the beach for cooling foot dips in the ocean, before heading back to the villa to catch the multicolour finale from our jacuzzi. The evening concludes at the restaurant overlooking the infinity pool, with dishes of zingy ceviche, wood-fired pizza and buttery lobster linguini. The hotel offers a level of serenity thats increasingly rare in the burgeoning tourism town not really seen since Sayulitas sleepy fishing village days in the 1990s. Watching the quirky antics of the many hundreds of crabs that pass through, while sipping coconut cocktails, is about as action-packed as it gets, and thats just how we like it. Sunset-watching goals day beds at Playa Escondida. The details Stay Advertisement Washington: US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are both claiming credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza after the White House brought Trumps Middle East envoy into negotiations that have dragged on for months. Trump wasted no time in asserting he was the moving force behind the deal, whose final details were still being ironed out, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office. Biden, meanwhile, stressed the deal was reached under the precise contours of a plan he set out in late May. Joe Biden and Donald Trump: The outgoing and incoming US presidents are both keen to be remembered for helping to possibly end the Gaza war. Credit: AP This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signalled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies, Trump wrote on social media. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones. Trump added that his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who was participating in the talks in Doha, Qatar, would continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. Phase two would begin in six weeks, and it is hoped it will be a permanent end to the war but if negotiations to that end take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations continue, Biden said. In phase three, the last of the remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families, and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin. Who negotiated and approved the deal? Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Hamas have been meeting on and off for months, hosted by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha, to arrive at a ceasefire. Top envoys from the Biden administration have been at the table, and US President-elect Donald Trumps Middle East envoy joined the negotiations in the past few weeks. It is understood Israels team at the final stages included the chiefs of its Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies. Loading What happens next? The Qatari leader has called for calm in the Gaza Strip between now and January 19, when the ceasefire will commence. The deal needs approval from Netanyahus security cabinet, then his full cabinet. It was hoped this approval would come immediately after the deal was announced, but a vote has been delayed. Netanyahu accused Hamas of making last-minute demands, and his hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would resign if the government ratified the deal, saying it was reckless. If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we the members of Jewish Power will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister, Ben-Gvir said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday the mediators were working to tie up a loose end at the last minute and that the ceasefire should start on Sunday as planned. Blinken has made 12 trips to the Middle East for these talks and ends his term with Biden on January 20. Outgoing US President Joe Biden announces the ceasefire deal at the White House. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his right. Credit: Bloomberg An official list of names for the trade of hostages and imprisoned Palestinians has not yet been officially released. The BBC published a list of 33 hostages on Monday and updated it on Thursday, and The New York Times said Netanyahus office appeared to confirm its authenticity. The BBC, however, said the list may change as some people feared kidnapped are confirmed to have been killed or released. Much-needed aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is expected to start to flow again when the truce finally starts. The US says it wants to see aid deliveries to Gaza reach more than 500 trucks a day. Were looking at a massive infusion of trucks It wont happen overnight, but we want to get up to over 500 trucks a day, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Loading UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent lifesaving humanitarian support. What has the reaction been? Photographs from Gaza and Tel Aviv showed people rejoicing over the news of the deal as it was announced. In Tel Aviv, protesters who have for months been demanding Netanyahu bring their hostage relatives and friends home appeared to celebrate the moment, while in Gaza, crowds jumped for joy and waved flags. But some people have also protested the deal, including in Jerusalem, where some Israelis marched through the streets carrying mock coffins, blocking roads and scuffling with police. Trump was the first to announce the deal on his Truth Social platform, followed by the Qatari PM and Biden. Several world leaders have joined the chorus of approval, expressing cautious hope that the deal will come to fruition. Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages return home to their families. For the Palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a state of their own. And for the region, a future of normalisation, integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, Biden said. We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you! Trump said. With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven, he said in a second post. Loading A statement from Netanyahus office said the Israeli leader had spoken with both Trump and Biden to thank them for their roles in negotiating the deal. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong heralded the development as a constructive step towards peace and stability in the troubled region. It must mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Israeli and Palestinian people, they said. We hope it will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance, and pursue self-determination. There must be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. Any future Palestinian state must not be in a position to threaten Israels security. Guterres said: The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this deal and scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer. Loading Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters in Ankara the deal was an important step for regional stability and that Turkish efforts for a two-state solution would continue. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the deal on a post on X, and stressed the importance of fast delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Tikva Forum, a conservative group of hostage families, said it was deeply concerned about the deal because it did not guarantee the release of all hostages and could allow Hamas to remain in power in Gaza. What happens if the war resumes after a deal is struck? Loading Weve been here before. Ceasefires are routinely broken, but also held if the transgressions arent existential to the deal (the current Israeli ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon is an example). Biden said negotiations would continue during the six weeks that it will take to sign off on the final phase, and that the ceasefire will continue during these negotiations. The deal does not start until January 19. This gives both sides time to get organised, but also leaves the field open for military strikes. Commonwealth and state governments managed to create over 50,000 dwellings in 1950 when our population was one-third what it is today, but the current government ambition is just 30,000 over five years, Elliot said. AI has started to power all steps of research, development, and innovation (R&D&I), including those that require creativity, working alongside and augmenting humans, with its use increasing rapidly. However, while it is already delivering major productivity gains in specific areas or sectors its widespread integration into R&D&I processes is still relatively immature, and it faces a range of challenges around technology, economics, regulation, and societal acceptability. Irrespective of these challenges, six no-regret strategic actions should be undertaken today. These are the headline findings of Eureka! on Steroids: AI-driven research, development, and innovation, a new report published today byArthur D. Little (ADL)s Blue Shift Institute. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115868503/en/ In this new study, Arthur D. Little explores the current state of AI in research, development, and innovation. (Photo: Business Wire) The report was conducted in partnership with five major leading public and private sector organizations already using AI in their R&D&I efforts: LVMH, Avril, GRTgaz, the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE). While AI has played a part in R&D&I for at least a decade, recent advances have turbocharged AI use, opening up transformative new possibilities and promising more compelling eureka moments, more often. The in-depth study therefore explores the benefits that AI is already delivering in terms of greater productivity, faster development and the ability to solve previously intractable problems in R&D&I, as well as challenges and best practices, the landscape of solution providers, and future scenarios. It is based on over 40+ interviews with AI experts from the academic, startup, and corporate worlds. It also leverages a survey of over 200 experts from private companies and public institutions, as well as a column by Anne Bouverot, a world-renowned expert and the French Presidents Special Envoy on AI. Key factors impacting the future adoption of AI in R&D&I are performance, trust and affordability. Based on the combination of these elements, the report outlines six plausible scenarios that impact the direction of AI, ranging from it being solely used in selected, low-risk scenarios to a full transformation of R&D&I. Whatever scenario materializes, organizations need to act now to prepare. Ensuring success requires organizations to manage and empower AI talent, build robust data foundations, train the workforce in AI fundamentals, prioritize use cases that deliver tangible, rapid benefits, mutualize computer power, and put in place strong governance frameworks to ensure quality and control. Dr. Albert Meige, Global Director of Blue Shift at Arthur D. Little, comments: Research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) is at the heart of solving the main challenges that the world faces in areas as diverse as sustainability, health, climate change, and food and energy security. Our study shows that not only does AI have the power to transform R&D&I, helping to meet these needs, but that many organizations are already reaping its benefits across all stages of their operations. While challenges remain and the level of AI use will depend on its performance and trust, we identify the no regret moves that organizations should make now to prepare for the future. Eureka! on Steroids: AI-driven research, development, and innovation, can be viewed and downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/yf4pt6r5 For further information, please visit www.adlittle.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115868503/en/ Periwinkle Technologies, a groundbreaking healthcare solutions provider based in Pune, India, has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Health category. This award recognises the companys transformative impact in addressing cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250114364143/en/ Periwinkle Technologies Wins the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Health Category (Photo: AETOSWire) Founded on the principle of making early detection accessible and efficient, Periwinkles flagship product, the Smart Scope CX, is a pioneering point-of-care device that leverages artificial intelligence to enable real-time detection of uterine cervical diseases, including cancer. By integrating telehealth capabilities, the device empowers remote diagnosis and treatment planning, aligning with the World Health Organizations goal to screen 70% of the eligible population by 2030 and treat 90% of suspect positives. Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, commended Periwinkle Technologies for its ability to bridge health equity gaps while addressing pressing sustainability challenges, stating: By addressing global health challenges with a scalable solution that minimises environmental impact, Periwinkle Technologies demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can work together to deliver life-saving care to underserved communities. Veena Moktali, CEO of Periwinkle Technologies, expressed the significance of this achievement: The Zayed Sustainability Prize has given a new hope to all the women worldwide in the fight against cervical cancer and continues to encourage innovators working to increase access to quality healthcare. Smart Scope CX has revolutionised cervical cancer screening by addressing barriers such as late detection, high costs, and infrastructure limitations. The device not only reduces the carbon footprint of healthcare by minimising patient and provider travel but also eliminates the need for extensive resources such as utility-scale electricity and physical sample transport. This makes it ideal for deployment in rural and underserved communities. Currently, Periwinkles solution is utilised in health centres across multiple regions, contributing to a 50% increase in participation in screening programmes. This recognition and the US $1 million fund will enable Periwinkle Technologies to extend its reach beyond its current territories in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. With plans to collaborate with public healthcare programmes and international NGOs, the company aims to impact over 100,000 additional beneficiaries by 2026. Through this expansion, Periwinkle continues its mission to eradicate cervical cancer through early detection and prevention, improving health outcomes for women worldwide. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a tribute to the visionary legacy of the UAEs founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, stands as a beacon of hope and progress for sustainable development. This prestigious award honours and empowers those who are driving transformative change across the categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. Each year, the Prize rewards organisations and high schools for their groundbreaking solutions, fostering innovation on global challenges. Over the past 17 years, through its 128 winners, the Prize has positively impacted 407 million lives worldwide. By recognising these innovators, the Zayed Sustainability Prize inspires countless others to amplify their efforts, creating a positive ripple effect. About the Zayed Sustainability Prize The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAEs pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges. A tribute to the legacy and vision of the UAEs founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize aims to drive sustainable development worldwide. Each year, across the Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools categories, the Prize rewards organizations and high schools for their groundbreaking solutions to our planets most pressing needs. Through its 117 winners over 17 years, the Prize has positively impacted more than 400 million lives globally, inspiring innovators to amplify their impact and chart a sustainable future for all. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250114364143/en/ Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 8:52PM Photo: Yukai Engineering Cat got your tongue takes on a different meaning with this Yukai Engineering robot. The Japanese robotics startup created the Nekojita FuFu, a cat-shaped robot that can blow air to cool your hot food and drinks. The robot gets its name from the Japanese term "neko-jita," meaning "cat tongue," a phrase used to describe individuals with a low tolerance for hot food. The second part of the name, "FuFu," is an onomatopoeia that captures the sound of blowing air to cool food. The robot has different blowing modes, including a full-force and a gentler one. It uses an internal fan unit running on a rechargeable battery. It also has a specially developed algorithm or the Fu-ing System that randomizes the strength and rhythm to mimic human breath. The Nekojita FuFu can cool hot water from 88 degrees Celsius to 71 degrees Celsius in three minutes or to 66 degrees Celsius in five minutes. This tiny little robot isn't just meant to cool your coffee. It works with any dishware with a straight edge. Born from Yukai Engineering's 2024 internal Make-a-Thon, the Nekojita FuFu robot was inspired by a personal challenge faced by Chief Marketing Officer Tsubasa Tominaga. While struggling to cool hot baby food for his son, often leaving him feeling breathless and dizzy, Tominaga recognized a genuine need for a solution. The company plans to launch Nekojita FuFu in Japan in mid-2025 after a crowdfunding campaign. It will retail for around US$25 or around CA$36. This isn't the only quirky robot Yukai Engineering introduced at CES 2025. You can check out Mirumi here. SOURCE: 1 + 2 SALEM The Northwest Ag Show got underway this morning as farmers and ranchers attended the early-bird session of pesticide safety classes before touring the many exhibits in the Jackman-Long Building and Columbia Hall at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center in Salem. Another session of the free core pesticide classes offering 4 credits will take place at 1 p.m. today. The Ag Show promises to be the best yet, with more than 100 exhibitors offering the latest in ag equipment and services, special guest Kait Thornton of social media fame, safety classes and informative talks rounding out the agenda. The show will be open until 5 p.m. today and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. The Oregon Farm Bureau is the title sponsor of the 55th edition of the Ag Show. We are honored to welcome Oregon Farm Bureau as a sponsor to the show, show director Joe Beach said. Major sponsors for the 2025 show include: Kubota. Northwest Hazelnut. Ernst Irrigation. Irrigation King. Energy Trust of Oregon. Oregon Department of Energy. AgWest Farm Credit. The Oregon NRCS. The keynote speaker for the show will be Kait Thornton, known as the Apple Girl on social media. She shares information about the apple- and pear-growing process throughout the year, reaching 483,000 followers on TikTok (@apple.girl.kait) and Instagram (@applegirlkait). She is amazing, said Rosemary Hosie, event coordinator for Capital Press, which produces the show. Shes breaking new space for social media influencers in agriculture. Present and future social media influencers are invited to listen to Thorntons advice on how to turbocharge their online posts. The Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassadors will distribute Tillamook cheese and milk products at the show on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The show offers four core pesticide safety credits from Oregon and Washington state OSHA in morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday in Cascade Hall. Signups for the 1 p.m. session are still available. There is no charge. With so much action, Hosie recommends planning to spend a whole day or two at the show. I would just pick a whole day to attend, she said. Hundreds of people involved in all aspects of ag will be on hand. Admission is free, though there is a $5 fee for parking. What: One of the largest ag shows in the region, featuring more than 100 exciting exhibitors, informative speakers and valuable classes. When: Jan. 15-17 Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Where: Oregon State Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. NE, Salem in the Jackman-Long, Columbia and Cascade buildings. Speakers: Three days of speakers, including Kait Thornton, the Apple Girl and social media phenomenon. Also included will be speakers on topics ranging from irrigation to pesticides and farmland conservation. Safety seminars: Oregon OSHA will offer two sessions of pesticide classes free of charge at 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Cascade Hall. Register at the door. Cost: Free Parking: $5 Producer: Capital Press Information: northwestagshow.com NOTHING like a bracing sea plunge to set you up for the New Year, according to Bob Jeffers! The Carlow resident once again bravely took a dip in the sea as part of the New Years Day RNLI swim. The annual event in Courtmacsherry, Co Cork once again attracted the crowds, including one well-known regular dipper tanaiste Micheal Martin. Not a bother on either of them as they emerged victorious from the ocean from a rejuvenating New Years Day swim in the Cork seaside village. Over the years, Bobs annual dip has raised several hundred euros much of it donated by Carlow people in support of the Courtmacsherry RNLI, which is greatly appreciated. Indeed, in his twenty plus years of the swim, Roberts participation has raised in excess of 20,000 for the Courtmacsherry RNLI. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Courtmacsherry RNLI, who were the first location to have a lifeboat in Ireland in 1825. A native of Bandon, Co Cork, Bob is a former bank official in Co Carlow and has been actively involved in a number of local charities and organisations over the years, including Carlow Lions Club and Tullow Agricultural Show. Eoin Reynolds Limited psychiatric services within the State are causing increased trauma to families, including in the "sensitive" case of a mother charged with the murder of her six-year-old son, a judge at the Central Criminal Court has said. Mr Justice Paul McDermott was managing 20 murder and serious sexual offence cases on Wednesday, January 15th, where lawyers are trying to engage psychiatrists to assess whether a mental condition could have played a role in their clients' alleged offending. In a number of cases, lawyers described difficulties in obtaining the services of psychiatrists or delays in receiving reports. A lawyer acting for Ruth Purcell Healy (37), who is charged with the murder of her six-year-old son Matthew on February 9th last year, said they are trying to engage a psychiatrist and "may have an update" soon. Mr Justice McDermott described the case as "very sensitive" and one in which psychiatric issues "loom very large". Lawyers have spent several months trying to procure the services of a psychiatrist but through no fault of their own, he said, they have been unsuccessful. The judge added: "It goes back to the difficulties in obtaining psychiatric reports... The longer they take, the more trauma is caused. We are dealing with very difficult issues and very sensitive issues and it points to the limitations in the services available in the State to deal with difficult cases of this kind." Ms Purcell Healy of Bishops Field, Williamstown, Waterford, was charged with murder after her son Matthew Healy was found unresponsive around midnight on February 9th, 2024, near Rathmoylan Cove, Dunmore East, and was later pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford. Last year, Mr Justice McDermott noted that psychiatrists at the Central Mental Hospital were often unavailable to carry out reports for the courts due to the "burden of work" placed on them by their day to day jobs. Lawyers also complained that in some instances psychiatrists were unwilling to take on cases due to the low fees being offered by the Department of Justice. In many cases, lawyers have had to seek the services of psychiatrists in the UK and elsewhere due to the lack of available psychiatrists in Ireland. PUPILS from St Josephs NS, Carlow stepped outside the classroom recently to learn more about the wonderful history right on our doorsteps. First-class pupils visited the Browneshill Dolmen, taking the short walk up to the historical site with the largest dolmen capstone in Europe. Prior to their visit, school principal Fergal Browne had explained to the boys about the megalithic structure in a PowerPoint presentation, while the pupils also took on a colouring competition and wordsearch relating to the dolmen all piquing their interest in this wonderful local site. Any groups or schools wishing to learn more about the Browneshill Dolmen are welcome to phone 087 9884113 to arrange a visit or talk via Zoom. Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a blistering attack on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, accusing the BJP, RSS, and their affiliates of systematically capturing India's institutions. Gandhi claimed that the Congress party's fight was no longer confined to political adversaries but was against the machinery of the Indian state itself. Do not think we are fighting a fair fight. If you believe this is merely against a political organization like the BJP or RSS, understand that they have captured almost every institution in our country. We are now up against the Indian state itself, said Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, after the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters in the national capital on Wednesday. Describing the broader ideological battle, Gandhi emphasized two conflicting visions of India. "This is the key fight taking place in India. There are two visions in conflict -- one is our idea, the idea of the Constitution; and the other is the idea of the RSS. One idea says India is a union of states -- we have all the scheduled languages featured in this Bhavan, equally placed together, without any superior or inferior language or culture or community. This building symbolises this diversity," he said. Referring to Bhagwat's statement that true independence was achieved only with the construction of the Ram Mandir, Gandhi remarked, Mohan Bhagwat has the audacity to inform us what he thinks about the Independence Movement and the nation. What he said yesterday is treason because if he is stating that the Constitution is invalid and the fight against the British was invalid then it's treason. In any other country, one would be arrested and tried. To say that India didn't get Independence in 1947 is an insult to every single Indian. And it's time we stop listening to such nonsense. Reflecting on Congress' history and its role in shaping modern India, Gandhi said, This building stands as a reminder of the Congress partys impact on Indias soul. Inside, youll find the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and countless others who served the Constitution and saluted the Tricolour. In contrast, those in power today neither salute the Tricolour nor respect the Constitution. Their vision for India is one of control by a select few, silencing the voices of Dalits, minorities, tribals, and backward classes. Gandhi delved into India's philosophical roots. Unlike the Western world, which focuses on outside the self, the Indian way of thinking is about understanding the self. Our great masters, they are all about understanding - precisely: where you come from, who you are, and what your nature is. The Bhagavad Gita, Bhagwan Shiva, Guru Nanak ji, and Sant Kabir, they all talk about that. The Congress leader also raised serious concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission, pointing to irregularities in the Maharashtra elections. "The sudden appearance of nearly one crore new voters between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections raises alarm. Why is the Election Commission refusing to provide a transparent voters' list? What purpose does it serve to withhold this information? This lack of transparency undermines our democracy," he said. Gandhi ended by reiterating the Congress partys resolve. We are the only party equipped to confront and defeat this agenda because we are an ideological party. This fight is about defending the soul of India, and the Congress is committed to that mission. Advertisement Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc. (AUSI) is constructing a solar facility within Republic Cement & Building Materials Incs (RCBM) Norzagaray facility in Bulacan, Philippines, under a long-term power purchase agreement. AUSI, a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp and Upgrade Energy Philippines, will fund and manage the project, while RCBM will exclusively purchase the energy generated to power its cement operations. Scheduled for completion in the second half of the year, the ground-mounted solar project marks a milestone in the integration of renewable energy into industrial operations. AUSI chairperson Ruth Yu-Owen highlighted the partnership as part of a shared vision to utilise renewable energy to fuel industrial development while supporting the Philippines transition to sustainable energy. Republic Cement CEO, Roman Menz, affirmed that the solar project aligns with the companys sustainability goals, enabling operational savings and reducing emissions. By integrating solar energy into our operations, we take a decisive step toward reducing emissions and contributing to a more sustainable Philippines, Mr Menz said. This initiative supports AboitizPowers aim to expand its renewable capacity to 4600MW over the next five years, further solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable energy solutions. This deal sets a new benchmark for solar adoption in the industrial sector, said James Yu, AboitizPowers first vice president and retail head. The Republic Cement Group operates five cement plants and one grinding station with a total capacity of 9.7Mta, and remains a key supplier of construction materials to the local market. Advertisement China-based Sinoma Cement Co and Kazakhstans Primus Capital plan to invest more than US$200m in the construction of a 1.3Mta cement plant in the Aktobe region of Kazakhstan, according to a press release by Kazakh Invest. The parties discussed the key stages of project implementation during a meeting between Yerzhan Elekeev, chairman of Kazakh Invests Board, and Yakun Tong, president of Sinoma Cement. The plant will be Sinoma Cements first project in Kazakhstan and Central Asia using advanced technologies and quality standards, according to Kazakhstan Newsline. The project has already been granted a licence for the development of chalk, clay and marl deposits in the Bayganinsky district. Geological exploration has confirmed the reserves and quality of raw materials. The plants location will provide access to domestic and Russian markets. Primus Capital is owned by Almatys former deputy mayor, Saparbek Tuyakbayev, and business man Nurlan Kurakbai. As long as God is with me, no one can harm me, says Kejriwal Ahead of filing his nomination for the New Delhi Assembly constituency, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal visited the Maharishi Valmiki Temple and Pracheen Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place on Wednesday and said that as long as God is with him, no one can harm him. Kejriwal, accompanied by his family, sought divine blessings before heading to file his nomination. Speaking to reporters after visiting the temples, Kejriwal said, "From here, we will go to the party office, and then we will proceed together to file my nomination." He added that many "mothers and sisters" from across Delhi would accompany him to the election office to bless him. When asked about intelligence inputs suggesting a threat to his life, Kejriwal expressed faith, saying, "As long as God is with me, no one can harm me". He was joined by his wife, son, daughter, and sister during the temple visits. The BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma as its candidate from the New Delhi constituency, while Congress has nominated Sandeep Dikshit. The election to the 70-member Assembly is scheduled for February 5, with counting on February 8. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds Kejriwal as the Centre has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) permission to prosecute him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the excise policy case. The Union Home Ministry's approval follows Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena's earlier nod for prosecution. Kejriwal and AAP have been accused of accepting bribes from the "South Group," a cartel allegedly controlling liquor sales and benefiting from the Delhi government's 2021-22 excise policy. While out on bail, Kejriwal has denied the allegations, accusing the BJP of weaponising central agencies to target political opponents. The high-stakes election campaign has seen AAP, BJP, and Congress engaged in a fierce triangular battle, trading accusations of corruption and misgovernance. In addition to the excise policy allegations, Kejriwal has been criticised for purportedly extravagant expenditures on his official residence during his tenure as Chief Minister, with the "Sheesh Mahal" controversy emerging as a key election issue. As the February 5 election approaches, the political temperature continues to rise in the national capital, with all three parties making corruption and governance their central campaign themes. Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. has added two new paralegals, Chasity Jackson and Sage Sammeli, who will support the firm's estate planning and business practice areas."We are excited to have Chasity and Sage on our team," said President and Managing Shareholder Mark Cunningham. "As we continue to grow and welcome skilled new talent, we take great pride in the invaluable support our paralegals provide to both our clients and the firm. Their experience and dedication, combined with fresh perspectives, ensure that we deliver exceptional service.Our paralegals work seamlessly with our attorneys, consistently striving to exceed expectations and enhance the overall client experience."With over 15 years of legal experience, Ms. Jackson specializes in probate, trust and estate administration. She helps clients protect their assets with tailored plans, guiding them through the process, including gathering and valuing possessions, preparing legal documents, notifying creditors and beneficiaries of their rights, outstanding debts and responsibilities, managing debts and taxes, ensuring compliance and facilitating asset distribution. Jackson is dedicated to making clients feel valued and well-informed throughout estate planning. She earned her associate degree from Snead State Community College and her bachelor's degree from Faulkner University.Ms. Sammeli specializes in the formation, governance, conversion and dissolution of for-profit entities. Working with multiple industries, she drafts formation and maintenance documents, filings and closing documents, while performing thorough due diligence. Ms. Sammeli routinely handles filing annual reports, amendments and terminations with the Secretary of State. She also regularly drafts operating agreements and coordinates with the IRS and state Departments of Revenue for tax information. Ms. Sammeli earned her bachelor's degree from Lee University before obtaining her transactional paralegal certification from Chattanooga State Community College.Ms. Sammeli participated in Chattanooga State's paralegal apprenticeship program in partnership with Chambliss, which launched in late 2022. As Tennessee's first college-sponsored registered legal apprenticeship, the program provides participants with full-time employment, benefits, tuition assistance and on-the-job training. Apprentices gain valuable experience working directly with attorneys, legal assistants and clients, while earning portable, nationally recognized credentials through Chattanooga State. A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in a residential part of Santa Rosa and two 16-year-olds were arrested, police said. Mark Wineman/Getty Images A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in a residential part of Santa Rosa and two 16-year-old teens were arrested, police said. The shooting occurred Monday afternoon, according to police. Police investigators believe the suspects saw the victim on Northcoast Street, assumed he was a part of a rival gang, and challenged him to a fight. The three engaged in a fight, during which one suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim, police said. At about 4:32 p.m., Santa Rosa police officers received numerous reports of a gunshot victim on the 2400 block of Pawnee Street, police said. Callers to 911 told police that two men ran west on Pawnee Street after the shooting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers arrived at the scene to find the victim, who had been shot at least twice in his legs, police said. The officers applied tourniquets to the teens legs and he was transported to an area hospital and was listed in stable condition, according to police. Six bullet casings were recovered at the scene, police said. Officers pursued both teen suspects towards Comstock Middle School, where they were detained without incident in separate areas of the campus just before 4:40 p.m., police said. The two Santa Rosa residents were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of attempted murder, gang participation, committing a felony for the benefit of a street gang, carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of a stolen firearm and resisting and delaying arrest, police said. The gun used in the shooting was a handgun that was stolen from a different state, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Katelyn Hamilton describes making coffee as a really big science experiment.Its what I tell everyone when I have this conversation about making coffee: You have to weigh everything. You have to measure the temperature of everything. You have ratios. Everything has to be on point to make a good cup of coffee, she said.Ms. Hamilton, a junior chemical engineering major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has transformed a barista job into the cornerstone of her academic and career goals.During the fall 2024 semester, Ms.Hamilton approached Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Venkateswara Rao Kode with an idea.She reached out to me and said, Dr. Kode, I work in a coffee shop and we have a lot of spent coffee grounds that we dont know what to do with. How can we effectively utilize this waste and help improve the ongoing research at UTC? he recalled.I said, Bring it in. We can convert those spent coffee grounds into something useful.Using a process called pyrolysis, Ms. Hamilton and Asst. Prof. Kode heated the coffee grounds in the absence of oxygen, converting them into biochara carbon-rich product with potential applications in 3D printing. Ms. Hamilton analyzed the biochar using a scanning electron microscope to study its topography.It was mind-boggling drying the coffee, baking it six hours total, and then we undergo pyrolysis using a tube furnace, Ms. Hamilton said. You can see all the different coffee componentslike the oils getting cooked awaybut at the very end its just this black carbon. Its like, Wow, thats literally carbon that were looking at. That was just really, really cool.Asst. Prof. Kode, who joined the UTC faculty at the start of the 2024-25 academic year, said Ms. Hamiltons enthusiasm for the project has been inspiring.Its absolutely amazing to have undergraduate students like Katelyn working in the lab and learning state-of-the-art research, especially with the ongoing environmental concerns around the world to bring down the carbon emissions and help improve the overall circular economy and sustainability, Asst. Prof. Kode said. Her project aligns with our efforts to promote chemical engineering with an environmental science focus.Ms. Hamiltons work in the lab has also fueled her ambition to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineeringwith hopes of finding environmentally friendly ways to decaffeinate coffee and reduce greenhouse gas emissions during coffee roasting.Making coffee is one really big science experiment, she said with a laugh. I would definitely say thatwith my newfound interest and passionsit has changed the way I see it.Working with coffee is something Id love to do for the rest of my life. Drivers traveling on I-24 in Hamilton County should be aware of upcoming roadway activities that will have an impact on traffic. Happening Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and continuing nightly through Friday morning, utility contract crews will close the inside lane of I-24 from mile marker 177 to mile marker 183 (Moccasin Bend to Germantown Road) for repairs to our interstate lighting system. The work will occur in both directions, but not in the same night. Drivers are encouraged to use caution as they travel through this area and expect delays. Signage will be posted directing drivers through the work zone. This work is weather-dependent. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances cause delays, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date. Uniformed police officers will be present to assist with traffic control and law enforcement. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information. The Move Over Law was passed in 2006. The penalty for violating the law in Tennessee carries the possibility of up to 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of up to $500. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center announces its 2025 Black History Month programming."This years events highlight the contributions, culture and legacy of the African American community with a series of dynamic, educational and engaging activities for all ages," organizers said.Community Events Schedule:Feb. 1: Art Contest Exhibit Opening / Community DayKick off Black History Month with free museum admission and the opening of the Black History Month Art Contest Exhibit.This event provides an opportunity to explore the creativity and talent of young local artists while celebrating the cultural heritage of the African American community.Feb. 6: TVFCU First Thursday - Free AdmissionThanks to partners at TVFCU, enjoy free museum admission all day on the first Thursday of February. Come and experience our exhibits while learning more about the rich history of African Americans in Chattanooga and beyond.Feb. 6: Unity, Scholarship, Service: The Legacy of Black Greek LifeCelebrate the National Pan-Hellenic Council's history, legacy and cultural impact. This special event fosters community connection and honors the traditions of black Greek organizations that have been instrumental in shaping African American leadership and service.Feb. 13: Screening: The Six Triple EightA screening of The Six Triple Eight, a Netflix film about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalionthe first and only all-black, all-female unit of the Womens Army Corps to serve overseas during WWII. This event will include historical insights into the battalions connection to Fort Oglethorpe and its extraordinary contributions.Feb. 22: Breaking Barriers: Black Excellence in SportsThis panel discussion and workshop explore the experiences of black athletes and provides advice on navigating the sports world. Learn from professionals as they share their journeys and insights on breaking barriers in the field.Feb. 27: Tennessee Songwriters Showcase SemifinalsDont miss this qualifying round of the Tennessee Songwriters Showcase. Aspiring songwriters can sign up beginning Jan. 13spaces are limited, so act fast to secure your spot and showcase your talent."The Bessie Smith Cultural Center is proud to partner with the following community partners to make Black History Month events possible: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County Government, TVFCU and Tennessee Arts Commission. Throughout February, the BSCC invites the community to join us in celebrating Black History Month. These events not only honor the achievements of African Americans, but also foster education and unity within our community," officials said.The national theme for Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor.For event details, registration and updates, visit www.bessiesmithcc.org/bhm. A detective in the Jason Chen case told a Criminal Court jury he zipped open a suitcase in brush by the Tennessee River, felt body parts in a black garbage bag, and then called for the medical examiner. As detectives on the scene by Suck Creek Road, the body turned out to be that of 22-year-old Jasmine Pace, who had been missing just over a week. Chen is standing trial for first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the courtroom of Judge Boyd Patterson. A Nashville jury is deciding the case. Detective Stephen Bulkley said police were led to the remote area off Signal Mountain Boulevard by tracing pings from Chen's cellphone. He said they stopped at the first pullover and within 30 seconds spotted the suitcase. It was readily visible partly down the slope not far from the river. The witness said, "All of the detectives talked about what to do. All of us felt we had found Jasmine Pace, but the suitcase was closed." He said it was decided to take photos of the scene, then he pulled the heavy suitcase to a level area and unzipped it and felt inside. He stated, "I could feel a head, arms and a torso." Then the medical examiner was called to the scene. It was stated earlier that Chen had stabbed the victim 60 times at his small apartment on Tremont Street in North Chattanooga, then stuffed the body into the suitcase. Defense attorney Josh Weiss claimed that Ms. Pace had seen calls to other women on Chen's cellphone, then attacked him in a fury with a wine bottle. He said Chen responded with the stabbing, then tried to cover the crime up. Attorney Weiss said it was a case of voluntary manslaughter, not first-degree, pre-meditated murder. The jury was shown video of Chen making visits to the Signal Mountain Walmart and the North Market Street Walgreens to buy cleaning supplies and other items. Other video showed Ms. Pace's Chevy arriving at his apartment on the evening of Nov. 22, 2022, and of that vehicle later being driven from the apartment to 900 Mountain Creek Road. Police said Chen took an Uber or Lyft back to his home in a Toyota Prius. In response to a question from a juror, Detective Zack Crawford said he did find wine bottles at the unit and there was a very small amount of glass shards. He said he believed that the main attack on Ms. Pace was carried out on the bathroom floor. Detective Crawford, answering another juror question, said Chen had an injury to his paw that he believed to be "knife slippage." He said Chen had tiny cuts on his feet. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GTNC) announces the first recipients of a new scholarship, which is funded by the Latin American Association (LAA) with the sponsorship of Mohawk Industries Inc., to support Latino or Hispanic students who graduated from eligible high schools in Floyd, Gordon, Murray or Whitfield Counties. Maria Alvarado, Accounting, Gordon County Campus; Maximo Guerrero, Air Conditioning Technology, Walker County Campus; Adan Lara, Business Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; Andy Martinez, Automotive Technology, Walker County Campus; Stephanie Silva, Radiologic Technology, Floyd County Campus; and Jacqueline Valdez, Criminal Justice, Floyd County Campus, have received the new scholarship, which was established last year and awarded for the first time for the spring 2025 semester. The inaugural scholars were announced during LAA-Mohawk Scholarship Day held on the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun on Thursday, Jan. 9. The Latin American Association-Mohawk Scholarship is the beginning of what we hope will be an impactful relationship between GNTC and these two community partners for years to come, said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. GNTC is grateful to Mohawk Industries, a longtime partner of the college, for its ongoing, steadfast commitment to workforce development in northwest Georgia, Popham said. Mohawks generous support has helped to make the scholarship possible. Last semester, 25 percent of our student body was Hispanic, Popham said. As this number continues to rise, the Latin American Association will be a vital and treasured friend and advisor to Georgia Northwestern Technical College. GNTC has been designated as an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution and is on its way to becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Popham said. The $1,000 scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees and related educational expenses. Open to GNTC students with a minimum 2.5 GPA in any program, this scholarship recognizes scholars engaged with the Latino/Hispanic community in one or more of the following ways: heritage, involvement, volunteerism, language and support. According to the Latin American Association, the scholarship represents the collaboration between LAA and GNTC to change the lives of students and families and advance outcomes for the Latino community in northwest Georgia and beyond. A strong community is based on collaborations, Rafael Huerta, managing director of the Latin American Association in northwest Georgia, said. The LAAs Economic Empowerment focus area supports education and workforce development by conducting events and activities in our community, like the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, the Dalton-Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute and the LAA-Mohawk Scholarship program. The LAA works to empower Latinos to adapt, integrate and thrive. For more than 50 years, the LAA has worked in Atlanta to empower Georgias Latino communities, assisting clients in a language they understand and in an environment that is culturally responsive to them; the organization expanded these services in 2019 to northwest Georgia by opening the Dalton Outreach Center, according to the LAA. Mohawk believes in the mission of the LAA and what they do for the community, said Lauren Sneary, senior director of Communications for Mohawk Industries Flooring North America segment. Northwest Georgia has generations of Hispanic families and culture, and as we look at how our community and our workforce have grown over the last three decades, we believe that education, professional resources and family services are critical for everyone. Sneary said Mohawk is proud to be a longstanding partner and supporter of GNTC, with the opportunities it creates at an individual level and the impact it has at a regional level, preparing students for excellent, stable careers while supporting industry in northwest Georgia. This scholarship opportunity reflects the partnership across our three organizations and our joint commitment to our students and our communities, Sneary explained. Our hope is that the scholarship demonstrates that commitment in a tangible way and helps the deserving recipients propel their studies, their goals and ultimately their careers in northwest Georgia. Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 12,241 people benefited from GNTCs credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. A resolution to select a council member to serve on the East Ridge Planning Commission was decided after much discussion. That commission consists of five members, one being a member of the city council. Council member Aundie Wiitt has been that appointee for the past four years. Councilman Cagle nominated Jeffrey Ezell, the newest member of the city council, who is already a member of the East Ridge Housing Commission. The nomination received no second and discussion ensued. Council member David Tyler said putting Mr. Ezell in the seat could give too much power to one individual since he would be on multiple city boards and the city council. An earlier resolution the council passed had the intent of diversifying involvement and of protecting residential districts from commercial encroachment. The council wanted to ensure that spirit is maintained by limiting the number of boards an individual can serve on. If Mr. Ezell was appointed, he would have a vote on the council, a vote on the Housing Commission and a vote on the Planning Commission and that would be too much power for my liking, said Councilman Tyler. Most of the council members expressed they would have supported Mr. Ezells appointment if he dropped off of the Housing Commission. In the end, Council member Witt was reappointed for another term. For the pas seven years, the city of East Ridge has used Nicole Watson, with Holland and Knight LLP, as a lobbyist with the Tennessee General Assembly. She represents the citys interest for bills that could affect East Ridge regarding the Border Region tourism development district. That firm has helped determine which expenses qualify to be reimbursed and they assisted in the five-year extension of the agreement with the state. They provide help by keeping the city abreast of legislative issues, said Mayor Brian Williams. A vote was unanimous by the East Ridge Council to continue the contract with Hollard and Knight through December 2025 at the cost of $4,166.67 per month for the service. Before the vote Councilman Jacky Cagle asked for clarification about various entities that might provide overlapping services. The city also employs consultant Bridgett Raper with the Small Cities Coalition of Hamilton County. City Manager Scott Miller said that organization looks at all bills that have ties with other government entities in Tennessee. But she does not get involved at all with Border Region issues. Holland and Knight work directly with representatives and senators in Nashville specifically about bills that affect only East Ridge and what the city wants to achieve. "And what does Tennessee Municipal League (TML) do?" asked the councilman. TML could do a lot better job and should be more involved in bills, answered Mr. Miller. The council granted a 40-foot utility easement to Principal Acres, LLC, across city owned property at 1623 Springvale Road. The city purchased the property, which is in a flood zone and is being used for open, green space. The 40-foot easement will be used to get all utilities across the parcel to provide underground utilities to a single house which will be on one acre of property zoned R-1 single family. The expense of replacing the water line from the street to the East Ridge fire station No. 2 was approved as an emergency order authorized by the city manager due to a major leak. The leak occurred on Dec. 19 and the city made an initial repair. When the water was turned back on, another leak occurred between the meter box and the station. The line was buried under six inches of reinforced concrete to be strong enough for the weight of the heavy fire trucks. It was determined that sub-standard material originally used in 2017 was to blame, even though at the time the gauge of the water line met the specs from the architects. The lesson to be learned, said Mayor Williams is for the city to have better requirements. The newly installed lines are a heavier gauge and cost $16,562. City Manager Miller updated the council on two construction projects the city is engaged in - the new town center development next to the city hall and the community center. Underground work is close to being finished and the foundation will be started next for the multi-use pavilion referred to as the town center. Plans for the community centers expansion and improvements have been submitted to the state for approval since $600,000 of the cost will come from a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant (LPRF). The schedule that is planned for the renovations includes the project will be going out to bid by Feb. 2, bids opened March 1 and awarded by May 1. Construction is expected to take 270 days. It is hoped that both the community center and the multi-use pavilion will be finished toward the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026, said Mr. Miller. Senate goes into a do-nothing session at 8:45 a.m. and then goes into a joint session with the House at 9:30 a.m. to make political appointments for the states constitutional offices. Let me now if you need a Democratic voice in your coverage. Brandon Puttbrese (615) 613-2598 Top Senate Stories Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 Fun Facts: Tennessee Senate Demographics 8: The number of women in the Tennessee Senate out of 33 members (24%) The number of women in the Tennessee Senate out of 33 members (24%) 58 : The percentage of senators who are Baby Boomers or older. 24% are Generation X. 18% are Millennials. : The percentage of senators who are Baby Boomers or older. 24% are Generation X. 18% are Millennials. 61 : The average age of a state senator in Tennessee. : The average age of a state senator in Tennessee. 64 : The average age of a Republican senator. : The average age of a Republican senator. 100: The percentage of Republican senators who are white. The Senates three Black members are all Democrats. State lawmakers to vote on Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer 9:30 a.m. CT - Joint Convention of the House & Senate - Watch The 132 members of the Tennessee General Assembly are responsible for appointing a Secretary of State, a Comptroller and Treasurer. These are cushy political jobs, but also important. The Secretary of States role in state government has grown over time. Now, business, charities, elections and government are all under the influence of the secretary. The comptrollers main responsibility is determining whether tax dollars were spent on intended purposes at the state and local level. The treasurer is responsible for managing the states $115 billion portfolio of financial assets, the majority of which is retirement programs. TNs State of the Child report highlights grim statistics on child wellbeing Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth - January 2025 The East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra will host its seventh annual Sweet & Salty Valentines Concert Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Founders Hall at The Commons, 4950 Swinyar Dr. in Collegedale.By tradition, the all-volunteer symphony orchestra will open its two-part Valentines Day themed concert with its sweet portion, featuring romantic classical favorites, and end with an assortment of salty big band selections. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public with first-come, first-served seating available and complimentary desserts and beverages by Honey & Hive Catering.The ETSO has performed alongside a number of prolific bands and musical acts, to include the Firework Finale during the 2023 Hamilton County Fair, its Christmas Concert with the Annie Moses Band for two years in a row, a performance with the Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs, and many more events with local and regional musicians.A schedule of future concerts will be available on the ETSOs website (www.etsomusic.org).For more information, contact Mathew Miller at 423-580-4999, or visit etsomusic.org. Chattanooga and Hamilton Countys official historian, Linda Moss Mines, is offering a free series of classes - - TENNESSEE 101 - - one Sunday afternoon each month at 2 p.m. at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. The new sessions begin this Sunday.Classes are designed for both young adults and adults and encourage participant involvement in the discussions."From the serious moments that have shaped our culture to the humorous and tall tales that form our consciousness as Tennesseans, the discussions are riveting and informative," she said.The first class will introduce [or reacquaint] attendees with important events in frontier times - - the Regulator Movement, the Watuaga Settlement and Sycamore Shoals, the Robertson and Donelson expedition and Fort Nashborough, the State of Franklin and the Treaty of the Holstein.Attendees will also get a chance to meet the founding fathers and mothers as they are introduced to John Sevier, William Blount, Lydia Russell Bean, Nancy Ward and others.Participants will leave the session with a host of new friends from history.Future sessions will occur at 2 p.m. on March 9, March 30, May 4 and June 8.No prior registration is required. Orange Grove Center announced a transformative change to its school program. Orange Grove has been approved by the State of Tennessee to be a provider of the Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program, a school choice initiative for K-12 students. This opportunity allows families to directly enroll their children in the Orange Grove School, reflecting Orange Groves commitment to delivering tailored services that prioritize each individuals needs. Through this shift, families now have greater freedom to shape their childs educational journey. Previously limited to school district placement, enrollment in the Orange Grove School is now open through a variety of tuition options, including IEA and the Katie Beckett Waiver, both of which require an application process, and private pay. This change enhances access to the specialized education programs offered by the Orange Grove School, which has been serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) since its founding in 1953. We are excited for the increased opportunity for families to select an option that best suits the needs of their children, said Teena Joseph, director of Childrens Services at Orange Grove Center. At our school, every child receives an individualized education plan, allowing us to customize the program specifically to their needs. This new ability for families to directly enroll will allow more families to choose the Orange Grove School as an option for their childrens education and development. The Orange Grove School provides a specialized, private school program for children ages 6 to 22 who have IDD. The customized education plans ensure that each student receives the specific support and instruction required to thrive in a learning environment designed for their unique strengths, needs, and learning styles. In addition to providing academic instruction, the Orange Grove School promotes social and emotional development through access to enrichment services, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral support. Three Hollister High School students were killed and a former student was critically injured in a crash near Gilroy on Tuesday night, officials confirmed Wednesday. Google Street View Three Hollister High School students were killed and a former student was critically injured in a crash near Gilroy on Tuesday night, officials confirmed Wednesday. The collision occurred at approximately 6:55 p.m. on Shore Road, near Lake Road. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of one vehicle lost control while traveling west on Shore Road. The car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The driver, along with two passengers in the first vehicle, died at the scene. A third passenger in that car and the driver of the second vehicle were airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. In a statement, Hollister High School Principal Kevin Medeiros and San Benito High School District Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum expressed their heartbreak over the incident. This loss is profoundly felt by all of us, they wrote. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families, friends, and loved ones of these young individuals. We know that this news will have a significant impact on our students, staff, and the broader community. The school will provide counseling and mental health services for students seeking support throughout the remainder of the week. The cause of the crash was under investigation as of Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have not confirmed whether alcohol or drugs were factors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pastor Franklin Graham, the President and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. | Photo Credit: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Evangelist Franklin Graham has commented on whether God is judging Hollywood as catastrophic wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, destroying entire communities. Speaking about the situation, Graham, the CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, stated, People have lost everything. A lot of people are asking Why? and thats a hard question to answer. He added, We want to reassure them of Gods love that He cares for them and that He hasnt turned His back on them. The fires have claimed at least 24 lives and burned through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area, destroying over 12,000 structures and displacing more than 180,000 residents. When asked if God could be judging Hollywood, Graham commented, I don't know, but I don't think so. He emphasized the importance of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and being prepared to stand before Him, stressing that assurance comes through confessing sins and believing in Jesus, who died for humanity's sins and rose again. He remarked, The question is, do we know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we prepared to stand before Him? If our house was burned and we were burned up in it, would we go into His presence? Would God receive us? And the only way we can be sure is by confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness and by faith, believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sins and died on a cross. He was buried, and on the third day, God raised him to life. And if we're willing to believe that, just accept that by faith and ask Christ into our hearts, then God will forgive our sins. We can have that assurance, knowing that whatever storms come our way in life, we'll be prepared to stand before God, he emphasized. Graham acknowledged that storms will continue in the future but stressed the importance of conveying God's love during such times. The reality is we're going to have more storms like this. It's not going to get less, and the most important thing that we, as Christians, can do is make sure everyone understands that God loves them. And that when storms like this come, it's not God's judgment. I don't believe that for a second. We know that God loves us, he asserted. As thousands of Los Angeles residents confront displacement, property loss, and ongoing uncertainty due to the fires, there are currently three active fires in the region, with a smaller fire nearly contained, according to California emergency responders. The largest fire, located in the Palisades area, has burned over 23,000 acres and is only about 14% contained, despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters, as reported by the BBC. Christian relief agencies and churches have been working diligently to support those impacted by the fires. Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are collaborating with Samaritans Purse to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of affected individuals. Relief efforts have also been launched by organizations such as Convoy of Hope, CityServe, World Help, and Send Relief, while Zoe Church, led by Pastor Chad Veach, is partnering with the Los Angeles Dream Center to collect and distribute emergency supplies for fire victims. On social media, Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Church has encouraged Christians to pray for relief from the fires and has set up a donation fund through his church to support relief efforts. Additionally, Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills described California as a third-world state, pointing to what he deems significant leadership failures in managing the fire crisis. In a January 8 social media post, Hibbs contended that environmental regulations worsened the situation, alleging that state officials water policies led to our environment a scorched earth policy. Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Kristina Gadeikyte Sutton Council in south London has instructed employees to avoid asking for Christian names and to use first name, forename, or given name, while also eliminating other religious and gender-related terms. This guidance is part of a new 13-page document aimed at promoting inclusive language, as reported by The Telegraph, which states that staff should no longer ask members of the public for their Christian name and advises using first name, forename, or given name instead. The document, issued by the Liberal Democrat-run council, emphasizes that references to religion should be avoided unless relevant to the topic being discussed, according to The Sun. In addition, the guidelines discourage language that may be seen as ageist, recommending against terms like youngsters for those under 30 or pensioners for individuals over 65. The recommendations are part of a broader push against using labels such as mature workforce or vibrant team, which the council believes could unintentionally offend or exclude people. The guide, created with input from diversity experts, states, Using incorrect or outdated language can perpetuate, contribute to, or cause bias, prejudice and discrimination. The guidance also suggests replacing gender-specific terms like manpower with workforce, and encourages referring to meeting leaders simply as chair instead of chairman, aiming to align daily practices with an evolving standard of inclusivity. Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, criticized the guidance, calling it woke hyper-sensitivity taken to ridiculous lengths. He remarked to The Sun, Ive never met a Jew, a Muslim, or an atheist offended by the words Christian name. Young further stated that these directives exceed normal considerations of courtesy. Officials from Sutton Council clarified that the guidance is not a mandatory policy, stating, We have not banned the word Christian. Our inclusive language guide has been created in collaboration with our staff to help them support our balanced and diverse community. They noted that most forms used by British residents typically refer to first name and surname, hence the guide reflects common usage today. Similar directives promoting inclusive language have also been introduced by other local governments in London. Hackney Council produced a 17-page guide advising employees to replace Sir/Madam with more general greetings such as Dear colleagues, and suggested using people who become pregnant instead of expected mothers. Westminster Council, which received the nickname Wokeminster from its chief executive after displaying trans-inclusive pride flags, has reportedly issued similar guidelines. Home News Israel, Hamas reach ceasefire deal to pause war, release hostages Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal that is expected to deliver a temporary halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of hostages who have been in the hands of the terror group since Oct. 7, 2023. A United States official told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal. An Israeli official informed Israeli media that "differences in negotiations" had been resolved and a deal had been reached. The deal follows weeks of negotiations in the Qatari capital of Doha, according to The Associated Press. As part of the agreement, Hamas will release, in phases, dozens of hostages taken captive during its October 2023 terrorist attack. 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 Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 remaining hostages are expected to reunite with their loved ones, as The AP reported. Israel agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of its end of the deal, which will also allow people displaced in Gaza to return to their homes. As a result of the deal, the fighting between Israel and Hamas is expected to pause for six weeks while negotiations for officially ending the war continue. Three U.S. officials and one from Hamas confirmed that the deal had been reached at the time of AP's report, while a senior Israeli official stated that several details related to the agreement were still being worked out. On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said the "deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity." "It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin," Biden said in a statement. "I am also thinking of the American families, three of whom have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable. Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home." Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to eradicate Hamas after the terrorist group which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking over 200 others hostage. Hamas-controlled health officials claim that the war has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, but these do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The numbers also do not account for misfired rockets launched from Gaza and into Israel. Israel and Hamas previously reached a ceasefire agreement in November 2023, with Hamas releasing over 100 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held for terror- and other violence-related convictions in Israel. Aviva Siegel, a former hostage released during the November 2023 temporary ceasefire agreement, now campaigns on behalf of those still in captivity, including her husband. On the day of Hamas' attack, terrorists stormed the Siegels' home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and drove the elderly pair to Gaza in the couple's own car. "It was very difficult for me to understand at the beginning what I was doing in Gaza in my pajamas," Siegel told The Christian Post about her time as a hostage. "We just didn't understand because we're peacemakers. We want good for the whole world, and we want good for the people who live in Gaza." "They took us from this world," she added. "We weren't allowed to feel; we weren't allowed to cry. I'll never understand the brutal way the terrorists treated Keith and me. I was scared all of the time they were going to kill us. They just did what they wanted; they played with our lives." According to Siegel, Hamas starved its captives and sexually abused the young girls in captivity by treating them like "dolls." Siegel also spent time underground during her captivity, where she and her husband could barely breathe due to the lack of ventilation in the tunnel. "I remember not only thinking that I might die or Keith might die, but I was scared to look at him, just scared to look at his chest going up and down and then maybe see death," the former hostage recalled. Home News Max Lucado, Joakim Lundqvist will continue to serve as interim Gateway Church pastors Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, is expected to keep Max Lucado and Joakim Lundqvist as interim teaching pastors as the search for a permanent executive pastor continues after founder Robert Morris' hurried exit from the church last June amid allegations of child sex abuse. "Gateway Church is actively searching for a new pastor. Joakim Lundqvist and Max Lucado will continue to serve in their roles as teaching pastors while Gateway searches for the right candidate to lead us as executive pastor," Gateway Church officials said in a statement to WFAA Tuesday. Lundqvist served as senior pastor of Word of Life Church in Sweden for several years before moving to serve at Bethany Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he is currently based. 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 Lucado, a bestselling Christian author, serves as teaching pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, in addition to his work with Gateway Church. It remains unclear how long Gateway Church's search for a permanent executive pastor will continue. Although he was initially asked to help at Gateway until December 2024, Lundqvist said in a message to congregants earlier this month that elders asked him to keep working with the church until June. "You know, initially, I committed to staying behind here and being with you all for this year and to the end of the year (2024), which is pretty much now, but I was asked to extend," Lundqvist said on Jan. 6. "So Maria and I are actually going to be spending the whole spring with you all until the end of June, and I and I just want to let you know Gateway family that when the elders asked, it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made because we love this house and we sense the presence of God upon this church," he added. Elders brought in Lundqvist and Lucado to serve as interim teaching pastors after Robert Morris' son, James Morris, who stepped in to fill his father's role of leader of the megachurch, stepped down just over a month later with his wife Bridgette, as elders worked the address the child sex abuse scandal. Last June, Cindy Clemishire, 54, reported that Robert Morris began sexually abusing her on Christmas Day in 1982 when she was just 12 years old, several years before the launching of Gateway Church in 2000. She says the abuse continued for four-and-a-half years before others found out. But Morris was later allowed to return to ministry. When questioned about the allegations by The Christian Post, Morris only confessed to being involved in "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" more than 35 years ago. He said he repented and was restored to ministry. Clemishire insisted to CP, however, that she was no young lady when Morris abused her. "I was 12 years old. I was a little girl. A very innocent little girl. And he was brought into our home. He and his wife, Debbie, and their little boy, Josh, trusted and preached at the church that my dad helped start and then began grooming all of us to do this, which took me decades to wrap my brain around as an adult," she said. The scandal led Pastor Robert Morris Ministries to cancel "all future radio and television broadcasts." The church also commissioned an independent investigation that saw the removal of multiple elders. James Morris has since started his own ministry. Church leaders also pledged to join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and undergo a forensic audit of their financials following the filing of a class action lawsuit alleging leaders misappropriated millions of dollars in tithes meant for global missions. Home News Over 380 million Christians face persecution yet 'the Church continues to grow': Open Doors A North Korean Christian who escaped imprisonment twice is praying to see his child again and share Jesus with them, showcasing the determination persecuted believers have to keep God's Word alive amid surges in anti-Christian violence across the globe. Jung Jik's story (name changed for security reasons) appeared alongside several others in the Open Doors US 2025 World Watch List report released Wednesday chronicling the 50 worst countries where Christians are oppressed for their faith. "Even in some of these places where persecution is extreme, the Church continues to exist," Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors US, told The Christian Post. "The Church continues to grow." 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 the latest report, 380 million Christians one in seven worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination. As the organization has done for over 20 years, Open Doors US ranked North Korea No. 1 on its World Watch List. "[North Korea] continues to be a place that is incredibly difficult for Christians," Brown stated. "Reports of violence have continued to escalate within North Korea, and it is expansive throughout the State." Christians in North Korea could face execution or imprisonment in a labor camp if their faith is discovered, Open Doors warns. Despite the targeted oppression, however, the latest World Watch List reported that around 400,000 believers in North Korea are continuing to bear witness to the love of Christ. As Jung attested in the report, a large underground Church still survives in North Korea. The believer, who resides in South Korea, remembered hearing his grandmother mumble Christian prayers, not realizing what they were at the time. Jung's father also became a Christian after he fled North Korea in search of food, leading to his imprisonment. Jung would follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a follower of Christ and by fleeing North Korea. "My heart still yearns for North Korea," Jung said. "There's still a large underground church. Because you pray, many people are miraculously healed, and they experience God's power. They come to faith." The North Korean Christian has twice escaped imprisonment once by climbing an electric fence while it was turned off, and another time when a guard asked him to fetch him alcohol. During his imprisonment, the guards only referred to Jung by his number, and he was deprived of food. Jung hopes to reunite with his child and teach them about Jesus. Brown said Christians like Jung, who refuse to forsake Christ, are a model for Christ-followers in Western countries with the right to religious freedom. Throughout Christianity's history, Brown stressed that the Church has continued to thrive, even when persecution is extreme. "There are places where the Church is, by all accounts, the life is being squeezed from it," Brown said, citing the North African country of Algeria, which ranked 19th on the 2025 World Watch List, as an example. Per the report, "all Protestant churches [in Algeria] have been forced to close, and the number of Christians awaiting trial and sentencing is at an all-time high." Other countries that have forced the Church underground include Afghanistan, which ranked No. 10 on the list. Due to the Taliban enforcing strict interpretations of Islamic law, converting from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death. Christians also face punishment or fear being murdered at the hands of their family, clan or tribe if they renounce Islam. "There are places where the Church is being forced deeply underground, and any visible expression of that presence is very difficult to observe," Brown said. "But there are places where, in the midst of persecution, the Church continues to operate, the Church continues to minister." The latest report also found increased violence scores in 15 sub-Saharan countries since the 2023 World Watch List. The 2025 report noted that the sub-Saharan Africa region is the most violent due to Islamic extremist groups taking advantage of government instability. "Persecution is rising in countries such as Burkina Faso (20), Mali (14) and Chad (49), which enters the top 50 for the first time," the report found. Christians in Yemen (3), Sudan (5) and Myanmar (13) are easy targets for persecution as anarchy and internal conflict within these regions grows, according to Open Doors. Nigeria, which ranked seventh on the list, stands out from many of the sub-Saharan countries, as there wasn't much room for conditions in the region to worsen from previous years. Christians in northern Nigeria are targeted by Fulani militants, Boko Haram and other extremist groups who murder or abduct people of faith. Thousands of Nigerian Christians have been killed in recent years. According to a summary of the 2025 report's trends, "the measure of anti-Christian violence in the country is already at the maximum possible under World Watch List methodology." Brown urged world leaders like President-elect Donald Trump to address the issue of Christian persecution by making religious freedom a priority. He said persecution of Christians is being used to create instability in many of the places documented in the report and why religious freedom must be "part of the conversation" when trying to achieve peace and stability in these countries. A supporter of Israel, right, embraces a pro-Palestinian demonstrator during a Richmond City Council meeting in 2023. Local supporters on both sides welcomed news of a tentative ceasefire Wednesday but also expressed caution. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle 2023 The news of Israel and Hamas reaching a tentative ceasefire agreement has reverberated across the Bay Area as Palestinian and Jewish Americans welcomed the news, while questioning whether it can lead to a more permanent solution. The deal was reached after weeks of negotiations in the Qatari capital of Doha, where mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the U.S., including representatives from both the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration, were present. In addition to a six-week pause in hostilities, the agreement, announced Wednesday, calls for the release of surviving Israeli hostages captured by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, allowing Palestinians displaced by the conflict to return to what remains of their homes and letting desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We have been holding our collective breath for over a year, and this feels like the first time we can breathe out, Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area, said Wednesday in an interview. Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organization Center, holds her baby in a carrier last January as she reacts after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a resolution that urged the Biden administration and Congress to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2024 Lara Kiswani, a Palestinian American and executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, which provides legal services and support to Palestinians in the Bay Area, called the ceasefire a long overdue reprieve from destruction. She said she is relieved that Gazans can now begin the difficult work of rebuilding. The scars of this genocide will outlast this temporary ceasefire, Kiswani said, calling for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel and guarantees of the right for Palestinians to return to their homes. Kiswanis father and maternal grandmother were displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Most of her family members now live as refugees in Jordan. But, Kiswani said, We know freedom is inevitable. Dark times like this are a reminder things sometimes get worse before they get better. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lara Kiswani leads a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside a large U.S. military ship at the Port of Oakland in November 2023. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2023 Seth Brysk, Northern California regional director for the American Jewish Committee, said he was thinking Wednesday of the families of hostages taken by Hamas. Brysk accompanied dozens of hostage families on visits to members of Congress and U.N. leaders over the past 15 months to keep their plight on the minds of world leaders, he said. There are some families who are never going to recover from this, and the hostages who return will never be the same, Brysk said. The conflict began with Hamas surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed almost 1,200 people and prompted Israeli retaliation. In the 15 months of Israeli bombardment of Gaza since, at least 1.9 million people, about 90% of Gazas population, have been displaced and at least 46,000 Palestinians killed, according to the United Nations. Upon hearing about the ceasefire deal Wednesday morning, Palestinian American Dina Abdallah Saah of San Jose texted her cousin in Gaza, asking how her family was. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She said, Thank God were still alive, Saah said. Her aunt died in Gaza on June 16 last year from sepsis caused by an infection. She had previously survived an October airstrike on St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where her family, who are Palestinian Christians, had been taking shelter. The sixteen remaining members of her aunts family, who range in age from 7 to their 80s, have sheltered at the church since, unable to leave Gaza despite having been granted humanitarian visas in Australia. Israel had seized the Rafah Crossing, the only way to exit to Egypt, in a military offensive last May, making it even harder for Gazans to cross the tightly controlled border. With an impending pause in fighting, Saah is hopeful her family will finally be able to flee Gaza to Australia but called the ceasefire too little too late. I feel really sad that my family is going to leave. Its ethnic cleansing. They wont be able to come back, she said. The ... family will cease to exist in all of Palestine. Saah called the situation an ongoing Nakba, which means catastrophe in Arabic, a term used to refer to the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. With the ceasefire, she said she thinks those with means, like her family, will leave Palestinian territories and flee as far as possible, while those without options will remain in refugee camps until they can rebuild. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council, speaks during the Bring Them Home Rally at San Franciscos Civic Center in October 2023. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle 2023 Saah said she is not hopeful that the ceasefire will lead to a permanent resolution, pointing to the fact that the Biden administration just announced an $8 billion arms sale to Israel. The U.S. has long been a major supporter of Israels military, funneling $12.5 billion in direct military aid to Israel since the most recent conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations. This is a gift to Biden and a gift to Trump, timed perfectly, she said. Both Biden and Trump have taken credit for brokering the deal. Gregory said he and other members of the Bay Areas Jewish community are bracing for an incredibly dramatic few weeks anticipating the return of the hostages, both living and dead. Since news of the possible hostage deal broke, Gregory said he had spoken with friends in Israel anxiously awaiting an official announcement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Home News Second Protestant church leader assassinated in Colombia A second Protestant church leader was assassinated in Colombia, marking another deadly attack on Christian ministry in the region. The victim was shot multiple times after leading a religious service. Ivan Garcia, a 28-year-old Protestant church leader, was fatally shot six times, including twice in the head, after leading a religious service in northern Colombia last Wednesday, the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported Tuesday. The attack occurred as Garcia, his 14-year-old stepdaughter, and six others walked along a rural, unlit road following a spiritual celebration at the People of God Christian Vision Church. 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 Garcia and his group were ambushed by two individuals on a motorcycle who dismounted and opened fire. The assailants fled the scene shortly after the shooting. A woman accompanying Garcia was also injured when a bullet struck her arm. Pastor Karen Nierles, Garcias wife and the leader of the New Rebirth in Christ Church in Garital, Magdalena Department, said Garcia had been married to her for six months. She added that his active participation had significantly contributed to the churchs growth from seven to 30 committed members. Garcia was a former member of an illegal armed group before returning to his Christian faith, Nierles said. However, he had never disclosed receiving any threats or warnings prior to the attack. A few days ago, he told me that he was not afraid to teach the Bible, that he had a new life. He told me, For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Nierles was quoted as saying. Pastor Yimys Penalosa, leader of the Church of Revival and Fire for the Nations, Under His Glory denomination which includes Pastor Nierles church said that about a month before the assassination, Garcia and Nierles heard two gunshots as they were leaving Garcias workplace. They quickly returned home but did not perceive the incident as a direct threat. Garcias funeral took place last Saturday in Zulia Department, where he was raised and where his mother resides. Garcias murder marks the second targeted assassination of a Protestant Christian leader in northern Colombia within two weeks. On Dec. 29, 2024, Pastor Marlon Lora, along with his wife, Yurlay Rincon, and adult daughter, Angela, were killed when hitmen opened fire on them while they dined at a restaurant following a Sunday morning church service in Aguachica, Cesar Department. The pastors son, Santiago, was hospitalized in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries a few days later. CSW grieves with the family and church community of Ivan Garcia. The nature of the attack on Mr. Garcia, like the massacre two weeks ago of Pastor Marlon Lora and his entire family, indicate that these are premeditated, targeted assassinations, said Anna Lee Stangl, director of Advocacy at CSW. Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups for many reasons, including the role many of them take up as peacemakers and their willingness to use their influence in their communities to encourage others to reject participation in violent and criminal activities, she added. CSW demanded that the Colombian government take immediate action to reverse changes to Decree 1066. The decree is among several legal instruments through which the government is required to implement and provide specific protective security measures to high-risk individuals, communities and organizations. In 2023, the government amended the legislation, removing religious leaders from the category of high-risk individuals eligible for protection programs. Last October, Colombias Ombudsmans Office reported an increase in violations of religious freedom rights by 31% between 2023 and 2024, which included discriminatory treatment towards churches and religious denominations, as well as death threats against religious leaders and authorities. Death threats increased by 50% between 2023 and 2024. Colombia ranks as the 34th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors Internationals World Watch List. Home News Middle school teacher charged with texting explicit messages to 14-year-old boy A 44-year-old California middle school teacher has been arrested for engaging in what police say was a sexually explicit online conversation with a minor. Eric Reid Zuercher of Irvine was arrested on Jan. 5 after the online group known as People v. Peds contacted police following a text message exchange with Zuercher, authorities said. The group reported that while posing online as a 14-year-old boy, they communicated with an adult man, Irvine Police Det. Brian Felling said in a statement. The text messages turned sexual in nature, and the adult asked the minor if he would be interested in meeting. 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 Before contacting police, Felling said a representative for People v. Peds confronted Zuercher at his home and attempted to engage in conversation. A video of the brief exchange was shared on social media. Hey man, hows it going? the unidentified cameraman is heard asking Zuercher. As he approaches Zuercher, the cameraman says, Listen, Eric, I want to have a conversation with you. After cutting short the conversation, Zuercher is seen going back inside his home, police said. Detectives later obtained a warrant and found Zuercher at his residence, where he was arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail for attempting to converse with a minor to meet and engage in sexual activity. Zuercher, who was later identified as a math teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, has been placed on administrative leave. His bio remains active on the schools website. Sierra Vista Middle School is a 7th-8th grade middle school in Irvine with nearly 1,200 students, according to the California Department of Education website. Felling said, At this time, there is no evidence that the suspect has had inappropriate contact with any students in the Irvine Unified School District. A screenshot of an alleged conversation between Zuercher and a representative for People v. Peds shows Zuercher asking sexually inappropriate questions between an adult male and a 14-year-old boy. Home News 'The Last Supper' offers cinematic journey through Jesus final days this Lenten season Pinnacle Peak Pictures, the studio behind "The Case for Christ" and "God's Not Dead," is inviting audiences to experience the profound story of Jesus Christ in "The Last Supper," exclusively in theaters starting March 14. Filmed in Morroco and timed to coincide with the Lenten season, the film offers a cinematic journey through the final days of Jesus' life, culminating in His ultimate act of love and sacrifice. The teaser trailer for the film, released this week, opens with Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, greeted by adoring crowds. The scene quickly shifts focus to High Priest Caiaphas, who derides Jesus' "ambition" and begins to orchestrate the plot that will lead to His crucifixion. 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 trailer also includes pivotal biblical moments such as Jesus overturning tables at the temple and the titular final meal with His disciples. Directed by Mauro Borrelli, "The Last Supper" features an ensemble cast bringing to life key Biblical figures. Jaime Ward stars as Jesus, joined by Robert Knepper ("Prison Break") as Judas, Henry Garrett ("Silo") as Nicodemus and James Oliver Wheatley ("The Lost Pirate Kingdom") as Peter. Charlie MacGechen stars as John and James Faulkner plays Caiaphas. Additional cast members include Daniel Fathers ("House of the Dragon") as Joseph of Arimathea, Nathalie Rapti Gomez ("Love on the Rock") as Mary Magdalene and Ben Dilloway ("Masters of the Air") as Malchus. Michael Scott, head of Pinnacle Peak Pictures, expressed his enthusiasm for the film's theatrical release. "I am so thrilled we are releasing 'The Last Supper' in theaters this March. This is a beautiful, epic story that really deserves a cinematic experience. As we have seen over the past few years, audiences continue to seek out films in theaters that speak to their faith and Biblical accuracy," Scott said. Described as "a deeply human and spiritual exploration," "The Last Supper" aims to deepen faith and bring the timeless story of Jesus' sacrifice to life in a way that resonates with modern audiences. Scott said the film will take viewers on a "cinematic journey 2,000 years ago as you walk with Jesus and the disciples." "You get to experience what was happening at the time, the dynamic between Peter and Judas and the betrayal," he added. "You get to experience what all these elements represent and the nuance around each of these different things. I promise you, you will enjoy it. You will learn something. You will feel the emotion of the story in a way you've never seen it before." Scott stressed that a major Hollywood studio doesn't back the project and thus will send a "strong message to Hollywood that these types of films need to be made, and people need to experience them." In recent years, there has been a surge in biblical epics and series, reflecting a renewed interest in faith-based storytelling, with productions like "The Chosen" leading the charge. Since its debut in 2019, the multi-season series chronicling the life of Jesus Christ through the perspectives of those who encountered Him has garnered over 200 million viewers and 770 million episode views globally. It's also been dubbed into over 70 languages, according to the Come and See Foundation. Season five of "The Chosen," which will focus on the Last Supper, hits theaters in early April. The Netflix film "Mary," released in December and following the story of the Nativity through the eye of the Virgin Mary, ranked among the platform's top 10 English-language movies, attracting 24.6 million views. Meanwhile, "House of David," scheduled to premiere on Prime Video in early 2025, delves into the life of King David, including the David versus Goliath narrative. Additional information is available at www.TheLastSupper.Movie. Home News Sexual assault allegation, women in combat: 5 controversies at Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing Last November, shortly after winning reelection, Donald Trump announced that he was nominating Hegseth, a U.S. Army veteran and co-host of the Fox News program Fox & Friends Weekend, to secretary of the Defense Department. Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country, the president-elect stated at the time. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, Americas enemies are on notice. The pick garnered controversy among some amid claims of Hegseths history of alcohol abuse, allegations of sexual misconduct, and his stated opposition to having women soldiers on combat duty. 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 Hegseth faced an hours-long hearing from the United States Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday to determine if he will become head of the Department of Defense under Trump. Hegseth, who was interrupted on multiple occasions by protesters during his opening remarks, responded to questions on a variety of topics by members of the Senate. My only special interest is the warfighter, said Hegseth, who was commended by senators from both parties for his military service. This is not academic for me. This is my life. Here are five controversies that came up during the hearing. They include his views on women in combat, an allegation of sexual assault, and claims that he was unqualified for the role. Home News Biblical-era structure discovered in Jerusalem's City of David, used during the First Temple Period A unique structure, which was uncovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the eastern slope of the City of David, dates back to the First Temple Period and was used for ritual religious practices. The structure contains eight rock-hewn rooms which contained various elements of ritual practice, including a standing stone (matzeva), an olive oil press and a winepress, both used to provide oil and wine for the rituals, and a carved installation with a drainage channel, which might have held an altar, along with several v-shaped marks carved in the floor, the purpose of which is not yet clear. In a small cave on the edge of the structure, a cache of objects dating to the eighth century BCE was uncovered, including cooking pots, jars bearing fragments of ancient Hebrew inscriptions, loom weights, scarabs, stamped seals with decorative motifs, and grinding stones used for crushing grains. 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 Eli Shukron, who directed the excavation for the IAA, said, The structure ceased to function during the 8th century BCE, possibly as part of King Hezekiahs religious reform. According to the Bible, Hezekiah sought to centralize worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, abolishing the ritual sites scattered across the kingdom. The Bible describes how, during the First Temple period, additional ritual sites operated outside the Temple, and two kings of Judah Hezekiah and Josiah implemented reforms to eliminate these sites and concentrate worship at the Temple. Shukron described how they knew the site dated to the 8th century, roughly the period of King Hezekiah, When we began excavating the City of David in 2010, we discovered that the site had been sealed with fill from the 8th century BCE, indicating it had fallen out of use during that time, says Shukron. The standing stone we uncovered remained upright in its original place, and the other rooms in the structure were also well-preserved. In the book of 2 Kings, Hezekiah is described as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. The Bible also describes Hezekiahs reforms of popular worship intended to focus the peoples worship at the temple Solomon built. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him (2 Kings18:4-5). The structure found by Shukrons team is the only known structure of its type from the biblical period in Jerusalem, and one of only a few found in Israel. The eight-room structure covers about 220 square meters. Zeev Orenstein, the director of internal affairs at the City of David, told Fox News, Nearly 3,000 years later, Jerusalem's Biblical heritage continues to be unearthed in the City of David, and with the passage of time, its relevance and meaning only continues to increase, with significance to billions, not just millions, around the world. "This discovery in the City of David once again affirms the Jewish people's ongoing 3,000+ year-old bond with Jerusalem not simply as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact from Bible times to the modern day," Orenstein said. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Gov. Newsom faces backlash for pushing Democratic fundraising link in wildfire relief effort 'Misinformation' page on Newsom's campaign website links to 'progressive' ActBlue California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other prominent Democratic leaders are facing backlash for utilizing ActBlue, a fundraising platform associated with the Democratic Party, to collect donations for wildfire relief efforts in the state. Earlier this week, Newsom took to X (formerly Twitter) to address what he called "misinformation" about the Southern California wildfires, which have killed at least 25 people and swept through over 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area. Newsom wrote on X on Jan. 11: A lot of misinformation out there. Just launched a new site to ensure the public has access to fact-based data around the Southern CA wildfires. 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 governor refuted allegations that state budget cuts and a forest management failure by Sacramento were factors in the deadly fires, writing, The TRUTH: - CA did NOT cut our firefighting budget. We have nearly doubled the size of our firefighting army and built the worlds largest aerial firefighting fleet. - CA has INCREASED forest management ten-fold since we took office. - California will NOT allow for looting. His post linked to a page on Newsoms campaign website called California Fire Facts Page which pledges to tackle lies on topics including budget cuts, land management, various water lies, secret pedophile tunnels and satanic rituals. The page also includes a link for supporters to contribute to the California Fire Foundation fundraiser hosted on ActBlue, a site which is dedicated to powering Democratic candidates and progressive causes across the country. While Newsoms team was quick to clarify that the donations would not be directed to his political PAC, Campaign for Democracy, the use of ActBlue has drawn criticism. Newsoms spokesperson assured Fox News that the funds raised through the ActBlue campaign would go directly to relief organizations and would not benefit the governor's own political ambitions. However, donor's names and contact information would be stored by ActBlue. As recently as November, Newsom, 57, had been considered a potential Democratic presidential nominee, speculation which might have cooled considerably following the devastating Southern California wildfires. In addition to Newsom, other Democratic figures have also used ActBlue to raise funds for the fire relief effort. On Saturday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., shared a similar fundraising link that redirected users to a page on the ActBlue platform for donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Pod Save America, a left-leaning podcast hosted by former Obama administration officials, also participated in the fundraising push. Pod Save America interviewed Newsom on Friday, and the podcast shared its own ActBlue fundraising link to the Vote Save America, a PAC with a mission to advance progressive ideals, candidates, and causes committed to creating a just world. Since the fires first broke out last week, thousands of Los Angeles residents have faced displacement, property loss and ongoing uncertainty due to the wind-fed fires that have destroyed more than 12,000 structures and charred more than 60 square miles. Christian relief agencies and churches have worked tirelessly to support those impacted by the fires, including chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, who are working alongside Samaritans Purse to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected. Home News Sudanese authorities ban Christians from attending worship service: Not allowed in 'Muslim areas' JUBA, South Sudan Authorities in Sudan prevented Christians internally displaced by war from celebrating Christmas in a park where they had taken refuge, sources said. In Northern states town of Wadi Halfa, the internally displaced Christians were shocked when security officials at the park where they had set up make-shift shelters told them they needed permission to hold their Christmas service, contrary to what National Security authorities had told them previously, said Pastor Mugadam Shraf Aldin Hassan of United Church of Smyrna. Security officials at the park told the church that Christian activities were not allowed in Muslim areas without a prior written approval, an area source 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 church on Dec. 21 had asked for permission to celebrate Christmas in the park, and an official had given verbal approval but instructed them to refrain from using microphones and other sound system equipment, Pastor Hassan said. On the day of the celebration, however, security officials demanded written approval, he added. Authorities ordered him and another pastor to report to a military special forces office where they were interrogated and their notebooks searched, he said. To obtain written approval, the church wrote three letters one from an inter-church committee in Wadi Halfa and the two from the United Church of Smyrna seeking permission to hold a Christmas service, sing Christmas carols and celebrate the New Year, but authorities did not respond, Hassan said. Sudan is a signatory to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and Christian attorney and human rights advocate Shinbago Mugadum said authorities demand for permission contravened Article 18 of the ICCPR on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The ICCPRs Article 21 provides for the right to peaceful assembly. The government of Wadi Halfa should be fair to all religions, Mugadum told Morning Star News, calling upon authorities to refrain from harassing Christians. Since April 2023 militants of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been battling the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and each Islamist force has attacked displaced Christians on accusations of supporting the others combatants. The conflict between the RSF and the SAF, which had shared military rule in Sudan following an October 2021 coup, has terrorized civilians in Khartoum and elsewhere, killing tens of thousands and displacing more than 12.36 million people within and beyond Sudans borders, according to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR). The SAFs Gen. Abdelfattah al-Burhan and his then-Vice President, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, were in power when civilian parties in March 2023 agreed on a framework to re-establish a democratic transition the next month, but disagreements over military structure torpedoed final approval. Burhan sought to place the RSF a paramilitary outfit with roots in the Janjaweed militias that had helped former strongman Omar al-Bashir put down rebels under the regular armys control within two years, while Dagolo would accept integration within nothing fewer than 10 years. Both military leaders have Islamist backgrounds while trying to portray themselves to the international community as pro-democracy advocates of religious freedom. In Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, Sudan was ranked No. 8, up from No. 10 the previous year, as attacks by non-state actors continued and religious freedom reforms at the national level were not enacted locally. Sudan had dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in six years when it first ranked No. 13 in the 2021 World Watch List. Following two years of advances in religious freedom in Sudan after the end of the Islamist dictatorship under Bashir in 2019, the specter of state-sponsored persecution returned with the military coup of Oct. 25, 2021. After Bashir was ousted from 30 years of power in April 2019, the transitional civilian-military government had managed to undo some Sharia (Islamic law) provisions. It outlawed the labeling of any religious group infidels and thus effectively rescinded apostasy laws that made leaving Islam punishable by death. With the Oct. 25, 2021, coup, Christians in Sudan feared the return of the most repressive and harsh aspects of Islamic law. Abdalla Hamdok, who had led a transitional government as prime minister starting in September 2019, was detained under house arrest for nearly a month before he was released and reinstated in a tenuous power-sharing agreement in November 2021. Hamdock had been faced with rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist deep state from Bashirs regime the same deep state that is suspected of rooting out the transitional government in the Oct. 25, 2021, coup. The U.S. State Department in 2019 removed Sudan from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and upgraded it to a watch list. Sudan had previously been designated as a CPC from 1999 to 2018. In December 2020, the U.S. State Department removed Sudan from its Special Watch List. The Christian population of Sudan is estimated at 2 million, or 4.5% of the population of more than 43 million. This article was originally published at Morning Star News (Photo: Getty/iStock) Written submissions are being invited on the standards of care across the palliative care sector in the UK. The Palliative and End of Life Care Commission is calling for submissions from doctors, hospitals, hospices, charities, disability rights organisations, and others with experience of palliative and end of life care. The commission was established last year and is seeking to identify strengths and weaknesses in palliative care provision, as well as current barriers to care within the system. It is being spearheaded by chair Professor Sir Mike Richards, alongside Rachael Maskell MP and Baroness Finlay of Llandaff. Written submissions are being invited ahead of the commission's first oral evidence session in Parliament next week. The commission says that the palliative care sector is facing "significant challenges", including a shortfall in funding, recruitment, provision and access. It is seeking evidence not only from UK stakeholders but those overseas in order to identify models of best practice for the sector here. Findings and recommendations from the review will be compiled in a report to be presented to the health secretary and parliamentarians at a future date. Sir Mike said, "I am delighted to have been invited to chair this important and independent commission. I led the development of the first end of life care strategy for England in 2008, but I have not been involved in this area in recent years. "I am therefore very keen to assess the current state of palliative and end of life care in the UK and for the commission to make recommendations on how provision can be improved." (Photo: Church of England) A letter in the Church Times from a frontline parish minister deserves to be at the top of the agenda for the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) as it decides who should be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The Rev James Dudley-Smith's list of personal and spiritual qualifications for the ideal candidate in the January 10 edition of the paper are worth citing in full: "Someone who has real experience of parish incumbency. Someone who knows that the Church of England is its local churches. Someone who would be happy to discard deferential titles and mitres. Someone who does the hard work of following due process, or changing it by due process. Someone who does not try to govern the Church of England. Someone who has not tried to impose a diocesan strategy. Someone who will teach the doctrine of Christ as the Church of England has received it. Someone in whom I can see Jesus. Someone who is not able to make a text mean the opposite of what it plainly means. Someone who would be willing to receive the same stipend as the rest of us. Someone who would pray and work for more followers of Jesus. Someone who will do much more church than politics. Someone who is not omnicompetent and knows it. Someone who has a track record of kindness to family and colleagues. I'll keep praying." James serves as Rector of St John's Church in Yeovil, Somerset, and is the son of the celebrated evangelical hymn writer, Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024), a former Bishop of Thetford in Norfolk. In his Church Times letter, he gets his point across with powerful subtlety. The chances of a humble Christian, a faithful teacher of the biblical faith and a servant-hearted pastor, rather than a power-playing careerist, being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in the contemporary Church of England are next to zero. Save the Parish campaigner, Emma Thompson, put it well in her article in The Times newspaper, titled Justin Welby's successor needs to halve the 'upstairs church', which was published on January 6 - the day he stepped down as Archbishop of Canterbury: "The overriding necessity is to appoint a godly, unifying, humble person with the leadership skills to get a grip on a top-heavy bureaucracy. "One difficulty is the small size of the field, if you limit it to the 42 diocesan bishops and rule out those approaching 70 (clergy retirement age). Historically, episcopal appointments used to alternate between different wings or factions, which avoided narrowing the Church's appeal and alienating potential supporters. "However, it is widely felt that Welby has 'packed' the bench of bishops with others who share his managerial style of churchmanship. Many of the names bandied about as potential successors would be an unbalanced continuation from his wing of the Church." As CNC members gather under the chairmanship of Lord (Jonathan) Evans, a former director-general of MI5, to nominate to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer the next Archbishop of Canterbury, they might be advised to modify one of Dudley-Smith's points. He says the ideal Archbishop of Canterbury should not be "able to make a text mean the opposite of what it plainly means". It would arguably be better to state that the candidate should be someone who is not willing to twist the plain meaning of biblical texts. The Book of Common Prayer's Order for the Consecration of an archbishop or bishop states that the candidate must be "ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's Word". Surely in order to refute heresy it is necessary to have a deep intellectual understanding of it. So, should not the ideal Archbishop of Canterbury be someone who would be intellectually able to promote persuasive heresy but spiritually and morally unwilling to do so? This Prayer Book Collect for an Archbishop at his consecration resonates strongly with the Dudley-Smith list of spiritual qualifications: "Most merciful Father, we beseech thee to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke with all patience and doctrine; but also may be to such as believe a wholesome example, in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen." Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash near Petaluma in which a Ford van struck a male pedestrian Thursday morning. Getty Images A mother and babysitter were convicted of child endangerment after waiting days to seek medical care for a 2-year-old toddler who suffered second- and third-degree burns to half of her body, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said Tuesday. The delay in care left the toddler permanently disfigured, officials said. Reneisha Devore, 29, the childs mother, was also convicted of mayhem, prosecutors said. Her childs babysitter, Diana Washington, 42, was convicted of just child endangerment for failing to seek medical treatment for the little girl. Devore and Washington are in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 4, according to the DAs office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On the afternoon of July 25, 2023, the victim was brought to UCSF Childrens Hospital, where doctors discovered the burns and determined that the wounds were days and weeks old. The child was transferred to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Bothin Burn Center in San Francisco due to the severity of her injuries, prosecutors said. The child stayed for two months at Saint Francis, where she underwent multiple surgeries, debridement and skin grafts in large part, because of the delay in care, prosecutors said. Doctors at Saint Francis determined the childs burn wounds were seven to 10 days old and other wounds were more than 2 weeks old, according to prosecutors. The delay in care caused the childs second-degree burn wounds to convert to third-degree burns and she was permanently disfigured, according to prosecutors. It was determined at trial that Ms. Devore, the victims mother, was aware of her daughters injuries and did nothing to help her, said a statement from the DAs office. It was also determined that Ms. Washington, the victims babysitter, was also aware of the injuries and did nothing to help her. Assistant District Attorney Melissa Demetral, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement, The conduct in this case was particularly deplorable and heinous not just because of the injuries, but because it was an act committed by a mother against her child. She continued, Its exactly these types of cases where it is imperative we give a voice to the Victim who given their age often cannot advocate for themselves. It truly was an honor to be that voice for the victim in this case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Faith leaders with the letter at Downing Street. (Photo: Zero Hour) The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Baron Williams of Oystermouth, has joined other faith leaders in calling on the Prime Minister to support the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill. The bill, which will be voted on in Parliament on 24 January, proposes stronger protections for nature and the acceleration of governmental targets to reduce carbon emissions. Over 200 MPs have already signalled support for the bill. Baron Williams is one of over two dozen faith leaders to sign an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer saying that Britain must "take responsibility for the international impacts of all our actions". The letter, organised by campaign group Zero Hour, was delivered to Downing Street by faith leaders this week ahead of the bill's second reading. "As faith leaders and representatives, we know that all our communities and traditions share a 'golden rule': treat others as you wish to be treated. In a globalised world, this doesn't apply only to our nearest neighboursit calls us to take responsibility for the international impacts of all our actions," the faith leaders said. They went on, "We believe that the CAN Bill is vital because it will improve the lives and livelihoods of people across the UK, as well as around the world. "We ask you, your Government, and the Labour Party, to support the passage of the cross-party CAN Bill through Parliament; including at its Second Reading on 24 January 2025, and beyond. "By doing so, the Government can not only achieve its goal of integrating climate and nature action across its cross-government missions; more importantly, the UK can lead by example, and safeguard the continued flourishing of our people and our planet. "We make this multi-faith request in the hope that you will seize this moment for true leadership that will be a national and global inspiration to all." (Photo: Unsplash) As Donald Trump returns to the White House this month, the US and the world are as divided in their opinions of him as ever. There remains a similar disagreement over the results of the 2020 election. Many Trump supporters adamantly believe he should be completing his second term right now rather than starting it. Yet those who dislike him say this point of view is ridiculous and that it has been 'debunked' many times. With opinions sharply divided and bias and distrust on both 'sides', getting to the truth is difficult. However it is possible to at least understand why both points of view are held so strongly by each 'side'. Continuing suspicions The resounding win by Trump in 2024 inflamed speculation about the last election rather than dampen it down, especially regarding alleged 'missing votes' when comparing the Democratic support between the two elections. Just following the election, the reported 2024 count for Harris was considerably lower than Biden's in 2020, prompting a surge in speculation. For example, the conservative Christian commentator Dinesh D'Souza wrote this post on X which received 163,000 'likes': "Kamala got 60 million votes in 2024. Does anyone really believe Biden got 80 million in 2020? Where did those 20 million Democratic voters go? The truth is, they never existed. I think we can put the lie about Biden's 80 million votes to rest once and for all." However, according to the latest numbers from the Associated Press, in 2024 Harris received just under 75 million votes, while Trump received 77.3m. The reason the initial vote was much lower was that they had not all been counted. This time round, Trump's victory led to similar accusations of missing votes but this time from Democrat supporters. Those who believe there were missing votes also allege that the cause of the discrepancy is widespread fraud. But what is the evidence of this? Voter fraud? A team around Trump alleged signs of fraud well before the 2020 election, including claims of rigged voting machines and an unusually large number of mail-in ballots voting for Biden. This wasn't just a fringe belief. A 2021 survey by academics Gordon Pennycook and DG Rand found that "a majority of Trump voters in our sample particularly those who were more politically knowledgeable and more closely following election news" believed that fraud was widespread and that Trump won the election. After the vote, Trump and his allies filed many lawsuits in states where Biden won and also with the Supreme Court to challenge the result. The authorities were unanimous in rejecting these suits though some Trump supporters believe that this was due to procedural issues rather than the merits of the case, due to supposed bias in the judiciary. However, some claims about widespread voter fraud have failed to be successfully defended in court from defamation lawsuits, the plaintiffs including Rudy Giuliani and Fox News. The former, once a celebrated New York mayor who helped the city through some of its toughest periods, was ordered to compensate two election workers $148m for claiming they were involved in a rigged election. Conservative TV channel Fox News settled with a maker of the voting machines for $787m. With sums this large at stake, if there were good evidence of the fraud they allege, would they not have produced it? But yet again, if the judicial system is not trusted, even this will not convince everyone. One of the reasons the belief is so widely held is that on social media there have been umpteen photos and videos that purport to show officials tampering with the vote in some way. Politifact says it investigated numerous of these claims and found all of them wanting. Numerous government and state organisations have also declared the 2020 election fair and valid. The trouble is, many Trump supporters no longer trust the media or government officials, because they have witnessed unprecedented levels of bias against Trump. There is plenty of evidence of widespread dislike of Trump among those in authority but they might argue that it is justified. So, there is a vicious cycle, because distrust on each side provokes behaviour that then further fuels distrust, and on and on it goes. Bias in media In 2021 a CNN employee, Charlie Chester, who thought he was on a date, was recorded describing his employer's work as 'propaganda' for President Biden's campaign. "Look what we did, we got Trump out. I am 100 per cent going to say it, and I 100 per cent believe that if it wasn't for CNN, I don't know that Trump would have got voted out," he says in the video. "I came to CNN because I wanted to be a part of that." Although this video received a lot of attention and exclamations of "I told you so!" from Trump supporters, Chester did not work in editorial, the part of the news company that creates the content. So, while that may have been his perception of what was happening, it is not evidence that the media company was deliberately trying to skew the election, nor that Biden's campaign was involved, as is sometimes portrayed. Yet if many people in the media do have these kinds of firmly held anti-Trump beliefs, there are grounds to be concerned about possible bias in how they treat the news, which will in turn fuel claims by Trump supporters that they are not to be trusted. The difficulty in assessing what really happened is illustrated in the bizarre saga of Hunter Biden's laptop. Depending on who you believe, news of it was suppressed by the Trump-hating media just before the election, or it was an overblown disinformation campaign. Some social media companies did suppress the story just before the election would they have done the same with questionable evidence of corruption by Trump? Again, the levels of distrust on both sides lead to difficulties in drawing conclusions. Mea culpa Perhaps what we can be more sure of is when one of the 'sides' explicitly admits to biased behaviour of their own group. Not too long after the election results, a fascinating investigation into a supposed "vast, cross-partisan campaign to protect the election" was described in Time Magazine. The goal of this alleged "conspiracy", according to writer Molly Ball, was the noble goal of safeguarding democracy, and it was apparently sparked by suggestions well ahead of the vote that Trump would challenge the results if he lost. This "conspiracy" involved preventing Trump's court challenges, increasing voting by mail, and pressuring social media companies to tackle "disinformation". "There was a conspiracy unfolding behind the scenes, one that both curtailed the protests and coordinated the resistance from CEOs," the article says. "Both surprises were the result of an informal alliance between left-wing activists and business titans ... Both sides would come to see it as a sort of implicit bargain inspired by the summer's massive, sometimes destructive racial-justice protests in which the forces of labour came together with the forces of capital to keep the peace and oppose Trump's assault on democracy." The problem is, one man's protection of democracy is another man's illegitimate restriction of legitimate routes to question possibly dodgy results. The article describes "a well-funded cabal of powerful people, ranging across industries and ideologies, working together behind the scenes to influence perceptions, change rules and laws, steer media coverage and control the flow of information." It describes a concerted effort to increase voting by mail, and to challenge concerns from voters about this method. This succeeded. Only a quarter of voters did it the traditional way of casting their ballot in person. But yet again we find ourselves in a place where to those who dislike or are fearful of Trump, these actions can be perceived as legitimate and legal means to prevent an election from being wrongly usurped, while for those who support him, these actions look very different. So who do we trust? And on what information are we basing these loyalties? Perhaps most important of all in our troubled times, is seeking to reach out and understand the point of view of people who think very differently to us, rather than perceiving them as merely bad actors who we must do all that is necessary to fight against. Only then do we have hope of getting to the truth, and lessening the division that is so damaging our societies and fuelling such questionable behaviour on both sides. Heather Tomlinson is a freelance Christian writer. Find more of her work at https://heathertomlinson.substack.com or via X (Twitter) @heathertomli. With rich resources like a growing physical infrastructure and subsea cable network, Africa is uniquely positioned to emerge as a leader among todays developing economies. A key factor in this potential is the improvement of internet connection in Africa, which is central to facilitating the continents digital transformation. The African Union commits to growing Africas already burgeoning digital economy through The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), stating: Innovations and digitalization are stimulating job creation and contributing to addressing poverty, reducing inequality, facilitating the delivery of goods and services, and contributing to the achievement of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals1 Additionally, the continent is young with a median age of 20 years, and experiencing population growth with its 1.4 billion inhabitants making up 15% of the global population. This bodes well for growth in market size, GDP, and a population of digitally fluent consumers. Public and private sector efforts to boost Africas digital economy Global public and private institutions recognize Africas position as an emerging digital economy on the world stage. For instance, the U.S., European Union (EU), China, and India all have strategic programs in place for a solid digital infrastructure on the African continent. The foreign direct investment (FDI) sector financed $30 billion in sustainability projects, often referred to as global greenfield megaprojects, according to the UNs latest World Investment Report. Barriers to Africas digital transformation In the near term, Africas land-based (terrestrial) infrastructure can hinder the strides forward many see on the horizon for the continent. For data center capacity to spread to more regions of Africa, there will need to be a major effort to create structure for overland routes. Additionally, Africa needs 500,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cable construction to connect the continent, says the International Finance Corporation (IFC). For enterprises to leap over these boundaries, they need partners with knowledge, sophistication, and a keen understanding of how business works from both a continental and a regional perspective, such as those offering specialized services like colocation in Africa. The future of greater digital access to the African economy In this article, well provide an overview of Digital Realtys capabilities to connect enterprises to the opportunities on the African continent, touching on topics such as: The growth of the digital economy in Africa Africas digital infrastructure both now and in the future Digital Realtys unique positioning as a digital transformation leader in Africa Potential challenges and opportunities for leading enterprises expanding to the African continent First, we will highlight interesting developments and results from efforts to provide greater digital access to the African economy. The growth of the digital economy in Africa Since 2020, the African Union (AU) has partnered with public and private institutions to fund its goal of uniting the continent through universal internet access. This attracted billions of dollars for digital infrastructure investments in Africa. Heres a summary of the results so far as researched by the World Bank: 115% Between 2016 and 2021 internet users increased by 115% in Sub-Saharan Africa 160 million The number of Africans who gained broadband access between 2019 and 2022 191 million New recipients or senders of digital payments between 2014 and 2022 The African Union enacted a 10-year strategy to enhance Africas digital economy in February 2020. The release of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa attracted financial support from the World Bank which set off a series of funding initiatives spanning the globe and the public and private sectors. Government investment leads to growth of Africas digital economy AU efforts lead to World Bank investment. One year after the AUs digital transformation strategy, the World Bank launched the All Africa Digital Economy Moonshot. This initiative aims to digitally connect every individual, business, and government in Africa by 2030. Results: By January 2024, World Bank closed on $731.8 million in financial commitments across 11 digital transformation projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. The organization also secured $2.8 billion for 24 more digital development projects since 2014. The EU launched the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package of 150 billion in investments. In addition to sustainability, climate resilience, and biodiversity projects, the Global Gateway aims to fast-track universal access to reliable internet in Africa by 2030. Progress: The Global Gateway project features the AU-EU Digital4Development (D4D) Hub, connecting North Africa to EU countries with an extension into West Africa via Dakar, Senegal. (European Commission) The U.S. launched the Digital Transformation with Africa Initiative (DTA) in December 2022, committing $800 million to the continents digital transformation journey. (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Results: In its first year, the DTA funded $82 million in four all-Africa initiatives and more than 20 regional projects focused on country-specific goals. (Carnegie Africa analysis) Of particular interest is the investment in: Digital trade alliances Funding infrastructure of information and communications technology (ICT) Feasibility studies to expand Internet access to rural parts of Africa These efforts have also led to a cascade of private investments from some of the worlds largest technology enterprises. Future impact of public and private digital infrastructure investment in Africa One purpose of these investments is to leverage Africas unique status as the fastest growing continent by population and gross domestic product (GDP), according to United Nations (UN) and African Development Bank figures. The ultimate payoff will be Africas contribution of $180 billion in GDP to the global economy by 2025 and a potential $712 billion by 2050. Leading enterprises know the time is now to partner with experts with an established presence in Africas digital infrastructure transformation. Digital infrastructure critical to Africas data sovereignty Currently, Africa represents two percent of the worlds data center footprint which greatly affects the continents data sovereignty efforts.2 The data regulations landscape on the continent remains fluid, but its also a top priority within established data economies in Africa. For example, in 2023 the Data Protection Act became law in Nigeria, which provides data protection guardrails that previously did not exist. Africas data center landscape This push for data sovereignty and more stringent data regulation calls for enterprises to establish partnerships with an experienced multi-tenant data center (MTDC) operator with a wide variety of connectivity hubs designed to help companies meet data protection standards and ensure secure data storage in Africa. Digital Realtys role in Africas digital transformation The impact of Digital Realty on the African continent cannot be understated. Our presence combines the largest interconnection hubs, cloud providers, and internet exchanges in Africa. We know the opportunity IT leaders in enterprises face when considering expansion into Africa: Connectivity: Subsea cable network with landings in Digital Realty data centers across Africa, serve as a source of redundancy and as a portal to international markets. The strength of our connectivity can be summed up in two words: Investment: Digital Realtys investment in Africas digital infrastructure remains unmatched, enhancing our ability to serve growing customer demand. Reach: With the largest and most interconnected data center platform in Africa, Digital Realty offers something others simply cant; extensive reach into continental and global markets. Redundancy and resiliency: Weve built the largest open and protected neutral connectivity hub that spans the African continent. Our data centers are the place where subsea cable connections and terrestrial fiber meet, creating a robust infrastructure that enhances Africas internet connectivity. By integrating these elements, we ensure that Africas internet fiber remains resilient and efficient, supporting the continents digital growth and connectivity needs. Geopolitical resilience: It is important to note Digital Realty has a deep understanding of the geopolitical challenges the continent of Africa faces today. We defend our data centers as the critical global assets weve built them to be, ensuring secure and at-the-ready access to your data. This stance helps us provide you with five 9s of availability to your connections. Global reach with local expertise: Our data center footprint in Africa allows our customers to connect wherever their growth leads them. Our hubs on the continent include Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, and South Africa linking to our Mediterranean hub which brings together Marseille, Athens, Madrid, and Zagreb with expansions planned in Crete, Rome, Barcelona, and Tel Aviv. Additionally, undersea cables link to South America, which then link to the U.S. More than half of Africas top companies trust their digital infrastructure with our data center platform. Regulatory compliance: As more governments enact their own data protection legislation, it takes partnership with a well-connected leader positioned to seamlessly keep customers in compliance with data residency requirements. Sustainability: Digital Realty shows our commitment to the sustainability of our worlds natural resources with solar energy projects in Kenya and South Africa. Our investments extend to lessening the impact our data centers have on the environment. Global cloud, data, and AI-ready infrastructure: As enterprises expand AI capabilities, cloud computing assets, and data architectures, Digital Realtys PlatformDIGITAL offers flexibility to test, grow, and scale globally all with one, dependable partner. This approach integrates enterprises with suppliers, partners, and customers anywhere at any time in support of AI infrastructure. The meeting place for companies, technologies, and data With the emergence of its digital economy, Africa is on the cusp of a major transformation. IT leaders with an interest in expansion into new markets now have access to a partner with intimate knowledge of Africas digital architecture. Leveraging expertise across the continent, we have expanded our reach to match our customers demands. With data centers in Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, Digital Realty forms a vital part of the African internet backbone and is well-equipped to support the rapidly increasing demand for digital infrastructure, essential for the growth of modern enterprises. To discuss your African digital infrastructure strategy, please reach out to us here. 1 African Union The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), February 9, 2020 2 United Nations Economic Commission Africas IT landscape is experiencing accelerated digital transformation due to a young, tech-savvy population, a boost in the gross domestic product (GDP), and an increase in demand for low-latency connectivity. While expanded internet access drives digital growth and opens opportunities for the adoption of more digital solutions, challenges remain in meeting the continents connectivity needs. Simply put, there is a direct link between economic progress and IT infrastructure, with robust trade dependent on a strong digital foundation. The state of connectivity in Africa The African Unions cross-border trade ambitions hinge on a connected Africa with ready access to the internets core data routes (called the backbone of the internet), neutrality, and cross-governmental cooperation. The first challenge Africa must tackle is increasing interconnection throughout the continent. Interconnection opens access to foreign markets, but it also encourages cross-continental trade. But for the continent to expand to international markets, it needs strong and dependable access to interconnection hubs. And for Africa to become a global powerhouse in the digital economy, leaders on the continent must prioritize: More subsea cable connections to enhance reliability in the event of a cut in other cables Terrestrial cable networks to rural areas with minimal transportation infrastructure Increased investment in digital transformation infrastructure The role of subsea cables in Africas digital economy Undersea cables serve as a critical part of Africas connectivity journey. Take the regional economic community of 16 countries known as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for example. It launched a Regional Information Infrastructure Project, enabling access to the international internet backbone through undersea cables. Member states made the first steps to cross-border trade by establishing cross-border transmission links. These transmission links enable the buying and selling of energy between them and the leaders of the South African Power Pool. This has fast-tracked infrastructure projects to upgrade or create energy systems in less developed countries in the SADC trade bloc.1 Overview of major subsea cable projects in Africa With economic progress, Africa needs comprehensive connectivity to fulfil its potential, though the continent has seen an exponential increase in capacity and network infrastructure from its shores compared to those of Europe and the Middle East. For example, 2Africa connects 33 countries (16 of which are in Africa) and delivers internet access to 3 billion people (30% of the worlds population). Other major connectivity projects of note include: The Africa-1 subsea cable system: A 20,000 km submarine cable system linking Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. A 20,000 km submarine cable system linking Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. The PEACE (Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe) cable: A 15,000 km cable spanning from France to Singapore with landing stations in North Africa, East Africa, and the Middle East. A 15,000 km cable spanning from France to Singapore with landing stations in North Africa, East Africa, and the Middle East. The Equiano subsea cable system: A 12,000 km Google-owned system from Portugal to South Africa with several branches either planned or in operation along the west coast of Africa. Its first landing is in Lagos, Nigeria, with planned branches in Togo and Namibia. Note: Submarine Telecoms Forum lists Equianos biggest benefit as redundancy to serve as a backstop against outages that slow or put a stop to trade and other communications. Amidst this progress, however, the lack of data center access raises a big challenge to Africas connectivity, as most countries in Africa have a national data center.2 In fact, nearly 300 million Africans live more than 50 km from a fiber or cable broadband connection.3 With Africa poised for expansive economic growth stemming from its burgeoning digital transformation, a lack of connectivity threatens the bright future the global community sees for the continent. The importance of terrestrial cable networks Without the resilience of international connections within Africa to global digital infrastructure through subsea cables, analysis of the number of data centers on the continent becomes futile. That is why major service providers have invested in terrestrial connections that link African nations and subsea connections linking the African continent to the rest of the world. One recent example from the cloud computing space is Googles announcement of the Umoja fiber optic cable route, which connects two of the continents strongest economies, Kenya and South Africa. Other examples are the efforts of Orange to link markets in West Africa or cross-border fiber routes by Yafibr. Also, the investments from satellite companies in Africa will bring internet access to the masses. Either by providing backhaul links for 4G/5G base stations by Avanti or SES or direct internet access, such as SpaceXs Starlink or Amazons Project Kuiper. Increased digital infrastructure investment unlocks Africas economic potential Other drivers of digital infrastructure include latency and data sovereignty. From South Africa to Kenya and the other 52 African nations, each will want to retain data within their countries to protect state secrets, the privacy of citizens, and intellectual property rights. But to build this data residency, increased data center and digital infrastructure investment is needed. Lets examine recent trends in digital infrastructure investment. For instance: The African data center market has a 12.34% compound annual growth rate, outpacing North Americas data center market growth projections by 1.34% between 2024 and 2029. 4,5 The African continent has made much needed progress in terrestrial network infrastructure and boasts 1.2 million km of terrestrial fiber networks as of 2022. Thats up from 820,000 km in 2017. Yet, its clear the continent will benefit from more progress in this area. 6 The African Unions strategy for digital transformation in Africa lists expanded data center infrastructure and cross-border connectivity as a main priority for the continents growth plan.7 Increased investments in data center development unlocks the emerging potential of Africas economy. Partnering with a provider like us with an expansive network of data centers on the African continent speeds strategic development for enterprises looking to tap into the burgeoning economy. The impact of improved connectivity in Africa Intra-African trade stands at 16% of global exports today. In comparison, in Europe and Asia, that percentage is 69% and 59%.8 To increase trade between nations, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) proposes an incremental reduction of tariffs, which is estimated to boost trade to 52%.9 With the internet economy of Africa poised to make up 5.2% of the continents GDP or $180 billion by 2025, its clear that navigating the digital landscape of this continent filled with opportunity carries risk and reward.10 By partnering with a data center provider that understands the digital economy in Africa, enterprises and service providers can focus on choosing markets that will not only contribute to the digital economy but also propel Africa further into the digital landscape of the future. As we look to future trends and developments in Africas digital landscape, investment will undoubtedly increase from private and government sources. However, in the next 510 years, Africas network infrastructure will need to make major leaps forward to reach the goals set by the African Union, which seeks universal internet access on the continent by 2030 just six years away. Mobile broadband would be the fastest path to universal connectivity for Africa since terrestrial infrastructure development can cost upward of $30,000 per mile.11 Our role in Africas emerging connectivity infrastructure For enterprises keen on leveraging digital integration in Africa, the prudent path forward is strategic partnerships. As the primary presence in digital transformation on the African continent with data center locations in all major markets, including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique, Digital Realty is that partner. Our diamond strategy consists of connecting South Africa with West Africa, East Africa, and Marseille, all through our subsea cable facilities with the highest standards for resiliency and sustainability. Tapping into Africas potential in the global digital transformation Success in digital transformation in Africa will take commitment, knowledge, and investment. Connectivity can consume much of those three elements, as it is the physical foundation of digital infrastructure. Subsea cables and colocation data centers remain critical to enterprise success worldwide. Yet in Africa, the need for strategic-minded leadership in such an untouched environment has never been more essential. Our extensive network and local expertise can help you navigate this dynamic environment and unlock the full potential of Africas digital economy. To discuss your African digital infrastructure strategy, please reach out to us here. 1. South African Research and Documentation Center, South African Power Pool Monthly Report, January, 2021. 2. UNECA, Digital Infrastructure in Africa, February, 2024. 3. African Union, The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), May, 2020. 4. Mordor Intelligence, Africa Data Center Market Size Industry Report on Share, Growth Trends & Forecasts Analysis Up To 2029, June, 2024. 5. Statista Market Insights, Data Center North America, July, 2024. 6. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Digital Infrastructure in Africa, February, 2024. 7. African Union, The Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030), May, 2020. 8. The Brookings Institute, The Economic Significance of Intra-African Trade, Andrew Mold, August, 2022. 9. Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project, Deepening Regional Integration in Africa, 2012. 10. International Monetary Fund, Regional Economic Outlook, Sub-Saharan Africa: A Tepid and Pricey Recovery, April, 2024. 11. Empower Africa, Internet Infrastructure in Africa, Leah Ngari and Shira Aliza Petrack, 2020. Chinas provincial-level regions report 2024 GDP growth, bolstering national economic confidence 09:59, January 15, 2025 By Song Lin ( Global Times Chinese provincial-level regions have begun releasing their 2024 economic results. Despite multiple challenges, some major economic provinces continued to lead the way, while some others reached new milestones, strengthening confidence in China's GDP growth for the year. As one of China's economic powerhouses, East China's Zhejiang Province revealed on Tuesday that its GDP grew by approximately 5.5 percent in 2024, successfully achieving its key economic and social development targets. This accomplishment highlights Zhejiang's commitment of leading from the front as an economic heavyweight, playing a pivotal role in driving and supporting broader national growth, Liu Jie, acting governor of the province, said in his government work report. Among the achievements the province made in 2024, 1,299 major projects received investment totaling 1.4 trillion yuan ($191 billion), achieving an investment completion rate of 129.6 percent. Zhejiang also ensured a steady industrial performance and optimized its industrial structure, making significant progress in developing global advanced manufacturing bases. Four new national advanced manufacturing clusters were added, bringing the total to eight. Beijing also released its economic report for the past year on Tuesday. In his government work report, Mayor Yin Yong disclosed that the city's GDP was estimated to have grown by approximately 5.2 percent. In the past year, Beijing's economy made steady progress. The city's general public budget revenue was up by 3.1 percent, and per capita disposable income was projected to have risen by about 4.5 percent, Yin said. Another economic and industrial powerhouse, East China's Shandong Province, previously disclosed that its GDP was approaching the 10 trillion yuan mark in 2024, positioning the province to become the third in the country to reach this milestone, local media reported. Shanghai previously revealed that its GDP was set to exceed 5 trillion yuan in 2024, making it the first city in China to reach this milestone, domestic news site thepaper.cn reported. According to preliminary data, the economy of Wuhan in Central China's Hubei Province is expected to have surpassed 2.1 trillion yuan, Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province was on track to reach 800 billion yuan, and the county-level cities of Jiangyin and Kunshan in East China's Jiangsu Province both exceeded 500 billion yuan. "Some provinces and cities achieved results exceeding expectations in 2024, laying a solid foundation for national economic growth," Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin School of Administration, told the Global Times on Tuesday. These regions share several key characteristics in their outperformance, such as significant progress in industrial restructuring and upgrading. They have sought to shift from an element-driven approach to an innovation-driven model, fostering new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions. Not only is the direction right, but the results are also clear and widely recognized, Cong said. Undoubtedly, the current economic situation faces multiple internal and external risks and challenges. However, the strong performance of various regions proves that we have successfully withstood downward pressure. New sources of growth and emerging business models continue to emerge, Cong noted. Since the start of 2024, China's economy has made a steady recovery despite fluctuations, with an estimated growth rate of about 5 percent for the year, Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, said at the 18th Asian Financial Forum held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday. China's economy boasts strong innovation capabilities, a vast market, a complete industrial system, robust infrastructure and abundant, high-quality human resources. In 2025, the world looks to China to provide significant growth momentum and stability. China will respond to global expectations with responsibility and determination, continuing to serve as a crucial engine for global economic growth, Pan said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Author and consultant Dante King has taught anti-racism classes at UCSF since 2021, but the university abruptly severed its relationship with him this month amid right-wing complaints and accusations that his content is blatantly racist. Amy Osborne/Special to the Chronicle 2021 UCSF abruptly canceled a two-day anti-racism class for doctors and nurses that was to be taught in February by a consultant who was targeted by right-wing groups that called his provocative content racist, the Chronicle has learned. The cancellation, confirmed by the San Francisco medical school last week, followed questions from the Chronicle about allegations made against the consultant, Dante King, and his accredited online class, Understanding the Roots of Racism and Bias: Anti-Blackness and Its Links to Whiteness, White Racism, Privilege, and Power. The controversy dates back to a talk King delivered at UCSF during Black History Month last February in which he argued that white treatment of Black people over generations is psychopathic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In his speech, King said, In their relationship with the Black race, whites are psychopaths, attributing the statement to the late psychologist Bobby Wright. A conservative group, Young Americas Foundation, reduced the nearly 90-minute presentation to a 2.5-minute video that made it sound like King had said only: Whites are psychopaths, rather than in the context of how they relate to Black people. The group posted the video on the social platform X, and it went viral, with hundreds commenting. Many accused King of being racist but also attacked him in racial terms, even praising the KKK. King shared emails he received calling him n and comparing him to animals. King was not scheduled to repeat his Black History Month lecture this year. But when a right-wing blog, Campus Reform, learned last month that he was going to teach an anti-racism class in February, it posted an alert that he was coming back. The blog focuses on leftist abuse or wrongdoings on college campuses. UCSF, which has hosted Kings continuing-education class multiple times a year since 2021, gave no explanation for the reversal. Administrators said only that its happening by mutual agreement with King. King said he and UCSF officials have agreed that the attention the course is receiving could lead to more harm than good for me personally, for my family and for the (UCSF) organization. So it was best, in this political moment this cultural moment to dissolve this relationship. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The universitys action comes at a highly politicized time for UCSF. Republicans, who will soon sweep into control of all branches of the federal government, have been scrutinizing UCSF since August. Thats when House Republicans sent UCSF a harshly worded letter saying they were opening an investigation into allegations of antisemitism at the medical center and threatening to withdraw its right to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023, House Republicans have accused many university leaders of allowing antisemitism to flourish at their campuses. At the same time, anti-racism efforts often called diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI have become a favorite target of conservatives, who have attacked the programs as part of a broad strategy to instill fear in white people that others threaten their safety and financial well-being. In California, some faculty have sued community colleges over DEI requirements, and at least one would-be applicant to the University of California tried to sue, arguing that public schools should not require employees to embrace such efforts. President-elect Donald Trump could halt federal funding to DEI programs, as he did in his first administration. UCSFs action echoes the response last February by the Mayo Clinic, which canceled Kings contract after the clip went viral, King said. He had delivered anti-racism instruction at the Mayo Clinic since 2022. Mayo officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. King, who is not a professor, holds a masters degree in adult learning and equity. He is the author of The 400-Year Holocaust: White Americas Legal, Psychopathic, and Sociopathic Black Genocide and the Revolt Against Critical Race Theory. (Researchers define psychopathy as a mental disorder marked by a lack of empathy and an increased risk of extreme behavior.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the past, King worked on equity programs and initiatives for multiple San Francisco city departments. In 2023, the city paid him $563,000 to settle allegations that he had been discriminated against. The concepts that have prompted the most recent conservative criticism of King are consistent with his writing, and those of a number of other anti-racism scholars and advocates. On his website, King criticizes current racial conflicts and their roots in the slavery-era legal system in the strongest terms, often in ways that many people find offensive. Others, including several Black members of the audience at last years talk at UCSF, have thanked him for putting their emotions into words. I cannot say this enough, King wrote. This country was legally and socially constructed by diabolical, #White, ultra-religious maniacs, and psychopathic sociopaths who assumed authority through treacherous acts of violence. He wrote that white psychosis is a defense mechanism White people employ to (project) their undesirable and otherwise unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and impulses onto others, rather than accepting them. The 2.5-minute video that the Young Americas Foundation created from the 90-minute recording of Kings presentation eliminated its context and attributions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Selecting highlights is standard practice in social media exposes, said Spencer Brown, the groups spokesperson. Even in the full context of the more than hour-long, university-sponsored tirade, Brown said, its undeniable that Mr. Kings lessons are blatantly racist. King accused the group of distorting his message and said the effect was ginning up violence and some very serious, vile reactions. I take grave exception to how they edited (the speech). They manipulated the material, King, 48, told the Chronicle. A comparison of the two recordings shows that the clip made it sound as if King excused teenage crime as just human nature. What he actually said was that slavery-era lawmakers had justified the rape of Black women and girls as just human nature. He then asked his audience to imagine excusing teenagers crimes today as just human nature. The clip also quoted King saying, Rape culture in America is a legal, economic and moral institution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The comment was provocative, and King later told the Chronicle that he meant to use the past tense. In his presentation, he argued that Black people had suffered ongoing abuses by whites: from the slavery-era death sentence imposed on a Black teenager for killing the white man who raped her for years, to the persistent claims that Black people are genetically inferior to whites, to recent cases of Black children being sent home from school because of their hairstyles. In the full video, UCSFs executive director of diversity and inclusion, Klint Jaramillo, asked King to respond to critics who consider his ideas to be reverse racism. The short clip included King saying only, I dont make room for that. The full video showed that he responded for nearly four minutes, defending his views. He referenced laws and social expectations that he said have been stacked against Black people for generations, including the present. Tell me how that is not psychopathic and sociopathic. Thats what I want someone to explain to me, King said, before asking the audience how they would feel if they or their ancestors had suffered the abuse he had described. Moldova pentru Educatie: Liceul Teoretic O. Ghibu din Orhei va avea unul dintre cele mai moderne blocuri alimentare din tara UNICEF Moldova is seeking for technical assistance of a national consultant to support the MER with the development of the technical specifications for designing and establishing a tracking tool (EduTrack) in EMIS to follow and respond to the needs of each student in general education. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have: University degree in Information Technology, Communication and Information Engineering, Data Science, Business and Administration/Law, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant field. Minimum 3 years of working experience ICT and/or digitalization, including data analysis and analytical work. Proven experience in consultancy services for ICT and/or digitalization, including data analysis and analytical work. Proven experience in development of Technical Requirements for information systems. Demonstrated experience of work with the international institution/organization in the digital sector is a strong asset. Demonstrated experience of work with the Government and/or e-Governance Agency of the Republic of Moldova including but not limited to work in the education sector, is an asset. Excellent analytical thinking, verbal and written communication skills both at technical level and policy level. Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge in English is required. For every Child, you demonstrate: UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). How to apply: To read more detailed information and apply for this position, please visit UNICEF webpage: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/578177/deadline-extended-national-individual-consultancy-for-the-development-of-the-technical-specifications-for-designing-and-establishing-a-tracking-tool-in-emis Extended aplication deadline: 20 January 2025 Remarks: UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFs policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. UNICEF Moldova is hiring a National Individual Consultant, to identify and evaluate the current financial instruments and platforms that assist migrants in managing and monitoring remittances sent to households in Moldova. Additionally, the consultancy seeks to propose recommendations for developing new monitoring tools and/or enhancing existing ones to better meet the needs of the primary beneficiaries. To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have Advanced degree in sociology, economics, or other relevant disciplines. At least 5 years of proven experience in developing analytical works in sociological, demographical, or migration-related fields. Experience in applying qualitative research methods. Good knowledge of the migration & development concept and diaspora, as well as remittances. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner. Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English and Russian is required. How to apply: To read more detailed information and apply for this position, please visit UNICEF webpage: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/578079/deadline-extended-national-individual-consultancy-on-mapping-the-existing-platforms-to-support-migrants-to-manage-and-monitor-the-remittances-sent-to-the-households-in-moldova Extended application deadline: 26 January 2025 Remarks: UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered staff members under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFs policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Position: Project and communication coordinator Location: Chisinau, Moldova Type of involvement: Full time Duration of the contract: 1 year with prolongation possibility Deadline for applications: 31 January 2025 General information: DVV International is the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V., DVV). DVV represents the interests of the approximately 850 adult education centres (Volkshochschulen, VHS) and their state associations, the largest further education providers in Germany. As the leading professional organisation in the field of adult learning & education (ALE) and development cooperation, DVV International has committed itself to promote the right for lifelong learning worldwide and has been implementing country programmes of development cooperation in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe for more than 50 years. DVV International strengthens national ALE-systems in partner countries and provides support for the establishment and development of sustainable structures for youth and adult education. The project work approach of DVV International targets improved conditions in policy, legislation and financing (macro level) as well as promotion of professionalisation in practice and theory of ALE (meso level) and requires cooperation both with government institutions such as ministries and city administrations as well as with civil society organisations, universities, and other educational providers. By supporting our partners (usually, adult education centres), in developing and piloting exemplary concrete learning offers (micro level), especially for disadvantaged population groups, we create best practice and evidence of the benefit of ALE. DVV International finances its work through funds from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign Office, the European Union, etc. For the implementation of the Regional component within its engagement in the Eastern Neighbours region, DVV International is announcing a vacancy for the full-time position of the Project and communication coordinator (100%) The position will be based in Chisinau (Moldova), and work closely with the Head of the regional component and the team towards achieving the goals of the project, ensuring timely and quality preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of assigned project activities. In addition, she/he will ensure timely coverage of project activities within the designated communication channels and coordinate the communication of the project towards partners, colleagues, stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project in the region. Major responsibilities and duties: Planning, coordinating and monitoring of project activities and achievement of milestones, ensuring compliance with the implementation plan, project budget, corporate and donor guidelines for management and financial procedures; Contributing to activity reports in accordance with donor formats within the set deadlines, including half-year, annual and final reports; Maintaining the communication and cooperation with a wide spectrum of project counterparts and stakeholders within the framework of assigned activities; Developing a communication plan for the regional component for the year 2025; Coordinating content creating such as podcasts recordings and initiating dissemination processes; Contributing to financial reporting within the project; Ensuring media coverage of project events, preparing news items and success stories within the framework of the project; Maintaining the website and social networks of the organisation; Ensuring that all visibility materials comply with DVV International's visibility guidelines; Developing project-related materials as invitations, infographics, posters, banners, etc.; Other similar duties connected to the successful implementation of the project. Qualification requirements: At least 3 years of experience in the field of communication (creating media content, work in the field of public relations, journalism and other media and related activities). Working experience in the development cooperation field and/or education would be an asset; Fluency in English language; Profound experience in writing news articles and other public relation media outputs; Extended experience in event organisation; Proficient knowledge of Microsoft office software package and other relevant computer and IT-skills; Good communication and team working competencies; Readiness to travel within the country and abroad. We offer: Competitive local salary; A modern workplace within an international organisation and team; A responsible and exciting task within a development organisation active in over 30 countries worldwide; Teamoriented organisational environment; Possibility for professional development and continuous learning. The successful candidate can start as from 14 February 2025, with a probation period of 2 months. Application procedure: If you are interested in the position and meet all requirements, please send the following electronic documents to the selection committee in English language not later than 31 January, 18:00 (GMT+3): Motivation letter (please also cover your previous past working experience specifically, referring to the requirements of this job announcement) Curriculum Vitae Please, specify in the subject line of the message the position name (Project and communication coordinator) only and send it to the following E-Mail-addresses: baratov@dvv-international.md and kvatchadze@dvv-international.de. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Parkinsons UK has made its branding more accessible and relevant after consulting more than 1,000 people affected by the condition. The charity said it spent 80,000 on its new branding, which it aims to be more inclusive, visible and relevant to everyone affected by the illness. As part of the brand refresh, its first in five years, it has published a new strapline For every Parkinsons journey. Its new logo incorporates a tulip symbol, which was inspired by the charitys past and recognised by the Parkinsons community. Parkinsons UK said the new branding also signifies a strategy change for the charity, with a community-first approach which entails putting individuals living with the condition at the centre of its work. Insights and influence The charity worked with the agency Red Stone on the rebrand and consulted more than 1,000 people affected by Parkinsons to ensure that the new branding reflects their experiences and challenges. Juliet Tizzard, the charity's director of external relations, said: Were so grateful to the many people with Parkinsons for helping to shape our refreshed brand. Their insights and influence give us the confidence that we are doing the right thing: building a strong, inclusive and supportive community, relentless in our mission to have a positive impact on the lives of people with Parkinsons, today. More accessible and relevant Caroline Rassell, Parkinsons UK chief executive, said: For 55 years, Parkinsons UK has provided information and support to the Parkinsons community. Back then, it was our founder Mali Jenkins who was struggling to find what she needed. Now we have 153,000 people and their loved ones looking to us for advice and so much more. Updating our brand makes us more accessible and relevant to them, as well as scientists and health and social care professionals. Including everyone in our work means we can continue to offer the right services and ultimately find better treatments. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Its April 2016, and Im in London to edit a documentary. Id just spent six weeks in Iraq, embedded with the countrys special forces as they battled for control of the largest province against the Islamic State. Now Im standing in the lobby of the Ace Hotel in my underwear, surrounded by police. Theres a chair in my hands, and the smoke detector is giving me secret instructions to use it as a weapon. I feel adrenaline rush through my body as it had days earlier on the front line. Stepping forward, I swing the chair like a trapped animal. Get down! an officer screams. I can see the red dots of tasers swirling on my chest. Finally, I drop to my knees, and feel a pair of handcuffs close tight around my wrists, before Im wrestled to the ground. I refuse to stand, so half a dozen officers lift and carry me into the back of a Metropolitan Police van. After twenty-four hours in a jail cell, drinking water out of a shit-stained toilet to quench my thirst, Im taken to a mental hospital. Its there that I first heard the term bipolar 1a name for the storm inside me. For years, Id known that something was not quite right. I experienced euphoria so intense that people around me thought that I was drunk or high, with wild benders to reinforce the point. Following each burst of mania would come crushing, lonely lows. Id lie in the bath, my skin shriveled, my happiness drained away. Emotional extremes just seemed to be a part of who I wasfeeling more vividly, living more intensely. Colleagues chalked it up to la vida piratathe chaotic life of a freelance conflict journalist. Its hard to pinpoint where personality ends and a disorder begins. Ive been covering conflict as a freelance journalist since arriving in Iraq in 2009, at the age of twenty-four. The truth is I enjoy it. Maybe too much. Its a dirty secret, but just as most soldiers want to see combat, so, too, do many journalists. I once went on an embed in Iraq where US troops were guarding an oil refinerya frustrating and boring duty. I just want to fucking shoot someone, I overheard a soldier saying. And I wanted to photograph him shooting someone. Later that year, I did another embed in Afghanistan where the soldiers did shoot people, in active combat, and it was exhilarating. The deeper I went on the front line, the more horrific the story I documented, the more I loved my workand the more successful I was professionally. But now, sitting in a hospital in London, I found myself wondering how my mental condition fit into the world Id inhabited for all those years. Had my diagnosis somehow made my choice of career inevitable? Or had my career choice accelerated my condition? And, above all, why had it taken so long for me, and those around me, to recognize what was really going on? I was in front of my laptop when the first explosion tore through the air. It was 3:28pm on January 25, 2010, and I was in Baghdad. I jumped to my feet, grabbed my camera and raced toward the roof of the building I was in, to get a sense of where the explosion was. Another blast stopped me, three minutes later, before I eased my way out on top of the building. Bullets snapped through the air above my headgunfire from the Hamra Hotel checkpoint across the street. I crouched low, expecting another explosion would come. They had hit the Hamra before, in 2005, luring people out with one bomb, then killing them with another. Boom. A third explosion shook the walls. I waited, breathing hard, then finally made my way down to the front door and crossed the street. It was rush hour. The street was a mess of twisted metal, smoking cars, and debris. Blood spattered on car doors, and oranges lay scattered, blown from the branches of charred trees. People wandered through the chaos, crying, wounded, calling for help. Walking among the dazed survivors, I felt like a voyeur, a trauma tourist. I pulled out my camera and started shooting. I find purpose behind the lens. It shields me from the carnagethings feel more manageable when seen through a viewfinder. A young girl staggered forward, her face drenched in blood. I photographed her. She screamed and ran toward me, beating me with small exhausted fists until she collapsed, wailing. Someone told me that her mother had just been killed. For the first time in my young career, I recognized that some photos should not be taken. Sign up for CJRs daily email I sold the photos I took that day to the New York Times; they ran on the front page above the foldmy first internationally published work. But any elation at my success was short-lived. The bombing of the Hamra Hotel was a terroristic act of evil geniusit shattered the windows of the rooms of the journalists who lived there, and our sense of safety: they were watching us, scouting our homes and bureaus, assessing our security as we popped out to buy cigarettes. I had come to Iraq because I was just starting my career, and someone advised me to go where there is the most news and the fewest journalists. Iraq seemed like a good choice. It was my fathers country. He left in the 1960s. Id never set foot there and wanted to see it for myself. The Iraq I discovered looked very different from the one he left behind. IED craters on roads filled with trash. The skyline cut by concrete blast walls. Checkpoints with faded plastic flowers. Electricity poles sagging beneath webs of tangled bootleg wire. Sewage flowing through streets. Most people think that being in a war zone is exciting. Really, its boring. Acute urgency enveloped by extended periods of inactivity. I came to identify with the black plastic bags Id see everywhere, twisting in the wind on concertina wire, but never breaking free. I spent a lot of my time drinking warm Heineken and chain-smoking in front of a fan in an overpriced room. Soon, Id grow accustomed to the extreme fluctuations in mood that came with my chosen line of work. High from the success of an assignment, the adrenaline of combat, and the rush of meeting deadlinesfollowed by boredom and depression, and the self-medicating effects of drugs and alcohol, to hold onto that good feeling a bit longer. When I was first hospitalized, my father told me an Arabic saying: li kul jawad kubwaevery stallion has its fall. I fell a lot over the years. (A colleague once described me as barreling through life, like a figure skater stumbling toward the ice.) Id bounce from conflict to conflict, bender to bender, publication to publication. Success always rotated with failure. To make my own career last, I reinvented myself many times over: as a photojournalist, a videographer, a reporter, a correspondent, a broadcaster, a writer. My photographs regularly appeared on the front pages of the Times and other leading outlets. I had contracts with NPR and the BBC. I wrote for Foreign Policy, Newsweek. I made documentaries and news packages for the BBC and Vice News; at one point, I got a correspondent job at NBC. I also had intense episodes, burning bridges with editors who thought that I was arrogant, an asshole, a drunk, a drug fiend, or all of the aboveand they werent totally wrong. I coped with drugs and alcohol, but not much more than many of my colleagues. I would regularly fly to Beirut and Berlin to binge on alcohol and drugs with friends from the freelance tribe. Then there was the major-league mania. The greatest high of all. A rich intoxicating feeling of overwhelming confidence, superhuman vigor and purpose. I didnt question my mental state when I was manic. I just felt fantastic. Those around me thought I was using, with the Baghdad press corps trying to guess what drug I was on. But the high was natural, filling me with energy and an arrogant elevated sense of self. I called the photo editor at the New York Times a fucking wanker on Facebook, tagging everyone I knew in the industry. I told the foreign editor at the Times of London that I could do a better job of running News Corp and that they should take the paywall down. Throughout this time, I often heard whispers among editors that I had developed post-traumatic stress disorder from covering too much violence. People expressed concern but didnt make too much of itand neither did I; in a professional culture that celebrates the wild men and women of the tribe, it was all just part of the job. Self portrait of the author, 2025. Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition, and its causes are not fully understood. Several factors are believed to contribute to its development, including genetic disposition, neurochemical imbalances, environmental stressors, sudden success or failure, bad or no meds, sleep deprivation, grief, and substance abuse. Ive ticked all those boxes. Everyone experiences highs and lows, but manic-depressives ride a roller coaster of extremes far greater. Bipolar disorder, which affects about 1 percent of the global population, involves dramatic mood swings between euphoric, hyperactive mania and crushing, paralyzing depression. Most people are familiar with depression, but mania is harder to convey to someone whos never experienced it. You feel invincible, certain, and untouchable. The need to keep moving, talkingdoing somethingis overwhelming. Sleep becomes irrelevant, and a sense of clarity, confidence, and creativity emerges that is so intoxicating that, if it were a drug, everyone would be addicted. Its perhaps not surprising that some of historys most notable figuresWinston Churchill, Vincent van Gogh, Virginia Woolfare believed to have lived with bipolar disorder. It can also be dangerous: once, after a friend died, I left my home in Istanbul, walking barefoot, until I found myself ten miles away, unsure how I got there. Historically, bipolar disorder has often been underdiagnosed, particularly in its less obvious forms. As our understanding of mental health grew, the recognition of bipolar disorder as distinct from other mood disorders became clearer. Studies have shown that as many as 70 percent of people with bipolar were initially diagnosed with depression or another condition. For someone with a career like mine, it can be even harder to spot. Mental illness in journalism is often overlooked because the culture of boozing and rampant drug use is so widespread. In the world of TV news, for example, where budgets are bigger and the stakes higher, so is the pressure. Correspondents have to look good, think fast, and project confidence. Cocaine helps. Its an expensive habit, but where the money flows, so does the blow. But it didnt help that, as a freelancer, I didnt have the kind of workplace relationships that might have caught the trends earlier. When a staffer experiences a crisis, their news outlet is more likely to be accepting, even paying for therapy, treatment, or rehab. Freelancers, on the other hand, are on our own. When we break, we are often discarded. Many journalists I know have experienced a mental health crisis or struggles with addiction. Few come clean about it willingly with their employers, fearing the stigmaespecially the freelancers. I recently stayed with a freelance friend, a prize-winning conflict reporter, who confided in me that he went to rehab for cocaine addiction and was seeing a psychiatrist. When I asked him whether hed discussed his challenges with his primary client, he said, Fuck no! That would be the end of my career. Local freelance producers, or fixers, suffer the most acutely. I know a Middle Eastern fixer who found herself in an abusive relationship with a Western journalist that left her battling insomnia, panic attacks, and nightmares so vivid she would wake up terrified. To cope, she pushed her body to the brink, working out until she retched, but that wasnt enough. When she reported the abuse to the Western journalists employer, they took action against the journalist, but she says she was offered no counseling or support. She was left to pick up the pieces alone. When she speaks of the journalism industry, she describes a system that enabled a predator and abandoned her when she needed it most. In an industry that thrives on constant pressure, mental health struggles, in all their forms, are poorly acknowledged. Many struggle in secret for fear of being outcast. Even though the worklong hours, exposure to trauma, relentless deadlinesis intricately connected to our well-being. After my chair-swinging meltdown, I spent a week in a psychiatric ward, then went straight back to the office, still manic. I tried hiding my condition, but I wasnt ready to work. Id already racked up thousands in hotel damages, but the real cost was to my career. Tense and irritable, I clashed with my editor. That was the end of that professional relationship. If Id been physically wounded, I wouldve been taken care of. Instead, I became just another discarded freelancer. No compensation, no support. Just a broken toy. My diagnosis with bipolar 1 did eventually help me, though. It gave a name to the chaos and a path to treatment. It also allowed me to recognize how much pain Id caused myself and others trying to pretend nothing was wrong, by internalizing the idea that I was disposable. Like most journalists with mental health issues, I have only ever wanted to keep working, even if it meant hiding who I was from editors, and walking away from contracts and professional relationships if I was perceived as too difficult to work with. Even now, as I write this, I cant shake the fear that it might end my career. But I have to say it out loud and to speak up for the many other journalists I know who cannot. Mental illness runs deep through our profession. There are many journalists hiding from the stigma of mental health, addiction, or both, trying not to appear as damaged goods and to keep on working. I want them to know that they are not alone. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1 mops up the Palisades Fire near the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday. Stephen Lam / The Chronicle LOS ANGELES Helicopters and other aircraft soared over the northern edge of the Palisades Fire in Topanga State Park, far above the steep canyon where 22-year-old Jarred Martinez cut away ash-dusted brush with a chain saw. Martinez and his crew were marching Tuesday along the burn scars northern edge where the fire stopped its northern push before burning into the San Fernando Valley. They cut down bushes and small trees to make an 8-foot dirt berm strip to keep any residual fire from escaping the blackened landscape into the green, still-living park. Downhill! another firefighter called out, warning Martinez and the others below that a large log might roll downhill in their direction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Eleven months ago, Martinez was working at Home Depot. But today Martinez and his crewmates, firefighters in training with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay, were among hundreds of firefighters patrolling the edges of the Palisades Fire. Greg Orozco, a firefighter with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1, uses an app to find hot spots at the Palisades Fire near the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Within the hour, Cal Fire air crews had transmitted infrared data mapping 37 hot spots in the charred earth where fire might be smoldering underground in their area. They chugged electrolytes and applesauce packets and headed a few ridgelines over to root out a cluster of embers called hot spots that the eyes couldnt see. Greg Orozco, a firefighter with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1, works a chain saw while extinguishing any hot spots of the Palisades Fire near the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Firefighters with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1 extinguish hot spots on a hillside during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Greg Orozco, a firefighter with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1, searches for hot spots during the Palisades Fire. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Noah Castro, center, pushes fellow crew member Emilio Alfaro, who is sick with a cold, up a hill while mopping up at the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Greg Orozco, 25, of Monterey took out his phone and uploaded the data. Before training to be a firefighter, Orozco worked as a security guard for hospitals and armored trucks transporting cash in and out of banks. In less than a year, hes been deployed to nearly a dozen wildfires and knew this would be his career. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This job is super physical, I love it, Orozco said. I think I now know what to expect. Martinez, Orozco and the others are just starting their careers as California careens into longer and more destructive fire seasons. They are likely to face more frequent and destructive wildfires than the veteran firefighters training them to do the work. Cal Fire Capt. Evan Brack douses a hot spot with water as he and members of the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1 work at a Palisades Fire site in Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Evan Brack, the crews training captain, said that so far in his 12-year career, hed never before been deployed on a major fire in January. This is very unusual but thats California, right? Brack said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The flames of the Palisades Fire had almost completely died down one week after it ignited, but vestiges of the fire smoldered in tree roots and stumps. Thin lines of smoke curled out of blackened holes in the earth, but even more smoldered out of sight. Down a steep moonscape in the park, Jada Costello, 24, of Watsonville hacked away at the ashen dirt around rocks with a shovellike tool called a chingadera. Jada Costello, left, Emilio Alfaro and Noah Castro rest on the back of their vehicle while mopping up at the Palisades Fire near the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Jada, its right about where you are, Capt. Travis Pridemore, looking at his phone, called out from the top of the hill. Is it hot? Costello put her gloved hand on the ground, then went back to digging and turning the earth to extinguish any smoldering embers. This was Costellos first fire deployment outside Santa Cruz County, and she was hooked. Shed worked with children with autism in Idaho then returned to California wanting to find different public service work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I like taking risks, she said. Nearby, crew supervisor John Vallez directed another group of young firefighters to search for hot spots using their senses. Two firefighters with the California Conservation Corps Monterey Bay Crew 1 drape their arms around each others shoulders as they listen to instructions at Palisades Fire site. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Take your glove off, but dont touch it, he said. Check for radiant heat. Do you know what radiant means? On Cal Fires map, hatch marks along the fires northern edge show where crews like this one on the ground used hand tools, chain saws and hoses for the slow, painstaking work of containment, a fire service term for establishing lines around the fire where its unlikely to spread. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lines can be made up with paved roads or broad rivers, but here its bare dirt. These young firefighters seemed undeterred by the work before them both on the Palisades Fire burn scar and the many more they might see in their careers. Los Angeles County officials, nonprofits and real estate agents say theyve received numerous reports of rent price gouging in recent days. Brant Ward/The Chronicle Los Angeles County officials, nonprofits and real estate agents say theyve received numerous reports of rent price gouging in recent days. Nick Otto/Special to The Chronicle With thousands of structures destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires, many displaced residents are looking for short-term rental homes while they figure out how to rebuild their lives. What theyre finding, some tenant advocates say, are unfairly high prices. Los Angeles County officials, nonprofits and real estate agents say theyve received numerous reports of rent price gouging in recent days, as some landlords take advantage of the disaster to bump prices by thousands of dollars, in some cases. Thats despite multiple warnings from county and state officials that price gouging can result in fines of up to $10,000 or one year in jail. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Los Angeles County law prohibits landlords from raising rental prices by more than 10% over the previously advertised or charged price after the emergency declaration on Jan. 7. For rentals that were not previously advertised or rented, rent cant exceed 160% of the fair market rent established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which comes out to $4,200 for a two-bedroom rental. Real estate agents insist any instances of price gouging are outliers in a region as large as Los Angeles County. The county Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, which recently set up an online portal to report overcharging, received more than 260 complaints related to potential price gouging as of Tuesday, most of those instances of alleged illegal rent increases, said spokesperson Sandra Rodriguez. She added that the agency is also reviewing rental listings and housing advertisements for potential gouging. But some community activists are already mobilizing. Chelsea Kirk, a member of the Los Angeles Tenants Union and director of policy and advocacy at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, created a spreadsheet allowing community members to submit cases of potential price gouging, based on online records from real estate brokerage Zillow. Those are then verified and reported to the authorities. It received nearly 900 responses within a week. This is (landlords) exploiting the moment, Kirk said, adding that the tenants reaction has been one of utter anger and disgust. Zillows website lets users see changes in a propertys rent price over time, which reveals some alarming jumps among rentals. A three-bedroom unit in Los Angeles South Robertson neighborhood was listed at about $4,700 on Jan. 7, before jumping to $10,000 less than a week later, when it was removed. A five-bedroom house in central Los Angeles was last listed in September at $14,000. The most recent price, from Monday, was $26,000. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Zillow spokesperson said the company has enhanced its oversight measures in response to reports of price gouging, flagging listings that appear to violate the law. Hundreds of listings have already been removed, the company said. If renters see a potential violation, we encourage them to report the listing to Zillow and California authorities, the company said in a statement. We believe it is essential for housing providers to follow local housing rules, including consumer protections against price gouging during and following a natural disaster, and we are providing resources to help them understand their responsibilities. Some property owners accused of price gouging only lowered their prices to legal levels after being questioned by local reporters. But because of the timing of the listings, its sometimes unclear whether these increases are the result of deliberate price gouging, misunderstanding of the law or sheer opportunism by a landlord putting a previously unlisted unit on the market after the fires began, for example. The Los Angeles City Council is considering a law that would prevent evicting a tenant for taking in roommates or pets displaced by the fires, the Los Angeles Times reported. Some city officials have also proposed a blanket eviction moratorium and rent freeze. Landlords say those policies would cause many property owners to take their rentals off the market entirely. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The people that own property want to help people in times of emergency, and theres been an outpouring of offers for help, said Daniel Yukelsen, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, saying many landlords are waiving credit check fees or allowing renters to terminate their leases early at no cost. Grant Linscott, a Los Angeles-based real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, said that his team wont work with any client considering raising their prices above legal limits. But some clients have seen the loss of supply from the fires and the jump in demand for the same reason as an opportunity. I think its a natural instinct, even though its not the right call at this time, Linscott said. What will really make things more difficult for displaced residents, he added, is Los Angeles persistent lack of supply. Many Pacific Palisades residents are looking for luxury homes, he added, which is an especially small slice of the market. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On the morning of May 2, 1992, an unhoused woman was found dead in a utility corridor on the unit block of Hang Ah Alley, a tiny alleyway in San Francisco. San Francisco police officials think theyve found her killer after cold-case investigators reopened the case. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle San Francisco police officials announced Wednesday that they believe they have found the person suspected of killing a 45-year-old woman in a Chinatown alley in 1992. On the morning of May 2, 1992, the victim an unhoused woman was found dead in a utility corridor on the unit block of Hang Ah Alley, a tiny alleyway off the corner of Stockton and Sacramento streets, officials said. Officials were not immediately able to identify her, but determined that the woman had been using the space as shelter and had been badly beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled. She was later identified as Nancy Hernandez, 45. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Swabs taken to confirm that she had been a victim of sexual assault were sent to the Crime Lab 13 years later, in 2005. In 2023, the San Francisco Police Departments Homicide Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation and entered the DNA profiles into the system they use to index DNA. The profiles matched a man named Ricky Dawson, who has been linked to three other sexual assault homicides in Panama Beach, Fla., Seattle and Denver, officials said. Dawson was convicted of one, charged in another and linked to a third. Dawson is awaiting trial for murder in Denver. On Jan. 2, an arrest warrant was issued for Dawson for the murder of Hernandez. The warrant was sent to the Denver Sheriffs Office and a hold was placed on Dawson. After his trial in Denver, he will be transported back to San Francisco, officials said. In 2004, Dawsons DNA was found at the scene of a 1996 Denver murder, where 35-year-old Terri Turachak was found dead facedown on her bedroom floor. An autopsy determined that Turachak had died of strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, officials said. Dawson was extradited to Colorado in the spring of 2023 on first-degree murder charges over the killing of Turachak, KING-TV in Seattle reported. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the Denver cold case investigation, officers discovered that Dawson was in custody for a sexual assault and murder in Panama City, Fla., where he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Details on that case were not immediately available. Later, the Seattle Police Department found Dawsons DNA to be a match for a sexual assault and murder that occurred in 2000, where a woman was found dead of strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, neck and extremities. It was not clear whether Dawson was charged in the case. Seattle officials identified the woman as 40-year-old Debbie Cashio, KING-TV reported. KREM-TV in Tacoma, Wash., reported that Cashios body was found under a Seattle freeway overpass, in an area called the Jungle greenbelt. She was reportedly unhoused, according to the Seattle Times. Reach Annie Vainshtein: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. X: @annievain Casey Robert Goonan, 34, pleaded guilty to a series of arsons, including lighting Molotov cocktails underneath a University of California Police Department patrol car on the Berkeley campus on June 1. Provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office Casey Robert Goonan, 34, pleaded guilty to a series of arsons, including lighting Molotov cocktails underneath a University of California Police Department patrol car on the Berkeley campus on June 1. Provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office An East Bay man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to federal arson charges for a series of arsons and attempted firebombings at the Oakland federal building and on the UC Berkeley campus over a two-week period in June, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Casey Robert Goonan, 34, a resident of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, admitted to attempting to set fire to the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland using Molotov cocktails, setting a UC Police Department patrol car ablaze and lighting three fires on UC Berkeleys campus, according to a plea agreement. Goonan is scheduled to be sentenced on April 8, and he could face between five and 20 years in prison for the crimes. Early on June 11, Goonan arrived at the Oakland federal building carrying a bag with three Molotov cocktails, which Goonan planned to throw inside after using rocks to break a window, according to a plea agreement. But after law enforcement spotted Goonan, he fled and set the explosive devices aflame in a planter on the side of the building instead. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Goonan also admitted to setting a UC Police Department patrol car on fire on June 1, when Goonan kicked a reusable shopping bag filled with six Molotov cocktails underneath its fuel tank in the early morning hours, set the bag on fire and fled, according to the plea agreement. The blaze dealt significant damage to the cars rear seats, fuel port and trunk, though it did not explode, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Per the plea agreement, Goonan also admitted to setting fires on UC Berkeleys campus on June 1, 13 and 16. The blazes were set near the East Asian Library, outside Koshland Hall and at the Dwinelle Annex construction site, according to alerts posted by UC Berkeley police on social media. Goonan was arrested on June 17, according to a Cal Fire news release, and was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 26 on two counts of arson and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Goonan pleaded guilty to one count of arson and agreed that prosecutors should apply the federal terrorism enhancement in their sentencing decision. Jeff Wozniak, Goonans attorney, said in a statement that his clients actions were committed in response to the University of Californias and the Federal Governments treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters. Ahead of the April 8 sentencing hearing, Wozniak said Goonan will provide additional information contextualizing their actions within Dr. Goonans mental health struggles and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Wozniak previously characterized Goonans arrest as political persecution for Goonans pro-Palestine political views. Goonan has published writings on social revolution and at one point was listed as an editor of the radical publishing collective True Leap Press. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a statement, U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey condemned Goonans use of violence. In America, we are all free to express our political views and petition the government. But we are not free to do so using violence, Ramsey said. Politically motivated violence undermines our democracy, and we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who engage in it. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks at the CNN television, during his official visit in New York, United States on September 24, 2024. Iran "never" plotted to assassinate Donald Trump during last year's U.S. election campaign, President Masoud Pezeshkian told NBC News' Lester Holt in an exclusive interview in Tehran. Asked about the reported plot against Trump outlined by U.S. authorities, Pezeshkian said: "This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. ... Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone. At least as far as I know." Holt then asked Pezeshkian: "You're saying there was never an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump?" "None whatsoever," Pezeshkian replied. Asked if Iran is willing to promise that there will be no attempt on Trump's life, Pezeshkian said, "We have never attempted this to begin with and we never will." The interview is the Iranian president's first with foreign media since the U.S. presidential election. It was conducted with a government interpreter present and translating in real time. NBC News reviewed the translation independently, and where there are discrepancies this article relies on the independent translation. In November, the Justice Department charged an Iranian man in an alleged murder-for-hire effort to kill Trump when he was the Republican Party presidential candidate. Two others were charged for allegedly planning to kill an Iranian American journalist and activist who has criticized the Iranian government over its treatment of women. U.S. authorities said the plot was part of Iran's efforts to avenge the death of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in Baghdad in a U.S. drone strike ordered by Trump during his first term in office. In mid-October of last year, Iran sent a written message via Swiss diplomats saying that it would not seek to kill Trump, according to a U.S. official, NBC News previously reported. U.S. and European governments say Iran for years has sought to silence Iranians abroad who have criticized the regime. The United Kingdom last year summoned Iran's top diplomat in London after Iranian journalists based in Britain were targeted for intimidation by Tehran. One journalist was stabbed in the leg in an attack blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations. NBC Nightly News will air a full report later Tuesday on the interview, which covered a range of issues, including the ongoing war in the Middle East, Iran's proxy forces in the region, women's rights inside Iran and its nuclear program. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is cohosting a reception with billionaire Republican donors next week for Donald Trump's inauguration, the latest sign of the Facebook founder's embrace of the president-elect. The reception cohosted by Zuckerberg is set for Monday evening, shortly before the inaugural balls, according to two people familiar with the private plans who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss them. The other cohosts are Miriam Adelson, the Dallas Mavericks owner and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson; Tilman Fertitta, casino magnate, Houston Rockets owner and Trump's pick to serve as U.S. ambassador to Italy; Todd Ricketts, the co-owner of the Chicago Cubs; and Ricketts' wife, Sylvie Legere. Zuckerberg once seemed a foe of the former president, banning him from Facebook and Instagram after a mob of Trump's supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But lately, he's been endearing himself to Trump as one of a number of tech executives who have been seeking to improve their relationships with the new president. Meta declined to comment Tuesday. In November, weeks after Trump won the presidential election, Zuckerberg flew to Florida and dined with the Republican at his Mar-a-Lago club. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. Zuckerberg announced last week that he was changing Facebook and Instagram content moderation policies, including replacing third-party fact-checking with user-written "community notes." Trump said the new approach was "probably" due to threats he made against the technology mogul. Merck CEO Rob Davis told CNBC's Jim Cramer that there's more to the pharmaceutical giant than its lucrative cancer drug, Keytruda, and he described the future of its other ventures. "Keytruda has truly been transformational in the treatment of cancer," he said. "But, importantly, we are now in a situation where we can really leverage the strength of Keytruda to go well beyond Keytruda." According to Davis, "the breadth and the depth" of Merck's current pipeline is the most diversified in the company's recent history, with its portfolio is broadening into the cardiometabolic space, along with ophthalmology and immunology. He also pointed to Winrevair, a medicine used to treat a rare and life-threatening lung condition that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last spring. Winrevair is the first drug to target the root cause of the disease, CNBC reported. Davis claimed there is anecdotal evidence that the treatment has allowed some patients to quickly leave transplant lists. Merck is also known for its Gardasil vaccine, which prevents cancers from HPV, a very common sexually-transmitted infection. The vaccine was first approved to prevent cervical cancers in women, but was later also approved to protect against other HPV-related cancers in men. In its latest quarter at the end of 2024, Merck posted lighter-than-expected Gardasil sales, with management attributing the decline primarily to lower demand for the drug in China. But last week, Gardasil was approved for young men in China, and Merck said there is significant potential for the vaccine in the country, saying there are "200 million males in the demographic that we think we can go after on top of the 120 million females still out there." "This is an area where we are continuing to invest, and I think the science and the effectiveness of this drug is proven," Davis said. "It is truly seen globally as an anti-cancer vaccine. It's one of the only ones out there." Oakland police are investigating two shootings over the weekend in which two people were killed, officials said Monday. Getty Images The four people found dead in a Santa Rosa home last week were a formerly married couple and their two children, police said. The Sonoma County coroner identified the victims as Clive Guth, 67, Donna Guth, 67, Raena Guth, 33, and Cameron Guth, 28, the Santa Rose Police Department said in an update posted to social media Tuesday. Police found all four dead in a home on the 200 block of Monarch Court on Jan. 8 after conducting a welfare check at the property. Police found the victims in different areas of the home with significant gunshot wounds and pronounced all four dead at the scene, though the exact cause of death is still under investigation. A semiautomatic handgun was also found near one body, according to police. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police said they have yet to identify a motive for the incident, which is being investigated as a multi-victim homicide. Officers served a search warrant on Thursday at a home on the 2800 block of Buena Crest Court in San Jose that was linked to one victim, but no information on the search was released. Three victims were thought to have lived in the home where they were found dead, while it is unclear whether the fourth victim was a resident, according to reporting by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the police departments Violent Crimes Investigation Team at 707-543-3590. A slump in Chinese consumer confidence is holding Sanlam investments' Hannah Gooch-Peters back from buying luxury stocks like LVMH . Speaking to CNBC's Silvia Amaro, the portfolio manager said she would need a "larger margin of safety" before investing in the world's largest luxury group. "A lot of these European companies were really deriving their growth from the Chinese consumer and so when we started to see missteps in execution ... it was almost the perfect storm for L'Oreal and LVMH," Gooch-Peters said, as the companies were trading at "exceptionally high valuations for the growth they had to offer." L'Oreal and LVMH shares are down around 20% and 10% respectively over the last 6 months, as fears over the strength of the Chinese consumer weighed on the sector. Peers including Estee Lauder which Gooch-Peters said had also made mistakes in China and Gucci-owner Kering have fallen significantly over the period, too. Fourth-quarter sales at LVMH fell 3% versus the same period a year before, as revenue in Asia, excluding Japan, slid 16%. The group's CFO said at the time that Chinese consumer confidence was at Covid-era lows. "What we want to see is just some more confidence in the improvement in the Chinese consumer," said Gooch-Peters. "We would need a larger margin of safety for us to be able to get involved in that part of the market, before we go there." Top pick One stock the portfolio manager does like, however, is CME Group , one of the world's largest derivates marketplace. Sanlam Investments bought shares in the company in June last year, given its "very, very good operating margins" and "fantastic balance sheet," Gooch Peters said. She added that she also likes the U.S.-based company's "cash flow stream [that] is very, very sustainable, very predictable," adding that investors "don't have to worry" about the cost of servicing debt. CME Group post record revenues in October and earlier in the year CEO Terry Duffy said he was confident his company was in a better position than its rival, FMX. Jetstar Asia will launch direct flights linking Singapore to Labuan Bajo, the Indonesian town considered the "gateway" to Komodo National Park, the company said. The park, a UNESCO Heritage Site inscribed in 1991, is home to several thousand Komodo dragons, the largest species of lizard in the world, according to UNESCO. Komodo National Park is the only place where these lizards are found in the wild, adding to the mystique of the reptiles which, on rare occasions, have been known to attack humans. The park, which is spread across several islands in Indonesia, is accessible from Labuan Bajo via boat. Jetstar Asia, a low-cost carrier based in Singapore, said twice-weekly flights to Labuan Bajo will start on March 20. The airline will be the only carrier operating this route. Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group's executive vice president for air hub and cargo development, said in a press release announcing the new flights: "This is the first time Changi Airport is directly connected to this stunning destination." As Los Angeles continues to battle wildfires that have ravaged swaths of the city, insurers exposed to the California homeowners market could face an earnings hit up to 20%. Wall Street firms Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo have already hiked their original estimates for insured losses as the devastation of the wildfires spread seeing as much as $30 billion for the insurance industry. Those losses would far surpass the $12.5 billion in insured damages from the 2018 Camp Fire , which was the costliest blaze in the nation's history, according to data from Aon. The current fires occurred in areas that are more densely populated with higher property values, particularly hurting insurance providers with a high-net-worth focus, BofA said. The Palisades Fire is the largest of the five blazes. It has burned more than 17,000 acres, destroying more than 1,000 structures , according to California authorities. The average home price in Palisades is $3.5 million, according to Jefferies. Bank of America expects that high-net-worth specialists such as Chubb and Cincinnati Financial will likely be more exposed to the fire losses in the Pacific Palisades. Shares of Chubb lose 5.1% and 4.6% last week, respectively. Cincinnati Financial could suffer from a 20% earnings-per-share decline in 2025 because of the insured losses, per BofA. Chubb, Everest and Travelers could also experience a double-digit percentage drop in EPS, the bank added. The firm said middle market national insurance underwriters such as Progressive shouldn't be too exposed. The Palisades and Eaton fires erupted on the city's western and eastern flanks, respectively during last week's intense winds. At least 24 people have died , but the death toll will likely rise, officials said, as crews carry out house-to-house searches in burnt-out neighborhoods. Oppenheimer identified the top six public carriers in California whose combined homeowners market share is 20%. Mercury General , whose shares have fallen 22% this month, is estimated to have the biggest market share of 6.5%. An overhead pole camera image shows wildfire damage to an Altadena Drive street sign and home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Los Angeles County, California on January 14, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images As Los Angeles continues to battle wildfires that have ravaged swaths of the city, insurers exposed to the California homeowners market could face an earnings hit up to 20%. Wall Street firms Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo have already hiked their original estimates for insured losses as the devastation of the wildfires spread seeing as much as $30 billion for the insurance industry. Those losses would far surpass the $12.5 billion in insured damages from the 2018 Camp Fire, which was the costliest blaze in the nation's history, according to data from Aon. The current fires occurred in areas that are more densely populated with higher property values, particularly hurting insurance providers with a high-net-worth focus, BofA said. The Palisades Fire is the largest of the five blazes. It has burned more than 17,000 acres, destroying more than 1,000 structures, according to California authorities. The average home price in Palisades is $3.5 million, according to Jefferies. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Bank of America expects that high-net-worth specialists such as Chubb and Cincinnati Financial will likely be more exposed to the fire losses in the Pacific Palisades. Shares of Chubb lose 5.1% and 4.6% last week, respectively. Cincinnati Financial could suffer from a 20% earnings-per-share decline in 2025 because of the insured losses, per BofA. Chubb, Everest and Travelers could also experience a double-digit percentage drop in EPS, the bank added. The firm said middle market national insurance underwriters such as Progressive shouldn't be too exposed. The Palisades and Eaton fires erupted on the city's western and eastern flanks, respectively during last week's intense winds. At least 24 people have died, but the death toll will likely rise, officials said, as crews carry out house-to-house searches in burnt-out neighborhoods. Oppenheimer identified the top six public carriers in California whose combined homeowners market share is 20%. Mercury General , whose shares have fallen 22% this month, is estimated to have the biggest market share of 6.5%. watch now Israel and Hamas on Wednesday reached a ceasefire and hostage release deal to end the 15-month war in the Gaza Strip, which has wreaked destruction and inflamed tensions across the region. News of the agreement prompted joyful demonstrations in the streets in both Israel and the Gaza enclave late Wednesday, local time, setting the stage to end a conflict that has killed around 1,200 people in the Jewish state and more than 46,000 people in the blockaded Gaza territory, according to figures from Israeli and Palestinian health authorities. Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 15, 2025. Mohammed Salem | Reuters Speaking at the White House, President Joe Biden said the deal would be implemented in three phases, which could start as early as Sunday, Jan. 19. The Israeli security cabinet must still vote on the agreement before its implementation, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog calling on the government to "accept and approve it" during an address to the nation from his office. If the deal is approved, the first phase will include a full ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas of the Gaza enclave, Biden said. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani whose country played a key mediation role throughout the latest negotiations and during the brokerage of a temporary pause in fighting in November 2023 said the first phase will last 42 days and will see Hamas release 33 Israeli captives taken during the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, in return for "a number of prisoners" currently jailed in Israel. During this first stage, a bolstered flow of relief and humanitarian aid will be deployed to all parts of the Gaza Strip, while hospitals and health centers will be rehabilitated and critical fuel supplies will make their way into the enclave, al Thani said at a press conference in Doha on Wednesday. Supporters of Israeli hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, hug each other, as they attend a protest to demand a deal to bring every hostage home at once, amid Gaza ceasefire negotiations, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 15, 2025. Ronen Zvulun | Reuters Humanitarian organizations have previously warned of the risk of famine and epidemics in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the absence or destruction of food and water supplies and sanitation facilities. Also during phase one, Palestinians will be permitted to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip, many of which have been destroyed during the past year and a half of fighting. The return of civilians will be accompanied by a surge in humanitarian aid to the enclave, according to Biden. Details of the second and third phases of the agreement will be finalized during the implementation of the first stage, al Thani said, with the U.S. noting that, should negotiations require more than six weeks, the temporary ceasefire will remain in place. Biden said any remaining living hostages will be released during this second phase. Likewise, Israeli soldiers will withdraw from the remaining areas of Gaza during that time and "the ceasefire will become permanent." The final phase of the deal will involve the implementation of a Gaza reconstruction plan. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposed deal was based on a framework that the Biden administration put forward in May. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri described the agreement as "a great gain," Reuters reported. CNBC has reached out to the Israeli prime minister's office for comment. The Israel Defense Forces posted a message related to the deal on X, writing "Wings of Freedom is the name given to the IDF's preparations for the return of the hostages." Welcome news International leaders and key figures welcomed the ceasefire agreement, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt another critical mediator in the truce talks emphasizing in a Google-translated social media post "the importance of accelerating the entry of urgent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, to confront the current catastrophic humanitarian situation, without any obstacles." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the deal and urged "all to facilitate the rapid, unhindered & safe humanitarian relief for all civilians in need," pledging to "do whatever is humanly possible, aware of the serious challenges that we will be facing." "After 15 months of an unjustifiable ordeal, an immense relief for the people of Gaza, hope for the hostages and for their families," French President Emmanuel Macron said, according to a CNBC translation. "A political solution must happen." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the "long-overdue news" and said that his country and its allies will "continue to be at the forefront of these crucial efforts to break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace in the Middle East." Inauguration in focus The breakthrough came just days ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20 a date seen by many as a de facto deadline for mediation, after Trump vowed that there would be "hell to pay" unless Hamas released Israeli hostages by the time he took office. Envoys for both Biden and Trump have been present at the latest rounds of negotiations. With just days left in his term, Biden acknowledged that the hard work of executing this agreement will largely fall to the incoming Trump administration. "These past few days, we've been speaking as one team," the president said of his team and Trump's. "As I prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there's a genuine opportunity for a new future." Palestinians react as they wait for news of a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, January 15, 2025. Mohammed Salem | Reuters CEO of Chase Jamie Dimon looks on as he attends the seventh "Choose France Summit", aiming to attract foreign investors to the country, at the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris, on May 13, 2024. JPMorgan Chase executives said the bank would increase share buybacks so that a mounting pile of tens of billions of dollars in excess cash doesn't grow further. Fresh off a record year for profit and revenue, JPMorgan is facing questions over what CFO Jeremy Barnum admitted was a "high-class problem": the bank has, by some estimates, roughly $35 billion in money that it doesn't need to satisfy regulators, or what analysts call "excess capital." "We would like to not have the excess grow from here," Barnum told analysts Wednesday. "Given the amount of organic capital generation that we're producing, it means that unless we find in the near term, opportunities for organic deployment or otherwise it means more capital return through buybacks." The bank has heard it from investors and analysts who want to know what JPMorgan intends to do with the cash. The biggest American bank by assets has stockpiled earnings in preparation for the Basel 3 regulatory rules that would've required more capital, but Wall Street analysts now believe that the incoming Trump administration is likely to propose something far gentler. Back in May, when the question came up at his bank's annual investor day, CEO Jamie Dimon bristled at the notion of scaling up purchases of his stock, which was then trading near a 52-week high of $205.88. "I want to make it really clear, OK? We're not going to buy back a lot of stock at these prices," Dimon said at the time. That's because the company's valuation was too rich, even in its own eyes, Dimon said: "Buying back stock of a financial company greatly in excess of two times tangible book is a mistake. We aren't going to do it." The bank's stock has only appreciated since: A share trades hands for 22% more now than when Dimon made those remarks. In fending off calls to whittle down its cash pile by more than it deems necessary, JPMorgan has hinted at the risk of rockier times ahead. Since at least 2022, Dimon and others have warned of the possibility of a recession just ahead, but it has yet to arrive, leaving the end of an economic cycle still on the horizon. Barnum returned to the subject on Wednesday, telling reporters that there was a "tension" between the risks in the economy and high asset prices in the market; the bank therefore had to prepare for a "wide range of scenarios," he said. A sharp economic downturn would give the bank the opportunity to deploy more of that estimated $35 billion in excess cash through loans, according to Portales Partners analyst Charles Peabody. "I think JPMorgan will be disciplined in not pissing away capital," Peabody said. "The best time to take market share is coming out a recession, because your competitors are somewhat impaired. And I expect he will pull back on buybacks from current levels, despite pressure from shareholders to do more." Aerial view of brine ponds and processing areas of the lithium mine of the Chilean company SQM (Sociedad Quimica Minera) in the Atacama Desert, Calama, Chile, on Sept. 12, 2022. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The energy minister of Saudi Arabia the Gulf kingdom whose wealth and power rests disproportionately on its vast petroleum reserves believes that oil is no longer an energy security challenge. Instead, he said, the coming battle will be for entirely different materials buried under the ground: critical minerals. "Oil is no longer an energy security challenge it's going to be gas, electricity, predominantly minerals," Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman told attendees at the annual Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh. "Today some of these countries, they have, as a country, 50% of the ownership of some of these required minerals and critical minerals ... countries are racing to access critical minerals and secure their own supply chain. Rushing to secure access to resources will ultimately lead to higher emissions, higher metals costs and higher energy prices." The energy minister was referring to minerals critical to the energy transition and advanced technologies including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, manganese and other rare earth elements crucial for making things like electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy technology, computers, and household goods. China currently controls roughly 60% of the world's production of rare earth minerals and materials, according to a recent report by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. That has many countries, particularly those in the West, concerned, as these resources become ever more important to national security and economic stability. "More AI [artificial intelligence] and data centers means more energy," Bin Salman said. "You'll have AI, data centers, mining, crypto mining ... can you imagine what will happen to energy demand? Can you imagine the race between mining to create energy, and energy to create mining and the growth of these economies?" the energy minister asked. "I really don't like the idea of being the energy minister at that time." RIYADH, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead to put itself on the global critical minerals map, announcing a number of deals, investment plans and discoveries at its annual Future Minerals Forum in the capital Riyadh. Saudi Vice Minister of Mining Affairs Khalid al-Mudaifer announced Wednesday the development of a new mineral investment project valued at $100 billion, and that $20 billion of it was already in the final engineering phase or under construction. While the vice minister did not provide further details, Saudi officials have discussed plans to significantly expand the country's exploration for lithium, as well as for other critical minerals and rare earth elements including copper, gold, zinc, phosphate and nickel. In early 2024, the kingdom's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources increased its estimate of the value of its unexploited mineral resources from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, boosted by the discovery of the aforementioned elements and metals. At the Future Minerals Forum in January 2024, the Saudi government established a $182 million incentive program for minerals exploration. The kingdom's state oil giant, Aramco, announced Wednesday a joint venture with Saudi state mining company Ma'aden to explore and produce energy transition minerals. Speaking onstage, Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman told attendees of the minerals forum that Aramco had identified "promising" lithium concentrations exceeding 400 parts per million in areas where it operates. "We used to say ... there is nothing for Aramco to do," bin Salman told attendees of the event. "Aramco can be a diversified company and its mandate has no limit." The minister highlighted Manara, a recently established venture between Ma'aden and the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, or PIF. Manara was established to invest in mining assets around the world and develop more resilient global supply chains. "We don't claim to have all the resources or abilities, so we've created Manara to make sure we can reach out for the resources that we need," bin Salman said. "We have to be doing it as fast and furious as possible." A vehicle carrying impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol (C) leaves the complex building housing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in Gwacheon on January 15, 2025. Impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on January 15 over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be detained in the nation's history. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested Wednesday by the country's Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking officials, a first for a sitting South Korean leader. This was the second bid to arrest the impeached president, following a failed attempt on Jan.3 when agents from South Korea's Presidential Security Service had blocked investigators from entering Yoon's residence. Unlike the first attempt, "this time, there were no individuals or security staff actively obstructing the execution, and there were no significant physical clashes," the CIO said. About 3,000 police officers were involved in the second attempt to secure access to Yoon's compound, news agency Yonhap said. South Korean media outlets also reported Yoon in a pre-recorded video said that "the law of the country has collapsed," and called the CIO's investigation "illegal." Yoon said he would appear before the CIO to "prevent an unpleasant bloodshed," according to a Google translation of the reports in Korean. Lemon8, a photo-sharing app by Bytedance, and RedNote, a Shanghai-based content-sharing platform, have seen a surge in popularity in the U.S. as "TikTok refugees" migrate to alternative platforms ahead of a potential ban. Now a law that could see TikTok shut down in the U.S. threatens to ensnare these Chinese social media apps, and others gaining traction as TikTok-alternatives, legal experts say. As of Wednesday, RedNote known as Xiaohongshu in China was the top free app on the U.S. iOS store, with Lemon8 taking the second spot. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the constitutionality of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, or PAFACA, that would lead to the TikTok app being banned in the U.S. if its Beijing-based owner, ByteDance, doesn't divest it by Jan. 19. While the legislation explicitly names TikTok and ByteDance, experts say its scope is broad and could open the door for Washington to target additional Chinese apps. "Chinese social media apps, including Lemon8 and RedNote, could also end up being banned under this law," Tobin Marcus, head of U.S. policy and politics at New York-based research firm Wolfe Research, told CNBC. If the TikTok ban is upheld, it will be unlikely that the law will allow potential replacements to originate from China without some form of divestiture, experts told CNBC. PAFACA automatically applies to Lemon8 as it's a subsidiary of ByteDance, while RedNote could fall under the law if its monthly average user base in the U.S. continues to grow, said Marcus. The legislation prohibits distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services to any "foreign adversary controlled application." These applications include those connected to ByteDance or TikTok or a social media company that is controlled by a "foreign adversary" and has been determined to present a significant threat to national security. The wording of the legislation is "quite expansive" and would give incoming president Donald Trump room to decide which entities constitute a significant threat to national security, said Carl Tobias, Williams Chair in Law at the University of Richmond. Xiaomeng Lu, Director of Geotechnology at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, told CNBC that the law will likely prevail, even if its implementation and enforcement are delayed. Regardless, she expects Chinese apps in the U.S. will continue to be the subject of increased regulatory action moving forward. "The TikTok case has set a new precedent for Chinese apps to get targeted and potentially shut down," Lu said. She added that other Chinese apps that could be impacted by increased scrutiny this year include popular Chinese e-commerce platform Temu and Shein. U.S. officials have accused the apps of posing data risks, allegations similar to those levied against TikTok. The fate of TikTok rests with Supreme Court after the platform and its parent company filed a suit against the U.S. government, saying that invoking PAFACA violated constitutional protections of free speech. TikTok's argument is that the law is unconstitutional as applied to them specifically, not that it is unconstitutional per se, said Cornell Law Professor Gautam Hans. "So, regardless of whether TikTok wins or loses, the law could still potentially be applied to other companies," he said. The law's defined purview is broad enough that it could be applied to a variety of Chinese apps deemed to be a national security threat, beyond traditional social media apps in the mold of TikTok, Hans said. Trump, meanwhile, has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hold off on implementing PAFACA so he can pursue a "political resolution" after taking office. Democratic lawmakers have also urged Congress and President Joe Biden to extend the Jan. 19 deadline. Business moguls such as Elon Musk should be prepared to spend tens of billions of dollars for TikTok's U.S. operations should parent company ByteDance decide to sell. TikTok is staring at a potential ban in the U.S. if the Supreme Court decides to uphold a national security law in which service providers such as Apple and Google would be penalized for hosting the app after the Sunday deadline. ByteDance has not indicated that it will sell the app's U.S. unit, but the Chinese government has considered a plan in which X owner Musk would acquire the operations, as part of several scenarios in consideration, Bloomberg News reported Monday. If ByteDance decides to sell, potential buyers may have to spend between $40 billion and $50 billion. That's the valuation that CFRA Research Senior Vice President Angelo Zino has estimated for TikTok's U.S. operations. Zino based his valuation on estimates of TikTok's U.S. user base and revenue in comparison to rival apps. TikTok has about 115 million monthly mobile users in the U.S., which is slightly behind Instagram's 131 million, according to an estimate by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower. That puts TikTok ahead of Snapchat , Pinterest and Reddit , which have U.S. monthly mobile user bases of 96 million, 74 million and 32 million, according to Sensor Tower. Zino's estimate, however, is down from the more than $60 billion that he estimated for the unit in March 2024, when the House passed the initial national security bill that President Joe Biden signed into law the following month. The lowered estimate is due to TikTok's current geopolitical predicament and because "industry multiples have come in a bit" since March, Zino told CNBC in an email. Zino's estimate doesn't include TikTok's valuable recommendation algorithms, which a U.S. acquirer would not obtain as part of a deal, with the algorithms and their alleged ties to China being central to the U.S. government's case that TikTok poses a national security threat. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence have their estimate for TikTok's U.S. operations pegged in the range of $30 billion to $35 billion. That's the estimate they published in July, saying at the time that the value of the unit would be "discounted due to it being a forced sale." Bloomberg Intelligence analysts noted that finding a buyer for TikTok's U.S. operations that can both afford the transaction and deal with the accompanying regulatory scrutiny on data privacy makes a sale challenging. It could also make it difficult for a buyer to expand TikTok's ads business, they wrote. A consortium of businesspeople including billionaire Frank McCourt and O'Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O'Leary put in a bid to buy TikTok from ByteDance. O'Leary has previously said the group would be willing to pay up to $20 billion to acquire the U.S. assets without the algorithm. Unlike a Musk bid, O'Leary's group's bid would be free from regulatory scrutiny, O'Leary said in a Monday interview with Fox News. O'Leary said that he's "a huge Elon Musk fan," but added "the idea that the regulator, even under Trump's administration, would allow this is pretty slim." TikTok, X and O'Leary Ventures did not respond to requests for comment. Watch: Chinese TikTok alternative surges Traffic at the intersection at Octavia Boulevard and Market Street in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle After upward momentum during the first half of 2024, traffic violations issued by San Francisco police officers dipped slightly in the second half of the year, leaving the number of violations issued still far below pre-pandemic levels, a Chronicle analysis found. The decline followed a new restriction on lower-level stops, but the laws role wasnt yet clear. All citations decreased even those not affected by the new law. Traffic violations are often slightly lower in the second half of the year compared to the first, but even so, the decline in the second half of 2024 has widened the gap between the number of violations issued this year compared to before the pandemic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For the first half of 2024, San Francisco Police Department officers issued 35% as many citations as they did in the first half of 2019. That declined further to 31% for July through November. (December data was not available at the time of publication.) The gap increases when just looking at Focus on Five violations, or the five violations that most often cause collisions, which are: Speeding Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks Running red lights Running stop signs Failing to yield on left- and U-turns Police in the first half of 2024 issued 40% as many Focus on Five violations as they did in 2019. For July through November, that dropped to 30%. Loading... San Francisco police did not respond to requests for comment about the drop. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The drop-off comes after a dramatic decline in violations issued over the past decade the number of violations issued plummeted more than 95%, from more than 120,000 in 2014 to just 5,000 in 2023. Loading... Police have pointed to a number of reasons behind that dramatic drop, including staffing shortages, less traffic during the pandemic and a 2015 state law that requires officers to carefully document whom they stop to guard against racial profiling. But as traffic deaths in the city remained persistently high, despite the citys goal of eliminating them entirely by 2024, San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman in 2023 put immense pressure on the SFPD to ramp enforcement back up, particularly on Focus on Five violations. Though the number of violations issued declined in the second half of the year in 2024, the total number for January through November is almost double what it was in the same months the previous year. But that still isnt much: 2024 saw about the same number of traffic violations issued as 2020, when the pandemic completely upended enforcement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a public hearing about traffic enforcement in December, Cmdr. Nicole Jones of the departments police traffic unit touted the increase in citations in 2024, with a presentation using data as of last October. While she did not address monthly fluctuations, she noted that the total number of violations was the highest it had been in four years. I think thats definitely a testament to the value of having a specific traffic enforcement plan in place, she said. But at the hearing, Mandelman expressed concern that returning to 2020 levels was not enough. So weve recovered to the year when nobody was on the streets because of the pandemic, he said, adding that he didnt think the department was prioritizing traffic enforcement. I think these numbers could look significantly different than they do. Jones also shared data that showed that staffing of the traffic enforcement unit has continued to drop over the past decade: there were 77 officers assigned to traffic in 2014, which dropped to 69 by 2019 and to 43 by last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pressed by Mandelman, Jones acknowledged that staffing declines, along with the 2015 law that made traffic stop paperwork take longer, could not completely explain the drop in recent years. The precipitous decline in citations does not run hand in hand with the precipitous decline of officers, she said. Theyre not declining at similar rates that you would expect to see. She offered a third reason why enforcement is so low: a change in prioritization and culture starting in 2020, when traffic was purposely de-prioritized in the department because of the pandemic. So while I cant explain everything, I really cant, I do think that internally within the department, we have to start prioritizing this in a different way, she said. Hopefully we will get to that point in this coming year and the years beyond. A possible fourth reason did not come up in the hearing. The stagnation in violations came after a new law banning pretextual traffic stops, or stops for low-level offenses that officers use to investigate whether the person is involved in an unrelated crime, went into effect in July, despite opposition from the police union. Advertisement Article continues below this ad None of the Focus on Five violations are impacted by this law, and it is unclear whether the decline is related to this law. SFPDs traffic citation data does not break out the specific types of stops that are banned by the new law, like driving with expired tags, having broken tail lights and having objects hanging from the rearview mirror, and those stops do not always lead to a violation being issued. In the hearing, Jones agreed that even with 2024s increase, traffic enforcement was still too low. She said that the department was aiming to increase traffic violation citations, through a variety of strategies, including directed enforcement, regular waves of enforcement in known problem areas, and with 33 speed cameras the city is to get this year. WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that one of his top priorities when he takes office next week will be to impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports, a move he claims would protect American jobs and bolster domestic manufacturing. But if recent trends are any indication, one of the biggest beneficiaries might be workers in Mexico. After Trump levied tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods in his first term, a growing number of companies moved manufacturing operations from China to Mexico. Industry analysts and executives working with Mexican manufacturers said that with Trump promising to escalate the trade war, they are seeing a renewed wave of interest from companies looking to shift production from China to Mexico. "It's absolutely deja vu, and it's just getting started," said Raine Mahdi, whose company, Zipfox, connects businesses with manufacturers in Mexico. "The last time, this issue caught the tail end of the Trump administration, and then it pretty much died off with the Biden administration. Now it's already starting before Trump is even officially in office. It's not going to just go away. Companies are not going to be able to wait it out." There are generally no tariffs on goods made in Mexico that are shipped to the United States under the USMCA trade pact among the United States, Canada and Mexico similar to the previous North American Free Trade Agreement though Trump has threatened Mexico with new tariffs if it doesn't do more to stop the flow of immigrants and drugs across its border. The migration of manufacturing to Mexico could undermine Trump's promise to voters that ratcheting up tariffs on China would give companies incentives to bring production back to the United States and give American companies a more even playing field. During Trump's first round of China tariffs, the number of companies moving production for the U.S. market out of China increased. But rather than relocate that production to the United States, many companies went to other low-cost countries, instead. "It will produce jobs in a few sectors who get protection and where there's not a way to make it offshore, but for most companies it just moves it from China to Vietnam or Mexico," said Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economic. "I really do think it's a false promise." Since his election, Trump has threatened to put tariffs on goods from Mexico on day one of his administration. But doing so would violate the USMCA trade pact a deal Trump touted as a major negotiating victory during his first term. Breaching the agreement could trigger legal challenges and retaliatory tariffs that would affect U.S. companies, lawyers and trade policy analysts have said. It could also cause upheaval in the financial markets and increase prices for consumers on everything from cars to groceries, they said. The United States will be able to start renegotiating the USMCA pact in July 2026 under a provision in the agreement. If the three countries don't agree to extend the deal, it will terminate in 2036. But even with the looming uncertainty of tariffs, companies have continued their interest in Mexico, said Alejandro Delgado, Mexico country manager for SiiLA, a real estate data analytics firm. Along with the low trade barriers, the close proximity to the United States means cheaper shipping costs and the ability to avoid potential bottlenecks at U.S. ports. Mexico also has relatively low labor costs, with a minimum wage of around $20 a day in the region near the U.S. border. "Since Donald Trump's election, Chinese companies' interest in Mexico has remained, but with some uncertainty," Delgado said. "Of course, there is this threat of implementing new tariffs, but the sense is that Mexico is in a better position to negotiate with the U.S. than China." In Nuevo Leon, an area just south of the U.S. border, industrial parks full of Chinese companies have been springing up in recent years. Among those opening operations there are the equipment maker Lingong Machinery Group, which announced plans for a $5 billion industrial park, and the appliance maker Hisense, which said it would spend $260 million on a facility that it expects to create 7,000 jobs. Adjustable bed manufacturer Keeson Technology invested $30 million in a plant, and the Chinese furniture maker Kuka Home opened operations in Mexico in 2020 and announced a $150 million expansion in 2022 that it said would employ 3,500 people. In total, nearly $4 billion in investment deals were announced in 2023 by Chinese companies and an additional $1.4 billion were recorded in the first half of 2024, according to data compiled by the research firm Rhodium Group. While that is a relatively small amount compared with other countries with deeper ties to Mexico, it's nearly four times the average Chinese investment in Mexico from 2014 to 2020, the report found. The footprint of industrial real estate occupied by Chinese firms has doubled since 2021, with the largest investments coming from companies manufacturing higher-end products for the automotive and tech sectors, according to data from SiiLA. More than half of Chinese-based companies currently occupying industrial space in Mexico weren't present in the country before 2020, SiiLA said. "The Chinese are creative, they're ambitious, they're aggressive, and you can try to tariff them and contain them as best as you can, but they'll always try to find the side route, and that's what they've done with Mexico," Mahdi said. "You can try to plug all the holes, but they'll make a new one, because that's what they do. Their country is about manufacturing for the world. They're the best at it, and they want to continue to hold that position as the world's manufacturing hub." To qualify as "made in Mexico," products must undergo a significant transformation in Mexico even if their components originate from other countries. Under the USMCA trade agreement, if a Chinese company imports parts for an appliance or a piece of furniture and assembles it in Mexico, that item is classified as an import from Mexico rather than from China. Charred remains of buildings are pictured following the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Jan. 15, 2025. Google and YouTube will donate $15 million to support the Los Angeles community and content creators impacted by wildfires, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced in a blog post Wednesday. The contributions will flow to local relief organizations including Emergency Network Los Angeles, the American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Institute for Nonprofit News, the blog said. When the company's LA offices can safely reopen, impacted creators will also be able to use YouTube's production facilities "to recover and rebuild their businesses" as well as access community events. "To all of our employees, the YouTube creator community, and everyone in LA, please stay safe and know we're here to support," Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted on X. The move comes days before Sunday's impending TikTok ban that has already seen content creators begin asking fans to follow them on other social platforms. YouTube Shorts, a short-form video platform within YouTube, is a competitor to TikTok, along with Meta's Instagram Reels and the fast-growing Chinese app Rednote, otherwise known as Xiahongshu. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Soyoung Lee has been appointed as the director and chief executive officer of the Asian Art Museum, replacing Jay Xu, who has led the institution since 2008 and was the first Chinese American to serve as a director at a major U.S. art museum. Courtesy of Marvin Smith The Asian Art Museum has appointed Soyoung Lee as its next director and chief executive officer, ending its yearlong international search for a new leader. Since 2018, Lee has served as the Landon and Lavinia Clay chief curator at the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Mass., guiding its artistic vision and leading its training program, which offers mentorship to younger generations. Now, she hopes to foster a similar sense of inclusion at the San Francisco museum. Im excited to join this community of people who share a passion for the arts and cultures of Asia and the Asian diaspora, she told the Chronicle. San Francisco and the larger Bay Area is an important hub globally for all things Asian. Im thrilled to be embedded in the institution whose compelling collections and stories Ive followed for decades. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lee is expected to begin her new role in April at a date still to be determined. Salle Yoo, chair of the Asian Art Museum Foundation and Asian Art Commission, said she values Lees commitment to ensuring that the space fosters connection, calling her a visionary leader with deep knowledge of, and passion for, Asian and Asian diasporic art and culture. The Jakarta-born scholar is set to replace Jay Xu, who has led the institution since 2008 and was the first Chinese American to serve as a director at a major U.S. art museum. Under Xus leadership, the Asian Art Museum has hosted more than 100 exhibitions that showcased traditional Asian art and emerging Asian American art. He also helped grow its collection with more than 2,200 acquisitions, bringing the museums total to more than 20,000 objects. In 2023, Xu announced plans to retire in 2025, telling the Chronicle that he wanted to assist in a smooth transition and leave from a position of strength because it sets everyone up for success. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Xus last day will be in April, right before Lee steps into the role, though he plans to continue his work with the president and Congress about the feasibility of creating and maintaining a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Soyoung Lee has been appointed as the Asian Art Museums new director and chief executive officer. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2024 I look forward to building on the strong foundations laid by Dr. Jay Xu and the staff, Lee said, adding that under her leadership she hopes the museum becomes the go-to place for deeply moving, exciting, revelatory experiences, where traditions and the future mingle and explode in interesting ways. Lee received her bachelors, masters and doctorate in art history from Columbia University and is an alumna of the Center for Curatorial Leadership in New York City. She is currently a visiting scholar at Stanford University. Prior to her time at Harvard, Lee spent 15 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as its first-ever curator of Korean art. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Neil Gaiman has now been accused of sexual misconduct by eight women, some of whom are claiming that the fantasy author committed violent sexual assault. The allegations against Gaiman were first made public in the Tortoise Media podcast Master last summer, and this week New York Magazine published a highly detailed, truly sickening expose on the subject. Gaiman has denied some of the articles claims. And while this is by no means the most pressing issue right now, for those of us who spend nearly as much time in Springfield as we do in the real world, there is the question of what will happen to the Simpsons episode in which Gaiman guest stars. Don't Miss Season 23s The Book Job is a literary-themed Oceans 11 parody that finds Homer assembling a crack team to write an artistically bankrupt, but highly profitable, YA fantasy novel. In addition to Bart, Patty, Principal Skinner, Moe and Professor Frink, the squad also includes Gaiman, who randomly offers his services. In the end, Gaiman double-crosses them all, and steals the book for himself, even admitting that he cant actually read. Were not remotely suggesting that the Simpsons predicted anything here, but in retrospect, it does seem oddly prophetic that they floated the idea that Gaiman is an untrustworthy sociopathic monster over a decade ago. In the wake of the damning report, some Simpsons fans have been questioning whether or not the episode will now be pulled from streaming. Advertisement The precedent for such an action is what happened with Stark Raving Dad. The Michael Jackson-centric episode was effectively banned from Disney+ for reasons that should be extremely obvious to anyone that hasnt been in a coma since 1992. Advertisement Advertisement Jackson and Gaimans alleged crimes are obviously different, but there are some other key distinctions as well. In the case of Stark Raving Dad, Jackson wasnt just the guest star, Leon Kompowskys belief that hes secretly the King of Pop is the narrative focal point of the entire episode. Gaiman, on the other hand, is a minor character in a story that mostly has nothing to do with him (although he gets more screen time than most Simpsons guest stars). Part of the reason that Simpsons creatives were willing to take the drastic step of withdrawing Stark Raving Dad from circulation is that the episode itself was impossible to separate from the allegations against Jackson because, as Al Jean told The Daily Beast in 2019, there were rumors that Jackson used his Simpsons appearance to groom boys. But it does seem a little weird to scrap one episode entirely, while leaving the other alone. Especially because, according to New York Magazines reporting, Gaiman used his charming public-facing persona, which is very much on display in The Simpsons, to make himself seem very harmless to his fans, when that was, allegedly, not the case at all. Maybe Disney will add some kind of disclaimer noting that stealing a book about trolls is far from the worst thing that Neil Gaiman has been accused of. TikTok is set to be banned in the United States on Sunday, Jan. 19. Cfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images The futures looking grim for TikTok as its Chinese parent company ByteDance nears its deadline to sell to an American one and many users are already searching for the next viral alternative. Since the social media platform launched in the U.S. nine years ago, TikTok has attracted tens of millions of users, some using the platform to form their own niche communities, some managing to monetize content creation into a career and others simply enjoying the endless scrolling. Now TikToks 170 million U.S. users are beginning to brace for the worst as its Sunday, Jan. 19, deadline draws near. Whether youre an avid TikToker or simply enjoy the occasional scroll, heres what to know about the potential TikTok ban. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why is TikTok getting banned? Discussions about the dangers of TikTok began before the pandemic, when the Pentagon banned the app from all military phones due to national safety concerns in January 2020. Prior to that, the platform had settled federal charges of violating U.S. child-privacy laws and had been criticized for its content moderation and political biases. In summer of 2020, then-President Donald Trump began threatening to ban the app in the U.S. and issued an order demanding that ByteDance divest itself of TikToks U.S. operations. In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed into law the legislation that forces ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company. Susan Walsh/Associated Press 2023 Once President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the legal cases involving this ban were postponed and essentially halted as the app continued to gain momentum. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In June 2022, BuzzFeed reported that ByteDance employees accessed nonpublic information of TikTok users, which sparked widespread concern among U.S. officials about Chinese authorities having access to user data or manipulating the algorithm for influence operations. A bill to ban the app or force its sale began to take shape in March 2024. and Biden signed the legislation into law in April. ByteDance claims it violates First Amendment free speech protections and sued the U.S. federal government the following month. Who will make the decision? The fate of the social media platform was left to the hands of the Supreme Court, which upheld the ban on Friday, Jan. 17, requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by Sunday, Jan. 19, if it wants to remain available to U.S. users. On Thursday, Jan. 16, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. announced that they wrote to President Joe Biden, asking him to trigger a 90-day extension for ByteDance to sell. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, Markey and Booker, along with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and Rep. Ro Khanna, CA-17, introduced legislation called the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act to provide an additional 270 days. The proposed extension will need to be reviewed by a committee before it is voted on. Advertisement Article continues below this ad President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to postpone the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company so that his administration can pursue a political resolution, but the high court upheld the law banning TikTok beginning Sunday, Jan. 19. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Trump also urged the court last December to postpone the impending deadline so that his incoming administration could pursue a political resolution. Trump is scheduled to take office on Monday, Jan. 20, the day after the ban could be enforced. What are the alternatives? Chinese-owned apps RedNote and Lemon8 have skyrocketed in popularity as the two main contenders to replace TikTok. The two apps, the latter of which was also created by ByteDance, were sitting at the top of Apples free app leaderboard as of Thursday, Jan. 16. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While both apps offer similar video-based user experiences and content, there are a few key differences. The utility-centric Lemon8, for example, is a lifestyle app that focuses on categories such as Recipes, Fitness and Skincare, which are available to click through on its For You page. Lemon8 first launched in Japan in 2020 and hit the U.S. market in 2023. It has since attracted around 1 million daily active users, according to research firm Similarweb. ByteDances Lemon8 app is gaining traction as the threat to ban TikTok from the U.S. looms. Richard Drew/Associated Press TikTok has been pushing Lemon8 advertisements and sponsored content as its potential ban inches closer. As of November, users have been able to access Lemon8 using their TikTok account, allowing them to cross-post content. But the ByteDance app runs the risk of facing the same ban as TikTok. In a hearing last March, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., cited Lemon8 along with ByteDances video editing app CapCut and TikTok as having the potential to lead to foreign interference and manipulation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Enter RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, the Mandarin term for little red book. The social networking app has Follow, Explore and Nearby tabs for users to peruse content as well as a Trending tab, which functions similar to Instagram Reels. Just like Lemon8, RedNote has more specific Pinterest-like subcategories, including Painting, Funny, Household product and Social science, that are accessible from the Explore tab and make browsing a more productive act. RedNote, however, has no built-in translation system, forcing many American users to rely on their own modes of translation to read Chinese captions in English and navigate parts of its interface. Many U.S. TikTok users are switching to Chinese app Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, ahead of the apps potential ban. Andy Wong/Associated Press RedNote, founded in 2013, had around 300 million monthly active users as of July, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. Will TikTok disappear from my phone? If a ban does go into effect, it would make it illegal for internet hosting services and app stores to distribute TikTok. However, those who already have TikTok downloaded will still be able to use it, they just wont be able to download updates, which will likely make the platform unusable over time. How are other social media platforms faring? This isnt the first time a popular social media platform has seen a mass migration in recent months. In November, shortly after the presidential election, many X users migrated to Bluesky, a newer social media platform with a similar interface, or quit altogether in protest of Xs owner Elon Musk. For reasons known only to the power players of the Sub-Saharan African TV markets, Justin Spitzers six-season NBC sitcom Superstore is getting a Zulu-language remake. I guess something about America Ferreira must have clicked with South Africans. While Superstore may not have reached the zeitgeist-defining heights of other NBC comedies like The Office (U.S.) or Parks and Recreation, the comedy about a Walmart-equivalent megastore and its diverse and delightful employees was a worthwhile take on the workplace comedy genre that resonated with big-box retail workers across America. Superstore ran from 2015 to 2021 to critical and audience acclaim before sailing off into the sunset with a COVID-centered final season that remains one of the few and best examples of TV writers pulling off a pandemic storyline that doesnt completely suck. Don't Miss Since its finale in 2021, the Superstore extended universe has seen a failed attempt at a spin-off series, an adaptation for Mexican TV called Supertitlan that flopped after one season and, now, an upcoming remake in Zulu by the South African video on demand service Showmax. No one should be surprised that Cloud 9 would outsource its employees jobs overseas. To address the most obvious question about such an unusual cultural export, yes, South Africa has Walmart or at least, a Walmart subsidiary. The second largest distributor of consumer goods in the rainbow nation is Massmart, a retail and wholesale chain that Walmart acquired in 2011. And, since South Africa has apparently followed the American model for massive, mass-production, low-paying retail stores, it only makes sense for them to also copy our best satire on the big-box model. Advertisement So, hey, maybe Superstore will be a big hit in South Africa. After all, the comedy cultural exchange has led to some spectacularly successful international adaptations, not the least of which is the aforementioned American remake of The Office. TV-makers across the world have been sharing ideas and IPs for decades, and, in an increasingly globalized world, maybe Zulu Superstore can become as big a hit in South Africa as the Russian adaptation of Everybody Loves Raymond was for the motherland. Were on Cloud 9, said Nicola van Niekerk, Executive Head of Programming at Showmaxs South Africa-based parent MultiChoice in a statement for Deadline. I laughed my way through every episode of Superstore and cant wait to see how the funny and loveable characters are reimagined in our complex country. Advertisement Of course, like every sitcom remake, adaptation and localization before it, Zulu Superstore will have some big shoes to fill in the casting department. I only have one question for whichever South African actor takes over the role of Glenn: Whats the biggest dog youve ever seen and why? Ive gathered my most trusted viziers to advise me on war strategy. Now, to hold a grand banquet above the royal cesspool 14 The First Recorded Toilet Death Duke Jing of Jin was a monarch in the 5th century BC. He fell ill and consulted a shaman who said he wouldnt live to eat the next wheat harvest. He got sicker, but made it to harvest day, and had the shaman put to death. Just as he was about to sit down to performatively chomp some wheat, he got a tummy ache, went to the bathroom and was found dead inside the poop pit. His body was dragged out by a slave who was then killed and buried with him, to serve him in the afterlife. This is exactly the type of dude you like to see die in a toilet. 13 Jaromir, Duke of Bohemia Jaromir was dethroned by a rival, who blinded and imprisoned him in the 11th century. While in jail, an assassin was hired to hide in the privy and stab him in the guts with a spear. 12 Godfrey the Hunchback Godfrey IV was Duke of Lower Lorraine in the 11th century. Two Counts who didnt like Godfrey all that much went halfsies on an assassin, who got to know the citys poop chutes so he could stab the right butthole at the right time. 11 Elagabalus Advertisement Marcus Aurelius Elagabalus Antoninus got a huge promotion at age 14, from head priest of the sun god to straight-up Emperor of Rome. He was extremely unpopular during his four-year reign, and it all culminated in a Praetorian Guard mutiny where they chased him into a latrine and murdered him. 10 Lenny Bruce Famed comedian Leonard Alfred Schneider died of a heroin overdose in the bathroom of his home in the Hollywood Hills in 1966. At least he was posthumously pardoned of his obscenity conviction almost 40 years later. 9 Judy Garland Advertisement A lifetime of being treated by Hollywood execs like a lab rat finally caught up to her in 1969, when she died from a buildup of barbiturates in her blood after years of heavy consumption. 8 Elvis Presley Advertisement The King died in his Graceland bathroom, after a prolonged battle with constipation and addiction to pain killers. 7 The Philadelphia Balloon Man A guy in Philadelphia was known as Balloon Man in the late 19th century, because of his startling combination of a normal body and a huge, bulbous torso. He died in 1892 at age 29, after his eight-foot-long colon became too compacted for him to pass anything. As Philadelphians are wont to do, they put his colon in the Mutter Museum. 6 George II of Britain Advertisement King George died in 1760 at the age of 76, the oldest a king had lived at that time. His physician said he appeared to have just come from his necessary-stool and was moving toward his desk, perhaps to write a diary entry about his calamitous dooky, when he collapsed. 5 Twenty-Three People on a Plane Advertisement In 1983, the pilots of Air Canada Flight 797 had to execute an emergency landing after a fire started in the bathroom. Half of the 46 passengers died in the crash. 4 A Virginia Inmate Advertisement An inmate convicted of a brutal murder was sentenced to death by electrocution, but had his sentence reduced to life in prison. In 1989, he was sitting on his metal toilet and trying to fix his TV, and electrocuted himself when he bit into earphone wires. 3 A Pennsylvania Inmate In 1997, another convicted murderer also died while listening to headphones and sitting on his metal toilet. 2 The Erfurt Latrine Disaster Advertisement In 1884, Henry VI called together a little braintrust to discuss strategy on a war campaign against the Polish. The wooden structure they were hanging out on collapsed, sending everyone tumbling into the cesspool below. Henry himself happened to be seated safely on a stone structure, and had to watch as about 60 nobles drowned in poop in front of him. Youre a first responder battling the Los Angeles fires and off in the distance, you see a vintage 1941 American LaFrance fire truck heading your way. What can you do but nudge your buddy and shrug, Here comes Leno? Good job, Jay Leno, for delivering a vintage (of course) vehicles worth of food to disaster victims in the Pacific Palisades. We got a big barbecue going, Leno told CNNs Anderson Cooper, standing in front of a classic candy-apple red beauty with a 256 horsepower engine under the hood and a unique modification in the back. The fire truck had previously been featured on an episode of Jay Lenos Garage. They were only getting box lunches, Leno told Cooper about his mission to deliver hot meals to victims and volunteers. Leno and crew cooked up the grub for workers at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with plans to continue delivering food to other first responders throughout the week. Don't Miss Long-time Southern California resident Leno is still trying to wrap his brain around the damage so far. Ten thousand buildings, he boggled. You get on that hill and you look for miles and theres nothing. While others complain about how the disaster has polarized politicians and inspired looting, Leno only sees community. Neighbors meeting neighbors theyve never met before, people all pitching in. From what he can see, everyone is putting down their political beliefs to come together. Well get through it. We always do. Its easy to goof on Leno for his massive collection of vintage cars, but at least hes putting them to good use. Hes also rolling up his sleeves and serving up meals, not bad for a 74-year-old comic whos had personal run-ins with fire over the years. Advertisement And who can argue with this bit of Leno wisdom: Its good to have your own fire truck when you live in L.A. San Franciscos hottest bar is 112 years old. It doesnt look trendy, with its dark wood paneling, crisp white tablecloths and old-school green neon sign jutting onto Fillmore Street in the Marina District. Most of the time, its a restaurant, serving burgers on baguettes and heaping Caesar salads to a clientele ranging from toddlers to seniors. But by 8 p.m., it positively buzzes, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with 20- and 30-somethings throwing back coupes of espresso martinis. This is Balboa Cafe. It has long occupied a distinctive niche in San Franciscos cultural life: In various eras, it has been a saloon for blue collar workers, a training ground for rising star chefs, a place for the Pacific Heights socialite set to see and be seen. With practically as many boom and bust cycles as the city itself, the cafe has been heralded as one of San Franciscos top restaurants and decried as one of its worst. Right now, it may be undergoing its biggest boom yet. After a pre-pandemic period during which its shine seemed to be fading, Balboa Cafe has suddenly become the citys undisputed go-to bar for a certain set. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the day, Balboa Cafe attracts diners of all ages. By 8 p.m., it positively buzzes. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle It just seems to be where everyone goes, said Isabella Ballerini, a 22-year-old who works in public relations. She rang in her 21st birthday at midnight at Balboa. Everyone collectively starts their night there and then splits off. Gradually, as evening falls, these young people begin to replace the late-afternoon crowd couples sitting outside with their dogs, middle-aged friends drinking Whispering Angel. Bartenders deliver towers of frothy espresso martinis, or trays of dirty martinis with jumbo-sized green olives, to the closely huddled friend groups that eventually take over the room and the sidewalk. Software engineer Jason Holtkamp, 32, calls it a classic network effect: I go there because my friends are there, and they go there because they know someone whos already there. Mason Jeffers, second from right, has an espresso martini with friends at Balboa Cafe. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The energy is high; the crowd mingles. On one recent night around 9 p.m., I returned from the bathroom to find a 22-year-old in a tech company vest asking my 40-year-old friend for her number. (Unfortunately for him, shes married.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad It is a scene, said Devin Maguire, 36, who works for the sunglasses brand Quay. It is the place to be. The magnetic pull of Balboa is now a TikTok trope. Its an inside joke among Marina District denizens, many of whom can be seen traipsing down Union Street donning the cafes merch. The Balbs hat has sort of become part of the aesthetic of the neighborhood, said Holtkamp, who wears one. Balboa Cafe seen in 1914, the year after it opened. Provided by Balboa Cafe This isnt the first time Balboa has been the citys it spot. In the 1980s, it was a socialite hub, especially for Friday lunch. Dispatches from the Chronicles society column note frequent appearances by Boz Scaggs, Oscar de la Renta and local luminaries like Ann Getty, who often went for a hot fudge sundae at midnight. Balboa was the linchpin of what came to be known as the Bermuda Triangle, a cluster of bars around Fillmore and Greenwich streets that then included the Pierce Street Annex and the Dartmouth Social Club. Marina locals think that more singles have disappeared in that stretch of watering holes than anywhere else in the city, wrote GraceAnn Walden in the Chronicle in 1994. (The Bermuda Triangle moniker persists, and these days is typically thought to include the bars Wilder and For the Record.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad Balboa Cafe is seen in 2009. Courtesy Jill Marie Doherty This clubby scene was a far cry from its origins. When it opened in 1913, Balboa was a workingmans saloon, said Hilary Newsom, president of the PlumpJack Group, which owns Balboa. (Shes also the governors sister.) Dont believe the since 1914 sign above the front door, Newsom said: The original owners were superstitious about a year ending in 13. It remained open during Prohibition, allegedly in part because it allowed bootleggers to store their cash in a safe behind the bar. Presiding over Balboas golden age in the 80s were owners Jack Hobday, better known as Jack Slick, and Doyle Moon. (Slicks brother Norman Hobday, who also went by a pseudonym, Henry Africa, operated the competing Dartmouth Social Club across the street.) Balboa regular Herb Caen, reporting a rumor in 1986 that Slick had put Balboa up for sale, wrote: It is impossible to imagine Balboa without roly-poly Slick, one of the towns great young characters with his wild Spandex tights, elfin boots and roaring motorbikes. Gavin Newsom, seen in 2004 when he was mayor of San Francisco, with and his dad, Judge William Newsom, at Balboa Cafe. William Newsom visited the cafe daily for years, and Gavin Newsom became a part owner in 1995. Christina Koci Hernandez/The Chronicle 2004 By the time Slick and Moon sold the place to Gavin Newsom and Gordon Gettys PlumpJack Group in 1995, it had lost some of its luster, and the socialite crowds had waned. Slick, according to Caen, went on to buy a Chuck E. Cheese franchise in Chico, which sounds like a joke but isnt, Caen wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It had seen its heyday, said Hilary Newsom, whose father went to Balboa seven days a week when she was growing up. We wanted to bring it back to its glory. They spiffed up some of Balboas vintage touches, like its wainscoting, the swinging wooden doors and the Coca Cola signs outside. (Gavin Newsom divested his ownership in Balboa while he was mayor of San Francisco, and later put his interest into a blind trust when he became governor.) A Balboa Cafe menu from 1988. Provided by Balboa Cafe Balboa regained some of its hum in the ensuing years. Literally: It ranked as the loudest in a 1998 Chronicle survey of decibel levels at 100 restaurants. Trying to replicate its success, the PlumpJack Group opened a second location in Mill Valley in 2008, but closed it in 2018 due to challenges with the building, Newsom said, and the fact that it never saw quite as much traffic as the original. Then, during the pandemic, something changed. Balboa really blew up during COVID, said Maguire. Balboa Cafe has seen a surge in popularity since the pandemic, thanks in large part to its inviting parklet. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Its succulent-lined parklet, which the sun seems to hit just right, became a smash hit. We really saw an uptick in business then, said Hilary Newsom. Mark Palmer, the maitre d (and the star of many of the cafes TikTok videos), credits their ability to offer cocktails alongside takeout food as a key factor in building a new following. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The takeout-only period drove particular hype for Balboas espresso martini. The bar had offered its espressotini on tap since 2017, and rode the drinks new wave of national popularity that hit around 2021. During the pandemic, the young bloods of the Marina really latched onto our espressotinis, which is now what were famous for, Palmer said. (People love to repeat the rumor that Balboa sells 10,000 espresso martinis in a weekend. Hilary Newsoms response: Oh goodness no!) Oscar Gonzalez prepares eight espresso martinis, which have become the Balboa Cafe specialty, though its president denies the rumor that the bar serves 10,000 per weekend. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle But theres more to todays Balboa than 22-year-olds brandishing espressotinis. Before the evening bar rush, it attracts a remarkably wide swath of age groups. Elliott Robbins, a 59-year-old software consultant whos known to some as the mayor of Balboa, visited the cafe occasionally over the last 20 years but has made it a weekly ritual since the pandemic. He sits in the parklet on Friday afternoons, orders a salad and a glass of Sancerre, and unwinds from his week. Then he heads out by early evening, before all the youngins come in, he said. The quality of food at Balboa has long been a matter of controversy. It employed celebrated chefs, Jeremiah Tower and Maria Helm Sinskey, at different times. Its blue cheese burger landed it on multiple Chronicle lists of the citys best burgers, and former restaurant critic Michael Bauer named it among his favorite San Francisco restaurants in the late 80s and early 90s. Its Wednesday chicken paillard special has what Palmer calls a chicken-eating cult of fans. Ana Sofia Aldrett chats with Alexandra Olkies on a night out at Balboa Cafe. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Yet many patrons, then and now, would say you dont go to Balboa for the food. In 2014, Bauer called the food barely edible and the worst food Ive had this year. The Chronicle has not reviewed it since. But Balboa is more than a burger or an espresso martini or a parklet Balboa is a feeling. And just as todays Balbs hat-wearing superfans arent the first generation of San Franciscans to collectively start their nights there, they likely wont be the last. A long night that starts at the Balboa and ends in the most beautiful city in the world, wrote Caen in 1987, cant be all bad. Photo: Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images Realtors Gita Vasseghi and Melea Avrach started hearing from clients looking for temporary housing as early as January 7, the day the Los Angeles fires began. Based on the East Side of the city, they quickly began helping friends, friends of friends, and desperate cold callers displaced from the massive Eaton fire in Altadena. But just as soon as they mobilized, something else started happening: Prices started going up. By the 8th, when tens of thousands of people had already been evacuated, a client sent them a Zillow listing for a little two-bedroom house priced at $3,800 a month, on the market unrented for 60 days before the fires, in a part of Altadena that did not burn. Within the hour, and by the time the agents were able to check it out for themselves, the price had almost doubled to $6,500. Vasseghi and Avrach were sure they could negotiate the original rate when they told the listing agent it was for clients who had just lost everything they owned. But when they called him, it became clear the price had gone up because of people like their clients. He said, simply, Too many people want this house. Youll have to be competitive. Within the week since Los Angeless worst-ever disaster began, rent gouging has become a crisis on top of the crisis. Its against the law to increase a rental price by more than 10 percent once a state of emergency has been declared; this fact doesnt seem to be worrying the agents jacking up the numbers on open listings to desperate Angelenos. That behavior can result in a fine or even jail time. But according to sites like Zillow, the gouging is rampant anyway. People smell blood in the water, Jeffrey Saad, another Compass agent, told me. No tax bracket is being spared. A two-bed lower-level apartment in Brentwood Heights went up 19 percent to $3,100 on January 12; a five-bed, five-bath nearby went from $12,000 to $15,000 on January 10. Jason Oppenheim, the Selling Sunset star, told BBC News on January 12 that even his clients were getting scalped. Some of the listings have gone up more than once, as the fires got worse, like a three-bed in Beverly Glen with a terrace that went from $12,000 on the 8th to $15,000 on the 13th. Saad has noticed the same: I saw some agents increasing prices by the hour on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the fires got worse, he says. Straightforward, illegal gouging is not even the only problem. Nothing in Californias penal code prevents prospective tenants from offering more on a listing. And the bidding wars are accordingly raging. Especially on the West Side, where a greater population of wealthy evacuees and survivors displaced from the Palisades fire have more to spend. Those people are coming in with Monopoly money, one agent said, some with quotes from their insurance companies. I was trying to get one client into a listing for $17,000, Saad says. By the end of the call, we were at $29,000, because thats how much other people were willing to pay. Robin Walpert, a Realtor based in the Palisades for 30 years, has been working around the clock to house a list of dozens of displaced neighbors, friends, and friends of friends. You go to a showing, she told me, and there is already a crying family on the stoop. Then two more show up. (Many arent even going to showings theyre applying to places sight unseen.) She found one listing for a family of four in Brentwood Park for $30,000 a month. Within hours, there were ten applicants. Someone offered $51,000. Then another went to $52K. Then came $53K, with two months up front in cash. The house finally went to someone willing to pay $56,000 and the first year up front in cash. Over half a million dollars. (Two days later, that house was in an evacuation zone.) It feels like Mouse Trap, or Mad Max, one mom from Pacific Palisades says. Go down one path and you get there and that way is blocked. She, her husband, and their kids fled to a family members house on the 7th, as their home was burned to the ground. They figured finding a rental wouldnt be a problem they have assets worth over $10 million and are able to prove high income. In the days after the 7th, they were rejected from place after place after being outbid. The price on a listing wasnt even real. It was How much is your client willing to pay? At another, the owners suddenly said they might have to move into their own listing when they had to evacuate their other home. With the landscape so distorted by the high rollers and opportunists, many displaced by the Palisades fire dont even stand a chance on the West Side. Walpert, the Palisades agent who moved to Venice a few years ago, has one group made up of three generations of the same family who all lost their home of 60 years. They cant afford anything even close to the area. Where are they competitive right now? Nowhere, Walpert said. Only the rich will afford to stay in town. Agents are already seeing prices go up in the Valley, Orange County, and Santa Barbara. But whats even more alarming than the current gouging boom is the boom thats yet to come. The incredibly tight and expensive housing market in L.A. was another tinderbox waiting to explode. And now it has. In the long term, the real gouging is just going to be the market itself, an agent who didnt want to be named told me. There is just going to be a new status quo. People who see their neighbors get $12,000 in rent for a house that used to get $8,000 are going to put theirs on the market for that price. And same with sales. Whats considered fair market value is already changing, whether you like it or not. In the meantime, people are cashing in. Walpert was delighted when a friend of a friend reached out to say she could offer her three-bedroom house in Santa Monica to people in need and move in with her father in the interim. Thats amazing, Walpert said. How much? Well, the woman replied, it would only make sense for us at $40,000. The current market rate for a house like hers is around $10,000, according to Walpert. I told her, Gross, and she was immediately embarrassed. She replied, Oh my gosh, Im so sorry, I just thought thats what everyone else was getting now. With additional reporting by Justine Harman. WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (Office of Indian Energy) has announced 14 Phase 1 winners of the American-Made Tribal College and University (TCU) Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize. Student-led groups teamed up and created plans to increase the use of renewable energy to support Tribal food sovereignty initiatives on TCU campuses. "TCU's hold unique ties to land, language, and Indigenous knowledge to foster a regenerative economy," said Office of Indian Energy Director Wahleah Johns. "The $4 million prize selections will support 14 student-led teams in demonstrating how clean energy compliments and strengthens Indigenous food sovereignty." Blackfeet Community College was among the 14 Phase 1 winners for its SAPOO Land Energy project in Browning. Felix Nez, USDA Extension Director/Agent at BCC, explained "Sapoo" is Blackfeet for "wind." What's Next for Competitors Phase 1 winners were chosen for successfully forming teams and developing project plans. Project plans consisted of (but were not limited to) building greenhouses powered by wind, solar or geothermal energy, and constructing solar arrays that provide shade for crops to grow. TCUs of Phase 1 winning teams were each awarded a $40,000 cash prize and will advance to Phase 2a. In Phase 2a, teams will compete to win a $75,000 cash prize for their TCU, completing all the necessary pre-work and permitting for their project. All Phase 2a winners will continue to Phase 2b in which they will construct their projects and develop demonstration plans, with an additional $60,000 cash prize available for each TCU. In Phase 3, all teams will gather to share what they learned, and winning teams will be awarded up to a $75,000 cash prize. Phases 1 was due Dec. 2024; 2a, is due April 2025; 2b, due Sept. 25; and Phase 3, Nov. 2025. Read more about the prize and semifinalists at https://www.herox.com/TCUenergyandfood. This is the Office of Indian Energy's first prize in the American-Made program, which incentivizes innovation through prizes, training, teaming and mentoring by connecting the nation's entrepreneurs and innovators to America's national labs and the private sector. Logan Health's third annual stationary bike relay event, CycleMT, returns on Saturday, March 8, 2025, bringing communities together to raise funds for Montana children and young adults facing medical hardships. CycleMT will once again be hosted at two locations: Flathead Valley Community College's Wachholz College Center in Kalispell and the Joe Meagher Memorial Civic Center in Cut Bank starting at 9 a.m. Teams of up to ten riders will take turns pedaling for 20-minute intervals on stationary bikes, with their distances tracked in real time. Each team is encouraged to raise a minimum of $1,500 through peer-to-peer fundraising, with all proceeds benefiting Montana youth in need of medical-related support. File photo "This event is a testimony to what we can accomplish when communities come together for a common purpose," said Kevin Abel, CEO of Logan Health. "Every dollar raised translates into life-changing support for children and families across Montana. We're incredibly proud to host this event and witness the difference it makes year after year." Since its launch in 2023, CycleMT has raised more than $200,000, providing critical resources such as adaptive equipment, therapy services and home modifications for 21 children across the state. In 2024, Logan Health distributed funds to families in need, supporting items like modified tricycles, sensory tools, wheelchairs and alternative therapies, including music and equine therapy. One such impact was felt by 10-year-old Jaxen, who lives with infantile Pompe disease, a condition that affects his speech and mobility. Thanks to CycleMT supporters, Jaxen now has an ADA-compliant bathroom designed to grow with him, fostering his independence for years to come. "Upgrading our bathroom has been life-changing for Jaxen," shared Erin Hoch, Jaxen's mother. "This project gives him the freedom to do things on his own, and as a parent, there's no greater gift than seeing your child thrive. We're so grateful for this program and the incredible support that made this possible." CycleMT continues to bridge the gap for families, turning barriers into opportunities for growth and independence. All proceeds go toward a fund supporting Montana children and young adults under age 21 with medical hardships that are not covered by other means of funding, Logan Health patients and non-patients alike. To register a team for the event, donate to support Montana's kids, or apply for CycleMT funding, visit logan.org/CycleMT. Rodeo is a multidimensional sport richly faceted. It is a wild west show, horse exhibition, fierce competition, and family reunion, all rolled into one. One of those facets is a human's deep bond with a horse. Except for bull riding, each event directly involves a human and his or her intense relationship with at least one animal. Horses in this sport range from those who don't want a person on their back to those who will race at breakneck speed around three steel cans and back, in front of a screaming crowd in under 14 seconds. Humans can talk for hours about each kind. Dustin Bird owned, arguably, one of greatest team roping horses of all time called Dolly. Bird won numerous titles riding her, including trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Dolly has gone on to reproduce, in embryo form. Hopefully, to grow more champions like her. Bird had to borrow two horses for the Finals this year, and still won round two, second in round three, placed second in the aggregate, and third in the year end. Bird was also a stock contractor, supplying steers for the rodeo. Bird is keenly aware of the value of a great horse and animals to the rodeo industry. Abby Knight from Charlo, MT has been riding, training and competing with horses all her life, as her parents before her. She traveled with three to the Montana Circuit Finals last weekend in Great Falls for a weekend of intense competition. She cares for them like valuable cargo and friends in all kinds of weather. She was successful this weekend winning one go round, a second, a third, the aggregate, the year end title, a saddle, two buckles, and prize money around $10,000. She stood on the award stage and thanked her parents, and support team, but largely the credit goes to a home raised horse named Pistol. When asked, "What do you think Pistol thinks?" She replied, "Nothing." What she meant was, he does what I want him to do and takes care of me in the process, with little to no resistance. Sparky Dreeson rodeo contractor of J Bar J Rodeo Co. has 95 bucking mares, knows their blood lines, names, personalities, and work assignments. He speaks of them like family and the coworkers they are. Like all horsemen do. Chinas Spring Festival travel rush a reflection of vitality and openness Global Times) 10:02, January 15, 2025 Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The Spring Festival travel rush in China kicked off on Tuesday. This is the first Spring Festival travel rush following the announcement of an eight-day Spring Festival holiday, the expansion of visa-free policies, and the official inscription of the Spring Festival on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Approximately 9 billion inter-regional trips are expected during the 40-day travel surge, with passenger volumes for both rail and civil aviation trips also set to hit record highs, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The Spring Festival travel rush epitomizes China's rapid economic and social development. This phenomenon is rooted in China's ever-growing economy, rapid infrastructure development, and the surge in living standards. Moreover, the blending of culture, tourism, and transportation enables traditional festivals, such as the Spring Festival, to take on new forms. It's no longer just a rush to return home; rather, it has become a manifestation of the integration of culture and tourism. Traveling during the Spring Festival has emerged as a new trend, showcasing the creative transformation and innovative development of modern Chinese Spring Festival culture, according to Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher from the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration. This year's Spring Festival travel may feature more international factors than ever before. According to data from Chinese travel service website Ctrip, the number of travel orders from foreign tourists to China during this year's Spring Festival holiday increased by more than 200 percent year-on-year. Orders from South Korean tourists increased by 452 percent year-on-year, while Singapore, Japan and the US are also significant source countries of foreign tourists visiting China. This is closely tied to China's gradual expansion of its list of unilateral visa-free countries and the extended visa-free entry policy in 2024. Currently, ordinary passport holders from above 38 countries are exempted from requiring a visa to enter China (they can stay for no more than 30 days). The stay duration for foreign nationals eligible for visa-free transit has been extended from the previous 72 hours and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). An increasing number of foreign visitors are eager to experience traditional activities celebrating the Spring Festival. Moreover, foreigners are no longer just visiting first- and second-tier cities; they are increasingly exploring third- and fourth-tier cities to learn more about China. This reflects the allure of the intangible cultural heritage associated with, but not limited to, the Spring Festival, as well as China's ongoing efforts to open up to the world. The Spring Festival travel rush is not merely an emotional connection for the Chinese people; it also reflects China's cultural soft power and international influence. It serves as a unique bridge linking China to the world, showcasing the charm of Chinese culture. This travel rush, which symbolizes the deep-seated emotions of the Chinese nation, uniquely captures the country's development and opening-up, while also highlighting the vibrancy of China and the improving living standards of its people. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Cows graze in a Petaluma field in December. California has enacted a ban on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows in response to the spread of H5N1 bird flu. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images California has enacted a ban on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows in response to the spread of H5N1 bird flu, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture. The ban, issued last week in a notice by State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones, will remain in place until further notice. Officials have confirmed bird flu cases at 65 dairy farms in the state over the past 30 days. Gov. Gavin Newsom previously declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak, which has affected over 15 million birds since August. Advertisement Article continues below this ad California is the current epicenter of the outbreak. On Friday, public health officials announced the first case of bird flu in a person detected in San Francisco, marking the 67th human infection in the United States since H5N1 began circulating in early 2024, and the 38th in the state. Jones emphasized the need for cooperation among owners of dairy cows and poultry flocks to curb the diseases spread, advising against moving or comingling infected animals. The cooperation of cow and bird owners is critical in controlling this disease, she said. The ban could significantly impact Californias summer fair season, especially in the Bay Area, which hosts major events like the Marin, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Alameda and Napa county fairs. Poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions have been banned until further notice at shows and fairs in in California including the Marin County Fair in San Rafael, shown in 2022 due to the spread of H5N1 bird flu, state agriculture officials announced. Ethan Swope/The Chronicle Butte County Fair CEO Matt Reed confirmed that the fair will not hold a poultry show but may reconsider if the ban is lifted. The Nevada County Fair, scheduled for August, remains uncertain. Deputy Manager Katie Bielen said, Were continuing to plan, but well adapt if needed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad H5N1 bird flu, which is highly contagious and often fatal to poultry, is primarily spread by wild birds. In cows, it can cause respiratory issues, reduced milk production and fever. Poultry may show symptoms like sudden death, lethargy and swelling. Health officials say avian flu still poses a low risk to the general public, and there has been no sign of human-to-human transmission. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said it is closely monitoring the situation and will reassess the ban in the coming months. California Assembly members meet on June 13, 2024. New laws that took effect in California this year ban medical debt from credit reports, allow public health inspections of private immigration detention centers and stop toxic chemicals in makeup. Don Feria/Special to the Chronicle SACRAMENTO As the nation braces for potential policy shifts under President-elect Donald Trumps Make America Healthy Again mantra, the nations most populous state and largest health care market is preparing for a few changes of its own. With supermajorities in both houses, Democrats in the California Legislature passed and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws taking effect this year that will erase medical debt from credit reports, allow public health officials to inspect immigrant detention centers, and require health insurance companies to cover fertility services such as in vitro fertilization. Still, industry experts say it was a relatively quiet year for health policy in the Golden State, with more attention on a divisive presidential election and with several state legislators seeking to avoid controversial issues as they ran for Congress in competitive swing districts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Newsom shot down some of legislators most ambitious health care policies, including proposals that would have regulated pharmaceutical industry middlemen and given the state more power to stop private equity deals in health care. Health policy experts say advocates and legislators are now focused on how to defend progressive California policies such as sweeping abortion access in the state and health coverage for immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization. I think everyones just thinking about how were going to enter 2025, said Rachel Linn Gish, a spokesperson with the consumer health advocacy group Health Access California. Were figuring out what is vulnerable, what we are exposed to on the federal side, and what do budget changes mean for our work. Thats kind of putting a cloud over everything. Here are some of the biggest new health care laws Californians should know about: Medical debt California becomes the eighth state in which medical debt will no longer affect patients credit reports or credit scores. SB1061 bars health care providers and debt collectors from reporting unpaid medical bills to credit bureaus, a practice that supporters of the law say penalizes people for seeking critical care and can make it harder for patients to get a job, buy a car or secure a mortgage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Critics including the California Association of Collectors called the measure from Sen. Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) a tremendous overreach and successfully lobbied for amendments that limited the scope of the bill, including an exemption for any medical debt incurred on credit cards. The Biden administration has proposed nationwide federal rules that would stop unpaid medical bills from affecting patients credit scores, but the fate of those changes remains unclear as Trump takes office. Psychiatric hospital stays for violent offenders Violent offenders with severe mental illness can now be held longer after a judge orders them released from a state mental hospital. State officials and local law enforcement will now have 30 days to coordinate housing, medication and behavioral health treatment for those parolees, giving them far more time than the five-day deadline previously in effect. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill drew overwhelming bipartisan support after a high-profile case in San Francisco in which a 61-year-old man was charged in the repeated stabbing of a bakery employee just days after his release from a state mental hospital. The bills author, Assembly Member Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), called the previous five-day timeline dangerously short. Cosmetics and forever chemicals California was the first state to ban PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, in all cosmetics sold and manufactured within its borders. The synthetic compounds, found in everyday products including rain jackets, food packaging, lipstick and shaving cream, have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and diminished immune function and have been increasingly detected in drinking water. Industry representatives have argued that use of PFAS perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances is critical in some products and that some can be safely used at certain levels. Immigration detention facilities After COVID-19 outbreaks, contaminated water and moldy food became the subjects of detainee complaints and lawsuits, state legislators gave local county health officials the authority to enter and inspect privately run immigrant detention centers. SB1132, from Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), gives public health officials the ability to evaluate whether privately run facilities are complying with state and local public health regulations regarding proper ventilation, basic mental and physical health care, and food safety. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although the federal government regulates immigration, six federal detention centers in California are operated by the GEO Group. One of the countrys largest private prison contractors, GEO has faced a litany of complaints related to health and safety. Unlike public prisons and jails, which are inspected annually, these facilities would be inspected only as deemed necessary. The contractor filed suit in October to stop implementation of the law, saying it unconstitutionally oversteps the federal governments authority to regulate immigration detention centers. A hearing in the case is set for March 3, said Bethany Lesser, a spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The law took effect Jan. 1. A bill to extend psychiatric hospital stays drew overwhelming bipartisan support after a high-profile San Francisco case in which a 61-year-old man was charged with stabbing a bakery employee just days after his release from a state mental hospital. Andri Tambunan/Special to the Chronicle 2024 Doctors versus insurance companies using AI As major insurance companies increasingly use artificial intelligence as a tool to analyze patient claims and authorize some treatment, trade groups representing doctors are concerned that AI algorithms are driving an increase in denials for necessary care. Legislators unanimously agreed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SB1120 states that decisions about whether a treatment is medically necessary can be made only by licensed, qualified physicians or other health care providers who review a patients medical history and other records. Sick leave and protected time off Two new laws expand the circumstances under which California workers may use sick days and other leave. SB1105 entitles farmworkers who work outdoors to take paid sick leave to avoid heat, smoke, or flooding when local or state officials declare an emergency. AB2499 expands the list of reasons employees may take paid sick days or use protected unpaid leave to include assisting a family member who is experiencing domestic violence or other violent crimes. Prescription labels for the visually impaired Starting this year, pharmacies will be required to provide drug labels and use instructions in braille, large print or audio for blind patients. Advocates of the move said state law, which already required translated instructions in five languages for non-English speakers, has overlooked blind patients, making it difficult for them to monitor prescriptions and take the correct dosage. Maternal mental health screenings Health insurers will be required to bolster maternal mental health programs by mandating additional screenings to better detect perinatal depression, which affects 1 in 5 people who give birth in California, according to state data. Pregnant people will now undergo screenings at least once during pregnancy and then six weeks postpartum, with further screenings as providers deem necessary. Penalties for threatening health care workers (abortion clinics) With abortion care at the center of national policy fights, California is cracking down on those who threaten, post personal information about, or otherwise target providers or patients at clinics that perform abortions. Penalties for such behavior will increase under AB2099, and offenders can face felony charges, up to three years in jail, and $50,000 in fines for repeat or violent offenses. Previously, state law classified many of those offenses as misdemeanors. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a 2023 news conference in Sacramento. He asked legislators last year to delay until 2026 the implementation of a law requiring insurance companies to cover infertility treatments. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Insurance coverage for IVF Starting in July, state-regulated health plans covering 50 employees or more would be required to cover fertility services under SB729, passed and signed last year. Advocates have long fought for this benefit, which they say is essential care for many families who have trouble getting pregnant and would ensure LGBTQ+ couples arent required to pay more out-of-pocket costs than straight couples when starting a family. In a signing statement, Newsom asked legislators to delay implementation of the law until 2026 as state officials consider whether to add infertility treatments to the list of benefits that insurance plans are required to cover. Its unclear whether legislators intend to address that this session, but a spokesperson for the governor said that Newsom clearly stated his position on the need for an extension and that he will continue to work with the Legislature on the matter. Arguably the last Labour governments most memorable slogan was education, education, education. If I had to come up with one for this lot, it would be legislation, legislation, legislation. But then what do you expect if you elect a nit-picking human rights lawyer as Prime Minister? Forget common sense; its all about shiny new directives that may sound great on the face of it, but more often than not mask a sinister agenda. The Governments proposed workers rights legislation, which is expected to come into force next year, is a case in point. It places a duty on bosses to protect their employees from harassment in the workplace. Sarah is bemused that 'ethical veganism' is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act Hurrah, a fine sentiment indeed. But examine the proposals more closely and it quickly becomes clear that the repercussions could be far more serious and far-reaching than anticipated. For example, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), one of the consequences of this Act would be that pubs would find themselves forced to ban customers from discussing contentious topics such as religious beliefs or transgender rights if theres a risk that their views might constitute harassment of staff. A conversation would count as harassment if it has the purpose or effect of violating the recipients dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. This is compounded if it is an opinion about a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, such as religious beliefs, views on womens and transgender rights, political philosophies and (astonishingly) ethical veganism. Starmer's brave new world is an impressive example of double-think, even for him In other words, if you want to have any kind of discussion, serious or otherwise, about any of the important or controversial issues today, stay at home lest you accidentally offend some eavesdropping snowflake. Welcome to Starmers brave new world, where diversity means shutting down free speech and censorship and dogma are promoted in the name of tolerance. As an example of double-think, its quite an impressive one, even for him. The irony of this isnt lost on most intelligent people, not least the writer Julie Burchill. Last year, she and a group of middle-aged women were ejected from a pub in Hove because they were having a discussion about the rights and wrongs of teaching gender ideology in schools. Julie Burchill and friends were kicked out of a pub in Hove for discussing gender ideology Apparently a complaint was made about the subject matter, and as a result the landlord requested that they leave. There was widespread outrage at their treatment. Toby Young, director of the Free Speech Union, claimed the pub did not have a leg to stand on. Under this new legislation, the opposite would be true. In fact, the landlord would be under a legal obligation to ban them. But there is another, more prosaic reason for objecting to this nonsense. The hospitality industry, and pubs in particular, have not had an easy time of late. Covid, the cost of living crisis, the recent NI hike theyve all taken their toll. The last thing they need is another set of bureaucratic hoops to jump through. Something like this could be the last straw for many landlords. And that would be a great shame. Pubs are a quintessential part of the British identity, vital social hubs, especially in rural areas (perhaps thats why the Government are doing this: they clearly hate the countryside). One of the great joys of life is meeting friends in your local, sinking a few lemonades and putting the world to rights over a packet of pork scratchings (no doubt also soon to be banned lets not forget those ethical vegans). Pubs occupy a unique social space somewhere between your own front room and an actual restaurant, less formal and more familiar than the latter but more social than the former. Theres nothing quite like the buzz of a packed pub. All human life is here: its somewhere you can go with the dog, where its fine to be on your own or with friends, where no one minds if you get slightly over-refreshed and make a fool of yourself. The upper classes have their swanky members clubs; ordinary people have pubs, places where people of all ages and social persuasions can and do mingle. Inevitably, there are differences of opinion; inevitably, there are customers who sometimes step out of line. But generations of landlords and landladies have always known how to police their own premises, without the need for interference from the state. No employer, especially not one whos serving alcohol for a living, can guarantee the rights of their staff not to be offended. Its just in the nature of the beast. If this legislation comes into place, it will be another nail in the coffin of the great British pub. But then perhaps thats just what this joyless, sanctimonious Government wants. Melania Trumps her husband All eyes will be on Melania Trump next week, as her husband is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. Melania admits in an interview for a documentary that she doesn't always agree with Donald Has there ever been a more enigmatic First Lady than this feline creature? I dont always agree with my husband, she said this week, in an interview promoting a behind the scenes documentary about her life. Perhaps not. But something tells me he ALWAYS agrees with her. The Spanish governments proposals to slap a 100 per cent property tax on Brits looking to buy a home in Spain is a classic example of socialism cutting off its nose to spite its face. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claims hes doing it to make housing more affordable for Spaniards. But given that the population of Spain is almost 50 million and the number of properties bought by foreigners in 2023 was less than 30,000 (most of whom were not British, rather Asian and American), its not really going to make any difference. By contrast, all the builders, restaurateurs, shops and others whose livelihoods depend on foreign investment will feel the pinch keenly. Social media is full of influencers and content creators bleating about Americas proposed TikTok ban. Poor loves. God forbid they should have to get a real job. The Prime Minister has been extolling the virtues of AI, but then hes not about to be replaced by a robot (although how would we know?). Comedian Jenny Eclair, on the other hand, is. Shes furious about a new podcast featuring a deep fake version of Michael Parkinson, who died in 2023, interviewing modern-day celebrities. There are living people like me whove still got mortgages, she told Good Morning Britain. Quite. News that Netflix has overtaken BBC1 in the UK will no doubt send shivers down the spines of executives at Broadcasting House. But theyve only themselves to blame. The BBC has a huge archive and a worldwide reputation for excellence and yet none of it is available outside the UK because of restrictions attached to the licence fee. If the Corporation could just muster the courage to detach from the taxpayers teat and launch its streaming services worldwide, I have no doubt it would be more than a match for the likes of Netflix. But that would take courage and vision, something successive Director Generals have been distinctly lacking. Wonderful news that the Princess of Wales is cancer-free. She looked radiant as she visited the Marsden Hospital in London. Amazing too that she managed to endure treatment without it affecting her famous mane. It will be a great encouragement to fellow sufferers. Elon Musk is said to be in talks with China to buy TikToks US arm ahead of Americas planned ban of the app on security grounds. If he succeeds, that would not only make him the richest man in the world, but also the most powerful. I dont subscribe to this whole Musk is evil nonsense. But even I can see that might be worrying. Do Harry and Meghan require a protocol expert to guide them? Their statement on the California wildfires was headed Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Quite why Meghan wasnt called princess, which she is as the wife of a prince, is a mystery. On son Archies birth certificate, she listed herself HRH The Duchess of Sussex and occupation as Princess of the United Kingdom. By the time of daughter Lilibets birth, she was simply Rachel Meghan Markle (not a Mountbatten-Windsor), with no occupation listed. Should she have a third child, will the birth certificate list her as jam maker? On son Archies birth certificate, Meghan Markle listed herself HRH The Duchess of Sussex and occupation as Princess of the United Kingdom Newly released official documents say the late Queen wasnt told her trusted art adviser Anthony Blunt was a Russian spy until nine years after his 1964 confession. But his KGB connections were an open secret at Buckingham Palace long before. Tommy Lascelles, private secretary to George VI and the Queen, routinely referred to Blunt as our Russian spy. King George sent Blunt on a mission to Germany in 1945 to recover documents linking Edward VIII to Hitler. He also retrieved letters written by Philip to his sisters (three of whom were married to Nazi Party members). These remain secreted in the Royal Archives in what courtiers call Room 101, where papers the family dont want anyone to see disappear. Anthony Blunt, former surveyor of the Queen's pictures, photographed at the Courtauld Institute in 1970 with Queen Elizabeth II Rachel Reeves is adept at hoovering up other peoples money to throw into her black hole, but one perk has eluded her grasp. The Arts Council has valued John le Carres literary archives, now in the care of Oxfords Bodleian Library, at 1.5m. This means his sons can offset that amount against their inheritance tax bill. Rachel could hardly dent the Treasurys black hole with Le Carres loot, but every little helps. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaking in the House of Commons, Westminster, answering questions from MPs for the first time since her return from a trip to China criticised by political opponents for coinciding with a week of volatility for the pound and soaring yields on UK bonds Veteran Shakespearean actress Dame Judi Dench told Trinny Woodall that she described the Bard as the man who pays the rent. Was he the man, asked the beauty guru, who later in your career helped pay the mortgage? No, replied Judi. That was Clover butter. Veteran Shakespearean actress Dame Judi Dench told Trinny Woodall that she described the Bard as the man who pays the rent Alan Cumming, appearing as a dandy Scottish laird as host of the US version of The Traitors at the same castle where Claudia Winkleman presents the British version, cant resist a dig at his rival. I think its so hilarious that the American version of this show is much campier and more theatrical than the British version. 'I dont think that that can ever have happened before. And I think its because of our work. Lets hear it for Alan appearing in Claudias Mr Mittens jumbo-sized jumper and Spanx leggings! Alan Cumming said of the UK Traitors show: I think its so hilarious that the American version of this show is much campier and more theatrical than the British version' Coleen Rooney clarifies for chum Gary Neville her husband Waynes annoying habit of using a whirring hair dryer to help him sleep. She explains that when she shares the marital bedroom, he uses a fan instead. A blowy one? asks Gary, cheekily. Not three people in the bed, no, replies Coleen with a straight face. You know you are innocent. But somehow it has not gone that way in court, and you gape in dismay as the jury foreman declares you guilty. Down the bare concrete stairs you go, suddenly experiencing the humiliations faced by the convicted prisoner. On go the handcuffs. Off come the shoelaces and the tie. The outside world falls away from you, as the iron door closes and the first of many long waits begins. Yet you are no longer in a position to fret about timewasting. You have all the time in the world, and plenty of people ready and waiting to waste it for you. Most of those you used to know turn their backs on you. They will begin to despise you because like most people they think theres no smoke without fire and that the police and courts are generally fair and just. But you still know you are innocent while you are locked in a small cubicle in the prison van, innocent while the photographers try to catch a shot of you through the vans tiny window, innocent while you are processed into prison and as you shuffle, in your grubby jail clothes and ill-fitting prisoners shoes, into your cell with a few possessions in a clear plastic bag. You are now among the most powerless people in the country. You have to fight to make a phone call. Your correspondence is monitored. You have no money. You may well be a pariah. Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, stands outside the Royal Courts of Justice after being cleared of the crime The media can and do say anything they like about you now, as you are a convicted criminal and so you have no character to protect. How on earth are you ever going to get out? Yet you remain innocent. But, you will think, in free, law-governed Britain you can surely hope that the injustice will be righted. You will walk free. The authorities will apologise, declare you innocent and compensate you generously for the lost years. Except that this will not happen, or at least not until you are much older, and permanently marked by prison. Even if you have determined allies outside who believe in your innocence, you may have to endure nearly two decades amid the hard alien walls and gates of prison, eating slop, avoiding violence and drugs, cut off from sunlight and space, your future withering as your present wears slowly away. Horribly, Andrew Malkinson now 58 is among the luckier victims of such injustice, after being wrongly convicted of rape and released only after 17 years. He has now at least regained his freedom and will (eventually) be compensated. But you wouldnt want to be lucky in the way that he is lucky. As he revealed on BBC Radio 4 yesterday, he still has had no money from a state which stole many of the best years of his life from him. Even when he gets the cash, it will not make up for those slow months of eradicated hope. This sort of thing is much more common than you think. In 2021, the University of Exeter opened a registry of miscarriages of justice in this country since 1970. One of the registrys founders, Professor Rebecca Helm, said: When people discuss miscarriages of justice in the UK, they often refer to famous cases such as the cases of the Guildford Four or Birmingham Six. Former nurse Lucy Letby was jailed for life for murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and attempting to murder seven others However, these cases represent the tip of the iceberg and miscarriages of justice still occur quite frequently. As Sir David Davis MP pointed out last week in Parliament, the registry database now lists nearly 500 people wrongfully imprisoned. In my belief this gets worse all the time. A politicised, failing police force is under pressure to deliver convictions. The Crown Prosecution Service is in the same fix. Many barristers will admit that there is a general decline in court standards as the money available for thorough trials grows less and less. The risk of a wrongful conviction increases all the time. But how many of us care about cuts in the justice and legal aid budget until it affects us personally? Now, towering over all the other cases of alleged injustice is the Lucy Letby affair. Since it became legally possible to discuss her case, she has received powerful backing from Sir David Davis, a former Cabinet Minister, from a new barrister, from expert doctors, from statisticians, from media figures and I suspect a growing number of members of the public. There are serious disputes about whether she had a fair trial, and about whether the jury were told anything like everything they needed to know about what was going on in the Countess of Chester Hospital. They should have known much, much more before reaching their verdicts about the babies she is said to have murdered or attacked. But Ms Letby, who recently turned 35, has no immediate prospect of a retrial or an appeal hearing, let alone of release. Going by experience, she could be in prison, segregated from her fellow inmates to keep her from danger, for another ten years, by which time she will have no chance of a normal life. If she is guilty, then that is too bad. But if she is innocent, as she says she is, then it is an intolerable scandal. Why must it take so horribly, disastrously long to resolve? This is an urgent matter. Helen Pitcher, who has just been ousted from her job as chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, partly because of complaints over the CCRCs handling of the Andrew Malkinson appeal And yet there is no sense of urgency in the Government machine. The Appeal Court has flatly refused to hear an appeal in her case. This is quite normal, for a court which has always hated to overturn verdicts. The only real recourse for anyone wrongly convicted is a body based in Birmingham, called the Criminal Case Review Commission. Its head, Helen Pitcher, has just been ousted from her job, partly because of complaints over the CCRCs handling of the Malkinson appeal though a report by a KC found that Malkinson could have been exonerated almost a decade earlier than he was, well before she took over. Surely much of the problem lies with the CCRC itself. It was set up in 1997, partly to spare future Home Secretaries (and later, Justice Secretaries) from the difficult task of reopening notorious cases such as the Letby one. Relations between the CCRC and the Justice Ministry are widely believed to be poor, as Helen Pitcher would no doubt agree. The CCRC is also short of resources and overwhelmed with work. By all appearances it needs far more full-time expert staff and leadership than it has now. It has sent 850 cases back to the courts in the 27 years since it began operating. But last year it received 1,600 new applications, and its backlog of cases is frighteningly large and growing. What chance, then of a swift resolution of the Letby matter? If we are going to send people to prison, especially, as in Lucy Letbys case, for the rest of their lives, then we need to be wholly sure that they ought to be there. It is unbearable to think that she may one day be released, but only after a decade of undeserved misery because our system is just too slow to put injustice right. Women whose lives have been destroyed by abusive men have slammed the judicial system after Ryan Wellings was cleared of manslaughter following his partner's suicide after he subjected her to a disgusting campaign of abuse. Kiena Dawes, 23, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, took her own life after enduring more than two years of horrific domestic abuse at the hands of Wellings, whose fate was decided at Preston Crown Court on Monday. Although cleared of manslaughter, Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour for the terrifying abuse he inflicted upon Kiena. The first defendant to be tried for unlawful killing of his partner who died by suicide following domestic abuse, Wellings egregiously blew a kiss to his current girlfriend from the dock after being found not guilty over Kiena's death - at which point Kiena's sister burst into tears. The verdict has caused uproar among Kiena's loved ones, after the mother of a baby girl wrote in a heartbreaking suicide note: 'I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me.' During the trial, jurors heard how Wellings repeatedly lash out at Kiena, a hairdresser, beating her while she was pregnant with his child, as well as threatening to drown her in a bath, drill her teeth and 'make her look like Katie Piper' by dousing her with acid. The 30-year-old also urged Ms Dawes to kill herself, boasted that 'hitting you is like hitting a man' and, on one occasion, dunked her head in a bath and said: 'Say goodbye to your baby'. In one incident just 11 days before Ms Dawes' death, on July 11, 2022 he 'launched' her into a radiator with such force it broke the appliance off the wall, then slammed a door in her face - knocking her out and leaving her with blood pouring from her head. Kiena Dawes (pictured) from Fleetwood, Lancashire. died by suicide after enduring more than two years of domestic abuse at the hands of Ryan Wellings, who was yesterday cleared of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court She called police at least five times reporting domestic problems with Wellings. While she frequently downplayed her abuse to officers - due to threats from her partner - she did make a statement about the assault on July 11. Leaving a heartbreaking suicide note, Kiena wrote: 'I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.' In the note, she also shared her hopes that police would act 'faster' in cases like hers - and three police officers are now facing disciplinary proceedings. Speaking outside the court on Monday after Wellings was cleared of manslaughter, Kiena's mother Angela apologised to her 'beautiful' daughter for failing to get 'justice' for her. Now victims of domestic abuse and families of women who took their own lives following abuse at the hands of their partners have opened up about the pain they have been caused by abusive men - and slammed the verdict in Wellings' case. They have accused the jury at Preston Crown Court of a total lack of understanding over the devastating consequences of domestic abuse and called upon the authorities to provide more support for victims. 'The jury didn't understand' - Sharon Holland Sharon Holland's 23-year-old daughter Chloe (pictured together) took her own life in February 2023 after enduring months of physical and psychological abuse from her partner Marc Masterton, 26, who controlled Chloe's appearance, isolated her from her friends and family and even encouraged her to kill herself, was sentenced to just 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour in October 2023 Sharon Holland, 51, told FEMAIL she has barely stopped crying since Wellings was cleared of Kiena Dawes's manslaughter - after her own daughter took her life in February 2023 following horrific abuse from her partner. Chloe Holland, 23, died by suicide after she had endured months of physical and psychological abuse from Marc Masterson. Masterson, 26, controlled Chloe's appearance, isolated her from her friends and encouraged her to kill herself during their relationship. On one occasion, Masterson assaulted Chloe with a dumbbell before handing her a knife and ordering her to harm herself. In his brutal beatings, he deliberately gave her black eyes so she would be unable to see her baby son. He even put a tracking device on her phone which prevented her from escaping him and ensured he could claw her back into his clutches on the occasions when she did break free from him. Just before her death in February 2023, Chloe reported Masterson to Hampshire Police, who opened an investigation. But due to the severe psychological impact of what she endured, she took her own life. On one occasion, Masterson assaulted Chloe with a dumbbell before handing her a knife and ordering her to harm herself But due to the severe psychological impact of what she endured, she took her own life. Sharon (pictured), 51, from Portsmouth, spoke to FEMAIL shortly after Masterson's sentencing to raise awareness of domestic abuse The abuser even put a tracking device on her phone, preventing her from escaping him. Just before her death in February 2023, Chloe reported Masterson to Hampshire Police, who opened an investigation Masterson was arrested and charged with coercive and controlling behaviour, to which he pleaded guilty in October 2023. He was sentenced to just 41 months in prison. Chloe's bereaved mother Sharon, 51, opened up shortly after Masterson was sentenced to raise awareness of how domestic abuse can have fatal consequences. Now campaigning to make homicide by coercive control a specific crime in the UK, Sharon slammed the length of her daughter's abuser's sentence while describing how his horrific actions affected Chloe. 'No amount of time in prison will bring my daughter back,' the mother-of-four said. 'But less than five years for contributing to her death just isn't fair.' Kiena Dawes's story brings back painful memories for Sharon, who can't help but draw parallels with her daughter. Speaking on Monday, Sharon said: 'Since the verdict came in I've been crying on and off all day. I feel so angry. 'Kiena's case echoes Chloe's so much and I'm heartbroken the family haven't received justice for what he did to her. Another child has been left without a mother due to abuse. 'There's such a stigma around suicide and what leads a victim to take their life. People need to understand the toll abuse and coercive control has on someone's mental health. 'Reading the case details was shocking. Abusers make women feel like they can't think for themselves and that they have no one and nowhere to turn for help. The worthlessness they feel causes irreversible psychological damage. 'The jury clearly didn't understand the devastating affects coercive control have on a person's mental health. 'Watching the videos of him laughing after being charged with manslaughter disgusted me. 'And blowing kisses to his girlfriend and smirking in court after the verdict was read. Does he have no remorse for his daughter no longer having a mother? What sort of person does that? It's horrific. 'Like Chloe, Kiena was utterly failed by authorities. They should've taken more notice and protected her. When is it going to stop? Something has to change before more women die.' 'My heart goes out to her family' - Tracey Coupland Tracey Coupland, whose ex-partner beat her and threw boiling water over her, has revealed she was driven to attempt suicide because of the abuse Kiena Dawes's case will no doubt bring up painful memories for Tracey Coupland, 51, who was abused so badly by her ex-partner, she was driven to attempt suicide. During an eight-year campaign of harassment and violence, Mark Bagworth, 55, put crushed glass inside Tracey's shoes, hid her car keys and urinated on the family's rabbit. At 6'2', he kicked 4' 11' Tracey, who has a chronic degenerative bone disorder, until she was covered in blood. Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court in August last year, Bagworth pleaded guilty to two charges of ABH and harassment without violence and was handed a 23-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, 30 days of rehabilitation and a 10-year restraining order. Human resources specialist Tracey is now rebuilding her life. In the wake of Kiena's death, she has reflected on how her own life could have taken a very dark turn, had she not walked away from Bagworth. During an eight-year campaign of harassment and violence, Mark Bagworth, 55, put crushed glass inside Tracey's shoes, hid her car keys and urinated on the family's rabbit The mother-of-one from Derbyshire, said: 'If I hadn't left Mark, I think I'd have ended up dead. It took so much courage to leave him, but it saved my life. 'To the outside world, I had a good job, I was educated and comfortably off. People could not have dreamed what I was going through day after day. 'People tried to warn me and tell me about him, but he was so far inside my head, he had complete control over me. I couldn't think for myself. My life was consumed by him totally. 'Over time, he systematically removed everyone who mattered to me, alienating me from friends and family, so that I felt I had nobody left to confide in.' As Bagworth's insidious campaign of abuse against Tracey continued, he subjected her to indirect 'punishments' for things she had done to upset him. 'He cut up my daughter's hair extensions. He insisted it wasn't him, but I knew, logically, it had to be. Yet I questioned whether I was going mad. 'Once when he was very angry, he urinated on my daughter's rabbit. Another time, he left the front door open and our kitten escaped and we never saw it again.' In arguments, Mark would throw ashtrays or pots at Tracey, who suffers from a bone disorder. Then, in February 2019, he threw boiling water over her on two occasions. At 6'2', he kicked 4' 11' Tracey, who has a chronic degenerative bone disorder, until she was covered in blood At Lincoln Crown Court in August last year, Bagworth pleaded guilty to two charges of ABH and harassment without violence and was handed a 23-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, 30 days of rehabilitation and a ten-year restraining order She said: 'We had visitors and I went into the kitchen to make drinks. Mark was on the phone in there and he was so angry at me disturbing him that he chucked the kettle towards me splashing my arm with boiling water. It took him two attempts to make sure he got me.' 'I was so ashamed, I didn't even cry out. I just ran upstairs to change my clothes and carried on as if nothing had happened. 'To the outside world, I was someone with a successful career and a happy family and I blamed myself for what was happening to me. At work, I covered my bruises with make-up and people presumed I had injuries from my horses.' After suffering at Bagworth's hands for years, Tracey reached a point where she could see no other way out. She recalled: 'I got so desperate that I took an overdose, all the medication I could find in the house, and I went to sleep on the sofa. 'It was a genuine attempt to end my life because I saw no way out. Luckily, I survived, and I felt so ashamed that I considered leaving my daughter. Yet I know the shame belongs to the abuser and not to the victim. 'My heart goes out to the family of Kiena Dawes; to take her own life and leave her daughter behind, she must have been at the lowest point possible.' Tracey said it is vital to speak out - to the right people - and get help. She said: 'Family members, however well-meaning, might not be the best people to talk to - and to hear a stranger horrified by what you see as your normal life is powerful. 'I spoke to a domestic abuse helpline, and I was eventually referred to Derbyshire Wish. I also had support at work. 'Now, over a year on, I am still receiving support. The damage will never fully heal. For months afterwards, I used to ask myself: 'What would Mark do? What would Mark say?'.' 'I had lost the ability to be myself. That is slowly coming back now. For everyone trapped in an abusive relationship, I would beg you to speak to a professional. They will help you and your life will get better.' 'I can relate to Kiena' - Jolene Norman Jolene Norman, who feared for her life after attacks by her ex-partner, has spoken of her heartbreak at the death of Kiena Dawes Jolene Norman read Kiena Dawes's story and felt intense empathy for her, having also been subject to horrific abuse at the hands of a partner. The mother-of-two, 31, lied to her family members about her partner Dale Gretsy's physical and emotional abuse because she was 'trauma-bonded' to him. Gretsy, also known as Dale Scott, was jailed for 32 months in December 2022 after attacking Jolene in her home. A mother-of-two Jolene, 31, said: 'Reading about Kiena, I can relate so much to her. You feel trauma bonded and worthless, and you feel trapped and lonely. You want to ask for help but you're not always strong enough. 'I even lied to family members to hide what he was doing to me. I was at such a low point when I was in the abuse.' Jolene, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, met Gretsy in late 2019 on social media and soon discovered they had mutual friends. Although he seemed friendly at first, Jolene says Dale's behaviour changed when his grandfather died and he attacked her in a drunken rage. In a horrific attack, triggered by jealousy, Gresty cut Jolene with scissors, broke her bathroom door in two and threatened to pour acetone into her wounds. Dale Gresty, also known as Dale Scott, then-31, was jailed for 32 months in December 2022 after attacking Jolene in her home A mother-of-two Jolene, 31, said: 'Reading about Kiena, I can relate so much to her. You feel trauma bonded and worthless, and you feel trapped and lonely. You want to ask for help but you're not always strong enough He was arrested and in May 2020 and convicted of assault by beating, unlawful wounding and ABH at Chester Crown Court. He was jailed for 27 months. After Gretsy was put behind bars, Jolene discovered she was pregnant with his child. Jolene recalled: 'I somehow got my life back together and concentrated on raising my daughter.' But after he was released from prison, Gresty tracked Jolene down and demanded to see his daughter. She said: 'He barged in and I knew immediately he was in a rage. He was furious he had ended up in prison because of what he did to me - he saw it all as my fault. 'Our daughter was asleep upstairs and Dale was grabbing my hair, pulling me back into the room every time I tried to run away from him. 'He punched, kicked and slapped me and it was only when I somehow found a superhuman strength to push him out of the window that I was saved. It was a ground floor window which was already partially open so I just shoved him and out he went. Gresty once again appeared at Chester Crown Court in December 2022 and was convicted of ABH and breaching a restraining order 'I closed it quickly and called for help and he was arrested.' Gresty once again appeared at Chester Crown Court in December 2022 and was convicted of ABH and breaching a restraining order. Threat to kill and non-fatal strangulation were left to lie on file, meaning there was enough evidence to bring a charge against him but the CPS decided it was not in the public interest to proceed. He was jailed for 32 months. Jolene reflected: 'I struggled to put the attack behind me but knowing he is in prison gives me so much comfort. I want other women to know that you must get help - before it is too late. 'I've learned to spot the signs of an abuser and I will never put myself in that position again.' Reflecting on Kiena's case, she said: 'The police have victim support and domestic violence advocates but are they are doing enough? 'I found I was pressured into prosecuting and then left feeling I had no justice or support afterwards. 'I was failed, and I think Kiena was failed too. Now she has left her child behind because of a monster. 'I can only imagine how lost and alone she felt, thinking that man was her everything at one point. I am so sorry she and her family have been through this. 'I have a job, I have my children, and I have so much to look forward to. But it's not always a good outcome. Kiena should still be here today.' An American woman has described how she was left 'completely blindsided' after arriving in Edinburgh to find the flat she had rented online didn't exist. Olivia Ellen Homer, 29, flew to Scotland from Chicago on 6 January to begin her studies at Edinburgh Napier University. After weeks of communicating with who she thought would be a future flatmate through Facebook and Whatsapp, before being passed on to a "landlord," Olivia believed she had finally secured a pet-friendly flat for herself and her cat, Ladybug. However, to her horror, when she arrived at the address on 7 January, she discovered it was a family home, not a rental property. By the time Olivia tried to reach out to the so-called flatmate for further guidance, she had found herself blocked. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Olivia said: 'It was really disappointing, I felt very blindsided. I'm 29-years-old, I cross all my T's and dot all my I's. I'm very organised.' Olivia, who had paid 1,366 in deposit and rent for the first two months, had been in touch with the scammer since October 2024. After posting in a Facebook group for accommodation in Edinburgh, Olivia was contacted by someone who claimed to have a room available in a flat with two other flatmates. Olivia Ellen Homer, 29, flew to Scotland from Chicago on 6 January to begin her studies at Edinburgh Napier University - but was left 'blindsided' after discovering her flat didn't exist She explained: 'They said they had a room with an ensuite bathroom, it was her and another girl as the flatmates. They told me the price and all the other information. They sent a bunch of videos and pictures, and everything seemed great.' However, Olivia noted one red flag prior to paying the lump sum: the initial price quote was given in Euros. When she questioned the flatmate about it, the person explained they paid the landlord in Euros - before giving her the price in pounds. She explained that she assumed the landlord was 'accommodating' with her flatmates and their foreign accounts, and admitted not being 'super aware' of how the situation would eventually work out. After connecting with the flatmate, Olivia was informed that her details would be passed on to the landlord, who would reach out to her - but she claimed she wasn't contacted for weeks. Eventually, the landlord reached out, asking Olivia a series of 'very normal' questions, but the prospective tenant was left scratching her head after requesting whether a local friend could check out the accommodation. While the landlord assured Olivia that she wouldn't require a guarantor - only her parents' basic details - she informed her that a visitation would not be possible because there were 'tenants in the apartment' and it would 'violate' their privacy. Nonetheless, Olivia proceeded to gave her phone number, acceptance to university letter and parents information over as well as the move in date, after which she was sent the lease through her email. Olivia believed she had finally secured a pet-friendly flat for herself and her cat, Ladybug (pictured) Olivia shared the lease with her friends, who are based in Edinburgh, who confirmed looked legitimate and like 'any other lease they had seen.' Despite her doubts, the process appeared genuine enough, and Olivia soon went on to sign a lease and transfer the money. In late December, Olivia got in touch with the landlord and flatmate as she had not heard from them since their initial conversation in October. She reminded them of her move in date, and asked what time was sufficient to pick up the keys, to which it was agreed she would collect them at 2pm on 7 January. After an 'exhausting' journey with Ladybug travelling from Chicago to Dublin, to Belfast and finally to Edinburgh, Olivia finally arrived in the Scottish capital, where she attempted to contact the landlord and flatmate to confirm the key pickup time. However, when she arrived at the address, the flatmates were nowhere to be found - and, to Olivia's shock, was greeted by a woman who had informed her it was family home and they do not rent to people. Olivia had been messaging both the landlord and the flatmate throughout the day to confirm her arrival in Edinburgh, but had received no response. Whilst outside the residence, she messaged the flatmate to inform her that she was outside, but when a typing bubble appeared and disappeared on their chat, it wasn't long before Olivia found herself blocked. When Olivia arrived at the address, the flatmates were nowhere to be found - and to her shock, was greeted by a woman who had informed her it was family home and they do not rent to people Olivia immediately reported the incident to Police Scotland, but they informed her that little could be done since the crime occurred while she was still in the US. She explained that despite bein 'very helpful,' the case was out of Scottish police's hands, and was further advised to report it to US authorities. Though Olivia was left without a home, she remains determined to continue her Edinburgh adventure, and is currently staying with 'wonderful' friends in the hopes of finding an appropriate accommodation while she begins her studies. She is also sharing her experience as a cautionary tale for others, warning: 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. I did all my due diligence. I asked a lot of questions. The police said I did all the steps I needed to do.' Olivia further cautioned Facebook users to be aware of being messaged directly when appealing for help on a group forum. She claims 'most people will comment on the post and tell you theyve messaged you' but the scammer had not done that as they 'didn't want their name on the post.' She added: 'As of right now, there's no guarantee that the person who committed the crime lives in the UK. It could be anyone.' A London landlord has been slammed for advertising a room for 1,350 a month - with an absurdly strict set of rules. The homeowner posted the listing on renting website Spare Room, with the hopes of finding someone to fill a bedroom in their home in Hampstead Heath, north London. But the host has since been subject to a barrage of online criticism after demanding prospective tenants follow a number of strict rules, all while paying through the nose. The poster requested that hopeful tenants work 'longish hours in the city during the week', leave London during weekends and avoid having guests or using the living room. Spotting the listing while browsing for potential homes, one hopeful tenant took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to lament the 'selfish' advert - where it received dozens of comments from angry renters slamming the 'exploitative and selfish' offering. The listing proclaims to offer a 'lovely' flat with access to a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom - though the living room is strictly cited as 'not available for use'. Users slammed the strict house rules which also requested that prospective tenants have 'no guests, no use of the living space' and make 'no noise after 11pm'. Elsewhere, many have criticised the landlord's requests for how long prospective tenants are actually allowed in the residence. A London-based landlord has been slammed on social media for advertising a 'completely exploitative' renting deal (pictured from Spare Room listing) Social media user Sophia took to X, where she posted screenshots of the original listing alongside the caption: 'Anyone looking for a single bedroom with no heating where you cant make noise and can only be home from 8:30pm to 8am (weekdays only)? Heres one for a bargain (1350)!!!' The listing reads: 'I work long hours from the living room so this area is not available for use. This space would ideally suit someone working longish hours in the city during the week and leaving the city for the weekends.' Tenants are also asked to not return home until after 8:30pm since this is when the host teaches 'audible' violin lessons. Meanwhile, the property itself does not have central heating and tenants must instead use an electric heater 'that can set via a timer on your phone.' The post, which has now been viewed nearly a million times, includes a link to the listing - though this appears to have been altered since making it onto X. The original listing - as revealed by screenshots on X - stated that the landlord was looking for 'a lodger' to share their 'lovely flat' in the South End Green, Gospel Oak area. According to their profile on Spare Room, Alice is a Live in Landlord. Describing themselves, they wrote: 'I am a 38-year-old professional researcher and music teacher. 'I am also teaching the violin here in the evenings from 4-8:30pm Mon-Thurs, while this takes place on a different floor to the bedroom I am offering, it would be audible, so this room would suit someone who is not home until post 8:30pm.' The listing, originally posted on Spare Room, proclaims to offer a 'lovely' flat with access to a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom - though the living room is strictly cited as 'not available for use' Spotting the listing while browsing for potential homes, one hopeful tenant took to X, formerly known as Twitter , to lament the 'selfish' advert - where it received dozens of comments from angry renters slamming the 'exploitative and selfish' offering The host has since been subject to a barrage of online criticism after demanding prospective tenants follow a number of strict rules, all while paying 1,350 a month 'The flat is located on a quiet residential street with very little traffic. The flat overlooks Hampstead Heath park which can be accessed from the street (two minute walk), as well as close access to Hampstead ponds and lido for swimming.' The landlord asked that their potential 'lodger' be 'a quiet, clean and friendly person' though asked that they do not use the living facilities or be at the property in the evening or weekends. Describing the room, the landlord wrote: 'The room is 2m x 4m with high ceilings. 'It had a bed, wardrobe, table, blackout blind and heater that can be set via a timer on your phone. There is no central heating however, the electric heaters are vert effective and the bathroom has underfloor heating throughout. There is a dishwasher and washing machine available for use in the kitchen.' Alongside the strict rules, the landlord boasted 'lots of little independent shops, coffee places' as well as an M&S and several nearby parks. The listing also revealed that the deposit for the property would be 1,557. However, it appears as though changes have since been made to the advert, with references to house guests, curfew and noise, no longer in the property description. In the updated advert, the landlord described themselves as: 'I am a very friendly, tidy, quiet, clean and hard working person. I would like to share with someone who complements this.' Commenters on the post were outraged by the 'exploitative' listing that insisted tenants be 'banished from actually living there' Commenters on the post were outraged by the 'exploitative' listing that insisted tenants be 'banished from actually living there'. One enraged viewer wrote: 'This free market attitude is pathetic, this shouldnt be legal. Completely exploitative, selfish and attempting to take advantage of renters desperation to squeeze money out of a tenant while banishing them from actually living there. Total scum landlord.' A second said: 'No guests? You cant even have a friend round to sit in the bedroom with you like a teenager.' Others said the landlord was wanting 'rent' without having to actually live with the person. They said: 'Basically just wants someone to pay her rent each month but not actually live there.' A fourth agreed writing: 'Quite clear that this person actually doesnt really want anyone else in his house/flat but needs the rental income' However, not everyone agreed the the listing was unreasonable. One wrote: 'Theres nothing wrong with putting this advert up if theres someone out there willing to take it. I doubt there will be, but Id just shrug and keep searching.' Mark Zuckerberg has debuted a brand new look, leading some fans to call it a 'midlife crisis' makeover. Zuck, 40, recently swapped his go-to computer nerd hoodies for ultra-expensive designer wares, including oversized shirts, man jewelry, and shearling coats. The Facebook founder, whose Meta group owns Instagram and WhatsApp, also grew out his longtime buzz cut for a longer, curlier, and more relaxed style. People on social media have speculated that he and wife Priscilla Chan, 39, could be heading for divorce as he shows off his new style on social media. Mark met his longtime love Priscilla at a fraternity party at Harvard during his sophomore year in 2003. They share three daughters: Maxima, eight, August, seven, and one-year-old Aurelia, who was born in March 2023. Priscilla's Instagram bio describes her as a 'Science nerd, pediatrician, former teacher, mom of three amazing girls.' Despite their seemingly loved up relationship, in a recent Reddit thread titled Mark My Words, one post was titled, 'Mark Zuckerberg is currently undergoing a midlife crisis, there will be a divorce within three years.' Mark Zuckerberg has debuted a brand new look, leading some fans to call it a 'midlife crisis' makeover - as seen above in 2022, pre-makeover People on social media have speculated that he and his wife Priscilla Chan, 39, could be heading for divorce as he shows off his new style on social media A recent Reddit thread was titled, 'Mark Zuckerberg is currently undergoing a midlife crisis, there will be a divorce within three years' The thread continued to muse that there would be 'lots of media coverage with him dating Instagram models and partying with Jake Paul,' referencing the Disney star turned boxer. The thread also showed a before and after picture of Zuckerberg, who has been spending time at Mar-a-lago with Donald Trump in the days since the election. 'You owe your success to your first wife. You owe your second wife to your success...' a commenter quipped. However, not everyone thought the makeover would lead to a divorce, as some thought it was simply business related. 'He's just being a chameleon for personal gain,' a commenter mused. Some Reddit users accused him of getting plastic surgery, with one writing, 'His plastic surgery is really obvious with the side-by-side photos.' Others thought it was simply him stepping up his personal style with help from a professional. 'Honestly I don't think so. I think what we're seeing now is a mix of an image consultant/wardrobe specialist and him pivoting with the changing political climate. None of it feels midlife crisis, it all feels calculated in my honest opinion,' a commenter claimed. Zuck, 40, has recently swapped his go-to computer nerd hoodies for ultra-expensive designer wares, including oversized shirts and flashy jewelry Commenters thought the formerly ' robotic' CEO's fresh look could be attempting to fit in more with his peers, like Elon Musk The former Harvard student showed off a $900,000 Swiss watch when he announced that Meta is abandoning its independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram In a separate Reddit thread, other people wondered about his style change, which people called previously 'outdated,' which 'made people mock his appearance a lot online.' One person wondered if the fashion overhaul was part of him promoting recently launched products, like Meta's Ray-Ban sunglasses glasses. The glasses boast two tiny cameras in the arms that let wearers snap photos and videos secretly. The former Harvard student has been wearing upscale products of his own during the rollout, including a $900,000 Swiss watch. Commenters thought the formerly 'robotic' CEO's fresh look could be attempting to fit in more with his peers, like Elon Musk. Like the Tesla founder, Zuckerberg is now a vocal supporter of the President-elect - and he recently revealed Meta will end its fact-checking program. Some Reddit users thought the fashion transformation could be his way of trying to relate to younger generations and lure them over to Facebook and Instagram, especially with the TikTok ban set for January 19. A woman was horrified to discover she had bowel cancer on her wedding day - despite claiming doctors 'fobbed her off' as being 'too fat' to have the illness. Claire Boulton, 47, from Thornbury in South Gloucestershire has been battling the disease on and off for the last five years after a shock diagnosis in April 2019. Just hours before marrying the love of her life Matthew Boulton, the bride-to-be was having her hair styled at the hairdressers when a nurse phoned her to say they had found cancer in a polyp they had removed from her rectum. 'I was shocked,' Claire said. 'You can't write my life. 'It was a nurse that rang me up and when I said, "I'm literally sitting in the hairdressers about to get married", she was like, "oh my god I'm so sorry, if I had known I wouldn't have told you." The mother-of-two went to the registry office in Kingswood with her fiance before jetting off for their honeymoon in Palma Nova, Spain. 'That week wasn't really a honeymoon, Claire said. 'That whole time it was like s**t, I've just found out I've had cancer and I still might have it in my body somewhere and I won't know for six weeks. It played on my mind.' While awaiting the results to reveal whether the cancer had spread, Claire flew to Sidari, Corfu, with her husband for their second wedding. Claire Boulton (pictured) from Thornbury in South Gloucestershire has been battling cancer on and off for the last five years after a shock diagnosis on her wedding day in April 2019 Again, just hours before she walked down the aisle, the hospital called to inform her that the cancer had been contained. A relieved Claire was able to enjoy her second ceremony in a small chapel overlooking the Ionian Sea. 'It's just insane it happened to be on both of my wedding days,' said Claire. 'Matt always says our wedding anniversary is the day we legally got married but to me that was a sad day finding out I had cancer. 'To me the day I found out I didn't have it and that I was definitely all clear and stood there in my wedding dress taking that phone call, that is the day I like to celebrate. 'It was just amazing and so special. I couldn't have been happier to do it any other way. It was just me and my husband and two children. 'We go back every year to the same destination. That place is our place.' Claire and her husband at their second wedding in Sidari, Corfu. It was also the day Claire was told the cancer had been contained Claire and Matthew Boulton at the registry office in Kingswood - hours after she had been told doctors had found cancer in a polyp they had removed from her rectum The former carer is now nervously awaiting major surgery on January 16 to hopefully reduce the risk of the cancer spreading further. If the operation doesn't go well and she passes away, Claire has asked her husband to spread her ashes in Corfu as it is 'the most important place on the planet to us'. While Claire regularly visited the doctors for her irritable bowel syndrome, she claims it took her five years of complaining about severe bowel issues and stomach pains to receive a diagnosis - but was never taken 'seriously'. In 2009, Claire was diagnosed with fibromyalgia - a chronic condition that causes widespread pain - and gained four stone after it caused her to lose mobility in 2016. Claire said: 'Things got quite bad for me in my late 30s. I would sit there on the sofa and [follow through after passing wind]. 'Then halfway through eating, especially meat, I'd have to go to the toilet. 'My bowel habits were getting worse. They were liquid, I was finding blood. I'd go to the doctors and they'd say: "It's fine, it's IBS and haemorrhoids'. 'I was like, "Okay, but I don't feel well. I've got stomach pains and I'm overweight". Claire, who suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, claims she complained of stomach pains, nausea and blood in her stool to doctors for five years prior to her diagnosis - but was never taken 'seriously' Claire was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2009, a chronic condition spreading pain all over the body, and gained four stone after it caused her to lose mobility in 2016 'Because of my fibro affecting my physical being I was doing a lot less physically and I was gaining weight. I'd gone from 6st to nearly 20st.' But doctors argued that she would be losing weight if she had bowel cancer - and one medical professional even told her she was 'too fat' to have the disease. Claire had gastric sleeve surgery in October 2020 to reduce her chance of stomach cancer followed by a full hysterectomy. After feeling 'unwell' in April 2022, she begged her consultant to arrange for a colonoscopy, even though she had one scheduled six months later, which revealed another tumour on her colon. 'When I eventually got my diagnosis I was like, "are you f***ing kidding me. I got told I was too fat and now I have cancer". 'I wanted to march into the doctor's surgery and I wanted to tell that doctor what a p***k he was.' Claire is urging others to 'listen to their bodies' and to be unafraid to ask for a second opinion rather than being 'fobbed off' by doctors. 'I'm very much a strong believer of "listen to yourself"', she said. 'If you think there's something wrong, I don't care how many people tell you you're not, get it checked. Be 100 per cent sure.' Claire, who has been fitted with a stoma bag, is urging others to 'listen to their bodies' and to be unafraid to ask for a second opinion rather than being 'fobbed off' by doctors COLON CANCER: WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS? Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumors usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom Blood in stools A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks Unexplained weight loss Extreme, unexplained tiredness Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50 Have a family history of the condition Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of ten people with stage 1 bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. Unfortunately, only around a third of all colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this early stage. The majority of people come to the doctor when the disease has spread beyond the wall of the colon or rectum or to distant parts of the body, which decreasing the chance of being successfully cured of colon cancer. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement 'Make them look at you. If I'd just sat there and gone, "[the colonoscopy] is not due for six months", I realistically probably wouldn't be here today.' A spokesperson from the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board said: 'We're sorry to hear of this patient's experiences and we encourage them to contact the ICB's customer services team so that it can be fully investigated.' A few months after her colonoscopy, Claire had a resection to remove most of her bowel, however, she was forced to have an emergency stoma bag fitted when it was unsuccessful. 'It is hard living with a stoma,' said Claire. 'You see all these celebrities and stuff out there but they show the perfect days, not always the bad days. 'There are difficult days for all of us. But still, I'm alive. That's the thing you have to remind yourself of. 'I'll wake up some mornings and hate it. Some mornings I wake up and I'm annoyed with [the stoma]. Because it's leaked or I woke up in a bed of faeces or I walked out that day and it's leaked and it's stopped me doing something I want. 'Your life changes really dramatically. I don't sleep for more than two hours a night, emptying it all the time. You find a new way. It's just another change to life.' Claire and her husband Matthew, who met in a nightclub on her 22nd birthday, have grown 'stronger' through the ordeal and are still able to enjoy married life. The loved-up wife said: 'Everything in our life has been a challenge and you grow stronger. 'My husband has just been amazing. He is my rock. Nothing phases him. He's woken up covered in s**t and been like, "never mind". I don't know how many people could do that. It's all the little things. 'The day he married me, I was at the heaviest weight I've ever been in my whole life. He married me at the worst point in my life. 'I'd just found out I had cancer, I was the fattest I'd ever been and he chose after all those years of being with me, to marry me. I can't even put that into words how that felt that day.' The Princess of Wales, 43, visited the Royal Marsden Hospital on Tuesday The Princess of Wales displayed her light-hearted sense of humour on Tuesday as she sweetly joked with staff during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital. Kate, 43, paid a visit to the site yesterday, where she'd been undergoing her own cancer treatment following her diagnosis last year. The mother-of-three was clearly in positive spirits as she bid farewell to hospital staff - before sharing the happy news that she's in remission for cancer yesterday afternoon. As she neared the end of her visit, the princess appeared to be on her way out, but soon turned back after noticing crowds of cheering hospital staff. She was clearly delighted by the joyous reaction, beaming widely and sharing laughs and jokes with those who had turned out to greet her. As she waved to staff by the exit, Kate joked: 'Hi, fabulous - is this what happens normally?' Following their conversation and referring to the jubilant atmosphere, she also joked: 'I'll let you carry on your party!' Her comments led to a huge burst of laughter from the crowd as she turned to leave, with many getting out their phones to film their short glimpse of the princess. The Princess of Wales displayed her light-hearted sense of humour on Tuesday as she sweetly joked with staff during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Kate added: 'Hi everybody. It's lovely to come and meet everybody, some of the patients and some of the amazing staff that work here. Thank you very much everybody.' The compassionate mother-of-three met with patients to show her support and personally thanked staff for their exceptional care, support and compassion over the past 12 months. She was effortlessly elegant in an all-red ensemble, adding a pop of colour to the dreary January weather in a burgundy 770 turtleneck from Gabriela Hearst and Edeline Lee's 595 'Plait' skirt - both of which she has worn before - as she embarked on her first major solo engagement in more than a year. The royal teamed her sophisticated look with burgundy stiletto heels and wore her chestnut tresses down in loose waves and opted for a warm toned make-up look. Later, she was seen sporting the Blaze Milano 'Lahloo Anyway' checked wool blazer - currently 979 on the site - over her ensemble that she paired with a matching leather handbag. It is understood that the visit was always planned to be a solo engagement for the princess, even though her husband is already patron, as it was felt important for her to visit the Marsden independently to reflect on her own personal journey. The decision had Williams full backing and support. Following her visit yesterday, the Princess of Wales said it was 'a relief to now be in remission' from cancer and that she is 'looking forward to a fulfilling year'. In a message on social media, signed 'C', Catherine thanked staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital for her 'exceptional' care. Kate was clearly delighted by the joyous reaction, beaming widely and sharing laughs and jokes with those who had turned out to greet her Kate had been walking towards the exit of the Royal Marsden Hospital - before turning back to the cheers of the crowd Kate was so delighted at the reaction that she joked it seemed like they were 'having a party' 'I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,' the post read. 'My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. 'We couldn't have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional. 'In my new role as Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden, my hope is that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer. 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.' It was the first time the Princess has used to the word 'remission' to describe where she is on her cancer journey, which will come as a delight to fans. As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, the visit was part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties. She opted for an elegant all-red ensemble The coat was the perfect flair of winter elegance, keeping the Princess warm during the chilly weather Kate sat down as she chatted with others at the hospital, looking animated and immersed in conversation However, professionals - and clearly the Princess - shy away from using the word 'cured', as some cancers can return. Doctors tend to use the word to mean there there is no sign of the cancer following treatment. Catherine met with patients at the Royal Marsden hospital to show her support and personally thank staff for their 'exceptional care, support and compassion' over the past 12 months. Revealing how she struggled with a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy, she said 'It's really tough', as she empathised with one patient who was having chemotherapy. 'It's such a shock,' she added. Recalling words of advice that helped her, the Princess said: 'Everyone said to me "Please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference",' she said, adding that 'When I came in everyone said make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on' because of the side effects. The Princess asked patients about their treatment, trials and wellbeing, and asked after their families. 'Oh my goodness,' she exclaimed on occasion, while hearing difficult accounts of long treatment, as she shook her head sympathetically. The Princess of Wales meets Scout, the Royal Marsden Hospital's therapy dog The Princess of Wales pictured speaking to patients at the Royal Marsden hospital, where she received treatment The Princess of Wales talks with patient Peter Burton at the Royal Marsden Hospital Of the importance of looking after oneself during and after treatment, she said: 'I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight.' When one woman's machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling treatment was needed, she said: 'I recognise that beep!' Hearing about one man's diagnosis, the Princess said: 'The body is amazing at telling us "You need to take time out".' Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard was having treatment, told the Princess she had 'managed the children [George, Charlotte and Louis] so well', making her smile warmly. 'Oh, that's kind,' she replied. A number of the patients opened the conversation by asking how the Princess was feeling. She replied that she was doing well, but recalled the cycle of treatment, saying 'Sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one'. 'Sometimes from the outside we all think "You've finished treatment and you go back to things". But it's hard to get back to normal,' she said As she walked through the main entrance of the hospital's Chelsea site, the Princess - dressed in a long brown winter coat and heels - was heard to say: 'Coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it's quite nice.' Sitting down to talk to one lady who was undergoing treatment while wearing a cold cap to prevent hair loss, Catherine said: 'When did you first start treatment? Oh, today? How are you finding it?' The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea today She hugged one well-wisher and told them: 'I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time. Are you OK? There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.' Chatting with staff, Catherine said: 'You think treatment's finished, crack on with that daily tasks, but that's still like a real challenge. And talking the words totally disappear understanding that as a patient, yes there are side effects around treatment, but actually there are more long-term side effects.' And she told one patient: 'The resilience you need to get through, first of all, a small taster of what you've gone through It's to keep coming back... to be as positive as you are. The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently.' It came as Kensington Palace revealed that the Princess will join her husband as joint royal patron of The Royal Marsden, a role that Prince William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales, once held before her. A spokesman told the Mail: 'The Princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world-leading care and treatment the Marsden provides.' As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, today's visit is one of a small number of engagements Catherine will undertake this year as part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties. Indeed, Kensington Palace were keen to stress today that the guidance around her return to public-facing engagements has not changed and that it would continue to be 'gradual'. 'Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey,' an aide emphasised. The Princess of Wales talks with patient Richard Bosworth at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Kerr Melia at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with patient Katherine Field at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Peter Burton at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with patient Peter Burton at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess shared details of her own treatment and met with other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden. She joked that it was a novelty for her to enter through the front door, adding that it was 'quite nice' to see the proper reception. She told numerous patients that it was so important to keep 'doing the things that give you joy', adding that a cancer diagnosis 'makes you appreciate all the small things in life that you take for granted'. The Princess also spoke to doctors and nurses involved in care and research, as well as pilot projects at the Marsden to improve holistic care. Speaking of receiving a diagnosis, she said: 'It's the uncertainty of that initial diagnosis. It's such a wealth of information. Understanding the diagnosis, it's a massive amount of information to take on as a patient. Having that continuity, in the clinical setting and outside in the home setting, is so important.' The Princess of Wales talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales hugs patient Rebecca Mendelsohn at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Richard Bosworth at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales arrives for a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales meets Scout the therapy dog at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Rebecca Mendelsohn at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with patient Katherine Field at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with patient Kerr Melia at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Peter Burton at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with patient Rebecca Mendelsohn at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London In a discussion about holistic care, she repeated that the 'continuity is so important, on good days and bad days'. She added: 'I feel like it's sometimes for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.' The Princess also praised the Marsden staff highly, saying she had heard from many patients about how much their care had helped. 'Whilst they don't want to be there, they're very grateful for everything the Marsden does,' she said. Her final official introduction was to Scout, the on-hand Pets As Therapy dog. Bending over to stroke Scout, who offered her a paw, the Princess said: 'I bet patients absolutely love her.' Viewers have been left 'heartbroken' over the tragic tale of a man stabbed to death by a vigilante gang who wrongly believed he had raped a teenage girl. The story of Christopher Hughes, 37, from Manchester, who was found dead on the banks of the River Skelmersdale in Lancashire in 2022, was retold in Manhunt on Channel 4 on Tuesday night. Four days before his body was discovered, Christopher was forced into a car boot in Wigan by a group of men who believed he was responsible for the kidnap and rape at knifepoint of a teenage girl behind a post office after rumours began to circulate within the community. When his body was found at the foot of the river's embankment, he had been brutally stabbed more than 90 times and almost decapitated. Weeks before his death, rumours started circulating online that Christopher was involved in the rape of a teenager behind a post office. However after his murder, Greater Manchester Police revealed that DNA evidence from the sexual offence did not match Christopher. As the documentary retold Christopher's grisly murder by a vigilante group who enacted justice on the wrong man, viewers took to X/Twitter to express their horror at the 'heartbreaking' story. One person said: 'True crime documentary Manhunt on Channel 4 tonight is a really heartbreaking story. What Christopher Hughes went through doesn't bear thinking about and the fact he was actually innocent too makes me sad. His poor family.' Christopher Hughes, 37, from Manchester, who was falsely accused of the knifepoint rape of a teenage girl was kidnapped and murdered by eight men in a vigilante attack Another wrote: 'That was awful, so glad he got justice and his name cleared.' Others expressed their happiness at the sentences handed out to the gang, a minimum of 229 years in jail between eight. According to police, the group, who 'all knew each other or were related,' began searching Wigan for Christopher on February 17, 2022, even offering a 2,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. The men even broke into Christopher's home looking for him before their hunt 'continued the following day until he was abducted in broad daylight'. A witness who saw the abduction called the police with a description of the vehicle and the two kidnappers. In a phone call to police the witness said: 'I have just witnessed a kidnapping... it was a blue Audi, I didn't get the number plates, two Asian guys and shoved this guy in the boot and then they drove off. I'm shaking.' Police identified Curtis Balbas and Erland Spahiu as the men who forced Christopher into the car boot. Christopher was forced him into a car boot in Wigan's Almond Grove on February 18, 2022 Police identified Curtis Balbas and Erland Spahiu as the men who forced Christopher into the car boot Looking at photographs of Christopher's body DCI Carl Jones said: 'It looks like he has been slashed or stabbed multiple times. Brutal' He was then driven at high speed to White Moss Road South in Skelmersdale, where he was 'brutally attacked and killed in an act of retribution.' Prosecutor John Elvidge KC said that on the evening of the killing, Dean ONeill Davey, Andrius Uzkuraitis, Spahiu, and his visiting cousin, Erion Voja, attempted to hide Christophers body. They tried to bury him on wasteland but were interrupted by police investigating a nearby road traffic accident. In an effort to cover their tracks, the gang destroyed CCTV, changed phones, deleted messages, and disposed of the car used in the abduction by cutting the car into scrap and hiding it in the back of a white van. Hours of CCTV footage were recovered and reviewed by officers who were able to link the men to the murder. Unable to complete the burial, they abandoned Christopher's body, which was discovered at the foot of an embankment by a dog walker. Looking at photographs of Christopher's body DCI Carl Jones said: 'It looks like he has been slashed or stabbed multiple times. Brutal. 'He has a really deep laceration to the right side of his neck and then and even deeper wound to the left side if his neck. I'd say they tried to decapitate him. 'Probably some of the worst injuries I have ever seen. How the f*** could anyone do that to someone else.' During the trail in 2022, a Home Office pathologist 'catalogued over 90 sharp force injuries to Christopher's head, neck, body and limbs - the vast majority of these injuries were inflicted whilst he was still alive,' John Elvidge, KC, prosecuting, said. 'In the opinion of the pathologist more than one weapon was used, including a machete or hatchet, which was wielded in a chopping motion to inflict deep wounds; these were very severe injuries and the main mechanism of death was external blood loss,' he told a jury. Speaking in the documentary, Christopher's sister Fran said: 'I think I could have handled it better if he was in a pub, a fight had broken out and someone hit him...but they meant every step of the way to hurt him, they meant everything they did to him.' His other sister Andrea added: 'He was suspected of rape, but I genuinely knew that he hadn't done that because I know my brother and it just really angers me, and frustrates me, and I think once this is over and that statement comes out then I will properly grieve.' Martin Smith, 34, and Erion Voja, 21, abused the judge as they were sentenced for murder today at Liverpool Crown Court Erland Spahiu, 34, and Curtis Balbas, 31 were part of the Razgar Khader Mohammed, 41, Alan Jaf, 52, were part of the gang that murdered Mr Hughes after wrongly suspecting him of rape Khalil Awla, 49, Dean Smeaton O'Neill-Davey, 30, were also sentenced for murder A ninth man, Andrius Uzkuraitis, 27, was convicted of assisting an offender and jailed for six years In February 2023, the eight members of a vigilante gang received life sentences for their roles in the abduction and brutal murder of Christopher. A ninth man, Andrius Uzkuraitis, 27, was convicted of assisting an offender and jailed for six years. DCI Carl Jones said: 'The dangers with vigilantes is we have people roaming the streets thinking they are keeping everyone in tow and looking after their neighbourhoods when really they are creating havoc and someone is killed as a result.' At court it was heard that the guilty men wrongly suspected Christopher of rape and there was no evidence linking him to the crime. Detective Inspector Heidi Cullum, from Greater Manchester Police, said the violence the men had shown towards Mr Hughes was 'nothing short of atrocious'. 'These men took the law into their own hands and murdered Christopher Hughes,' she said. 'What they did in February last year was nothing short of atrocious. 'The work of the Major Incident Team and specialist units within GMP, along with the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing these individuals to justice, has been meticulous. 'We only hope the verdict and sentences brings some justice and comfort to his family and friends.' Smith shook his head as he was sentenced, took a sip of water then threw his plastic cup to the floor. Meanwhile, Voja ranted at the judge, saying: 'I know myself. I'm no murderer. I'll get my justice one day you t***.' He continued his outburst after being led into the cells, where he began punching walls before shouting: 'I don't give a f*** any more.' Christopher's family said he would 'live on' in their hearts following the sentencing and thanked the police for bringing his killers to justice. They said: 'We would like to thank sincerely the officers of Greater Manchester Police and the North West Crown Prosecution Service for their hard work on this case over the past number of months. 'We are pleased that justice has finally been done. It will not bring Christopher back, but he will live on in our hearts forever and the memories of him we will hold dearly.' When the Princess of Wales arrived at London's Royal Marsden Hospital yesterday, she 'beelined' for the therapy dog, a Pets as Therapy volunteer said. Kate Middleton, 43, made a deeply emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Tuesday morning, where it can now be revealed she has been undergoing her cancer treatments. The compassionate mother-of-three met with patients to show her support and personally thanked staff for their 'exceptional care, support and compassion' over the past 12 months. Also greeting the royal on her first major solo engagement in more than a year was retired breast cancer surgeon at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Pets as Therapy volunteer, Nicola. Talking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Nicola chatted about meeting the 'gracious' royal mother-of-three in conversation with radio host Justin Webb. 'She was very gracious, very friendly [and] interested to know what the therapy dogs do and where they went in the hospital,' Nicola said. It's an interest that Kate shares with her Pets as Therapy ambassador brother James Middleton, who raises awareness about the positive impact dogs can have on one's mental health. Kate's younger brother has previously recounted how he struggled to open up to family members while he was battling depression - and revealed how he instead confided in his beloved late spaniel Ella. The Princess of Wales made a beeline for a therapy dog during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital yesterday, a Pets as Therapy volunteer revealed Pets As Therapy is a national charity striving to enhance the health and wellbeing of people in communities across the UK. 'We strive to ensure that everyone, no matter their circumstances, has access to the companionship of an animal,' the website reads. Explaining her role in the charity on the BBC show, Nicola said: 'I retired at the end of last year, but [The Royal Marsden is] such a fabulous place that I had to keep some connection, and it seemed like a good idea to come back with Scout as a therapy dog. 'She's [Scout] registered with Pets as Therapy, which organises placements in schools, hospital, care homes...wherever there is a requirement for dogs to come in as therapy... it calms people down, and they love having a cuddle and stroke with a dog.' Nicola added: 'In some instances it just allows patients to be distracted and think of things other than their treatments'. She revealed that Scout underwent special preparations before meeting Kate, adding: 'She had an extra special bath before going there yesterday'. Scout the therapy dog from Pets as Therapy had a 'extra special' bath before meeting Kate yesterday The royal shares her love of dogs with her younger brother James Middleton (pictured in October), who is a Pets as Therapy ambassador Kate sat down as she chatted with others at the hospital, looking animated and immersed in conversation Kate wore a red turtleneck jumper with a matching long skirt, cementing the perfect winter look yesterday morning Host Justin Webb said that Scout is probably 'the friendliest dog I've ever seen,' adding that his day is better having seen the pooch. It came as Kensington Palace revealed that the princess will join her husband as joint Royal Patron of the Marsden, a role that Prince William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales, once held before her. A spokesman told the Mail: 'The princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world leading care and treatment the Marsden provides.' As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, yesterday's visit is one of a small number of engagements Catherine will undertake this year as part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties. Indeed, Kensington Palace were keen to stress that that the guidance around the Princess' return to public-facing engagements hasn't changed and that it would continue to be 'gradual'. 'Today was about visiting the Marsden to reflect on her own personal journey,' an aide emphasised. It is understood that the visit was always planned to be a solo engagement for the princess, even though her husband is already patron, as it was felt important for her to visit the Marsden independently to reflect on her own 'personal journey'. The decision has William's full backing and support. The princess announced in September that she had completed a gruelling course of 'preventative chemotherapy' after doctors found evidence of cancer following serious abdominal surgery in January. The Princess of Wales was effortlessly elegant in an all-red ensemble - as she made a deeply emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where it can now be revealed she has been undergoing her own cancer treatment In a moving personal statement Catherine spoke openly about the 'incredibly tough' year she had endured and the 'complex, scary and unpredictable' nature of her diagnosis and treatment. Throughout it all, she made clear, her and William's priority has been to protect their three young children. The palace has not yet revealed details of the cancer she was diagnosed with or the nature of the operation she first underwent other than to describe it as 'planned abdominal surgery'. However, it was serious enough for to require several months of recuperation alone, even before her cancer diagnosis and has left the princess warning that her road to recovery is still ongoing. Last week, Prince William marked her birthday by posting a rare public tribute to his wife, paying tribute to the strength she has shown and expressing love and pride that he, Princess George, Princess Charlotte and little Prince Louis have for her. The last major solo engagement undertaken by the princess before her health took a turn for the worse was on December 5 2023 when she visited the Evelina Children's Hospital in London to open its day surgery unit. She subsequently hosted her annual carol service with her family and attended Wimbledon last year with Princess Charlotte, as well as events such as Trooping the Colour, but always with other family members. Yesterday's special visit was carried out amid a strict security blackout with minimal media present in order to protect the privacy of patients currently undergoing scheduled cancer treatments and so as not to disrupt the daily workings of the hospital. The royal was sophisticated as ever in a burgundy outfit which was the perfect choice for January Kate Middleton, 43, added a pop of colour to the dreary January weather in a scarlet turtleneck and skirt as she embarked on her first major solo engagement in more than a year As she met with staff and patients who are currently receiving treatment, sources described the visit as 'incredibly poignant'. The Royal Marsden is a research active cancer centre and plays an important role in helping advance cancer treatment for others here in the UK and around the world. In her new role as joint Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness is said to be looking forward to supporting The Marsden's work in advancing cancer research, treatment, and care as well as learning more about how it can benefit patients in the future. In its announcement Kensington Palace said: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday became Joint Patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. 'The patronage update has been announced following a visit by Her Royal Highness to the hospital's Chelsea site earlier today and follows The Princess' own personal cancer journey, during which she received treatment from The Royal Marsden. 'Today's visit saw The Princess meet patients currently undergoing treatment as well as staff working in different roles across the hospital.' Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning, and are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in becoming Joint Patrons of our specialist cancer centre. 'We are incredibly fortunate to receive Royal Patronage it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.' Last week, Prince William shared a sweet tribute to Kate Middleton, alongside an unseen black and white portrait of her The Prince of Wales's heartwarming birthday message to his 'incredible' wife signals a new era of open affection for the Firm - breaking from the traditional 'stiff-upper lip' mentality - a royal historian has claimed. William and Kate pictured at their wedding In an unusually personal message, William praised his wife's strength and added that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were 'so proud of her' The Royal Marsden opened its doors in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Yesterday, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London. The Prince of Wales has held the role of President of The Royal Marsden since 2007, a position which was previously held by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales most recently visited The Royal Marsden to open their Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton in June 2023. The outing comes one week after the royal's birthday, which was marked by a sweet message from her husband Prince William. On Thursday the father-of-three shared a heartwarming Instagram tribute to Kate, alongside an unseen black and white portrait of her. In an unusually personal message, William, 42, praised his wife's strength and added that he, George, Charlotte and Louis were 'so proud of her'. The future king signed the message off with 'Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W'. 'Happy birthday to the Princess of Wales,' a sweet message on the Royal Family account read last week In the picture, taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous in Windsor last summer, the Princess is seen relaxed at home, in jeans, a blazer and checked scarf. She posed with her hands in her pocket - showing off her dazzling engagement ring - while wearing her hair in a gentle wave. A personal message - and unseen photo - is an unusual thing for the Royal Family to do for a non-major birthday. It is perhaps the most emotive message William has ever shared about his wife. 'To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W,' the message, shared to Instagram and X, reads. Matt Porteous has taken pictures of William, Kate and their children dozens of times - as well as accompanying them on royal tours. The King and Queen also shared their own tribute to Kate, while many members of the public and Kate's patronages have also sent well wishes. The royal mother-of-three, who was born in Reading on January 9, 1982, turned 43 last week after enduring an annus horribilis in 2024. Prince William (pictured with his wife and children) reduced his public engagements as he put family life and Kate's recovery front and centre Shortly after marking her 42nd birthday last January, Kensington Palace announced the Princess of Wales had been taken to hospital for abdominal surgery and was to pause public-facing duties while she recovered. However, her time out of the spotlight fuelled wild speculation about her health and in March 2024 the Princess released an extraordinarily candid clip in which she announced to the world that doctors determined 'cancer had been present' in her body after carrying out tests. The news sent the nation, and indeed the world, into a state of shock as Kate revealed she would be undergoing chemotherapy treatment and was taking time out of public duties indefinitely as she prioritised her recovery. Meanwhile, Prince William also reduced his public engagements as he put family life and his wife's recovery front and centre - while his father King Charles also received cancer treatment. Nonetheless, the Prince of Wales still honoured some public duties and revealed glimpses of the extremely difficult year the family had endured. Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, on a visit in November for his Earthshot Awards, William, 42, said 2024 had been 'the hardest year of my life'. Thankfully, after months out of the spotlight as she continued treatment, the Princess announced in September - in another extremely emotive clip - that her chemotherapy had come to an end and her focus was now on remaining 'cancer-free'. She announced she would be dipping her toes back into public life while ensuring her recovery was still her main focus. The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his wife Kate as she turned 43 following an annus horribilis last year as she battled cancer And as she resumed some public facing duties, the Princess showed royal fans the causes that she perhaps cherishes the most. One of Kate's first engagements was a meeting with the late Liz Hatton, an aspiring photographer with a rare form of cancer who wanted to photograph an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle as part of her 'bucket list'. The nation's hearts were warmed by a photo of the Princess and Liz sharing a warm hug in the royal residence - knowing it was an embrace that meant everything to both. Tragically, Liz passed away on November 27 - days before her family had planned an early Christmas celebration with her. Following Liz's death the Prince and Princess of Wales issued a statement praising her as a 'brave and humble young woman'. Other engagements carried out by Kate included a visit to Southport in September, where tragedy had struck just months earlier when three young girls, Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, had been stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift dance party. Appearing alongside Prince William, Kate met with community leaders as the area tried to rebuild following the horrific incident. Privately, she also met with families of the children who had been affected. Perhaps Kate's most prominent return to the spotlight was her Together at Christmas carol service, an event she hosts every year and which she holds extremely close to her heart. Speaking at the event as she addressed guests who had been hand picked to attend at Westminster Abbey, the Princess 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.' The theme of this year's 'Together at Christmas' concert is love and empathy, which is perhaps suitable considering the difficult year the Princess has had. Kate continued: 'The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope. 'It is love which is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives.' Her message was told in the form of a voice over played at the start of the 'Together at Christmas' carol concert at Westminster Abbey. Then-Rep. Jackie Speier wears a button showing support for the Equal Rights Amendment before the State of the Union speech in 2021. Alex Edelman/Getty Images 2021 Juxtaposing the loss of former President Jimmy Carter, a man who dedicated his life to service, against the inauguration of Donald Trump, a felon and megalomaniac who was found liable for sexual abuse and acts only to enrich and aggrandize himself, I ask everyone to urge President Joe Biden to direct the U.S. archivist to certify the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. MAGA supporters use the taunt, Your body, my choice! Vice President-elect J.D. Vance debases childless women as cat ladies and sociopathic. Shadow president Elon Musk reposts and seemingly agrees that a Republic of high status males is best for decision making. We must reverse this misogyny. Toxically masculine monsters are winning their influencing war and becoming role models: Men age 18 to 29 voted for Trump overwhelmingly in 2024. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Garth Smith, Santa Cruz Dont blame Native groups Southern California is burning, yet Donald Trump and Fox News continue spreading misinformation, targeting people of color and policies designed to protect the environment that have nothing to do with the fires. Now, theyre attacking recent dam removals and Native communities in Northern California people who hold traditional ecological knowledge critical for wildfire prevention and ecosystem restoration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is not only harmful but hypocritical. Few understand the devastation of losing entire neighborhoods better than Northern Californias Native communities, who are still recovering from the Slater, Paradise and Dixie fires. Instead of undermining our climate solutions, we should be supporting them. Wildfires threaten us all, and addressing the crisis requires truth, collaboration and respect for Indigenous leadership. Misinformation only delays action and puts more lives at risk. Its time to prioritize real solutions before more communities are lost. Josa Talley, communications and outreach coordinator, Save California Salmon Take away phones Regarding Here are four ways the S.F. school district can get back on track to ensure student success (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 9): Here is another way the S.F. school district can get back on track: firmly enforce a comprehensive student cell phone policy at all school sites. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I was a high school teacher in the San Francisco school district for the past 25 years, and I saw how the cell phone culture steadily eroded attentiveness and social interaction for my students. An effective cell phone policy will require that phones be locked away during the school day. San Francisco public school students have a school-supplied laptop that readily answer their technology needs during the school day. Genuine emergencies requiring contact by parents with their children can be addressed by ensuring that each schools central office, wellness center or nurses office are adequately staffed and equipped. Give students a phone-free school day, and they will be well on their way to improving their performance. David Yuan, San Francisco Advertisement Article continues below this ad Human rights champion Regarding Blemish on Carter (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 13): While Jimmy Carter has his detractors, few question his intentions to place human rights at the center of his policies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Haiti was no exception. In 1977, Carter pressured dictator Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier to release 106 political prisoners. Carter returned in 1994 to persuade Raoul Cedras, the military ruler at the time, to step down just hours before President Bill Clinton ordered a military strike to return the democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. At the time, Aristide praised Carter, saying, Instead of bloodshed, we had a peace transition. Jack Epstein, writer of the op-ed on Carter referenced by letter, San Anselmo Advertisement Article continues below this ad S.F. is entertaining 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 Regarding Was it really that bad? Four ways 2024 was a pretty good year in S.F. (Total SF, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 9): As we approach the much anticipated dark days of the second term of our first felon-president, I wanted to thank Peter Hartlaub for his column. Reading it was a reality check; we live in one of the best, if not the best, cities in the world. It was also a reminder that San Francisco and all its parks, sports, neighborhoods, restaurants and culture can be a much-needed distraction in the next four years. For the first time in public yesterday, the Princess of Wales reflected on her 'relief' that she's now in remission from cancer - and discussed navigating her 'new normal' as her recovery continues. After spending the day meeting staff and patients at London's The Royal Marsden hospital on Tuesday, where the royal, 43, was treated for an undiagnosed cancer following abdominal surgery last year, Kate took to Instagram following the visit. The princess wrote: 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.' In the social media message, signed 'C', the Princess also thanked staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital for her 'exceptional' care in recent months. The Princess of Wales, who also announced she is to become Joint Patron of the hospital alongside Prince William, spoke about how difficult she'd found juggling treatment with family life, including caring for Princes George, 11, and Louis, six, and Princess Charlotte, nine. Chatting with staff about her treatment during her visit, Catherine said: 'You think treatment's finished, crack on with that daily tasks, but that's still like a real challenge.' The Princess of Wales looked pensive as she arrived at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea yesterday; the royal, 43, says she's still trying to adapt to the 'new normal' following her announcement that she's now in remission A message on social media, signed 'C', said: 'I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year' Compassion: The Princess of Wales wraps patient Rebecca Mendelsohn in a huge hug. A survey set to be published by Kidney Cancer UK next month says more than a quarter of people who finish cancer treatment successfully describe themselves as 'unhappy' Anxious: Adrienne Betteley, 57, is a strategic advisor for cancer care at Macmillan; she has been diagnosed with cancer herself twice and says she lived with 'canxiety', a fear her cancer would return, after her first diagnosis in 2016 Next month, charity Kidney Cancer UK is set to publish the results of a recent patient survey which found that one in four people are 'unhappy' when finishing treatment, further evidence that the weeks and months following successful treatment can see patients endure mental health struggles and even PTSD. Andrew Greaves, General Manager at Kidney Cancer UK, told MailOnline that more needs to be done to support people in the aftermath of illness, saying recovery goes far beyond the last medication administered. He said: 'A cancer diagnosis has a huge and long-lasting impact on patients. Results from our latest annual survey of kidney cancer patients, due to be published next month, tell us that over one in four kidney cancer patients (27%) were unhappy when they were discharged from hospital. 'Most people have follow-up scans to make sure the cancer has not come back, which is good - but they are not offered support to cope with the anxiety these cause.' Adrienne Betteley, a strategic advisor for cancer care at Macmillan Cancer Support, knows only too well the mental health challenges faced by her patients when their physical health is restored - because she's experienced them first hand. Adrienne, 57, from Nantwich, Cheshire, has spent her career in nursing and healthcare. In 2016, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after noticing a suspicious mole on her leg and underwent two rounds of surgery and skin grafting. After five years of follow-up tests, she was discharged in 2021. The Princess of Wales pictured speaking to patients at the Royal Marsden hospital, where she received treatment in 2024. The royal, 43, spoke about the 'resilience' needed to juggle normal life with often gruelling treatment In 2022, a routine mammogram detected breast cancer and Adrienne needed surgery and radiotherapy, followed by hormone therapy - she's currently on the five-year follow-up and undergoes regular scans. Speaking to MailOnline, Adrienne says the Princess of Wales' feeling of a new normal is an accurate reflection on how many people feel. 'Whilst there is often a sense of relief that treatment is over, this can be a very difficult time for people living with cancer as the psychological impact alongside the physical impact can have a major impact on their lives. It can feel like life will never be the same again.' She adds 'Many people say that when they've finished their cancer treatment, people often expect them to feel overjoyed and return to how they were before. 'A lot of people still suffer with anxiety and depression due to the impact. It can affect sleep and cause fatigue. Cancer can impact on work, relationships, spirituality and sexuality. People are often living in fear of recurrence or a new or different cancer.' With two cancer diagnoses herself, Adrienne says she can relate to those feelings. 'After my first cancer, I used to say I was living with canxiety, a fear that my cancer would return. People say they live from scan to scan or test to test and the waiting can feel torturous. 'And then to be diagnosed with a new unrelated cancer after just being discharged from my 5 year follow up was such a shock. 'There is that sense of why me?. I actually thought to myself surely I have done my stint for team cancer! Not that it is a team anyone wants to join in the first place.' It can help to share with others, says Adrienne: 'Macmillans online cancer forum has over 80,000 members and is available 24 hours a day, in a safe environment, at community.macmillan.org.uk. 'After my second cancer, I was fortunate enough to be referred for health and well being clinics and with 11 other ladies had six sessions which included psychological support, sessions on sleep, fatigue, sexuality and a whole range of support offers. 'And we formed our own whats app group and two years on we still connect and share our issues and fun things and this helped me as much as anything.' Clinical therapist Dr Chris Meaden, who specialises in PTSD, trauma, anxiety, panic attacks and is founder of the Meaden Clinic in Kent, says the prospect of an upcoming scan when you're in remission can be particularly scary. Clinical therapist Dr Chris Meaden, left, praised the Princess of Wales for her honesty over life after treatment, saying he tells patients: 'Youve already shown incredible resilience, and that same strength will help you navigate life after treatment.' Right: Kate at The Royal Marsden Meaden, who's treated members of the European royal family as well as high-profile celebrities, said: 'Kate Middletons news on being in remission from cancer must have been a huge wave of relief for herself, the royal family and the entire nation, but its important to remember that remission doesnt mean the journey is over. Youve already shown incredible resilience, and that same strength will help you navigate life after treatment... Clinical therapist Dr Chris Meaden on how to cope with complicated feelings after going into remission 'Adjusting to life after treatment brings its own set of challenges, and the Princess of Wales herself has alluded to the difficulty of cracking on with daily tasks after such a significant ordeal. Recovery is as much emotional as it is physical. The clinical therapist says 'residual trauma' if all too common, saying: '"Scanxiety", or the intense worry that accompanies follow-up check-ups, often lingers even after going into remission. This is a natural reaction, as our brains are wired to remember past traumas and associate medical appointments with stress and uncertainty.' He adds: 'While getting a cancer in remission is a relief, that can be short-lived as life has often been turned upside down. The diagnosis and treatment can leave an emotional imprint, creating trauma that may persist without targeted intervention.' Meaden uses approaches such as Havening Techniques, grounding techniques including deep belly breathing - or the 'psychological sigh', to help calm the nervous system in these moments, and establishing 'comforting rituals'. He added: 'I also recommend bringing a loved one to appointments or scheduling something enjoyable afterwards to reduce anticipatory anxiety. The Princess of Wales walking into the Royal Marsden Hospital during today's visit 'Kate Middletons courage and empathy in sharing this must bring comfort to others who are in the same position. He adds: 'Remind yourself that Its okay to feel anxious. Simply acknowledge those feelings without judgment. 'Youve already shown incredible resilience, and that same strength will help you navigate life after treatment.' Dr Frances Goodhart, a clinical psychologist and author of The Cancer Survivors Companion, previously told the Daily Mail how normal life, the thing patients dream of during treatment, can actually be one of the toughest parts of the cancer journey. She said: There is a huge amount of pressure on cancer patients in remission. Family and friends want the person to be back to normal; to be able to throw off the experience of cancer and pick up where they left off. Theres an expectation around the speed of recovery. But often, its only at the end of treatment when people start psychologically processing what theyve been through. During the Princess of Wales visit to The Royal Marsden yesterday, a number of the patients opened the conversation by asking how the Princess was feeling. The royal replied that she was doing well, but recalled the cycle of treatment, saying: 'Sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one'. 'Sometimes from the outside we all think "You've finished treatment and you go back to things". But it's hard to get back to normal.' As she walked through the main entrance of the hospital's Chelsea site, the Princess - dressed in a long brown winter coat and heels - was heard to say: 'Coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it's quite nice.' Sitting down to talk to one lady who was undergoing treatment while wearing a cold cap to prevent hair loss, Catherine said: 'When did you first start treatment? Oh, today? How are you finding it?' Offering words of comfort, she hugged one well-wisher and told them: 'I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time. The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Tuesday 'Are you OK? There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.' The Royal Marsden opened its doors in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London. William has held the role of president of the Royal Marsden since 2007, a position which was previously held by his mother Diana. He most recently visited the Royal Marsden to open their Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton in June 2023. The Royal Marsden also confirmed that until now William had been its president - but, with his wife now joining him, the couple would henceforth be joint patrons. Call Macmillan Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 0000 or visit macmillan.org.uk The King plans to visit Poland to mark 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation King Charles met with Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster in Scotland today, as he marked the 35th anniversary of the launch of his royal charity. The King's Foundation was founded as the Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture by Charles in 1990 when he was Prince of Wales, and works to build sustainable communities and transform lives. Sir Rod and Penny, the foundation's newest celebrity ambassadors, met the monarch at Dumfries House in Ayrshire. The Do Ya Think I'm Sexy singer ensured he was adequately wrapped up against the bracing cold, donning a Molly-Mae-inspired cream cable knit with a high neck, under a shearling coat. Meanwhile, his wife Penny opted for a similar warm toned ensemble, pairing a pale brown jumper with a darker skirt of the same colour. Ahead of the visit, it was revealed that Charles, 76, would be placing a personal letter and the first item into The King's Foundation's 35th anniversary time capsule, to mark the start of a year of celebrations. As part of its work, the foundation promotes the King's philosophy of harmony which sees everything in nature as interconnected, including ourselves, and advocates taking a holistic approach to the challenges facing the planet. Over the course of the year, the charity will collect items which people feel represent the achievements and legacy of The King's Foundation, with a particular focus on what inspired people to devote their time to protecting the built and natural world. Musician Sir Rod Stewart (pictured today) has joined the King's Foundation as one of its celebrity ambassadors, alongside his wife, Penny Stewart Once the collection of items is complete the time capsule will be buried on the Dumfries House estate and opened in 100 years. The time capsule itself was designed and made from oak at the Snowdon School of Furniture, part of The King's Foundation at Highgrove, by King's Foundation alumnus Aiden Lawley. Its design has been left intentionally plain to both celebrate the British timber used and to give space for other students and alumni to add decorative elements throughout the year. A newly created bust of Charles, created by a former King's Foundation student, Lily Marsh, who now runs a successful sculpting business, will also be on show during the event. During the visit on Wednesday, the King spoke to members of the local community, ambassadors and alumni of the foundation, while Alan Titchmarsh, an ambassador for the charity, was also in attendance. Sir Rod, who has just celebrated his 80th birthday, and model, special constable and Loose Women star Penny have joined the likes of David Beckham and Sienna Miller in the role of celebrity ambassadors. The veteran rocker, whose hits include Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, Hot Legs and Maggie May, said: 'We are so pleased to be coming on board as ambassadors for The King's Foundation and look forward to lending our support to this worthwhile cause, particularly during such a significant year for the charity.' The veteran rocker (pictured, right) appeared pleased to be exchanging words with the monarch (left) as his wife Penny Lancaster (centre) also joined the conversation Sir Rod, who is known for hits like Do Ya Think I'm Sexy among others, looked cosy in his Winter ensemble Penny, also known as Lady Stewart, was seen warmly embracing King Charles as they met at Dumfries House today Penny, also known as Lady Stewart, said: 'As a volunteer special constable, the foundation's approach to building communities - and how access to green spaces can help build better, healthier places - is particularly important to me. 'It's an honour to be working with the foundation and I can't wait to meet more of the inspiring people who both learn with and work for the organisation.' Sir Rod, who has long been a supporter of the charity, joined the King, Beckham and Miller at the foundation's inaugural awards in St James's Palace in June. The charity supports 15,000 students across its education programmes each year and said it has a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people around the world through its community regeneration projects. Its textiles education programmes work to train the next generation of young craftspeople in heritage and endangered skills but it also focuses on sustainability, farming and agriculture, health and wellbeing, and architecture and urbanism. The foundation's headquarters are at Dumfries House, which was saved for the nation in 2007 by a consortium led by Charles as the Prince of Wales. Kristina Murrin, chief executive of The King's Foundation, said: 'We are thrilled to begin celebrations for our 35th anniversary today at Dumfries House, which is not only our headquarters but very much the heart of The King's Foundation." 'Our early work at the Institute for Architecture formed the basis of the expanding and expansive work which is epitomised at Dumfries House today, so it is only fitting to celebrate this milestone on site with His Majesty The King and our students, alumni, staff and ambassadors. PennyLancaster and Sir Rod Stewart said they are 'so pleased to be coming on board as ambassadors for The King's Foundation' Charles is pictured placing a letter in the The King's Foundation's 35th anniversary time capsule (also seen: Lady Stewart and Sir Rod) 'We are so proud of what The King's Foundation has achieved over the past 35 years. 'I hope those uncovering the time capsule in 2125 will recognise the positive impact both the King and his foundation have had on the world and its communities.' The meeting followed King Charles holding an audience with the President of Sierra on Wednesday earlier today. His Majesty, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, welcomed Leone Julius Maada Bio at Dumfries House in Cumnock. The meeting followed King Charles holding an audience with the President of Sierra on Wednesday earlier today. The two leaders appeared in good spirits as they shook hands before sitting down to chat. Charles donned a grey suit, white shirt and pastel pink tie, while Mr Maada Bio opted a striped navy suit blue shirt and bronze-coloured tie for the meeting. Writing on Facebook on Monday, ahead of the meeting, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio said: 'This afternoon, I had the honor of accompanying His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio as we departed Sierra Leone to accept a gracious invitation from His Majesty King Charles III. 'This visit is a significant opportunity to strengthen the diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom. I am pleased to be part of this important engagement and anticipate productive discussions and collaborations that will benefit both our nations.' The King's meeting comes just a day after he greeted Iraq's prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani at Buckingham Palace. The monarch greeted Al-Sudani, 54, on Tuesday, ahead of the Iraqi PM's meeting with Sir Keir Starmer. King Charles, 76, held an audience with the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday at Dumfries House, Cumnock, Scotland A joint statement released by the two prime ministers following Tuesday's meeting said: 'Prime Minister Starmer congratulated PM Al-Sudani on the stability and growth that Iraq has enjoyed under his leadership. 'The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of a prosperous, sovereign Iraq through a new partnership focused on trade and investment, deepening educational and cultural ties, as well as tackling security, migration and climate change challenges. 'This visit re-affirms the UK and Iraqs commitment to work together on shared regional and global interests and underlines a shared commitment to the long-term strategic relationship.' Writing about his visit to the UK in The Telegraph, Al-Sudani described his meeting with Charles as one of 'symbolic significance'. 'It underscores the enduring historical ties between our two countries and highlights the importance we place on deepening dialogue and coordination on issues of security, stability and development in our region,' the politician, who came to power in 2022, added. While it's understood that King Charles is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, he has still maintained a busy schedule. In addition to his ongoing meetings, he recently confirmed he will visit Poland to attend commemoration events for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz later this month. The visit will mark 80 years since the liberation of the former German Nazi concentration camp on January 27, 1945. While in the country, His Majesty will also meet the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda. The two leaders appeared in good spirits as they shook hands with each other before sitting down Charles donned a grey suit, a white shirt and a pastel pink tie while Mr Maada Bio wore a striped navy suit blue shirt and bronze-coloured tie for the meeting The King's cancer treatment is continuing into this year, a Buckingham Palace source previously revealed. The source has 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 this 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 at the end of 2024. Claudia Winkleman turns 53 today - and what better way for the nation's favourite fringed host to celebrate her birthday than with an animated caricature cake of herself. The Traitors star commemorated the festivities with an Instagram post featuring what she hailed as an 'excellent cake', adorned by hefty swaths of black icing for her signature tresses, heavy-handed pipe work for her dramatic eye makeup and Tic Tacs for teeth. 'The icing for the skin could've been a bit more orange,' one fan jibed. 'I jumped,' BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw wrote in the comments of the birthday post. 'Yessssssss Claudia,' Davina McCall wrote, describing her presenter pal as 'hilarious, sharp and brilliant'. Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas also wished Claudia a happy birthday, saying she feels 'blessed' to work with such a 'magnificent human being'. Former Traitors contestant Brian Davidson commented: '53?!? You don't look a day over 52 Claudia! Hope you have a lovely day', while Minah Shannon, who is starring on the current season of the BBC reality show, wished the host a happy birthday. Season three of the Traitors continues tonight on BBC Three, where viewers will watch Leon and Fozia fight for their survival in a 'deadly' game of cards. To celebrate her 53rd birthday, Claudia Winkleman posted a caricature cake on Instagram 'Let's celebrate with a little game of Deathmatch,' Claudia teased on Instagram. 'We're on at 9.' Behind the sweet, but scary, cake is Keith Scovell, 55, from Kentish Town, north London. 'I love Claudia,' Keith told PA. 'I love The Traitors. I can't get enough of it.' Keith, who was born with a hearing impairment, said that lip reading has helped him learn people's facial expressions - hence the special focus on quirky features. He said he enjoys seeing people laughing and loves cakes with 'auras' that look 'off-beat'. 'I thought, actually, how characteristic her face is the hair, the eyes, the smile and then I just thought, actually, could I recreate that?' Keith said. The cake features hefty swaths of black icing for her signature fringe, heavy-handed pipe work for her dramatic eye makeup and Tic Tacs for teeth Fans and friends rushed to the comments to wish Claudia a happy birthday - including pals Nick Grimshaw and Shirley Ballas Keith photoshopped his cake onto a picture of Claudia in the Traitors for the full effect Behind the sweet, but scary, cake is creator Keith Scovell (pictured) from Kentish Town, north London 'My cakes, to be honest with you, they're just my imagination going a bit crazy. 'The mouth is never, to the cake I create, true to form. Its always the comedy part, I think.' Keith has also made cakes of various celebrities including Liam and Noel Gallagher; US President-elect Donald Trump and his electoral rival Kamala Harris; and even King Charles and Queen Camilla. His uncanny Ant and Dec cakes even received praise from the I'm A Celeb hosts on ITV's This Morning on January 2. 'That's wonderful, wonderful cake,' Ant McPartlin said, while stifling a laugh. 'Do I have that many teeth in my head?' Laughing, his co-host Declan Donnelly said: 'Which one is which?' Keith's TikTok account, Kakes by Keith, has gathered more than 200,000 views and 40,000 likes, with some fans calling for him to sell his creations. 'If I had my cakes in a shop window, they may scare small children,' Keith joked. Keith's TikTok account, Kakes by Keith, has gathered more than 200,000 views and 40,000 likes, with some fans calling for him to sell his creations. Keith has also made cakes of various celebrities including the brothers behind Oasis, Liam and Noel Gallagher Keith's attempt to make caricature cakes of King Charles and Queen Camilla used a lot of icing in the recipe His uncanny Ant and Dec cake received praise from the I'm A Celeb hosts on ITV's This Morning The 55-year-old said he was initially overwhelmed by the media attention his cakes received - but soon realised that his bakes were bringing joy. He said: 'If you look at the comments, theres not one negative comment, which is rare in this day and age because people do like to slate somebody for doing something that they enjoy.' Keith continued: 'Its insane. I dont know, if it ends tomorrow its fun. Im still making cakes anyway, so it doesnt matter.' Each of Keith's cakes takes up to three hours to make, with a classic Victoria forming the base. Although Keith admits that his cakes may look weird, he said his creations are 'edible'. 'If it's made you smile, it's going to make someone else smile, so it's going to make someone's day,' he said. 'The joy I got from seeing people's faces and reactions is probably worth a million of those cakes.' Could Barack and Michelle Obama be heading for a divorce? Some fans are starting to suspect something is awry in the former first couple's marriage after news broke that Michelle would not be attending Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony with her husband. 'Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,' the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama told Associated Press this week. Michelle was also noticeably absent from former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on January 9 due to a 'scheduling conflict.' These two huge non-appearances have some fans of the political power couple concerned there's trouble in paradise, with many taking to X to share their thoughts. 'I'm calling it, the Obamas are getting a divorce,' wrote one person. Another posted: 'An Obama divorce would not be on my 2025 predictions but it might happen.' Could Barack and Michelle Obama be heading for a divorce? Some fans believe it could be true The former first lady was also noticeably absent from former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on January 9 due to a 'scheduling conflict' One claimed: 'Her and Obama are on the outs!! They are getting a divorce!!! She doesn't want to be around him!!!' 'Sounds like an Obama divorce is on the horizon, we've all seen it, they stop attending functions together,' another typed. Another user also said: 'I feel like the Obamas are about to get a divorce..' However, there were some who dismissed the rumor and instead suggested Michelle was only making a political statement. 'I don't know anything about their marriage, but it's very clear to me that Michelle Obama is making a very specific *political* statement with these absences. She would never choose Jimmy Carter's funeral to announce her divorce. Let's be sensible here,' one person wrote. Another agreed, 'Michelle Obama is in mourning/grieving the loss of her mom On top of her not being a political figure and you all believe a TikTok about her and Barack getting a divorce because she missed a funeral and won't attend a felon's inauguration.' The couple, who first met in 1989 when they both worked at a law firm in Chicago, married in 1992. They welcomed their first daughter, Malia, six years later in 1998, and their second daughter, Sasha, in 2001. However, some political fans are worried that there might be trouble in paradise for the two of them, and are taking to X to share their thoughts 'Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,' the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama told the outlet However, although they've had a long-lasting marriage, the two have not shied away from sharing their struggles. When they first had children, the couple would quarrel over Barack's six-hour round trip commute to work at the Illinois Senate - also spending days away at a time due to his job. In his 2020 memoir 'A Promised Land', Barack recalling an exhausted Michelle telling him on one occasion: 'This isn't what I signed up for, Barack. I feel like I'm doing it all by myself.' At first, Michelle was resistant to Barack running for President, but warmed to the idea after she realized the enormous impact he could have on young, Black children across the nation. While they were in the White House for eight years, they argued by continued to persevere with their marriage. Barack recalled in his book an 'undercurrent of tension' in his wife during their early years in the White House, which he said was 'subtle but constant.' But after his two term Presidency ended in 2017, the couple were able to get back to their relationship and enjoy each other's company once again. In his book, Barack wrote that they spent a lot of time 'replenishing their friendship' and 'rediscovering their love' after leaving the White House in 2017. However, although they've had a long-lasting marriage, the two have not shied away from sharing their struggles When they first had children, the couple had some fights, as Barack would commute on a six-hour round trip to work at the Illinois Senate, and sometimes spend days away due to his job 'We slept late, ate leisurely dinners, went for long walks, swam in the ocean, took stock, and planned for a less eventful but hopefully no less satisfying second act,' he wrote. On her podcast 'The Light', Michelle even recalled wanting to 'push Barack out of the window' on numerous occasions, but added that she was glad she 'didn't quit' on her husband. 'You've got to know that there are going to be times, long periods of time, when you can't stand each other,' she told listeners. 'The feelings will be intense. But that doesn't mean you quit and these periods can last a long time - they can last years. '[Me and Barack] have a very strong marriage. If I had given up on it, if I had walked away from it, in those tough times, then I would've missed all the beauty that was there as well.' Prince William surprised day drinkers as he popped in for a pint at Wetherspoons on his way back from an official engagement this afternoon. The future king was spotted in the Birmingham New Street Station branch of the popular pub chain after appearing at an event to mark his new role as Patron of the College of Paramedics. He was apparently keen to speak to Aston Villa fans like himself, with the team playing Everton tonight, and sipped a pint of cider. He bought a round of beers for eight Villa fans and sipped a pint of Bulmers cider, staying for around half an hour before catching a train back to London. Steve Jones, 56, Villa fan for last 35 years, said: 'We were contacted by the club saying Prince William wanted to meet a delegation of Villa fans as he was in Birmingham as he wanted to keep in the loop with everything going on at Villa. 'He was fantastic. I was quite amazed about how engaged he was with the club, his interest. He's not a fair weather fan. He really loves the club with a passion. 'We spoke about the club, the transfers, the pending Champions League trip to Monaco, and all things Aston Villa. He asked many questions - he's got a good level of interest. 'It was 95 per cent chat about Villa as that's out shared interest but a bit about his family. Young George is a Villa fan but he didn't want all three to be Villa fans. Prince William surprised day drinkers as he popped in for a pint at Wetherspoons on his way back from an official engagement this afternoon 'He was massively interested and seemed a really genuine guy and all he wanted to do is talk about Villa. 'He said he was hopeful about beating Everton tonight and would be watching but was wary about new manager syndrome, or rather old manager syndrome.' Earlier at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre he was sent best wishes for his wife, Catherine, as he chatted to paramedics about issues including training, drones and hospital waiting times. Among them was Ed Griffiths, who served as a Search and Rescue Paramedic with William at RAF Valley in Anglesey when the prince was a search and rescue pilot. William patted him on the shoulder and shared a joke before adding: 'Last time I saw you was on a beach.' Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer at the College of Paramedics, said: 'I want to say how delighted we are to hear about the Royal Highness and send her our best wishes.' William nodded his head. It comes after the Princess of Wales yesterday revealed that her cancer was in remission. William asked Jess Rousen, a paramedic and nurse who has worked in Wales for 27 years, 'how is morale?' The future king was spotted in the Birmingham New Street Station branch of the popular pub chain after appearing at an event to mark his new role as Patron of the College of Paramedics William was apparently keen to speak to Aston Villa fans like himself, with the team playing Everton tonight, and sipped a pint of cider The Prince bought a round of beers for eight Villa fans and sipped a pint of Bulmers cider, staying for around half an hour before catching a train back to London Prince William looked dapper in a black slim-fit coat and opted for a smart matching black suit, a crisp white shirt, a navy blue tie and brown suede loafers The talk is dedicated to supporting emergency responders in making effective decisions under pressure Jess described how 'morale was low' as some hospitals were 'flooded'. She said some paramedics finish a shift and return 12 hours later only to be back with the same patient. She added: 'But it is what it is.' Gary Clarke, a paramedic from Belfast, told William that full hospitals are having a major impact on patients and paramedics. He said the amount of time they have to spend with patients has increased. He said: 'It's not great. A lot of patients are having to wait so you have to build a rapport with patients in the ambulance.' William replied: 'It's difficult because you want to get them to hospital as soon as possible.' Gary said that backlogs worsened after Covid but says the College of Paramedics helps 'you deal with what you are going through' and 'having that back up if it's needed'. Jean Cragg, a first responder for 43 years in the East Midlands, told William: 'When I hear my colleagues all talk about waiting times it's very difficult for everybody but there is no real quick fix available.' Speaking to a new recruit who had spent less than a year as a paramedic, William said: 'It's an exciting journey you are on.' Claire Fitchett, Specialist Paramedic at Hampshire and Isle of Wight, told the prince 'being a paramedic can be a lonely place to work' and said it was good that so many paramedics were together at the conference. During his visit, William smiled and chatted to various paramedics from different areas of the UK William was also seen shaking hands with search and rescue paramedic, Edward Griffiths Prince William is pictured beginning his new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance in 2015 She also told William that paramedics were harnessing new technology. She told him they are investigating using drones to fly automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from the mainland to Isle of Wight by drones. William added: 'We still need people on the ground so still be in a job for a while.' And he asked if there were any figures on whether the amounts of people who wanted to train as a paramedic had risen or fallen after Covid. William was in Birmingham ahead of tonight's clash between Aston Villa and Everton. When he arrived at the BCEC and greeted his hosts he said: 'I'll be watching the game and keeping an eye on what's going on.' Taking to the stage, the prince made another reference to the game, saying: 'It's great to be back in Birmingham, and for any fellow Villa fans with us today I look forward to celebrating our win over Everton later' Turning to his new role he said: 'I am so pleased to be standing here as the College of Paramedics' new Patron and to have the opportunity to join your first ever Emergency and Critical Care conference. 'Often referred to as the 'Swiss Army Knife' of frontline healthcare, paramedics and those in the emergency services are adaptable, multi-skilled and crucially, know how to work under pressure. Prince William is seen smiling during the inaugural Emergency and Critical Care Conference He was seen listening and nodding intently while a woman from the Cymru High Acuity Response Unit explained what her job entailed, saying that she often goes to the 'worst of the worst' situations The royal, 42, has returned to royal duties after it was announced that he was being made Patron of the College of Paramedics 'This pressure is something I was all too familiar with during my time as a pilot for RAF Search and Rescue and for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. 'My time in these roles allowed me to better understand the day-to-day challenges that you all face and gave me the lifelong motivation to do all I can to support your community. It is not just another job. 'Every day provides unpredictable challenges. Every shout is a journey into the unknown. Every split second decision, has immeasurable impact on so many people.' He also referred to his and Catherine's visit to Southport in the autumn as part of his Royal Foundation's work with the Blue Light Card Foundation, providing emergency responders with psychological support. 'Speaking to the paramedics and other frontline care providers on that day, was another reminder of the horrors you can be met with, but also the vital job that you do,' he said. 'Saving lives is not the only challenge you face. In your role, you are there for people in the most critical and emotional moments, having to display care and skill in highly stressful and often distressing circumstances. Prince William was snapped listening to responders speak about their jobs and what they face everyday The Prince of Wales, patron of the College of Paramedics, greets Dr. Halden Hutchinson-Bazely 'Working alongside you in Wales and East Anglia I know the team effort that is required to provide emergency health care, but I also know that at the beginning it is sometimes a lone paramedic. 'In a car, on a bike, in a helicopter, in an ambulance, on foot. Your ability to calm the patient, to listen to their fears, to reassure them that help has arrived, is as important as the subsequent medical intervention. 'But as you know all too well, this can lead to burnout and a significant impact on your mental wellbeing. 'And with the role of the paramedic ever evolving expanding into research, leadership and academic domains - there is increasingly pressure upon your shoulders. 'So as well as doing what you do best in the care of others, it is vital that you are also there for yourselves and for each other. In particular, supporting paramedic students coming through the ranks, to ensure a strong, capable workforce for years to come.' He concluded: 'We will never forget your unwavering and brave work during that period. I am so proud to become Patron of an organisation which is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of paramedics and fostering an environment where all paramedics can thrive. 'In this country, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our emergency services. As paramedics in whatever guise, your work uniquely places tremendous demands upon you and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do. The College of Paramedics was established in 2001 and is a membership organisation open to all UK paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and student paramedics. It has more than 20,000 members improving professional standards, learning and development, and taking care of paramedics' mental health and wellbeing. In February last year, the College was granted the Royal Charter of Incorporation by the King. The Duchess of Edinburgh beamed as she received a birthday cake during an engagement in London today. Sophie, 59, who will turn 60 on January 20, was welcomed to a Community Shop in Lambeth with an iced celebratory cake. The royal, who took photographs with the sweet treat, appeared thrilled to receive the thoughtful gift. Elsewhere, the 59-year-old got stuck in with everyday activities at the hub, including serving up a selection of delicious foods to attendees. Community Shop is an initiative with 13 UK locations where people can purchase affordable and quality foods and socialise with community members. 'We're a community hub where you can meet new people, enjoy delicious meals at discounted prices, and get support with life-changing programmes,' the website reads. While browsing the shelves, Sophie put on an elegant display in a deep crimson knitted jumper, which she paired with a contrasting green maxi skirt, and a relaxed cream coat. The mother-of-two wore her glossy blonde tresses loose for the outing, and opted for a classic makeup look, complete with clear base, peach blush, and a classic pink lip. The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in high spirits as she received a birthday cake during an engagement today Sophie appeared in high spirits throughout the engagement and was even seen giving a thumbs up to a community member. Executive Chairman of Community Shop, Gary Stott, said: 'We are honoured to have welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, to Community Shop Lambeth today. 'This Royal visit highlights the vital importance of our mission and is a real boost for the Community Shop team who work tirelessly to tackle food insecurity. 'Our Lambeth store provides a lifeline for the local community and we're proud to have created a vibrant, welcoming space where people come to share stories, learn and eat together.' Esther Dennis, Community Wellbeing Practitioner said: 'The success of our model is evident in the numbers over the past decade we've managed to save our local members over 6 million on their shopping in our Lambeth store enabling our community to support themselves and their families. 'Money raised in Community Shop Lambeth has been re-invested into delivering 12,000 development programmes for the local community. The 59-year-old put on a chic display in a crimson red knitted jumper, green maxi skirt, and biscuit-coloured coat The royal, who is married to Prince Edward, gave a thumbs up as she met customers in the cafe Sophie got stuck in and dished up meals to attendees at the London based community cafe on Wednesday 'The Duchess of Edinburgh's support today will help to amplify our message as we continue expanding our efforts to tackle food poverty in our local community and nationwide.' It comes after the Princess of Wales shared a sweet greeting with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at her Christmas carol service. The bond was evident between the pair when Kate, 43, reached out to Sophie for a touching kiss at the royal's fourth annual Together at Christmas concert inside Westminster Abbey on December 6. For the Princess, it was her most significant public engagement since completing chemotherapy treatment for her undisclosed form of cancer. Once Kate spotted the Duchess, 59, she embraced her with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. 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. They were a stylish duo, with Kate donning an elegant Alexander McQueen red coat with a statement black bow; and Sophie opting for a floral bohemian style dress and white wintry blazer. Sophie opted for a elegant makeup look for the occasion, complete with a touch of brown lipstick The 59-year-old appeared interested as she browsed the supermarket shelves at the London-store As the pair have grown 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. 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. While it is thought that Sophie has, at times, looked to the Princess for fashion inspiration, it's been suggested that 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. The festive period has been a busy time, yet the Duchess of Edinburgh has been hard at work attending several engagements in recent weeks. Whether singing carols or making mince pies, Sophie hasn't shied away from stepping up and undertaking engagements while Kate has made a gradual return to duties following treatment for cancer. Back in November, the Duchess showed her supportive side when she warmly put her arm around a Yazidi survivor while attending a photography exhibition. Pictured: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh receives a cake ahead of her 60th birthday during a visit to The Company Shop Then, last month, Sophie wore a glamorous gown and attended the Qatar State Banquet at Buckingham Palace with other royals. Days later, the Duchess of Edinburgh joined in with the festivities during a visit to the Bagshot Women's Institute and made decorations. While at the 'Together at Christmas' carol service at Westminster Abbey, Sophie 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. And on November 27, Sophie attended 'The Women Who Beat ISIS' photography exhibition at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. The event was hosted by Farida Global which supports genocide survivors and victims of conflict and religious persecution. During her visit, Sophie met Awaz Abdi and shared a tender moment with the Yazidi survivor. She put her arm supportively around the young woman while they were walking, deep in conversation. The Duchess also took time to look at the portraits of other Yazidi women who had been held captive by ISIS and suffered terrible horrors. Less than a week later, Sophie was busy attending the Qatari State Banquet, where she dazzled in an elegant black gown. She accompanied Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi and wore the Wessex aquamarine tiara. Mother-of-two Sophie looked focused as she served attendees a range of hot foods earlier today Pictured: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh looks around the shop during a visit to The Company Shop Other Royals in attendance included King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince William, Sir Timothy Laurence, Duchess of Gloucester, and Sophie's husband, Prince Edward. Kate wasn't present at the banquet, but she did greet the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, on Horse Guards Parade in London. She also joined them for a private lunch at Buckingham Palace later that day. Their bond was also observed when Sophie joined Kate on the balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - where they watched the Remembrance Sunday service unfold. As they stepped into public view, the Princess hinted to her husband's aunt that she was feeling overwhelmed - reportedly telling her: 'You're never quite ready for this...' After reassuring the Princess, the Duchess of Edinburgh placed a supportive, 'maternal' hand on the future Queen's back as they walked back inside following the two-minute silence, which was broadcast live to the nation. It's an unexpected union bought on by the looming TikTok ban thanks to a social media app that doesn't even officially have an English name. With the fate of TikTok up in the air in America, social media users have flocked to another Chinese-owned app called Xiaohongshu - and users are bonding as they adapt to the platform. The name of the social media app, which translates to Little Red Book, has been shortened by US users to RedNote and has been so popular it surged to the top position on Apple's US App Store this week. As per CNN, as of Wednesday, the hashtag 'TikTok refugee' had nearly 250 million views and over 5.5 million comments, referencing the thousands of American users that had downloaded the app. The sudden rush to the new platform has resulted in users uniting over their shared use, with Chinese users helping Americans translate and navigate the interface. 'I downloaded the app and checked it out and it's currently thousands of people from America and China all laughing and meme-ing together,' one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. They continued: 'Chinese users will post a cat saying "I'm stealing your cat's data!" and then they laugh and share cat photos with each other.' Even language app Duolingo chimed in, with a sarcastic post saying: 'Oh so NOW you're learning Mandarin.' With the fate of TikTok up in the air in America, social media users have flocked to another Chinese-owned app: Xiaohongshu - and users are bonding as they adapt to the app A US law sets a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban on national security grounds In one viral post, a Xiaohongshu user asked the new American users for help with their English homework in a viral post with over 2,000 likes. 'Me telling my grandkids about how the government spread propaganda about the Chinese and how we eventually became friends through memes and English homework,' one reaction read. 'I want an American friend,' another comment from a Chinese user read. 'This is what the internet was always supposed to be. Humans connecting with humans and finally learning that the real enemies are the ones who stand to lose power when we realize there are more of us than there are of them,' one passionate user wrote. 'I joined last night and for the most part, they just want us to respect them and their culture and they're really excited to finally have a platform where we can communicate together,' another American user chimed in. On X, a user joked that: 'Banning TikTok may have been the biggest step on achieving world peace in human history.' 'Forget TikTok, we're out here uniting nations one meme at a time,' agreed another. Another X user, AI expert Olivia Moore, described the American migration to RedNote as the 'craziest accidental cultural exchange ever.' The sudden rush to the new app has resulted in users uniting over their shared use of the app, with Chinese users helping American users translate and navigate the app Users have flocked to other social media platforms to share their experiences using RedNote, a Chinese video and photo sharing app RedNote also includes images, reviews and community discussions 'Hundreds of thousands of users landed in an app not localized or in their language. One day in, and it's already considered rude not to subtitle videos in the other language,' she posted online. Launched in Shanghai in 2013, RedNote combines elements of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, allowing users to share lifestyle content, product reviews, and short videos. RedNote also lets users livestream video clips and offers integrated e-commerce features that allow people to shop directly within the app. While TikTok focuses on short-form videos, RedNote also includes images, reviews and community discussions. With over 300 million monthly active users, it has gained popularity as an alternative to TikTok amid concerns over a potential ban on the latter in the US. A US law sets a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban on national security grounds. A lawyer for TikTok, Noel Francisco, said it would be impossible to complete a sale by then of the short video app used by 170 million Americans and said the site would quickly go dark and 'essentially the platform shuts down'. TikTok also claims the decision would be a violation of free speech for its millions of American users in the nation. Donald Trump's supporters are gushing over his new pick for attorney general. Trump announced Pam Bondi, 59, was his choice to be the nation's top law enforcement officer after Representative Matt Gaetz withdrew amid sex trafficking allegations. Bondi has been loyal to Trump for many years, even claiming there were 'fake ballots' and attending Rudy Giuliani's infamous Four Seasons Landscaping press conference where he claimed Trump won Pennsylvania. 'It looks like intimidation to me,' she said at the time. 'We've won Pennsylvania and we want every vote to be counted in a fair way.' Bondi also endorsed Trump over her fellow Floridian Marco Rubio in 2016 and spoke at his first convention. She has been a close advisor to the President-elect for many years, and now, he's rewarding her loyalty by nominating her for attorney general. During the hearings, she dared Democrats to find 'dirt' on her and sidestepped a question about whether President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Many MAGA fans watching at home were more enthralled with her makeup routine than her statements - with some begging for her to spill her skincare secrets. Donald Trump's supporters are gushing over his new pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, seen above on December 2, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Trump announced Pam Bondi, 59, was his choice to be the nation's top law enforcement officer after Representative Matt Gaetz withdrew amid sex trafficking allegations Bondi has been a close advisor to the President-elect for many years, and now, he's rewarding her loyalty by nominating her for attorney general Bondi, who told senators she would get rid of 'weaponization' and overhaul the Department of Justice, was praised for her youthful looks on social media. 'I don't wanna be funny or whatever but Pam Bondi is a hottie,' one supporter raved on X (previously Twitter). 'I know a retired baddie when I see one,' another fan agreed about Pam, who was born in Temple Terrace, Florida. Her father, Joseph Bondi, was a city council member and then mayor of Temple Terrace. Bondi attended the University of Florida, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority, before going to Stetson University for law school. 'I love Pam Bondi who proves that you can be sharp as a knife smart AND beautiful and stylish as well. Great role model for young ladies,' a Texas Republican tweeted about the former sorority girl. 'Ageless beauty. A role model with real accomplishments,' an X user said about the former prosecutor. The Florida woman worked as a prosecutor for almost 20 years in Hillsborough county before she ran for state attorney general in 2010, becoming the first woman in Florida to hold that office. Bondi, who told senators she would get rid of 'weaponization' and overhaul the Department of Justice, was praised for her youthful looks on social media 'I want her skin care routine,' proved to be a popular sentiment about the Florida woman, pictured above in an Instagram photo with President-elect Trump Pam Bondi prepares to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee with John Wakefield 'I dont wanna be funny or whatever but Pam Bondi is a hottie,' one supporter raved on X (previously Twitter) Others agreed that she was 'lookin' fine,' as another agreed she was 'still smoking hot at 59 years old.' 'I want her skin care routine,' proved to be a popular sentiment. Many people on social media wondered if Bondi was single, and the politician has been embroiled in tumultuous relationships for many years. Bondi was previously married to Garret Barnes in 1990 before the couple divorced after only 22 months of marriage. In 1996, she married Scott Fitzgerald before they divorced in 2002. She was engaged to Greg Henderson in 2012, and there were rumors they got married on vacation when she was seen in a white dress. However, it appears they never tied the knot. In 2017, she moved on with John Wakefield, wishing him happy birthday in an Instagram post. The couple have kept things quiet, but are still together today and some think they're married. If Bondi is confirmed as attorney general, she will be the first Republican woman to hold the office. Queen Letizia was dressed for business today as she chaired an event in Madrid promoting sustainability. The royal, 52, did not appear to be accompanied by her husband King Felipe, 56, as she made the public appearance. Organised by the BBVA Microfinance Foundation BBVA Microfinance Foundation (FMBBVA), according to the Spanish Royals' website, the 'Seeds for a sustainable future' event was set to 'highlight the transformative role of cocoa and that of small and medium-sized enterprises in combating poverty, creating employment and facilitating opportunities and progress for people'. As always, the royal looked immaculate, donning a black and white houndstooth fabric frock, which was both chic and businesslike. She paired the dress with a full-length black coat which she wore as a cape, simply slung over her shoulders, and black kitten-heeled pointed pumps. Letizia opted for a classic make-up look, pairing a fresh, dewy base with a light smokey eye shadow look in brown, and a pink lip. Her glossy chestnut locks were worn loose, styled into a side parting, and falling past her shoulders. During the engagement, the royal was snapped giving a speech, looking confident as she took her place at the lectern. Queen Letizia (pictured) looked elegant as she attended the sustainability event today in Madrid During her appearance at the event, the Queen gave a speech, looking confident as she spoke at the lectern She told the audience: 'This entity has brought us together once again to make us aware that there are currently 3 million people, 3 million small entrepreneurs, who live in the five Latin American countries where this Foundation operates and who get ahead every day because someone believed in them and supported them in their idea of starting a micro-enterprise. 'Three million people in vulnerable situations who are progressing and who manage to get an education and whose daughters and sons also have the opportunity to study thanks to the microcredits from the BBVA Microfinance Foundation.' According to the Palace, entrepreneurs Marlon Ferreira, Ana Rodriguez and Constantino Blandford also attended, in order to 'share how cocoa drives economic, social and cultural development in their countries'. It noted: 'In Colombia, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Panama, countries where FMBBVA is present, this crop is a source of income for more than 300,000 people, promotes female empowerment and opens opportunities for family education. 'In addition, it has played a key role in the transition to peace in Colombian regions affected by the conflict, where coca cultivation has been replaced by cocoa, known as the fruit of peace.' Today's appearance comes several days after King Felipe and Queen Letizia were snapped bidding farewell to their daughter Princess Leonor as she embarked on a six-month sailing trip that will take her across the United States. The royal couple watched proudly as their 19-year-old daughter took part in a departure ceremony before setting sail from Cadiz onboard the Juan Sebastian Elcano for a navy training cruise. The future queen looked solemn as she joined her fellow students, all aspiring officers of the Spanish Navy, for the procession before the three-masted sailing ship left the port in Cadiz. Queen Letizia of Spain (pictured) looked both elegant and businesslike in her houndstooth frock and kitten heeled pumps As she walked into the event, the Spanish royal (pictured) wore a long black coat, slung casually over her shoulders The stylish royal wore a natural make-up look, and styled her shining chestnut locks into a down do with a side parting Meanwhile, her parents smiled and waved goodbye, while King Felipe documented the milestone by taking photographs of Leonor. The young royal is undertaking a navy training cruise, sailing through two oceans, and visiting 10 ports and eight countries in America, according to La Vanguardia. She is following in the footsteps of her father, Felipe, and her grandfather, King Juan Carlos, who also carried out a similar trip. Just two days earlier, the royal couple were again snapped together as they hosted a reception at the Royal Palace. The reception typically takes place in the new year, which the couple has undertaken annually since King Felipe acceded to the throne in 2014. I got married last summer and my husband and I recently had our first baby together. You might, then, imagine that the screensaver on his phone would be a photo of his precious newborn son, or me, the person who pushed his only child from her body. But youd be wrong. Instead, its a photo of my best friend, or more accurately, our best friend, Martha. A close-up picture of her beaming face fills the screen. And although she changes her own screensaver more often than I change my bra, last time I checked it was a photo of my husband, a snap of him holding our son, who is wearing the outfit she bought him. When I shared a video about how my husbands phone screensaver is a photo of my best friend, the internet was outraged. Red flag! the comments screamed. Surely that must be his sister, someone wrote. Girl, if theyre not sleeping together now, they will be soon, said another. Despite that the three of us were together when I uploaded the video while watching a play, with my best friend sitting between me and my husband users were begging me to pull the plug on both my marriage and the friendship. Run! Before you get your heart broken. Write Flora Gill (pictured) married Adam last year. As well as sharing a baby, the couple share a best friend, Martha I found the outrage baffling. My husband, Adam, and Martha have been close for years, but I met her first when we were 16-year-old Buffy The Vampire Slayer-loving virgins at boarding school. And I met him four years later at university when I was a fresher and he was doing his finals and working at the college bar. So theyve been in my life, and each others, for about 13 years. Originally, Martha was sceptical of Adam and he made no effort to get to know her, but as she dropped the you hurt her and I kill you attitude, they realised how much they have in common. Now, I couldnt be more thankful they love each other. We often go out to dinner together or see shows, and even go away on holiday. We gossip together on a shared WhatsApp group and make plans for our future, supporting each others goals. While planning our wedding, Adam and I considered making Martha our joint best man/maid of honour (in the end, because of the timeframe, she took on the sole gig of maid of honour). Flora (centre), Adam and Martha (right) often go out to dinner together or see shows, and even go away on holiday Flora says she couldn't be more thankful that Adam and best friend Martha love each other Were not always a tripod theyll hang out as a two without me, with one or the other standing in as my sub for events I cant attend. I admit there have been moments when Ive angrily ranted to her about some couple argument and shes taken his side, pointing out that Im being irrational. But shell do the same with him, reminding him of the goddess I am if he gets close to forgetting. Then there are times when theyve been mistaken for a couple, most recently appearing on a kiss cam at a comedy show we attended where she was once again sitting between Adam and me. Their faces appeared in a heart together on a screen as the audience chanted kiss! kiss!. They tried to diffuse the situation by pulling not us faces while I cackled at how uncomfortable they both appeared. Most annoying are strangers who tell me Im delusional to trust them. But I think the closeness of the two people I value most in the world is the ultimate green flag. Honestly, it would be a red flag if he didnt think my best friend was incredible because so many of my best qualities are rooted in her as well. The same goes in the other direction: everything I love about Adam, my friend should love as well. And she does when she gave her speech at our wedding, it was clear how much she cared about us. Flora believes that your closest female friend and husband becoming best friends is something to celebrate People often dismiss the way their friends feel about their partners but, to me, its a litmus test, and if your partner fails it then you have to ask yourself why. I trust Adam and Martha implicitly. In fact, most of Adams closest friends are women. That trust goes both ways. The male friend he lived with at college later became my roommate in a two-bedroom apartment a few years down the line. While Adam was living in China, his friend and I took trips together and even shared a double bed with a pillow barrier in the middle to save on hotels. Your closest female friend and husband becoming besties isnt something to fear, but to rejoice in. So the internet can stop worrying about my relationships because Martha and Adam are not running away together and if they do, Im coming too. United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez is among the Latino civil rights figures who were under surveillance by the CIA and likely the FBI during the 1960s and 1970s. Bettmann Archive 1970 President Joe Biden leaves office in less than a week. With time running out to implement any significant policy agendas, there is one relatively small action his administration can take that would have an outsized impact on his legacy: Make the FBI publicly release any materials pertaining to the surveillance of the Latino civil rights movement. On Christmas Eve, the CIA quietly released 55 documents confirming long-held suspicions of Latino civil rights pioneers that the agency was monitoring them and their communities in the 1960s and 1970s. According to the released documents, Latino civil rights activists were monitored as part of the CIAs Operation Chaos, a domestic espionage program that targeted American citizens and dissidents. The operations watchlist included more than 300,000 persons and organizations. The documents revealed that the work of farm labor organizers, including Cesar Chavez and political organizers like Rodolfo Corky Gonzales, was viewed by the agency as a threat. Latino students were also caught in the surveillance dragnet when the agency infiltrated student groups in California, Arizona and Colorado to keep tabs on Mexican American student activists. The CIA even had an agreement with the University of Arizona to monitor students who made demands for Mexican American studies classes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The only reason we know all of this is because in March, two members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, sent a letter to CIA Director William J. Burns and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray requesting the release of any materials about surveillance of the Latino civil rights movement. The CIA seems to have complied with the request to the extent possible; the FBI has not. Last week, 35 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrote a letter to President Biden requesting that he direct the FBI to comply with the March request to release the information. According to the letter, the FBI took six months to even acknowledge it had received the original request and then entreated Congress members to submit a Freedom of Information Act request instead of simply complying as the CIA did. (The letter does not indicate whether the caucus filed such a request, or why it may have declined to do so.) If the FBI does not comply before Donald Trump takes office, there is little reason to think it will under a new president. This is especially true if Congress approves Trumps nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel. Patel is a veteran of the first Trump administration whose role as a keeper of records for the Trump presidency came under scrutiny during the federal investigation into Trumps handling of classified documents after he left office. A Trump loyalist, Patel has a penchant for Deep State conspiracy theories and a concomitant misinformation streak around everything from the results of the 2020 presidential election to the effects of COVID-19 vaccines. It is unlikely that someone who defended Trumps alleged illegal handling of classified documents would do the right thing and provide information to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and, by extension, Americans who deserve to know the truth about their countrys past repression of civil rights. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But its not only knowledge of the history of oppression in this country that we stand to gain from the release of the records. Such records might also inadvertently reveal potential pathways for seemingly disparate communities to move forward together. Take Jose Cha Cha Jimenez, a prominent Puerto Rican civil rights leader and founder of the Young Lords Organization, which was also named in the Chaos documents. Jimenez, who died on Friday, was inspired by Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party to transition from gang warfare to organized struggle. By 1969, the Young Lords would join the Rainbow Coalition, which brought together Puerto Rican radicals and Confederate flag-waving white Southerners to tackle shared social ills, like poverty and discrimination, under Black Panther Party leadership. Such multiracial coalition building spooked the FBI, which feared dire consequences for the social order. We are fortunate that Jimenez understood the importance of preserving historical memory which is why he made such an effort to preserve the history of the Young Lords with DePaul Universitys Center for Latino Research. Jimenez knew, as President Biden does, that legacy is what we make it. 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 With the passing of civil rights leaders like Jimenez, we are forced to confront the fact that narrating history is constrained by the records we have available. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The cancer patient that the Princess of Wales took into her arms during a visit to Royal Marsden Hospital where the royal was herself treated has told of the love they shared in an emotional hug. Rebecca Mendelsohn, who has secondary breast cancer, was at the central London clinic for a check-up when she noticed that the future queen was being given a tour. The 57-year-old clothes designer, from Hampstead, shyly came forward when Kate - on her first major solo official engagement in over a year - asked if anyone among a crowd of on-lookers was suffering from cancer. Today, Rebecca revealed how the pair made a connection through their shared battle against the disease, adding: Kate has got a lot of something special about her. Shes like Princess Diana. She explained: I had popped into the [Royal Marsden] hospital for a check-up because I had a cold and was feeling unwell. I felt hungry so I went down to the shop but there were all these people there. One of the nurses told me that Princess Kate was there. I wanted to go back to the cancer lounge for treatment, but the security guard said it would be better to let her go passed. Then Kate walked towards me and looked at me and; has anyone here got cancer? Thats when I went very slowly putting my finger up, and said; Yes, I do. We got talking and she asked me what I had. I told her I had secondary cancer. I said to her; Kate you are an inspiration.' Rebecca Mendelsohn (pictured hugging Kate), who has secondary breast cancer, was at the central London clinic for a check-up when she noticed that the future queen was being given a tour Rebecca continued: When she did that interview to come out and say she had cancer, that was very brave of her. Then she put her hand out and I dont know who went to hug who first, it was mutual connection. I felt that hug. She was giving me the love and I was giving her the love. It felt so true. The hug was heartfelt, very much so, very deeply. It was like "wow", because I was feeling a bit rubbish. She perked me up. She could tell I was upset and overwhelmed. There was a connection between us. When somebody hugs you, theres a hug and theres a hug. And that hug lasted quite a while. It did not last just one second. She was giving her all. She saw my head and realised I had cancer. This hug meant something. I could feel her. Im still thinking about it. I get emotional because it was so strong. She was so genuine, you felt it. Rebecca said she did not think it would have been appropriate to ask the princess about her own illness or her treatment. But she claimed the hug revealed that Kate had empathy from her own experience. Rebecca said: This is not about me, this should be about [Princess] Kate, because she is in remission now which is fantastic. She did not talk about her cancer. Its not something that I would have asked. I think it was the longest hug that anyone has ever seen on television. The 57-year-old clothes designer, from Hampstead, shyly came forward when Kate - on her first major solo official engagement in over a year - asked if anyone among a crowd of on-lookers was suffering from cancer Today, Rebecca revealed how the pair made a connection through their shared battle against the disease, adding: Kate has got a lot of something special about her. Shes like Princess Diana . Rebecca said she did not think it would have been appropriate to ask the princess about her own illness or her treatment. But she claimed the hug revealed that Kate had empathy from her own experience Rebecca (pictured with Kate, left) was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 Rebecca (pictured speaking with Kate) was successfully treated but the disease returned two years ago and she has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy Rebecca (pictured) is now taking part in a medical trial of new drugs Ive got friends and family phoning me from Spain and America telling me that they have seen me on TV hugging Princess Kate. My eldest niece was jumping up and down last night after seeing me on TV. Rebecca was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. She was successfully treated but the disease returned two years ago and she has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. She is now taking part in a medical trial of new drugs. Rebecca explained: I finished chemo four weeks ago and Im now on a drugs trial and Im doing well with it well so far. Im a clothes designer, but I havent been able to work for a year because Ive been on treatment. After making an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated to comfort fellow patients, Kate also revealed that she is now in remission from cancer. The Princess, in a written personal message following her visit, described her 'relief' and said 'there is much to look forward to'. It is the first time Kate has used the word remission to describe where she is in her cancer journey. The princess said, in her message which was signed 'C': 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. The Princess of Wales talks with Katherine Field, who who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London yesterday The Royal Marsden in London is where the Princess of Wales underwent treatment last year The Princess of Wales looks up at a sign during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with Kerr Melia during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital 'As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.' She also thanked the Royal Marsden for its 'exceptional' care and for 'looking after me so well'. 'My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn't have asked for me,' the princess added. In September, Kate told how 'doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus' as she announced the end of her chemotherapy treatment. Sufficient time has passed since the end of her chemotherapy meaning the princess can now describe herself as in 'remission'. Kate spoke candidly about her own diagnosis, the 'shock' of her 'really tough' chemotherapy and the challenges of getting back to normal as she thanked her 'amazing' medical teams for her care during her trip to the Marsden on Tuesday. The princess hugged Tina Adumou, who broke down in tears as she told Kate that her 19-year-old daughter is in the intensive care unit. Kate talks with Richard Bosworth (centre) during a visit to the Royal Marsden yesterday The Princess of Wales meets Scout, a therapy dog, during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Putting an arm around her, Kate looked emotional and told her she is in the best possible place. The princess said: 'I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here, and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time.' Kate added: 'Are you OK? Yes?' then said, smiling: 'There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.' The engagement - the princess's first for 2025 - was described as an important and 'incredibly poignant' moment in Kate's 'personal journey'. It had not been previously disclosed that Kate was treated at the Marsden - a world-leading state-of-the-art cancer centre known for its pioneering research. The unannounced visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Prince of Wales - a patronage once held by Diana, Princess of Wales. Kate said in her message: 'My hope is, that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.' In September, Kate promised to remain with all those continuing their own cancer journey 'side by side, hand in hand'. Kate talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital yesterday The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London yesterday The Princess of Wales talks with Peter Burton during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Crowds of people gathered to see the princess outside the medical treatment room, and she made an impromptu walkabout among patients and their supporters waiting in the corridor. The princess, wearing a burgundy polo neck top and matching skirt, met four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden as she sat alongside them in the hospital's treatment room. 'It's really tough,' she told one patient who was having chemotherapy. 'It's such a shock.' 'Everyone said to me 'Please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference',' Kate said. She added 'when I came in everyone said 'Make sure you have all your warm things (clothes) on'' because of the side-effects. Asked how she is feeling now, Kate replied that she is doing well, but spoke about life post-treatment. 'You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that's still a real challenge,' she said, and referred to 'more long-term side-effects'. Kate also spoke about the overwhelming nature of receiving a diagnosis. The Princess of Wales speaks to a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital 'Understanding the diagnosis, it's a massive amount of information to take on as a patient,' she said. She told several patients it is important to keep 'doing the things that give you joy'. The princess joked about the novelty of going in through the main entrance of the Marsden after so many quiet visits in 'secrecy'. Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard, 77, is having treatment for myeloma, told the princess: 'I think you've managed the children amazingly well.' Kate replied: 'Oh, that's kind.' During a discussion on holistic care, the princess said: 'I feel like it's sometimes harder for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.' William has described 2024 as 'brutal', with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease. When one woman's machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling action is needed, the princess jumped and remarked: 'I recognise that beep.' Kensington Palace stressed that the guidance around Kate's return to public-facing engagements has not changed and it will continue to be gradual. The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales meets Scout the therapy dog at the Royal Marsden Hospital The visit to the Marsden came two days before the first anniversary of Kate's admission to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16, 2024. The Palace has not yet revealed details of the cancer Kate was diagnosed with or the nature of the operation she first underwent, other than to describe it as 'planned abdominal surgery'. However, the surgery was serious enough to require several months of recuperation alone, even before her cancer diagnosis. It has led the Princess to warn that her recovery is ongoing. Last week William marked the royal's birthday by posting a rare public tribute to his wife, paying tribute to the strength she has shown and expressing love and pride that he, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and little Prince Louis have for her. The last major solo engagement undertaken by the Princess before her health took a turn for the worse was on December 5, 2023 when she visited the Evelina London Children's Hospital to open its day surgery unit. She subsequently hosted her annual carol service with her family and attended Wimbledon last year with Charlotte, as well as events such as Trooping the Colour, but always with other family members. Yesterday's special visit was carried out amid a strict security blackout. There was a minimal media presence in order to protect the privacy of patients currently undergoing scheduled cancer treatments, and so as not to disrupt the daily workings of the hospital. The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with patient Katherine Field at the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London As she met with staff and patients who are currently receiving treatment, sources described the visit as 'incredibly poignant'. The Royal Marsden is a research-active cancer centre and plays an important role in helping advance cancer treatment for others here in the UK and around the world. In her new role as joint royal patron, Kate is said to be looking forward to supporting the Marsden's work in advancing cancer research, treatment and care, as well as learning more about how it can benefit patients in the future. In its announcement, Kensington Palace said: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales have today become joint patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. 'The patronage update has been announced following a visit by Her Royal Highness to the hospital's Chelsea site earlier today and follows the Princess's own personal cancer journey, during which she received treatment from the Royal Marsden. 'Today's visit saw the Princess meet patients currently undergoing treatment as well as staff working in different roles across the hospital.' Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea this morning, and are delighted that Her Royal Highness is now joining His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in becoming joint patrons of our specialist cancer centre. 'We are incredibly fortunate to receive royal patronage - it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.' Prince William shared a birthday tribute to the Princess of Wales last week, calling her the 'most incredible wife and mother' alongside a previously unseen photo of her William, Kate and their children at church in Sandringham, Norfolk on Christmas Day last year Charlotte, Louis and Kate during the Westminster Abbey carol service on December 6, 2024 The Royal Marsden opened its doors in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Today, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre operating across three sites in Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square in central London. William has held the role of president of the Royal Marsden since 2007, a position which was previously held by his mother Diana. He most recently visited the Royal Marsden to open their Oak Cancer Centre in Sutton in June 2023. The Royal Marsden also confirmed that until now William had been its president - but, with his wife now joining him, the couple would henceforth be joint patrons. I was married to my ex-husband for 12 years, and thought we had the perfect Mormon family with four children and a dog. Jason seemed like a great dad and husband - he helped with chores, picked up the kids from school, read them bedtime stories, and taught classes in the community. We met when I was 22, tied the knot after a year of dating, and eight months after the wedding I found out I was pregnant. Then we moved to Utah, lived in a nice neighbourhood, and had the life I'd always dreamed of. I knew he wasn't perfect - I discovered early on in our marriage that he had a porn addiction and we tried to work through it - but I never imagined he'd turn out to be a monster who would molest our daughter Lauren. And neither did anyone else. He never acted creepy in front of our daughter or her friends, and no one in our lives saw it coming. But mothers always know when something is wrong, and when Lauren was nine I noticed subtle changes in her behaviour. She seemed to laugh less, she became more timid and fearful, her self-esteem was plummeting and she was constantly dealing with UTIs. Then one Sunday we were sitting in church and Jason was frustrated about something. Lauren came and sat next to me and asked: 'Is dad mad at me?' Jackie DeCocq thought she had the perfect life with her husband Jason, but he turned out to be a child molester who was abusing her daughter 'Why would he be mad at you?' I replied. She didn't respond, but I thought it was strange that she immediately blamed herself for her dad's bad mood. As she became quieter and grumpier and stopped eating, I started to worry, but the thought it could be Jason still hadn't entered my mind. I asked her if anyone was hurting her, acting inappropriately towards her or making her feel uncomfortable, but she just scrunched her face up at the questions and shook her head no. I understand now she didn't realise she was being abused, didn't know what the word meant, or even what it was. Despite her denials, my maternal instincts were telling me to look deeper, and after doing some research I decided to approach the topic in a different way. 'Do you have a secret?' I asked Lauren. Again she said 'no', but then she added: 'He didn't say I can't tell you, just that I didn't have to.' A jolt of fear and horror ran through my body, but I tried to hide my rising panic and asked her who she was talking about. Jackie DeCocq noticed a change in her daughter Lauren when she was nine. Lauren had UTI symptoms and became 'a lot quieter and grumpier' (pictured together) She told me her dad had made her feel uncomfortable, but didn't go into detail, and although my mind was racing, I didn't want to jump to conclusions. I asked if her clothes were on, and she looked at me with genuine shock, and said: 'Yes, of course they were.' The last thing I wanted to do was put an idea into her head so I asked, 'Do you feel unsafe with dad?' She said no. 'Is there anything you need me to do?' I continued. She said no again, and I started doubting myself and thought maybe I had the wrong idea, or was pushing too hard. When I spoke to Jason about it, he said maybe Lauren felt embarrassed after he'd asked her about her UTI symptoms and where the pain was, and I began to think there had just been a misunderstanding. Around the same time his porn addiction was taking its toll on our marriage, and we were sleeping in separate bedrooms, and he went to speak with our bishop about our problems. But when he came home, he vaguely alluded to abusing Lauren, as if it was something we'd spoken about before, and seemed excited to get it off his chest. I was stunned, but maybe I was in denial and still wanted to believe it wasn't true, so without telling Jason, I went to the bishop to ask him what they'd spoken about. Jackie's husband at the time was a child molester who inappropriately touched their daughter Lauren But as I began to explain, he stopped me. 'I need you to know I'm a mandated reporter and if there is any abuse in your home, I need to report it,' he said. Then he asked me, 'Jackie, is there abuse in your home?' And I replied, 'I don't know, maybe.' He told me Jason hadn't said anything to him about abuse during his visit, which rang alarms bells with both of us, and he helped me start the process of contacting child services. However, I knew I had to speak to Lauren about it first, so a couple of days later, when we were in the car on the way to her art class, I brought it up. 'Hey, Lauren, you talked to me about something that dad did, and I didn't know the right questions to ask you at the time, and maybe I should just let you talk. So I'm going to ask you again to tell me what happened. And I'm not going to interrupt or say anything right now, I just want you to talk to me,' I said. Her response removed all doubt. She told me he had touched her inappropriately. On one occasion it happened when she was sitting on his lap watching videos on the computer in our home office. Afterwards she left the room and sat on the couch by herself, and he came over to her and said: 'Your mother and I have talked to you guys before about how you should never let anybody touch you like that. 'I was testing you to see if you would stop me and you didn't, and you should have. You should never let anyone do that to you, not even family, not even me.' Now Lauren is 19 and will be going to college next August. She is considering studying environmental science She said she didn't tell me because she thought she had failed a test, and was deeply ashamed. Then memories came flooding in about other things my daughter had told me in the past that were likely due to abuse. When she was younger, I was putting her to bed one night and she was really mad about something. She said: 'Mum, dad told me there was a flashlight in his pocket, but there wasn't. I know there wasn't.' And I was like, 'Okay, what?' She kept saying how he tried to get her to check for the flashlight but she knew there wasn't one there and was really indignant about it. I didn't get it at the time, but now I know why she was so angry. Even though she was so young, she knew that wasn't right. As we sat in the car together, I made it clear to her that she wouldn't have to face him again and she didn't need to worry. I reassured her she didn't do anything wrong. Then, after she went into her art class, I had a panic attack in the front seat. After Jackie spoke to their bishop, she contacted the department of child and family services On December 15, 2016, Jason was arrested. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and served three years in prison. He now has no parental rights Once I composed myself, I messaged Jason, telling him that I knew what he had done, and he couldn't be at home when we got back. I let him know when we were on our way so he could leave, and asked him not to freak out our three sons. Two days later, Lauren and I went to an interview with child services, and police scheduled a time to come and collect his computers. That afternoon, December 15, 2016, he was arrested. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and served three years in prison. He now has no parental rights and cannot see his children. Now Lauren is 19 and will be going to college in August to study environmental science. She has worked hard to put the pieces of herself back together the best she can, and has grown up to be an incredible person. After all I've been through, I know now that the average person's understanding of child molesters is based on inaccurate stereotypes and cliches, and so was mine. My ignorance about the subject meant that I was looking for signs my husband was not displaying, and I didn't understand abuse can happen for more than one reason. None of the reasons are justified, of course, but it's important to know that there are different levels and types of abusers. My final message is this: If your child is a victim, your support will make or break their ability to heal. Trauma like this will lead to such a broken life, unless they have support. And I'm proud I was the mother Lauren had when she needed me most. The family of an Oregon man whose face caught on fire during surgery while he was 'awake and conscious' is suing the hospital where the incident took place for nearly $1million. John Michael Murdoch, then 51, was undergoing a tracheostomy - a procedure to create a breathing hole in his neck - in December 2022 after he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. According to the lawsuit, alcohol was applied to Mr Murdoch's face to prep his skin for the procedure, but it did not fully dry before doctors at Oregon Health & Science University began the surgery. While Mr Murdoch was awake on the operating table, a surgical instrument emitted a spark. It ignited and burned his skin, leaving him with 'disfiguring scars and traumatic wounds.' While this was happening, the lawsuit claims Mr Murdoch was 'awake and conscious.' It is claimed in court documents seen by DailyMail.com that he was unable to speak clearly at the time, but he was able to communicate the discomfort and pain he endured from his burns to his wife - though she did not reveal exactly how. He lived for six months following the incident, with cancer listed as the eventual cause of his death in June 2023. It is estimated that 90 to 100 surgical fires occur annually in the US and in most cases, the incidents are preventable. However, many are believed to fall under the radar, and there is no national database documenting the cases. John Michael Murdoch, then 51, was undergoing a tracheostomy - a procedure to create a breathing hole in his neck - when he allegedly sustained surgical burns Your browser does not support iframes. While the burns from the surgical fire were not cited as the cause of death, the lawsuit claims Mr Murdoch endured great suffering and his wounds never fully healed before he died. According to the lawsuit, the tool used during his surgery had a history of sparking. The fire started after the sparks combined with oxygen and the highly flammable isopropyl alcohol, which had not fully evaporated from Mr Murdoch's face. The colorless liquid is commonly used to disinfect skin before surgery but surgeons are advised to allow for ample drying time to avoid the possibility of fire. Ron Cheng, the Murdoch family's lawyer, claimed the fire damage 'never should have happened'. A spokesperson for Oregon Health & Science University did not provide a comment to The Oregonian, which originally reviewed the court documents, due to patient privacy. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reports around 30 surgical fires per year cause disfiguring or disabling injuries to patients. One or two of these fires result in fatalities, most often when they cause fires in a patient's airways and they then can no longer breath. In the lawsuit, Dr Adam Howard is listed as a defendant. It is estimated that 90 to 100 surgical fires occur annually in the US and in most cases, the incidents are preventable (Stock image) According to an investigation by Oregon Live, Dr Howard's medical license switched to a 'lapsed' status about a year after Mr Murdoch's face allegedly caught on fire. While OHSU's website still lists him as a staff member, he appears to be working in West Virginia, where his license is active, and also appears to be an assistant professor at West Virginia University. Along with Dr Howard, Oregon Health & Science University is also listed as a defendant as are 10 unnamed surgical staff. Mr Murdoch's obituary reveals he worked at an auto parts store for many years. Along with trucks and motorcycles, camping, fishing and 'playing poker with his buddies' are listed as his other passions. It concludes: 'John is survived by his wife Toni, parents, step-children, brother & sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and a lifetime of friends.' Experts have urged women to watch out for three subtle red-flag signs of one of the deadliest cancers - as spotting the disease early dramatically improves chances of survival. Roughly two women in Britain every day die from cervical cancer, which famously killed TV personality Jade Goody at the age of just 27. The disease is often called a 'silent killer' because its symptoms can be easily mistaken for less serious problems, such as heavy periods and exhaustion. But if the signs are recognised early, the chance of surviving for at least five years is roughly 95 per cent. This drops to 15 per cent if the cancer is detected at later stages, when it has spread to other areas of the body. Angela Sarmiento Bentancourt, medical specialist at healthcare technology company myTomorrows, which helps patients access clinical trials, had flagged the three signs to watch out for. Heavier periods, bleeding after sex, between periods, or after menopause, and pain during sex, or in general, particularly in your lower back, pelvis, or lower abdomen are all symptoms of the cancer. Often, the heavier and more frequent bleeding can leave women feeling more exhausted than usual, she warns. Cervical cancer is often called a 'silent killer' because it can develop without symptoms for years and go unnoticed Cervical cancer symptoms to look out for include unusual vaginal bleeding, pain during sex and lower back or pelvic pain. Lower back pain and pain between your hip bones (pelvis) are commonly experienced during menstruation. But they could also be a sign of cervical cancer. The pain is often caused by a tumour pressing on bone, nerves or organs. Abnormal bleeding can occur because cancerous tissue and its blood vessels are fragile and bleed easily. As the disease spreads, healthy tissue can also become damaged and bleed, experts say. Meanwhile, if your cervix is inflamed, which can result from a tumour, the pressure of sex may be painful. It's for this reason that Ms Sarmiento Bentancourt advises seeking medical help for the above problems, so doctors can perform tests to rule out cancer. It is much more likely that bleeding will be due to a range of less serious causes, like hormone imbalance such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), polyps or fibroids, sexually transmitted diseases, or the common reproductive illness, endometriosis. Similarly, pain during sex could be due to an infection, the menopause, genital irritation or allergy from soaps or condoms. All women and people with a cervix in the UK aged between 25 and 64 are also invited for regular cervical screenings, which serve as the primary way of diagnosing Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in females in the UK, affecting around 3,300 people per year. Fortunately, in the UK, women have access to comprehensive cervical cancer screenings, but globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, and low- and middle-income countries have the highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. In about 99 per cent of cases, cervical cancer is caused by an infection of a high-risk type of human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of HPV, and only around 30 can affect the genital area. Many people never show symptoms, as they can arise years after infection, and the majority of cases go away without treatment. However, in some cases, it can cause the genital tissues to grow abnormally, resulting over many years in cervical cancer. Ms Sarmiento Bentancourt explains that condoms can help lower the chance of contracting HPV. However, because they do not cover all the skin around the genitals, they dont provide complete protection. There is a vaccine for HPV. It is more than 80 per cent effective and available in much of the developed world. It is a two-dose vaccine, now available for children between ages 11 and 12. The shots come 12 months apart. For people who missed that window, a three-dose shot is available to young people aged 15 to 26. The vaccine has been offered to girls in England and Wales since September 2008 before being widened to include boys since 2019. All women in the UK aged between 25 and 64 are also invited for regular cervical screenings, which serve as the primary way of diagnosing. Finding the perfect temperature is important for more than just being comfortable in your home. It turns out, setting the thermostat just right could be key to warding off dementia later in life. After tracking dozens of people 65 and older for one year, Harvard researchers found a temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (20C to 24C) was best for maintaining brain health. Outside of this range, the likelihood of experiencing attention difficulties doubled with a 7-degree Fahrenheit change in either direction. They said older adults whose homes were in the ideal range were less likely to self-report difficulty concentrating than those whose homes were hotter or colder. The researchers said their results could prove especially meaningful as the climate changes. They said: 'Our results suggest that even under the current climate a considerable portion of older adults encounter indoor temperatures detrimental to their cognitive abilities. 'Climate change may exacerbate this problem, particularly among low-income and underserved older adults. Addressing this issue in public health and housing policy is essential to building climate-resiliency in this vulnerable population.' Researchers found a temperature between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit was ideal for brain function (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. In a cold home, the scientists said, lower temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, which limits blood flow to the brain - something that can increase the risk of dementia, which currently affects about 8million Americans. Cooler temperatures also may cause the body's cells to work harder as they try to maintain the its temperature. Over time, cells become less efficient, meaning there is less energy available for brain cells. In hot homes, the team suggested, the heat could cause excess sweating and dehydration which can damage the brain, therefore raising the risk of dementia. Other experts have suggested a hot home could also disrupt sleep - and poor sleep is known to be a major risk factor for dementia. However, researchers acknowledged that the study was observational and could not definitively prove whether shifts in home temperature were directly causing cognitive decline. Another limitation of the research was that cognitive decline was self-reported, or told to researchers by participants, and not confirmed via a clinical test. For the study, researchers from Harvard's Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, tracked 47 adults in Boston, Massachusetts. Each had a sensor installed in the room of their house where they spent the most time to monitor home temperature over the course of a year. Participants were also asked to fill in questionnaires multiple times a week on whether they were having trouble concentrating. Adults recruited were 79 years old on average, and the vast majority 80 percent were female, who have a higher incidence of dementia. The study began in October 2021, and was completed by March 2023. Its findings build on previous research that sleep is most efficient - an important factor for warding off dementia - for older adults when temperatures hover between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Dr Amir Baniassadi, a brain health expert and study lead author, said: 'Our findings underscore the importance of how environmental factors like indoor temperature, impact cognitive health in aging populations. 'This research highlights the need for public health interventions and housing policies that prioritize climate resilience for older adults.' He added: 'As global temperatures rise, ensuring access to temperature-controlled environments will be crucial for protecting their cognitive well-being.' In the US, about 514,000 people are diagnosed with dementia every year, but researchers estimate this number could surge to 1million people a year by 2060 because of America's increasingly aging population. A recent study found this was the equivalent to nearly one in two Americans developing dementia at some point in their lifetime. Panic ensued after a high school student in Pennsylvania with tuberculosis went back to class without being cleared by their doctor. The student had been diagnosed a couple of weeks ago but showed up to class in Washington County on Monday without a doctor's permission. Staff 'immediately isolated the student and sent them home' after learning what had happened, according to a Facebook post from Charleroi Area School District's Superintendent Ed Zelich on January 13. Employees 'thoroughly cleaned the areas where the student was isolated,' Zelich wrote. He added: 'After reviewing the situation, [The Pennsylvania Department of Health] confirmed that no public health action is currently necessary for our district.' However, outrage spurred when parents and community members pointed out a previous statement from the school on December 27 claiming there were 'no active tuberculosis cases' in their school district among staff or students. Zelich concluded in his latest update that the school district is 'closely monitoring the situation and will continue to work with the appropriate health authorities to ensure our students and staff's safety and well-being.' Tuberculosis is a serious and highly contagious disease that is caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Staff 'immediately isolated the student and sent them home' after learning what had happened, according to a Facebook post from Charleroi Area School District's Superintendent Ed Zelich (pictured) on January 13 However, outrage spurred when parents and community members pointed out a previous statement from the school on December 27 claiming there were 'no active tuberculosis cases' in their school district among staff or students The illness spreads through the air and settles in the lungs where it begins to grow, with the possibility of moving through the blood to other parts of the body such as the brain, spine, and kidneys. Tuberculosis germs can spread from person to person through the air when an infected person with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can stay in the air for several hours and is more likely to spread indoors or areas with poor air circulation. Someone infected with the disease may experience no symptoms and cannot spread the disease, this is known as inactive TB. However, without treatment inactive TB can develop into active TB. Without treatment, active TB can be fatal. England's stark Ozempic divide was today laid bare in a revealing map that shows how prescriptions for the slimming jabs are 7-times higher in some areas than others. Leicester is the weight loss injection capital with almost 2,000 drugs prescribed each month, 6.8 times the proportion dished out in Cornwall. Second is Thurrock in Essex, where weight loss jabs accounted for five times more prescriptions than in Sheffield and south west London. It comes as a fresh research today suggested that more than one in 10 women were now taking slimming jabs in the UK. Separate NHS data shows a total of 1.45million semaglutide prescriptions were dolled out in 2023/24, with just under 139,000 in October 2024 the latest figure available. This does not include the numerous patients who are accessing the drug privately, paying roughly 200 per month. Doctors have long told how they are treating increasing numbers of slim women who end up in hospital after falsely telling online chemists they are overweight to pass eligibility checks. Senior medics have even warned that A&E units are treating casualties of the appetite-suppressing drugs on a daily basis. Your browser does not support iframes. Semaglutide, the powerful ingredient behind Ozempic and Wegovy, spurs weight loss by mimicking the actions of a hormone released in the gut after eating, called GLP-1 Under NHS guidelines, only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35, or a BMI of 30 and at least one weight related health problem like high blood pressure, should be prescribed Wegovy. UK law forbids the sale of such drugs without a prescription from a medical professional. Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is the powerful ingredient behind the jabs' weight loss effects. Wegovy has been available on the NHS for weight loss since 2023. But Ozempic is still only prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. NHS Leicester City is the Trust with the highest number of weight loss jab prescriptions issued, as a proportion of total prescriptions. Some 1,807 scripts were issued by healthcare professionals there in October 2024, accounting for 2.6 per 1,000 prescriptions roughly one in every 400. This was followed by NHS Thurrock in Essex and NHS Wirral with 698 and 1,792 accounting for 2.38 and 2.28 per 1,000 respectively in October 2024. NHS Bury in Greater Manchester and NHS North Central London, which covers Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, also recorded 883 and 4,868 prescriptions. Your browser does not support iframes. This represented 2.27 and 2.21 prescriptions per 1,000 issued in that month. By comparison, NHS Kernow, Cornwall issued 526 semaglutide prescriptions, accounting for 0.38 items per 1,000 prescribed roughly one in every 2,500. In Sheffield, the figure stood at 603 or 0.45 per 1,000. This is around one in every 2,200. Separate freedom of information request data released by the NHS Business Services Authority last year also found over 120,000 patients were prescribed Ozempic in England in 2023. Just 68 were issued Wegovy the type that's licensed for weight loss in very obese people without associated health problems. This is a drop of 10,000 on the 130,000-plus patients prescribed Ozempic in 2022. Novo Nordisk's semaglutide also branded as Rybelsus tricks the brain into thinking it's full, consequently slashing appetite and stopping users from overeating. Some patients are being asked to wait for up to five years for specialist weight management support, according to the Obesity Health Alliance. In parts of the country, some overstretched services have closed their waiting lists entirely. In September, 26-year-old Lottie Moss revealed she was rushed to hospital after suffering an Ozempic overdose using too high a dosage Health officials have already seized more than 600 potentially fake Ozempic pens across the UK since the start of 2023 It comes as a fresh survey today revealed 11 per cent of women aged 30 to 75 in the UK were taking a weight loss jab. According to Juniper, a digital weight-loss service which carried out the research, three quarters of the 1,000 women quizzed would consider taking the slimming injections in 2025 to lose weight. Just 3 per cent admitted to ruling them out altogether. There have been growing concerns about the number of healthy weight and underweight patients taking them for cosmetic reasons. In September, 26-year-old Lottie Moss revealed she was rushed to hospital after suffering an Ozempic overdose using too high a dosage. The model, who is the half sister of Kate Moss, was violently ill, had a seizure and was severely dehydrated taking the drug when she weighed around 60kg just 9 stone. She was given the jab by a friend who bought it under the counter from a doctor, she claimed. In December, the nation's top GP also warned that long waits for NHS weight-loss services are driving patients into buying potentially dangerous fake jabs online. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said she had 'serious concerns' about drugs sold by unregulated retailers. Earlier this month, Britain's drugs watchdog the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also revealed it took down 150 social media posts 'actively' selling counterfeit weight loss drugs in 2024. It came just weeks after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) issued a warning to advertisers, businesses and influencers to remove online and social media ads for weight-loss prescription-only medicines targeted at members of the public. This followed a MailOnline investigation that found social media influencers were being encouraged to illegally promote prescription weight loss jabs to their thousands of followers. Shocking images shows how a 40-year-old Italian woman's left breast grew to three to four times her natural size after a suspected reaction to a fertility treatments. The unnamed patient, described as a housewife, developed a condition called unilateral gigantomastia, where only one breast grows abnormally large. Medics reporting the case said it was 'one of the most extreme' of its kind they'd seen and the exact cause of the woman's ballooning breast was unknown. However, they added the hormone treatment the woman was taking to help her conceive was the most likely culprit. The report, published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, detailed how the breast grew gradually over the three years following the woman's pregnancy. She reported suffering severe back pain, difficulty walking, as well as psychological distress as a result of the massive unbalanced growth. Doctors investigating her case first carried out tests to rule out breast cancer, which came back negative. However, theses tests did reveal that her left breast had diffuse ductal hyperplasia, a condition where cells in the breast milk ducts grow at an abnormal rate. Shocking images shows how 40-year-old Italian woman's left breast grew to a ginormous size after a suspected reaction to a fertility treatments The unnamed woman, believed to be from Campania in southern Italy, eventually underwent breast reduction surgery to alleviate her symptoms. Here she is pictured a year after the surgery While not cancerous itself, data suggests women who suffer the condition are at higher risk of developing breast cancer in the future. The woman, believed to be from Campania in southern Italy, eventually underwent breast reduction surgery to alleviate her symptoms. Surgeons successfully removed 7lbs (3.45kg) of breast tissue on the left breast to provide her a balanced chest. A year later, the patient reported being highly satisfied with the results of her operation both in terms of symptom reduction and aesthetics. The surgeons described it as 'one of the most extreme instances of gigantomastia encountered in our surgical experience'. Gigantomastia, medically defined as breast tissue weighing more than 2.5kg (5.5lbs), is rare, with only some 300 hundreds of cases reported in medical literature. Researchers are still exploring what causes gigantomastia, both in one breast or both to develop, though an imbalance of hormones, a reaction to medications, autoimmune conditions and genetics are believed to be some factors. A top doctor has revealed an alarming new symptom he has seen emerge among Ozempic patients. Dr Daniel Rosen, who is a surgeon and obesity medicine specialist based out of New York, says a 'legitimate number' of his patients have developed a condition called allodynia, or a hypersensitivity to pain. Dr Rosen says this means that even wearing clothing can feel painful, as can the 'wind blowing on your skin.' Some people describe the sensation on their skin as being like bad sunburn, with the sensation of touch triggering a sharp, stinging or burning pain. The weight loss expert says some patients using GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro have developed extreme sensitivity on their shoulders, thighs and back. He says he has heard of the condition developing among those using semaglutide (the generic name for Ozempic) in the scientific community, but he has not yet seen reports of it among those on terzepatite (better known by the brand names Zepbound and Mounjaro). From his experience, Dr Rosen says he has seen the most cases of allodynia in patients who were on higher doses of terzepatite. He suspects that weight loss medication drugs are causing skin nerve sensitivity 'in some way' but there is not enough research around this side effect to know exactly why this happens. Dr Daniel Rosen, who is a surgeon and obesity medicine specialist based out of New York, says a 'legitimate number' of his patients have developed a condition called allodynia Your browser does not support iframes. The Cleveland Clinic highlights that there are three types of allodynia. Dynamic allodynia causes pain from an object moving across your skin, while tactile allodynia causes pain from any amount of pressure applied to the skin. The third variation is thermal allodynia, where a mild change in temperature - like moving from indoors to outdoors - can cause someone to feel pain. To help patients who have developed allodynia, Dr Rosen reduced their weight loss medication. He says this saw the symptoms disappear immediately or in some cases, the condition went away more gradually. Weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are all injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, and they work by imitating a hormone in the body that controls the rate food gets processed in the gut - slowing this process down. This reduces appetite and helps people eat less. In clinical trials, most people taking the drugs for obesity lost an average of 15 to 22 percent of their body weight. According to a poll conducted by the independent health policy research firm KFF, 12 percent of US adults have used GLP-1 drugs, including 6 percent (20.1 million people) who are currently using them. Some of the most common reported side effects linked to these drugs include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation and fatigue. Like Dr Rosen, some other medical professionals have reported patients suffering from sensitive skin after starting treatment. Dr Anastassia Amaro, who is a medical director and weight loss specialist at Penn Medicine, revealed: 'One interesting side effect that I've seen recently is allodynia. 'So people develop that unpleasant, painful [tingling or numb] type of skin sensation, specifically on semaglutide. 'I have not encountered it yet on tirzepatide, but semaglutide, yes. At least two cases are in front of my eyes. Dr Rosen says allodynia means that even wearing clothing can feel painful, as can the 'wind blowing on your skin' 'One responded to dose reduction and another one held it for a little bit, and then I think we switched to tirzepatide, and I'm yet to see how that goes. So, and we will probably see more.' Currently, there are no studies looking at the link between weight loss drugs and allodynia and it is not listed by the FDA as an official side effect. While Dr Rosen says allodynia is uncomfortable, he doesn't think the side effect is something that is 'very concerning' unless it becomes 'bothersome'. And even then, he says, patients must weigh up if it is 'worth getting off the meds and sort of sacrificing the positive benefits of the meds'. He notes that when his patients have reduced their weight loss medication and slowly increased it again, they have not seen their allodynia symptoms return. For those who are on weight loss drugs, Dr Rosen warns that it is 'just something to be aware of [and ] if you see it, discuss it with your doctor'. A killer flesh-rotting animal tranquiliser used in vapes has been banned by the UK Government. Xylazine, nicknamed 'tranq', has helped turn US cities like Philadelphia and New York into 'zombielands', leaving users lifeless. But the potent drug strong enough to knock out elephants is now 'widespread' on UK streets, according to experts. It has already been linked to 11 deaths since 2022. Under the fresh crackdown on drug dealing gangs, the Home Office has now introduced legislation to ban xylazine and 21 other substances in a bid to prevent future deaths. Tougher restrictions on nitazenes, a type of synthetic opioid, have also been introduced after data suggested there had been at least 400 drug-related deaths linked to the substance across the UK since June 2023. Government officials warned the figure was expected to rise in the coming years. The UK has today also become the first country in the world to train Border Force dogs to detect nitazenes and fentanyl in a bid to stop supply from overseas, according to the Home Office. Karl Warburton, 43, (pictured) died in May 2022 from the effects of xylazine combined with other drugs including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine Xylazine depresses the central nervous system, causing users, such as these in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, to exhibit a zombie-like appearance Diana Johnson, the policing minister, said: 'Synthetic drugs cause devastation wherever they are found to individuals, to families, to our town centres and our communities. 'I have been concerned about the growing presence of these drugs on UK streets and I don't think enough has been done in recent years to get a grip on it. 'Stepping up efforts to tackle this threat will form a key part of this government's approach to drugs, which we hope to set out later this year. 'As part of our Plan for Change and mission to make our streets safer, we are dedicated to driving down drug misuse and harms through prevention and treatment while acting quickly to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances.' Under the new regulations, Xylazine which has been found in vapes some illicit drug takers use for cannabis, is now controlled as a Class C substance. Of the other 21, six are Class A. Drugs are put into three different classes based on their danger to people. Class A is the most serious and includes substances like cocaine and crack, ecstasy, MDMA and heroin while codeine, ketamine and cannabis are deemed Class B. So-called 'date rape' drug GHB, anabolic steroids, nitrous oxide and the stimulant khat, meanwhile, are among other Class C drugs. The flesh-eating drug can affect someone's skin in places separate from the injection site. This patient often injected the drug into his neck with gruesome effects Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Current drug laws see those in possession of Class A drugs face up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Anyone caught supplying or producing can face a life prison sentence, an unlimited fine or both. People caught in possession of Class B face up to five years in prison, while anyone caught carrying Class Cs can be jailed for two years. Xylazine-involved overdose deaths in the United States rose from 102 to 3,468 in just three years between 2018 and 2021. A powerful animal tranquiliser that has helped turn some US cities into 'zombielands' is being added to UK cocaine supplies, experts have warned It was designated an 'emerging drug threat' by the White House in April 2023, which often precedes classifying a drug as illegal. But no further national action has yet been taken. Some individual US states, including Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, have implemented bans. Last year, researchers from Kings College London also found tranq in cocaine, counterfeit codeine and Valium tablets. They warned the 11 figure is also likely to be an a 'gross underestimation', given how UK labs have not routinely been testing for the drug. This is thought to include Karl Warburton, a 43-year-old factory worker from Solihull who became the UK's first known tranq victim in 2022. Writing in the journal Addiction, they warned if tranq use exploded like in the US, hundreds of Brits could die. 'If the UK were to experience the 20-fold increase in deaths seen in the US since 2015, deaths following xylazine use could be anticipated to exceed 220 deaths by 2028,' they said. Xylazine will remain available for veterinary prescribing, the Government said. However, it will be only available if lawfully prescribed. The Dovre Club, a pub on Valencia Street, was badly damaged after being struck by a motorist, San Francisco Fire Department officials said. Courtesy of Paul Miller The Dovre Club, a storied San Francisco pub, was badly damaged after a car crashed into it on Wednesday morning, fire department officials said. San Francisco fire officials responded to the 1400 block of Valencia Street just after 9 a.m., where they found two damaged vehicles and one damaged structure, officials said. Preliminary evidence suggested that two cars collided and one hit the Dovre Club, police officials said. A photo captured by Paul Miller, who owns the nearby Royal Cuckoo bar, showed the outside of the bar bisected by a silver car with firefighters and onlookers surrounding it. Next to it, a small black car can be seen in the middle of the street, badly smashed with part of its bumper strewn across the crosswalk. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Management for the Dovre Club did not immediately return requests for comment. The historic Irish bar has been open since 1966 but moved to its current location in 1998. San Francisco fire officials said that two adults from both cars sustained minor non-life-threatening injuries. It was not immediately clear whether there were passengers in the vehicles or what caused the crash. San Francisco Department of Building Inspection officials were evaluating damage to the structure, officials said. Fire officials said people should expect traffic delays in the 1400 block of Valencia Street through 2 p.m. Don Lemon has launched an impassioned rant in defense of Michelle's Obama's decision to not attend Donald Trump's inauguration. The fired CNN star unleashed his remarks on YouTube Tuesday, shortly after the former first lady confirmed in a statement she would not be attending. A few days before, she had been noticeably absent from Jimmy Carter's funeral, where her husband, former president Barack Obama, found himself seated next to the president-elect. The two appeared amiable during the event - something that spurred criticism from Lemon, 58, over the weekend. Fresh off panning Obama for 'grinning [alongside] someone [he has] called a fascist', the progressive reacted to the new news. First, he framed Michelle's still-unexplained decision as 'a big move', before setting out on connecting the dots himself - all while asking for input from paid subscribers. He came to the conclusion the former first lady's scheduling had been deliberate, while asking a series of leading questions to his thousands of viewers. During one, Lemon asked those offering praise to Michelle for supposedly snubbing the next president if they felt 'the same... about Barack Obama' - again bashing the Democrat for acting cordial during the event. Scroll down for video: Don Lemon launched an impassioned rant in defense of Michelle's Obama's decision to not attend Donald Trump 's inauguration on Tuesday The spiel was delivered on the fired CNN star's YouTube channel after the former first lady confirmed in a statement she would not be attending the event next Monday 'I'm just saying,' Lemon continued, after reading out a series of comments from viewers indicating their stance. 'Because I know you know how the right, the MAGA folks, how they have treated the former first lady - what they say about the former first lady. They have no love for the former first lady. 'Do you think that it is okay for her not to go?' 'She's being real', responded one onlooker providing a donation. 'I agree,' Lemon replied. 'Black women leading the way yet again,' added another female viewer. 'We applaud her,' said someone else under the impression the plans were an intentional slight. 'The poll answer should be, "Hell no! but you get the jist [sic],' added another, in response to another Lemon question: One asking if they believed Michelle's decision had been 'okay' and whether she and other Democrats should attend. 'Do you think Democrats are normalizing this behavior that most sane rational people will agree is not normal behavior?' said a seemingly already decided Lemon. 'All you had to do is watch Pete [Hegsleth's] confirmation hearings today,' he went on. A few days before, she had been noticeably absent from Jimmy Carter's funeral, where her husband, former president Barack Obama, was seated next to the president-elect The two appeared amiable during the event - something that spurred criticism as well as surprise, as Michelle has been vocal about her disapproval of the conservative The two appeared chummy nonetheless, earning Lemon's wrath a few days before The latter came in reference to the newly tapped defense secretary's dramatic confirmation hearing, and how it was riddled with interruptions from progressive protesters. Some accused the former Fox News personality of misogyny, as similarly aligned members of the Senate aired similar allegations for all the American public to see. Another woman watching Lemon's broadcast at this point observed: 'Michelle is not like other first ladies: she campaigned for [Kamala] Harris' - leading the journalist fired in 2023 days after making disparaging remarks about women to point out they were wrong. Nancy Reagan in 2008 endorsed John McCain, and in 2018, Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush - despite not offering a full endorsement - joined a chorus of criticism aimed at the Trump administration's zero-tolerance border policy. Also part of the movement was Michelle Obama, who went on to endorse Biden in the 2020 election - before not offering one this time around. She told CNN in November 2022 how he was doing a great job, before claiming her hesitancy stemmed from her personal notions on how important the decision to run for second term is. 'Its a personal decision that he and his family have to make. Probably, if I hadnt been through it, I would feel more cavalier about opining on it,' she said at the time, not long before Lemon was ousted from the network. 'But I know its a personal call. And I dont want to be one of the millions of people weighing in on what he should do, he and Jill should do.' Fresh off panning Obama for 'grinning [alongside] someone [he has] called a fascist', the progressive reacted to the new news in a similar light. First framing Michelle's still-unexplained decision as 'a big move', he then set out on connecting the dots himself He appeared to come the conclusion the former first lady's scheduling had been deliberate, while asking a series of leading questions to thousands looking on. No reason was given for her absence Lemon, on Tuesday, reasoned: 'Look, a lot of other first ladies - well, I shouldn't say a lot - but a number of other first ladies have endorsed and I believe campaigned for someone.' He went on to read off another comment, where an observer insisted "Michelle [was] not putting on airs or pretending for anyone. 'She knows him for the snake that he is.' That's when Lemon brought up Barack, along with some of the more fringe accusations from conservatives surrounding his wife's biology. 'How do you think this is going to play out?' he went on to add 'It's fine for her to opt out. 'And we don't know,' the journalist-turned podcaster eventually disclaimed. 'People are just assuming it is because of [Michelle's] feelings - how she feels about the former president. She has not made a secret of that.' Earlier on, Lemon aired a clip to illustrate that point, as he proudly presented the NBC News article that first reported on Michelle's announcement behind him. The footage came from Michelle's speech this past August on day two of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where she offered her and her husband's endorsement of Harris - and a scathing rebuke of then-candidate Trump. Michelle had attended every inauguration since her husband's in 2009, including Trump's first Trump is seen arriving with his first lady, Melania, at Carter's funeral last week. Lemon criticized Obama for cozying up to the president elect during the ceremony Lemon at one point aired a clip to illustrate his point - that being Michelle was snubbing Trump. The footage came from her speech at the DNC in August, where she publicly panned the Republican in response to previous allegations from his team and MAGA in general 'For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,' she told a star-studded audience in her hometown, referring to herself and her husband. 'See, his limited narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking and highly educated, successful people, who happen to be black. 'I want to know, who's going going to tell him, who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs.' The comments appeared to call out the conservatives for promoting unfounded theories about her husband's birth. The former first lady further insinuated that the public should expect the same kind of attacks toward Harris if she won - something that failed to come to fruition despite a video urging Americans to get ready to vote masterminded by Michelle herself. At the time, the former First Lady enlisted celebrity friends Steph Curry and Kerry Washington to explain the concept's importance, along with others like Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, and Chris Paul. All urged onlookers to start thinking about their preferred candidate ahead of the US election, days after Michelle and Barack declared their allegiance to Harris. The advertisement begins with the stars receiving a sudden phone call from the former first lady, who sternly asks each one of them, 'Are you voting this year?' - to which they all respond affirmatively. Michelle released a video urging Americans to get ready to vote over the summer, days after declaring her allegiance to Kamala Harris The video failed to move the needle, despite a series of A-list cameos that included Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Kerry Washington Lemon, meanwhile, also pointed to how the seating arrangement at Carter's funeral last week would have seen Michelle again rub shoulders with the incoming president - whom she was seen grimacing next to during his first inauguration. 'If she had gone to Jimmy Carter's funeral, she would have been seated or had to be seated next to Donald Trump,' Lemon opined. 'You know what she has said about Donald Trump - we've all seen how she reacted to Donald Trump's first inauguration - it was written all over her face. 'And now the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, is not going [to Trump's inauguration],' he went on. 'The whole Jimmy Carter funeral thing - this has been a big talk: she was not there, and you know, I said what I said, a lot of people said what they said - some people were side eye-in Barack Obama - others are like, "Give it a Break." 'You know, "Don't talk about it" or what have you - but this has become a thing. 'And it is unusual for a first lady of the United States not to attend - or a former first lady, not to attend - an inauguration,' he then noted. 'Why do you think Dems should not go? And why do you think it's okay for the first lady - former first lady - not to go? Why do you think that? 'I think it is obvious how she feels, and I think if it if it indeed turns out that way, and there's no explanation, then we know what's up,' Lemon concluded. Lemon, meanwhile, also pointed to how the seating arrangement at Carter's funeral last week would have seen Michelle again rub shoulders with the incoming president - whom she was seen grimacing next to during his first inauguration 'If she had gone to Jimmy Carter's funeral, she would have been seated or had to be seated next to Donald Trump,' Lemon opined. 'You know what she has said about Donald Trump - we've all seen how she reacted to [Trump's] first inauguration - it was written all over her face 'I think it is obvious how she feels, and I think if it if it indeed turns out that way, and there's no explanation, then we know what's up,' Lemon, who was fired from CNN after 17 years after making disparaging comments about women, concluded. Michelle has not confirmed such At another point the former news anchor, who served CNN for some 17 years, agreed with one viewer that 'the mere fact that [the inauguration] is on Dr [Martin Luther] King [Jr.]'s holiday is disgusting.' 'Obama should not go as well,' sniped someone else - to which Lemon simply said 'wow.' He then mentioned the newly released Jack Smith report and how it saw the special counsel air his belief that Trump would have gone to jail were he not elected. 'But because of the Supreme Court ruling that a sitting present should not be prosecuted, he's off the hook,' Lemon said. 'That is fodder, I believe, for the first lady to say, "Hell no! Look, this guy is a convicted felon, this guy has said horrible things about me and my family and other people I love.' The rest of the broadcast saw Lemon go through the NBC report line-by-line, before more bashing on the looming administration. A letter has been sent to Jeff Bezos on behalf of more than 400 Washington Post journalists demanding a sitdown with the newspaper owner. Staffers ranging from longtime stalwarts to rank-in-file reporters aired frustrations with the paper's leadership - going as far to outright question it. First reported by NPR, the correspondence comes amidst a mass exodus of top talent and financial problems at the once progressive newspaper. It was obtained Wednesday by The New York Times, a little over a week after the Post laid off 100 of its staff. The cuts amounted to 4 percent of the paper's total workforce. In September, the Post laid off a quarter of staffers at its software unit ArcXP, months after implementing a series of buyouts in a failed bid to prevent layoffs. That same month the Post's new publisher and CEO Will Lewis, a former editor of the British Daily Telegraph, issued a statement to staffers in the DC office about the paper's dire situation in terms of readership and finances. He ruffled feathers by telling journalists: 'People are not reading your stuff'. Staff unrest grew when Bezos, 60, broke tradition by blocking The Posts planned endorsement of Kamala Harris weeks before the election. A quarter-million subscribers canceled subscriptions in response and a number of high profile journalists quit. Remaining heavy hitters Dan Balz, Carol D Leonnig, and Margaret 'Pooh' Shapiro were said to have signed the recent meeting asking for a meeting at the Post's office. A letter was sent to Jeff Bezos Wednesday by more than 400 Washington Post journalists Staffers ranging from longtime stalwarts to rank-in-file reporters aired frustrations with the paper's leadership and demanded a sitdown with the newspaper owner 'You recently wrote that ensuring the long-term success and editorial independence of this newspaper is essential,' the letter began, quoting Bezos's explanatory op-ed where he cited 'distrust' of media as the basis for the lack of an endorsement. 'We agree, and we believe you take as much pride in The Washington Post as we do,' the letter continued. 'We are deeply alarmed by recent leadership decisions that have led readers to question the integrity of this institution, broken with a tradition of transparency, and prompted some of our most distinguished colleagues to leave.' The petition then appears to promise that 'more departures [are] imminent', after the exits of well-known political reporters Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker, both poached by The Atlantic. 'This goes far beyond the issue of the presidential endorsement, which we recognize as the owners prerogative. 'This is about retaining our competitive edge, restoring trust that has been lost, and reestablishing a relationship with leadership based on open communication,' it went on, weeks after longtime managing editor Matea Gold also jumped ship to the New York Times. 'We urge you to come to our office and meet with Post leaders, as you have in the past, about what has been happening at The Post. 'We understand the need for change, and we are eager to deliver the news in innovative ways. But we need a clear vision we can believe in.' It was obtained Wednesday by The New York Times, a little over a week after the Post laid off 100 of its staff. The cuts amounted to 4 percent of the paper's total workforce That same month the Post's new publisher and CEO Will Lewis, a former editor of the British Daily Telegraph, issued a statement to staffers in the DC office about the paper's dire situation. He ruffled feathers by telling journalists: 'People are not reading your stuff' Penned ahead of an fast-approaching Trump presidency, the correspondence concluded with staffers stating they 'are committed to pursuing independent journalism that holds power to account.' They also vowed to continue 'reporting the news without fear or favor,' saying: 'That will never change [and that] nothing will shake our determination to follow the reporting wherever it leads.' The note went on to offer a quote from Bezos offer up up when he became The Posts owner in 2013, at the cost of $250million. 'The values of The Post do not need changing,' he said at the time. The letter, in turn, finished with staffers saying: 'We urge you to stand with us in reaffirming those values.' Reported signatories, according to NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik, include Balz, Leonnig, and Shapiro. All have held prominent positions at the Post for decades, with Balz, 78, currently the paper's chief correspondent. He started work there as a reporter in 1978. Leonnig, meanwhile, has been a staff writer at The Washington Post since 2000, and was part of a team of reporters that won 2014's Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for shining a light on the NSA's extensive spying on everyday Americans. Reported signatories, according to NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik, include Dan Balz, the paper's longtime chief correspondent, and Carol Leonnig, who has has been a staff writer at The Washington Post since 2000, and was part of a team of reporters that won 2014's Pulitzer Prize for shining a light on the NSA's extensive spying on everyday Americans Another to reportedly sign was stalwart Margaret 'Pooh' Shapiro. has had links with the paper since the 80s, during which she held stints as metro reporter and as co-bureau chief in Tokyo. Today, Shapiro - seen here on C-Span in 1990 - is one of the paper's most senior editors Shapiro has had links with the paper since the 80s, during which she held stints as metro reporter and as co-bureau chief in Tokyo from 1987 to 1990. Today, she is one of the paper's most senior editors. Their coalition, which included 'star journos,' lesser-known staffers, and editors who are not in the union, according to Folkenflik, was formed less than a month after the exodus that also included three prominent opinions section writers: David Hoffman, Molly Roberts and Robert Kagan. All quit in direct response the Bezos-endorsement decision. The paper's White House Correspondent, Tyler Pager, also left late last month, announcing he would be rejoining his old employer - and primary Post rival - The New York Times. Opinion editor Amanda Katz and her deputy Charles Lane have also since gone, along with columnist Jennifer Rubin, who confirmed to CNN on Monday that she was leaving her job at the paper after 14 years. As for why, she said it was also due to Bezos becoming too chummy with the soon-to-be president. It comes as media companies ranging from MSNBC to The Walt Disney Corporation have faced criticism for attempts to curry favor with President-elect Donald Trump. Bezos seemingly caught wind of the shifting political tides in the weeks before the election, breaking tradition by blocking The Washington Posts planned endorsement of Harris in late October. The paper has also lost more than half of its audience, with 250,000 ditching their subscriptions following Bezos's refusal. The Billionaire is seen with Lauren Sanchez at Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion a few months later in the wake of his win In it, the 60-year-old said it was the 'principled' and 'right' decision for the Post to not weigh-in. This paved the way for his primary business interest Amazon to strike a $40million deal with Melania Trump last week. The documentary, currently being directed by #MeToo outcast Bret Ratner, is set for release in the second half of 2025. Sources familiar with the matter revealed the amount Amazon paid to license the rights to Puck, saying the deal also includes a follow-up docuseries. It's unclear what Melania is being paid personally for the project, which will air on Prime Video and get some time in theaters as well, the insiders said. Disney and Paramount are said to have lost out on the streaming rights after a bidding war with Amazon. Neither Netflix nor Apple took part, the sources said. Some common ground was reached among panelists on CNN NewsNight late Tuesday after advancements in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. As it became increasingly clear that an end to the now-15-month conflict could be in the cards host Abby Phillip declared her belief that Donald Trump, despite not yet being president, had played a crucial part in the diplomacy talks. Republican pundit Scott Jennings, often Phillip's foil during broadcasts, agreed, as both touted Trump's 'candidness' about the long-running hostage situation when compared to his Democrat counterpart. Hours later, Joe Biden emerged from the Oval Office to confirm the ceasefire, revealing its terms and the fact it will last 42 days so that all American hostages can be safely returned to the US. The outgoing president said he introduced the agreement in the spring, while Trump, on social media, hinted at a deal two hours earlier. In the months before, the president-elect repeatedly promised peace in the Middle East and an 'America First' approach to foreign policy. He never offered specifics, but broached the subject with his trademark rhetoric and bravado. 'I'm not going to start a war. Im going to stop wars,' he said during his victory speech in November, as Biden maintained support of Israel in its fight against Hamas, with some concessions and caveats. Phillip and Jennings both credited Trump's more firm stance on the subject for the temporary solution, which it is hoped will see seven Americans, ranging in age from 19 to 73, released for good. Scroll down for video: Some common ground was reached among panelists on CNN NewsNight late Tuesday when host Abby Phillip declared her belief that Donald Trump played a crucial part in the talks that solidified a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas Hours later, Joe Biden would emerge from the Oval Office to confirm the agreement, saying he dreamt it up this past spring Bottom line: without Trump winning and being absolutely clear in his hell to pay rhetoric, there would be no hostage deal today between Israel & Hamas. Thank God we are getting our people back. Elections have consequences. My comments on @cnn. pic.twitter.com/6KPol85bpx Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) January 15, 2025 'I do think that all sides agree that Trump's candidness has made a difference, one way or another,' Phillip began by saying. 'Yeah, they do not want to deal with Trump,' Jennings, who over the past year has surfaced as CNN's resident Republican, replied. 'He's been perfectly clear that he's not vacillated about his message,' he continued, before explaining his rationale. '[He's been clear] that if they don't send our people back, there's going to be hell to pay,' he said, leading Phillips and several other panelists to nod their head as if to agree. 'Thank god he has been on that message, and has not wavered from it, has not stepped back from it. And I don't really care - candidly - who the president is, when all this happens. 'I just want them back,' Jennings continued, proudly displaying his yellow ribbon on his chest - a symbol that has emerged as the international symbol of hope for the safe return of hostages. 'I've worn this yellow ribbon for over a year because I think there's just so many families who have been devastated - they're hurting,' Jennings explained. 'They don't know what the situation is,' he added. 'We need to have this come to an end or America's involved here.' As it became increasingly clear that an end to the fighting could be in the cards, host Abby Phillip declared her belief - leading several of her fellow panelists to agree Among them was Scott Jennings, who for months has demanded that all American hostages be safely returned stateside The conservative went on to concede that the country '[may] end up paying a heavy price with this deal,' saying 'some terrorists are probably going to be let out of jails. 'I don't particularly like that,' Jennings said. 'But to settle this, and to get peace, and to get our people back, I think it took Trump winning the election, and being clear-eyed about it, to make it happen.' At another point in talks, the prominent political strategist offered more insight behind his reasoning. Speaking from the perspective of members of Hamas and other terror groups, he declared, 'What you have witnessed is the Biden Administration... at various points, put[ting] shackles on Israel. 'You can say they've been strong on it,' he quickly disclaimed. 'But they've tried to put rhetorical and military shackles on Israel. 'There is no expectation that Trump would put shackles on anybody,' he continued, pointing to the president-elect's more transparent approach to peace talks. 'And there is some expectation that he will get involved himself, if they don't send our people back,' he added, still speaking from terrorists' perspective. 'I do think this is the essential element of getting this over the fence.' In a rare occurrence, both agreed that Trump's more firm stance on the subject pave the way for the temporary solution, which will see seven Americans, ranging in age from 19 to 73, released Relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza gather in front of the Ministry of Defense to hold demonstration demanding a ceasefire and a hostage swap agreement in Gaza yesterday 'A great nation, a superpower, does not permit its people to be held and treated like this for as long as they have,' Jennings at one point told onlookers. Pictured, four of seven remaining American hostages Toward the end of the conversation, the station's senior political commentator offered one last jab at Biden - perhaps the last as his presidency comes to a close. 'A great nation, a superpower, does not permit its people to be held and treated like this for as long as they have,' he told onlookers. 'I don't think Donald Trump wants to be taking over a country if it was willing to permit that kind of behavior by these thugs and terrorists. 'I think that's why he was "clear-eyed" in his statements, and I think that's why they responded.' The following day, Biden's own State Department issued a statement - one confirming that Trump's team played a pivotal part in the since-settled agreement. 'When it comes to the involvement of President-elect Trump's team, it has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line,' spokesperson Matthew Miller said at the White House Wednesday afternoon. 'We, of course, thank the Trump team.' On Wednesday, Biden's own State Department issued a statement saying Trump's team played a pivotal part in the hostage agreement - something Biden did not seem to agree with The president - flanked by Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken - appeared hesitant to offer up any credit a little later in the day, telling a reporter who asked whether Trump played a part during his own address 'Is that a joke.' When told no, Biden walked off STATE DEPT: "When it comes to the involvement of President-elect Trump's team, it has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line." "We, of course, thank the Trump team." pic.twitter.com/yL3U8y3PO2 Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 15, 2025 Trump, too, touted his own accomplishments on Truth Social a few hours earlier, telling followers, 'We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!' Biden, however, appeared hesitant to offer up any credit a little later in the day, telling a reporter who asked whether Trump played a part during his own address 'Is that a joke.' When told no, Biden said 'oh' and walked out of the press conference. A woman was left dumbfounded after she ordered a brand new mobile phone from a high street retailer - only to receive a package containing a large lump of clay instead. Anya Carroll, 31, from Bradley Stoke, Bristol, took advantage of Black Friday deals in November to upgrade her phone to an iPhone 16 - worth around 800 - by signing up to a 36-month contract with Sky Mobile. But she said she 'received the shock of my life' when opening the courier-delivered package and discovering the crafting item in place of her eagerly awaited phone. The bewildered project manager said she immediately informed Sky, but claims customer services were unhelpful and did not return her calls. After a brief investigation, she was told there was 'insufficient evidence' her package had been tampered with before delivery and there was nothing further Sky could do. To compound her distress, Miss Carroll was advised to keep making payments for the phone she never received - because she would be the one in breach of contract if the money stopped. She claimed that Sky 'washed its hands of her' after reaching a 'deadlock' on her case, leaving her just with a lump of white clay to show for her 25 monthly payments. After being contacted by MailOnline, Sky has agreed to cancel her contract and refund the money she had paid to date. Anya Carroll, 31, from Bradley Stoke, Bristol was left dumbfounded after she ordered a brand new mobile phone from Sky - only to receive a package containing a large lump of clay instead Ms Carroll took advantage of Black Friday deals in November to upgrade her phone to an iPhone 16 - worth around 900 - by signing up to a 36-month contract with Sky Mobile Miss Carroll said: 'I needed a new phone and so I went along to the Sky store in Cribbs Causeway and ordered what I thought was a great deal on a monthly contract. 'As I was a first-time customer, they even enticed me into getting broadband with them as well.' Excited by her new purchase, Miss Carroll asked for the pink version of her iPhone, but it was not in stock at the store. She was told by staff at the store that one could be delivered to her home for the next day - but it failed to turn up. 'I thought that was a bit strange, as l had received a text message from Sky saying I would receive it. 'When I contacted Sky, they reassured me that it sometimes comes from different warehouses so it could be delayed. 'Then I looked at the DPD tracker and I could see it had been held at the depot, but it didn't give any reason why.' The package was finally delivered the next day and Miss Carroll recalls it feeling 'quite weighty' when it was handed over to her. After a brief investigation, she was told there was 'insufficient evidence' her package had been tampered with before delivery and there was nothing further Sky could do The circumstances suggest that Miss Carroll could have fallen victim to a scam known as refund or return fraud She then opened the package and said she could not believe her eyes. 'I was so shocked,' she recalled. 'I had been excited to get this phone for absolutely ages. It had taken me a while to even commit to getting this phone and then when I opened it, I was like what the hell is this? 'I've just never been more shocked. I sent pictures to my family and everyone was like, "What is this? Where's the phone'?" 'I told them I had received just clay. It was like the biggest shock.' Miss Carroll said she reached out to Sky and gave all her details over, but claims no one came back to her and she was left having to chase every few days for an update. 'I thought it would be pretty urgent, the fact that I've just not received this brand new phone, but I didn't get anything back from them. They even gave me the wrong email address to correspond with at one point. 'Every time I called they told me to wait 72 hours and then I would wait and call again and told the same. It was a constant battle of me having to phone them constantly. 'Eventually I was told they were investigating, but after three weeks they just sent me a deadlock letter saying they could not locate the phone in the warehouse and had a photograph from the courier showing the package handed over to me. She claimed that Sky 'washed its hands of her' after reaching a 'deadlock' on her case, leaving her just with a lump of white clay to show for her 25 monthly payments 'As far as they were concerned, I had received the device. 'When I called again I was told they could not discuss this any further because they had handed me a deadlock letter - even though I never received the actual goods.' The letter, which has been seen by MailOnline, stated Sky had conducted a 'thorough' investigation. It said: 'Upon review of the complaint, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the iPhone 16 was not included in the package. 'At the time of delivery, DPD provided a clear and compliant image of your package. 'This image indicates that prior to the package being received by yourself, the box was fully intact with no visible signs of damage or tampering that would suggest the contents of the delivery were missing. 'After the concern was brought to our attention, Sky conducted a thorough inquiry into the delivery process in collaboration with our fulfilment partners, UTL and DPD. 'Regrettably, despite these efforts we were unable to locate the device in our warehouses. Miss Carroll purchased her iPhone from the Sky store in Cribbs Causeway, Bristol (pictured) 'As such, we must infer delivery was completed successfully. Due to the reasons above, your complaint has been rejected.' Miss Carroll said the experience left her feeling she was taking the blame for a fraud she had not committed. 'Sky made me feel like I was the fraudster here and it became my word against their word. I was literally being blamed for something I haven't done. 'But I know I'm not the only person this has happened to. When I went back into the Sky store, they told me there's been quite a few instances that have happened with phones being swapped out for other items. 'One person received a pack of baby wipes. It seems to be a common thing happening.' Miss Carroll confirmed she had contacted Avon and Somerset Police, but her case could not be progressed. In a statement, a police spokesperson said: 'It is unknown when and where this happened and therefore the crime has been filed at this time, pending any further information being received that leads to any potential lines of enquiry.' The circumstances suggest that Miss Carroll could have fallen victim to a scam known as refund or return fraud. Miss Carroll recalls the package feeling 'quite weighty' when it was handed over to her In these situations, the fraudster will purchase an item - or intercept a bought item - remove it from the box and then replace it with items of a lesser value that have a similar weight. They will then attempt to return the item and claim a refund. A situation could then arise where the package is erroneously sent to a genuine customer with the lower value items still inside. Last week, MailOnline highlighted the plight of Gemma Worley, 39, from Cornwall, who purchased a 700 Lenovo Yoga laptop from Currys only to receive three mouldy pies instead. The trio of Yorkshire Handmade Pies had crammed into the space in the box where her new computer should have been. Mrs Worley is still awaiting to hear whether she will receive a refund or replacement laptop. In a statement to MailOnline, Sky Mobile apologised to Miss Carroll and said they would offer her a full refund of payments and cancel her contract. A spokesperson said: 'We're sorry for any distress caused to Miss Carroll by this delivery issue. 'According to both our own investigation and DPD's, the package arrived on time unopened and undamaged. 'However, as a gesture of goodwill we have offered to send a replacement iPhone to Miss Carroll. 'Miss Carroll declined this offer - the contract has now been cancelled and we have provided a full refund on the contract to this date.' A travel influencer accused of murdering an elderly woman cannot be photographed at his court hearings because he was horrifically-injured in a scooter accident. Garrett Bruno, 33, was wheeled into his arraignment at Los Angeles Airport (LAX) Court Tuesday on a gurney after falling off his scooter in October last year and cracking his skull. He is now suffering from brain damage and cannot stand up unaided. Bruno, clad in black prison garb and with his bare feet exposed, could move his hands and legs and was able to answer 'Yes' to a simple question posed by the judge. He pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder. The travel influencer was moved from hospital to LA's Twin Towers jail earlier this month. Bruno's lawyer Ambrosio Rodriguez told Thursday's hearing Bruno's injuries are so severe they require care that the jail cannot provide. Judge Keith Schwartz ruled that because the injury was not sustained during the crash that killed Esther Abouab, 83, Bruno cannot be photographed during his court appearances for the sake of his privacy. Rodriguez also claimed his client, who previously posted shirtless photos of himself enjoying luxurious vacations to 61,000 followers, had been delirious. He told the court that Bruno had been asking how he'd been transported to the Twin Towers jail from Israel, even though he has lived in the California city for years. Alleged murderer Garrett Bruno, pictured, cannot be photographed at court proceedings after falling off a scooter and leaving himself brain damaged, a judge ruled Bruno is pictured snorting drugs outside his West Hollywood home at 11am on October 19 last year. Ten days earlier, he smashed his car into Esther Abouab, 83, while speeding and killed her Bruno is pictured covered in blood in the immediate aftermath of the car crash. He was discharged from hospital but fell off his scooter and cracked his skull 15 days later But prosecutor Geoffrey Rendon had little sympathy for Bruno's predicament, branding him a 'menace to society' who'd shown no remorse over the October 10 death of Abouab. He referenced a DailyMail.com exclusive which showed Bruno snorting drugs on the street outside his $1.1 million West Hollywood home nine days after the smash. Bruno, who is gay and who surprised the West Hollywood community by revealing his support for Donald Trump last year, claimed it was prescription ketamine. Tuesday's hearing was told that Bruno was traveling at a 'high rate of speed' in a 25mph area when he smashed his Ford Explorer into the Ford Expedition Abouab was traveling in. The force of the impact slammed Abouab's 4,000-pound SUV across four lanes of traffic. Bruno's bail was set at $1.2 million, with a judge saying he'd have set it higher were his hands not tied by a recent Supreme Court ruling. It is unclear if anyone will bail Bruno out, with another hearing set for later this month to discuss the extent of his injuries. Tuesday's court appearance was the latest installment in a distressing saga which began on October 10 last year, when Bruno smashed his car into Abouab's a few blocks from his West Hollywood home. Abouab, the mother of Hollywood restaurateur Greg Morris, was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to blunt force trauma injuries. Esther Abouab (pictured) died when Bruno slammed his Ford Explorer into the Ford Escape SUV she was traveling in with husband Joe. Her son is Hollywood restaurateur Greg Morris On Tuesday, the court was told how the force of the crash blamed on Bruno send Abouab's 4,000-pound Ford SUV (pictured) flying across a four lane highway Bruno is being held at Los Angeles Twin Towers' correctional facility. His lawyer Ambrosio Rodriguez argued in court that the influencer's injuries are so severe he requires specialist treatment Her husband Joe was also in the car and was badly injured but survived. Bruno was photographed at the scene being pulled from his smashed car covered in blood and handcuffed to a gurney. A narcotics test showed he had ketamine in his system, according to a DailyMail.com source. The influencer was released from hospital within days, but suffered the first of two scooter accidents shortly afterwards. He broke his jaw after falling from the motorized two wheeler and was taken back to hospital to have screws inserted before being released. Then on October 18, Bruno threatened a DailyMail.com reporter when contacted over the phone for comment about the crash which killed Abouab. On Saturday October 19 - 10 days after Abouab's death - DailyMail.com photographed Bruno snorting drugs on the street outside his home. He scooped white powder from a black metal vial using a tiny spoon at 11am in the morning while walking his dog. Bruno's injuries from the accidents were still clearly visible. Los Angeles Sheriff's Office had no idea Bruno was in a coma until November 15, when they stormed his home in a dramatic raid captured by DailyMail.com Bruno is seen using a tiny metal spoon to snort drugs outside his home after the crash that killed Abouab. Prosecutors said this proved he had little remorse for the deadly smash Bruno pictured six days before the scooter crash which left him in a coma and suffering from brain damage Bruno took to Instagram to claim DailyMail.com's photos showed him taking ketamine that had been legally prescribed for He took to Instagram on October 22 to insist he had been snorting prescription ketamine to treat depression and anxiety. Bruno also commented on Abouab's death for the first time, posting: ''I am very sorry for the loss of this life, but the cause of the accident is still under investigation.' On October 24, Bruno's mother paid him a surprise visit from her home in Florida. He shared a snap of them together and posted an Instagram story of himself working out. The injury to his jaw was clearly visible. One day later, Bruno suffered his second scooter accident. He fell off the vehicle and cracked his skull. The influencer was rushed to Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills in a coma. Los Angeles Sheriff's Office knew nothing about Bruno's injuries until Friday November 15, when they swooped on the bungalow Bruno shared with his ex to arrest him for Abouab's murder. Dramatic DailyMail.com photos and videos captured that raid. It was initially feared Bruno would not survive his injuries. But he regained consciousness late last month and was transported to the Twin Towers jail in early January. Bruno is pictured in happier times. He previously shared images of his glossy travel adventures with his 61,000 Instagram followers. The influencer (right) enjoys a trip to Fire Island Pines in September 2023. Bruno surprised many in the LGBT community by coming out as a MAGA supporter last year The influencer shared workout footage on his Instagram page hours before the scooter accident which has left him comatose Bruno's Ford Explorer is pictured after the October 10 crash which killed Esther Abouab and injured her husband Joe Bruno is on a wing with other gay and bisexual prisoners, a law enforcement source told DailyMail.com. If well enough to stay in a dorm, he will share it with 20 other prisoners. Inmates are given two cold meals and one hot meal a day. They're allowed about two hours for exercise. Staffers insist that despite its grim reputation, the Twin Towers jail is a humane facility where wardens do their best to focus on inmates wellbeing. If convicted of Abouab's second-degree murder, Bruno faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars - and could be jailed for life. EXCLUSIVE A pair of Chinese-born teen parents went to extraordinary lengths to keep the existence of two of their children a secret from their families and Australian authorities out of fear they would disappoint loved ones and get deported. Wen Li and partner Jintao Wu were sent by their families to Sydney to complete their high school education in 2010 and 2009 respectively when Ms Li fell pregnant for the first time - a concerning development given uncertainty surrounding their visas. The pair built a life in Sydney and took drastic steps to conceal their children from the authorities and their families. Ms Li hid her pregnant belly under loose clothing and twice gave birth at home without medical care, with only the help of Google . The couple taught their oldest child, Tiana, now 13, Chinese (she taught herself English from the internet) and only took her to a doctor for the first time when she was 11-years-old. They otherwise treated Tiana and five-year-old brother Jasper's illnesses with Panadol and rest. But, now aged in their 30s, the consequences of the couple's actions have gradually caught up with them - particularly after a mutual friend let slip to their cousin that they were, in fact, parents. The unusual case was brought to light after Ms Li and Mr Wu took the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in December after the government agency refused to issue Tiana and Jasper with birth certificates. In rejecting their bid, the Registrar argued there was no conclusive proof the children were born in NSW as no one had witnessed their births and there was no contemporaneous evidence to support their claim. Jintao Wu and Wen Li (pictured together) secretly gave birth to two children and kept them hidden from society and their families for years But Ms Li and Mr Wu argued there were no witnesses because they were afraid to tell their family, teachers, and doctors due to the shame associated with being teenage parents. The couple - who now also have a third child, a baby - said they were also afraid the births might see them deported, but due to their children's increasing educational needs, they are determined to set things right and 'fix their mistakes'. The secret children According to statements provided as part of their case, Ms Li and Mr Wu were living in Sydney and completing high school when they discovered she was pregnant with Tiana in 2011. Then just teenagers, the pair who had both been sent abroad by their parents to be educated in Australia, kept the pregnancy from their 'traditional and conservative' parents due to cultural norms that place pressure on unmarried mothers. Ms Li said she hid her first pregnancy by wearing loose clothing and did not book any medical check-ups because they were struggling financially. At that time, Ms Li was in Year 12 completing her HSC and Mr Wu was in Year 11 and working at McDonalds and as a removalist to help support them. Ms Li was 19 when she gave birth to Tiana at their Hurstville home in December 2011 without any medical assistance, before sending Mr Wu out to pick up baby supplies. After Tiana was born, her HSC results had just been released and she was in the process of applying for a new student visa and was worried that registering her birth would jeopardise her application, Ms Li said. Tiana Wu (right) only saw a doctor for the first time in 2023 Jasper Wu (pictured) was first recorded in Australian documents during a hospital visit when he was one and a half years old In the years that followed, the couple moved to various address across Sydney, with Mr Wu leaving McDonalds and picking up flexible jobs so he could bring Tiana to work with him. Ms Li told NCAT that, when Tiana was young, they taught her basic knowledge and Chinese, and she picked up English by watching cartoons on YouTube. When she turned six, the couple catered to her growing need for education by printing basic maths exercises from a Chinese website for her to practice as well as teaching her vocabulary through daily life activities. Ms Li said she gave birth to Jasper alone at their home in Yagoona in June 2019, while Mr Wu was out working on a removalist job. Ms Li had messaged Mr Wu to come home as they were considering going to hospital, in the hope their visa status would not be checked, but Jasper was born five minutes before he arrived back. As part of their case, Ms Li and Mr Wu provided photographs of their children growing up, receipts from their baby supply purchases, and documents from their children's first interactions with Australian systems. According to the tribunal case, the first official documentation of Tiana's name date appear in an indemnity release form her father signed when he took her to an adventure park in February 2022, then a medical centre visit in 2023. Ms Li told the tribunal that she was extremely thin during the pregnancies as she did not understand proper nutrition, allowing her to easily conceal her belly with loose clothing Jasper's first interaction with official records took place in late 2020, when he was 18-months-old, and was rushed to hospital after cutting his hand on glass. Ms Li said that they didn't have Medicare, so the hospital sent them a bill to their house. Ms Li said whenever Tiana was sick, she would recover quickly after being given Panadol and resting up, and, similarly, Jasper had only ever had a few fevers and recovered at home. Ms Li said some of their friends and housemates had known about Tiana, but had since moved away and lost contact - making it difficult for them to find witnesses to confirm she was born in NSW. As for Jasper, Ms Li said two people - a former boss and former colleague - were the only people who knew she was pregnant with her son. Her former colleague, Amy, has since returned home to Cambodia, while she has lost contact with her old boss, Ms Li said. Ms Li presented WeChat messages to the tribunal between her Amy discussing the pregnancy and birth. Ms Li said she reached out to Amy asking if she would be able to provide a statutory declaration for her tribunal case, but never heard back. Mr Wu (pictured) told NCAT in his statement that he picked up flexible jobs after his daughter's birth so he could split the child care Ms Li is pictured running errands around Sydney on Wednesday The discovery As part of their tribunal case, Ms Li and Mr Wu also tendered statements written by his cousin Ms Beibei Xu and uncle Yi Xiong Xu, to support their claims about why they kept the children a secret. In his statement, Mr Xu and Ms Xu said Mr Wu had lived with them for a year when he first came to Australia in 2009 to study. Mr Xu said he ran into his nephew with Tiana and Jasper in a shopping centre in Auburn in February 2021, but Mr Wu told him they were his landlord's children. Ms Xu said she only learnt about Mr Wu's children in 2023, when her husband was speaking with a mutual friend who happened to mention Mr Wu's kids in a conversation. She invited Mr Wu and his children to a family gathering at a restaurant in April 2024, where she was 'filled with joy and surprise' at seeing the children for the first time. Ms Xu said she organised another family gathering a few weeks later, where Mr Wu broke the news to his parents in China that he and Ms Li have three children. In her statement, Ms Xu said his parents were both 'thrilled and deeply moved' by the revelation, but she understands why he kept it a secret as they would have likely pressured the couple into terminating the pregnancy. Mr Xu said after learning about the children, Ms Li and Mr Wu raised their concerns about the fact the children did not have birth certificates and the issues it was causing. The couple have been unable to enroll Tiana and Jasper in school because they do not have birth certificates and have not been vaccinated. The tribunal heard that in recent years, as their finances have improved, the couple have started to seek professional legal advice to help them resolve the situation. The couple only recently disclosed to relatives that they were the parents of three children The hearing In their statements, the couple argued that at the time of Tiana's birth, they were in high school and had just reapplied to renew their student visas and were scared registering her birth might impact their applications. Their student visas were granted but expired in 2016, leaving them without valid visas a the time Jasper was born in 2019. The couple were granted bridging visas in 2023, which made them feel comfortable getting medical checkups during her pregnancy with Sylvia. Now, Ms Li and Mr Wu say they are are 'older, more experienced and more knowledgeable', and are determined to 'fix their mistakes' and 'set things right' for their children. Ms Li said the couple did not understand the importance of formal education when they were young, but have increasingly become aware of their daughter's growing education and social needs. The couple said whenever she has questions about science concepts, they do their best to answer, and they also take the kids to other cities each year so they can experience different cultural atmospheres. Despite being home-schooled, Ms Li and Mr Wu said their children have grown up regularly playing with neighbourhood kids at the local park and are both 'sociable, enjoy making new friends, and show no signs of isolation or fear of the outside world'. However, they want their children to receive a proper education and be 'empowered by knowledge' unlike their parents. The tribunal ruled the children were born in NSW on the balance of probabilities 'They feel a profound sense of guilt and remorse because their negligence has caused their children to not have official documents or normal lives,' the case file reads. 'They regret their mistakes and want to do everything they can to make things right for them.' 'They apologise sincerely and wish to make things right because they love their children very much.' Although Ms Li's mail and banking details indicate she lived in Sydney at the time of Tiana and Jasper's births, the Registrar argued there was no evidence the children were born in NSW - and that they could of been delivered during one of their interstate holidays. The Registrar argued Ms Li's account for the lack of documents or witnesses was 'implausible' and that her claim she was able to hide the pregnancies was 'unconvincing'. The Registrar also argued she had not produced any fear of being judged by peers and that she should of been aware of the potential risks of unassisted child birth. The Registrar said the fact the couple had intentions of giving birth to Jasper in the hospital suggest her concerns were no longer in play, so there was no compelling reason there were no contemporaneous documents to support his birth in NSW. However, NCAT Senior Member Emeritus Prof Geoffrey Walker disagreed, arguing that Mr Xu and Ms Xu's statements supported the couple's claims about why they wanted to keep the births a secret. Mr Walker acknowledged that there was no doubt Ms Li and Mr Wu were the biological parents of the children, as evidenced by DNA tests tendered to the tribunal. Mr Walker said it was unlikely that Ms Li would have travelled interstate during the last stages of pregnancy, and that her personal records showed she was based in NSW. Mr Walker also said it was reasonable that the couple were unaware of the risks of unassisted childbirth, which is not unusual in China, as the dangers may not have been covered in their education system in their homeland. Mr Walker concluded that on the basis of probabilities, the children were born in NSW, arguing there was no evidence why the couple would have a motive to misrepresent their birth places. He ordered that the Registrar issue the children with birth certificates, listing Tiana as born in Hurstville and Jasper in Yagoona. Ms Li said she prepared to give birth alone as a teenager by consulting Google Ms Li and Mr Wu said they were feeling relieved and 'relaxed' after their children were granted birth certificates What happens now? Under Australian law, children born after August 19, 1986 are only citizens if at least one parent was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of their birth. That means the Wu children will not be automatically granted citizenship just because they have NSW birth certificates. On Wednesday outside their home in Sydney's inner-west, Ms Li and Mr Wu told Daily Mail Australia they were feeling 'relaxed' after their court win after spending more than a year fighting to get their children official documentation. Asked about her remarkable birthing experiences, Ms Li said she had a little bit of background knowledge from her upbringing in China, but she mainly tried to work out what to do by consulting Google. 'I was alone for both births,' she said, smiling with pride. 'I was only in labour for two hours.' Mr Wu said they had received the birth certificates on Wednesday and they plan to now apply for Australian citizenship. The couple said they had already broken the news to their children that they will soon be able to go to school. 'We told the eldest. She is excited. The second one doesn't really understand,' they said. 'We need to get them vaccinated first [then we can organise the enrolment].' While Mr Wu's family recently learned about their children, Ms Li said her family back home are still unaware she is a mother. She said she will consider telling them once they feel more certain about their residency status. But for now, the couple are just relieved and happy about the sense of normalcy their tribunal win will bring to their lives. 'It will be good to be able to travel now without worrying,' Mr Li said. Whitney Cumming, who has two hit stand-up programmes available on the streaming service, has said that With Love, Meghan is about trolling King Charles and Prince Harry's relatives. The focus on making tea and jam as well has her outfits and hair are all 'burns' aimed at the British royals, she claims. 'I don't think she cares if you like the show. This has nothing to do with making a good show. It is just her subtly roasting the Royal Family. This isn't made for us. This is made for like 30 people in that castle. That's all she's doing', she said in a burn video. Ms Cumming is the third Netflix star to take aim at Meghan after fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky said the show was 'highly inauthentic', 'fake' and 'phony'. Stand-up Katherine Ryan, previously a supporter of Meghan, accused her of 'cosying up to celebrities and acting humble', adding: 'She is very Hollywood - even for me - and I don't like that in people'. Embattled Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has been accused of harassment and retaliation by a former top city official who claims she was fired for calling out her alleged misconduct and 'failures of leadership,' DailyMail.com can reveal. Crowley, who earns $654,000-a-year in compensation and benefits, is already at the center of a recent public spat between LA Mayor Karen Bass as pressure mounts on city leaders to address the failures and mishandled response to the catastrophic wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area. Now, DailyMail.com can reveal Crowley has been named in a 14-page legal complaint filed against the City of Los Angeles in December by former LAFD Fire Administrator Jenny Park. Park, a former deputy city attorney who rose to become the highest-ranking woman in the LAFD other than Crowley, claims the chief wrongfully fired her in December 2023 out of fear 'of being exposed' after she complained and reported her 'improper acts,' according to a court filing. One of those acts, alleges divorced mom-of-three Park, 55, is that Crowley 'failed to repay the city for a significant overpayment she had received in error.' Crowley, was allegedly overpaid 'around $37,000,' and Park repeatedly reminded the fire chief about paying back the cash but was 'ghosted', Park's attorney Martin Aarons exclusively told DailyMail.com. 'Chief Crowley got paid a significant amount of money that was an overpayment thousands of dollars - and, to our knowledge, never repaid that money,' he told us. 'She just refused to do so. Ms. Park would routinely remind her about it and she just ghosted her.' Park is described in the lawsuit as an 'over 40-year-old Asian American' who was promoted to Fire Administrator in 2018. The complaint notes Crowley is the LAFD's 'first female and gay fire chief' who was appointed in a 'closed-door process' in March 2022. Former LAFD Fire Administrator Jenny Park, seen during her appointment in 2018, is suing the City of LA claiming she was unjustly dismissed by LAFD Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in 2023 Crowley has already been at the center of a recent public spat between LA Mayor Karen Bass as pressure mounts on city leaders to address the failures and mishandled response to the wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area Crowley is named alongside Deputy Chief Orin Saunders in the legal complaint in which Park accuses the two of waging a campaign of harassment, intimidation, subterfuge, and retaliation against her. Saunders is described as 'an African-American gay male', who was appointed by Crowley to the second-highest ranking position in February 2023. According to the filing, Park - who oversaw the agency's budget, revenue, audits, accounting, payroll, risk management, human resources, and other admin divisions - had expressed her concerns and complained about 'numerous decisions and actions' by Crowley and Saunders during Saunders's command of the Administrative Operations. Among her complaints were Crowley allegedly not promoting people on merit, failing to consistently enforce rules and regulations impartially, badgering and neglecting civilian staff, and violating city contract procedures and ethics rules. Park claims Crowley and Saunders then began 'retaliating' against her by trying to embarrass her in front of command staff to 'intimidate her into silence', ordering her colleagues not to engage with her, and blaming her for payroll system problems. 'Chief Crowley's and Chief Saunders' harassment and retaliation caused enormous stress and anxiety for Ms. Park, harming her physical health, mental well-being and financial security,' the filing says. The matter came to a head in September 2023 when Park learned Saunders was allegedly attempting to award a contract to a third-party vendor that presented a conflict of interest, the paperwork adds. She then met with a deputy city attorney to report her concerns and later with a city ethics commission special investigator and 'expressed her fear of retaliation' by Saunders for 'having exposed and blocked the proposal'. Crowley (right) is named alongside Deputy Chief Orin Saunders (left) in the legal complaint in which Park (left) accuses the two of waging a campaign of harassment, intimidation, subterfuge, and retaliation against her Park - who oversaw the agency's budget, revenue, audits, accounting, payroll, risk management, human resources, and other admin divisions - claims she was fired after she expressed her concerns and complained about 'numerous decisions and actions' by Crowley and Saunders Amid this, Park was also meeting Saunders to complain about Crowley's 'harassing and retaliatory behavior' and asked the official why he had not supported her despite witnessing it. She also complained about his own similar behavior and asked for it to stop, the filing says. 'Ms. Park had been sharing her distress and frustration with colleagues regarding ongoing harassment and retaliation and informed several former and current high-ranking members of the department that she had filed a complaint direct with Chief Sanders,' it continues. However, on December 18, 2023, Saunders told Park that Crowley had decided to fire her. She was told not to come into the office. 'Ms. Park believes the termination was substantially motivated by her protected activity,' says the filing. Protected activity in a workplace is when an employee asserts their rights to be free from discrimination or harassment if they oppose unlawful conduct. Park's lawsuit claims whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and retaliation in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act. She is demanding damages for loss of income, emotional anguish, and loss of reputation among other reasons. 'Fearful of being exposed, especially as being hailed as the first female to lead the LAFD, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and her right-hand Chief Deputy Orin Saunders terminated Ms. Park, an exemplary employee with the LAFD and its highest-ranking Asian and female civilian for speaking out against violations,' the filing begins. 'While the outside world saw curated and filtered snippets, those on the inside were left to deal with Crowley's and Saunders' failures of leadership and had to endure silently or risk retaliation. 'Ms. Park chose to speak up and was terminated in retaliation for complaining and reporting improper acts by the newly-appointed Fire Chief and her Chief Deputy of Administrative Operations.' It continues: 'Furious that Ms. Park would not simply look away at repeated violations of city rules and regulations, and other possible violations of laws, defendants waged a campaign of harassment, intimidation, subterfuge and retaliation against Ms. Park, leading up to her notice of termination merely days before Christmas.' And it adds: 'Chief Crowley mistakenly believed her historic appointment gave her license to engage in unlawful retaliatory conduct against another woman. She was wrong.' Aarons also told DailyMail.com that when Chief Crowley received pushback on her actions 'she was not capable of taking ownership where things wouldn't go right. Experts would tell her to do something and if wasn't something she liked, she would push them out or exclude them.' He alleged Crowley was a 'retaliatory boss that didn't like being told that what she was doing was potentially violating local state regulations and laws.' And he added: 'People like Chief Crowley are smart enough to know that you can't just fire someone right away. You have to slowly take away their responsibilities. And that's what happened here. 'After Chief Crowley started, over the course of the next 18 months it became clear that if you didn't go along with what she wanted to do then you were all of a sudden persona non grata.' Aarons would not specify any figures for financial compensation for DailyMail.com. He has requested a jury trial. 'Ms Park was hoping to stay at the LA Fire Department for the rest of her work life and had hoped to retire there. So we're looking for all of her lost wages and her future lost wages as well, which are only part of it,' he said. 'Because the biggest impact is the emotional toll, the human losses. Everybody wants to be able to write their own chapter at the end of their job. Park has filed the lawsuit after receiving no response to a claim she filed in June, 2024. The effective date of her termination was February 24, 2024. The LAFD media office responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment on the lawsuit with: 'We are currently in the middle of a crisis and are entirely focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Fire Chief Crowley has no media availability at this time as she is focused on mitigating the fires.' She started her career with the City of Los Angeles as a deputy attorney, primarily assigned to represent the LAFD and was recognized for outstanding service. Fire department hierarchy was impressed by her 'performance and tenacity' and encouraged her to apply for the Public Safety Risk Manager job, which she won in March 2013. This role was to provide oversight to ensure statutes, rights, and regulations were complied with and to review and develop policies that would reduce the department's exposure to liability. She worked for four successive fire chiefs, 'all of whom lauded her work and increased her span of authority in recognition of her abilities and contributions,' says the filing. In 2017 Park was promoted to run public safety employee relations and a year later to Fire Administrator, a civilian deputy chief position. Crowley is now reportedly clinging to her own job by a thread amid the catastrophic wildfires that have so far killed 24 Crowley appeared to point the finger at Department of Water and Power for the insufficient water sources available to firefighters to extinguish the disastrous fires last week LA's fire chief admitted her department 'wasn't aware' of the city's empty reservoir and broken hydrants 'Other than Chief Crowley, Ms. Park was the highest-ranking female in the LAFD and the only female on the Command Staff when she was terminated,' the court paper says. She oversaw a budget of more than $800million and was oversaw accounting, audits, billing and records, payroll, human resources, litigation and risk management. 'During her lengthy tenure, Ms. Park was an exemplary employee and a highly regarded member of the Department Command Staff,' the filing says. But the problems began when 'in March 2022, Kristin Crowley was appointed as the LAFD's first female and gay fire chief by then Mayor Eric Garcetti in a closed-door process, i.e. there was no announcement of an upcoming vacancy, no application process and no invitation for prospective candidates to submit their interest'. Crowley then appointed Saunders as her deputy. Park's attorney argues that she was entitled to be a whistleblower by reporting what she believed were violations to LAFD and the City of Los Angeles The lawsuit says as a direct result of 'retaliatory conduct, Park 'suffered and continues to suffer damage to her reputation and career, physical and mental and emotional injuries, pain, distress, suffering, anguish, shame, humiliation, embarrassment and indignity, loss of enjoyment of life and other non-economic damages, and is entitled to all damages, legal costs and attorneys' fees'. It also claims Park has 'suffered and will continue to suffer loss of income earning capacity, her ability to be selected for future employment which will affect her income and other benefits, and has caused irreparable harm to her retirement path'. Crowley and LA Mayor Karen Bass (pictured surveying the damage with California Governor Gavin Newsom) are at the center of a public dispute as pressure mounts on city officials to address the administration's failures The devastation of the Palisades Fire is seen in the early morning in the Pacific Palisades Crowley has remained in her job amid the wildfires tragedy, despite hugging staff 'goodbye' last week before entering a meeting with LA mayor Karen Bass. When the fire chief returned from the meeting, she reportedly told her office staff she was 'not fired yet'. DailyMail.com revealed a source said: 'When she was summoned to the meeting, it was with the direct purpose to fire her. 'Whatever happened in that meeting, minds got changed. 'Either Bass realized it would be suicide to fire her, and came to her senses, or Crowley talked her out of it. 'She came back in the office briefly, told staff, 'I'm not fire yet' and went into a meeting with all her chiefs.' Friends and business associates keep asking me when I'm going to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum next week. My answer: I'm not. There's no point. The world's most powerful people won't be there. For this year, they're all at the 'Winter White House' in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's the new Davos but with much better weather. Not just anyone can waltz into President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home and resort. To be permitted through the Spanish tile gates onto the 17-acre estate, you either must buy a membership (at the reported cost of $1 million, if one is even available) or be invited by a member. On a recent visit to Mar-a-Lago on January 4, I was fortunate enough to be the guest of Bill Pulte, a close friend who is being considered for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Once inside the 126-room and 62,500-square-foot property, you're seated for dinner. Not just anyone can waltz into President-elect Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago home and resort. (Trump is pictured during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on January 7). To be permitted through the Spanish tile gates onto the 17-acre estate, you either must buy a membership or be invited by a member. (Trump is pictured at Mar-a-Lago with Danielle Smith and Kevin O'Leary). In the middle of the patio, surrounded by more than a dozen round dining tables, the president-elect holds court with his most important guest for the evening. It's the center of the universe, the sun. All of the other tables the planets rotate around it. On that January 4th evening, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni and her delegation dined with Trump. And at the nearest tables were sat prospective members of the incoming Trump cabinet, senators, ambassadors, governors and entrepreneurs. (Elon Musk is usually there, if he is in town.) If you're lucky, you may even catch Trump's eye. And if he recognizes you, you'll get a few moments with him. Two weeks ago, I was chatting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This last weekend (I'm now a repeat visitor), I spoke with the Premier of Alberta, Canada Danielle Smith. This is where America's business is now being transacted. If you're lucky, you may even catch Trump's eye. And if he recognizes you, you'll get a few moments with him. (Trump and O'Leary are pictured in conversation at Mar-a-Lago). This is where America's business is now being transacted. I've been very open about my bid to buy the social media platform TikTok owned by the Chinese tech company, ByteDance which has sparked national security concerns and a ban by President Joe Biden. The US Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on TikTok's fate this week and it may be forced to go dark for some US users as early as this weekend. I believe that my syndicate (in partnership with fellow entrepreneur Frank McCourt) offers the best opportunity to purchase TikTok and keep it operational. And everyone that I need to speak to about my plans from Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio to incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz is there at Mar-a-Lago. You couldn't pay me to get on a plane to Davis right now. I'm just hanging around southern Florida, and when I'm invited, I'll drive up to Winter White House. Donald Trump's choice to lead the CIA will promise to shake out mediocrity and return the spy agency to 'culture of toughness and resilience' in his opening statement to senators on Wednesday morning. John Ratcliffe will be responsible for foreign covert operations and collecting data on American adversaries if he makes it through the confirmation process. In his first remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee he will lay out what he sees as the biggest threats to the nation as well as his plans to overhaul the CIA's workforce, amid a string of claims that political bias has got in the way of the mission to track down enemies. 'Above all will be a strict adherence to the CIAs mission,' he will say, according to remarks shared in advance with DailyMail.com. 'We will collect intelligence especially human intelligence in every corner of the globe, no matter how dark or difficult. 'We will produce insightful, objective, all-source analysis, never allowing political or personal biases to cloud our judgement or infect our products. We will conduct covert action at the direction of the president, going places no one else can go and doing things no one else can do.' His message to staff will be either 'buckle up' if that sounds good, or ship out if it doesn't. Ratcliffe served as Trump's director of national intelligence for his final months in office. John Ratcliffe served as Donald Trump's director of national intelligence for the final months of his first administration. Now he is the president-elect's pick for CIA director Disgruntled agents passed flyers for events such as a talk by the nation's most senior transgender military officer to DailyMail.com as examples of the CIA's 'woke' culture Insiders expect him to take a 'wrecking ball' to the agency's recent exercises in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). On Tuesday, DailyMail.com published a trove of flyers for events at the CIA's headquarters in Langley. They include sessions on 'equity assurance training,' a lecture by the highest transgender officer in the armed forces for a Pride event, and even counselling for people getting divorced. They were collected by disgruntled officers who say that while diversity can be a strength of a spy agency, in recent years it has got in the way of the overall mission to protect the U.S. Ratcliffe will flag low turnover rates among staff as a symbol of good recruitment practices but also as a warning that complacency is too often tolerated. 'It has been said that the CIA's World War II predecessor the OSS described its ideal recruit as "a Ph.D. who could win a bar fight,"' he will say 'This sentiment is the essence of what todays CIA must recapture.' Rotations in private industry and opportunities for mid-career professionals with sought-after skills to join the service, will be part of his commitment to ensuring the very best talent. 'Our officers must embrace a culture of toughness and resilience,' he will say. Ratcliffe will also say he will be taking on the post of spy chief at a particularly dangerous time 'But we must also be clear that when they put themselves in harm's way, we will make sure theyre taken care of when they return home.' He will also say he will be taking on the post of spy chief at a particularly dangerous time. 'Today we face what may be the most challenging national security environment in our nations history,' he will say. 'The Chinese Communist Party remains committed to dominating the world economically, technologically and militarily. Transnational criminal organizations are flooding American communities with violence and deadly narcotics. 'The Russia-Ukraine War wages on, spreading devastation and increasing the risk of the United States being pulled into conflict with a nuclear power.' Mayor Daniel Lurie speaks at a press conference on Market Street on Wednesday. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Hours before he introduced legislation Tuesday to accelerate San Franciscos response to fentanyl use and homelessness, Mayor Daniel Lurie took an impromptu walk down Sixth Street, one of the most troubled corridors in the city. The South of Market commercial strip has been the focus of recent complaints from business owners and residents who have bemoaned an increase in people using fentanyl, loitering and selling goods on the sidewalk. Lurie is betting that his newly proposed ordinance the opening political gambit of his administration can help. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Read more: How Mayor Daniel Lurie plans to revive downtown S.F. amid retail exodus We need a little cleanup, you know what Im saying? Keith, a 65-year-old man who declined to give his last name, said to Lurie while standing against a closed Sixth Street storefront. Steps away, a woman sat on a folding chair with a cosmetics collection on the ground in front of her. Other people appeared to be using drugs nearby. Oh, I know what youre saying, Lurie told Keith. We have to give people safe places to hang and gather, but it cant be on the street here. Lurie and his aides say the city will be on a faster path to creating some of those alternative safe places if the Board of Supervisors approves an ordinance the mayor unveiled Tuesday. It will be a closely watched political test for Lurie, who is trying to show that he can deliver on promises to bring change to City Hall and get a majority of the Board of Supervisors on board with his plans. Overall, Luries legislation is consistent with the outline he presented in his inauguration speech last week, when he said he would advance a proposal to speed up city contracting for services related to addiction, mental illness and homeless shelters. Department heads could authorize such contracts without going through a competitive bidding process, and supervisors would have 45 days to consider them under Luries proposed ordinance. The same rules would also apply to contracts that address the need to hire and retain police officers, deputy sheriffs and 911 operators. Additionally, the legislation would allow Luries office to raise money from private donors to support initiatives that address drug use, behavioral health, homelessness and other specified areas. The mayors office would get a six-month exemption from city restrictions around fundraising for pet causes. Its a crucial goal for Lurie, who has said he wants to tap private dollars to fund a 1,500-bed expansion of the homeless shelter system during his first six months in office. To pass the ordinance, Lurie will need support from at least six of the 11 supervisors. He seems likely to accomplish that, given that he already has the co-sponsorship of five moderate supervisors: Matt Dorsey, Joel Engardio, Bilal Mahmood, Stephen Sherrill and Danny Sauter. Supervisor Shamann Walton said at Tuesdays board meeting that he needed more details before deciding whether to back Luries ordinance. Walton is aligned with the progressive faction of the board, which moved toward the center in the November election. Supporting the proposed legislation now, in my opinion, would be premature without the presence of a plan that demonstrates exactly what the mayor and the city plans to do, Walton said. Board President Rafael Mandelman told the Chronicle he is conceptually supportive of Luries proposal and has discussed it in recent days with the mayors team. But he said he also understands why some supervisors would be uncomfortable about giving up oversight of contracts related to fentanyl. Supervisors are expected to amend Luries proposed ordinance in the coming weeks, as is standard practice. Still, the extent to which the proposals core promise remains intact and whether it passes at all could be a sign of how well the board will be able to work with Lurie in the years to come. The mayor has promised to find common ground and have a respectful working relationship with supervisors even when they disagree. On Sixth Street, Lurie told the Chronicle he was excited by the initial discussions with supervisors about his legislation. He said public safety was his top priority during the election that he won with a pretty significant mandate he beat former Mayor London Breed by 10 points in the final round of ranked-choice voting. I am confident that this is going to pass and pass overwhelmingly, Lurie said. Lurie said he has been to Sixth Street four times in recent weeks. He said he has made a habit of asking people why theyre hanging out on the streets. You hear the same things over and over again: either the shelters are not safe or theres not enough housing available, Lurie said. People are struggling. Weve got to get them help. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aside from the legislative changes he has proposed for city contracting and hiring, Lurie is also directing more law enforcement to Sixth Street by expanding the focus of a unified command center Breed set up to coordinate agencies responses to drug markets in the Tenderloin and Mid-Market. Lurie visited that Market Street command center Wednesday morning and held a news conference afterward, accompanied by several supervisors and other officials including District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Police Chief Bill Scott and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. Scott acknowledged to reporters that increasing police presence on Sixth Street will require shifting resources from other areas as appropriate. He said thats already the case as police try to keep U.N. Plaza clear of drug dealing. At nighttime, SFPD will bring officers for a couple hours from all over the city depending whats happening in other areas to patrol around the plaza, he said. This is work is fluid, Scott said. It does mean redeployment of resources, but its not a permanent redeployment. We stabilize an area, and then we try to go wherever were needed. Lurie brought up his Tuesday visit to Sixth Street at Wednesdays news conference, stressing that we have a lot of work to do on the corridor. When he was there the previous afternoon, Lurie observed police and Fire Department officials respond to Sixth and Natoma streets, where they rousted a few people slumped against a mural, their belongings scattered about the sidewalk. One of them was Terry Clark, 41, who told the Chronicle minutes later that he had just been offered housing and drug treatment services and I could use it. He said he had been using fentanyl when authorities checked on him. Slouched over a red walker he had pushed up Sixth Street with his Maltese shih tzu perched atop, Clark was optimistic that he would enroll in a treatment program. God willing, he said. This is the 12-year-old British boy who died in an horrific motorway car crash in Belgium last week. Daniel Rubin, pictured here for the first time, suffered fatal injuries when he was thrown from a BMW car he was travelling in with his family on the E40 highway near Veurne, close to the border with France, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 8. The family-of-six were returning to their home in north London from a Jewish celebration in Antwerp when the accident took place. His parents and three siblings were also hurt, one seriously, but did not suffer life threatening injuries. Their BMW X5 with British number plates lost control and ended up on its roof between the busy motorway and an exit road. Initial findings by investigators found that poor weather conditions were the cause of the accident, according to reports in Belgium. Today the 12-year-old was remembered as kind and caring and a very dear student by Yoel Rabinowitz, the principal of the Menorah Grammar School in Edgware where he was pupil. Daniel had been due to celebrate his bar mitzvah with his twin brother in two weeks time, according to the Jewish Chronicle. Daniel Rubin (left) suffered fatal injuries when he was thrown from a BMW car he was travelling in with his family on the E40 highway near Veurne, on Wednesday morning In an email to parents the principal added: While it has been difficult for everyone, it is extremely difficult for his classmates in Year Eight to process. Rabbi Meir Rapoport, of the Imrei Shefer Congregation, said the heartbroken Rubin family had shown remarkable "fortitude"' in accepting Gods will despite their terrible sorrow and pain. He said: This has been a tragic lost for the whole community, but especially for the family. Daniel was a unique boy, both in character traits and his practice of Judaism. He was kind and caring, not only to his parents, siblings and friends, but to anyone who interacted with him. His father Itzik pointed out one example of his kindness. Every morning he would come in advance of [his morning prayers] Shacharit and a coffee and a biscuit would be reading for him, prepared by Daniel. He was very particular to attend and fully participate in the shul services [religious services]. In fact, every morning he was the first to unlock the shul [synagogue]. All his teachers pointed out that he was a model student in school. The family of six were returning to their home in north London from a Jewish celebration in Antwerp when the accident took place. Rubin pictured right He was eager to learn [the] Torah and Gemarah [Jewish religious books] and was always kind and considerate to all pupils. The family have shown remarkable fortitude in publicly acknowledging and accepting Gods decree, in spite of their terrible sorrow and pain. We as a community will be there to support the family in any way possible. In July 2023 a British mother-of-10 was killed in a motorway crash in northern France, close to the Belgian border. Miriam Posen was travelling with six of her family members when they were involved in a three-vehicle pile-up on the E15 south of the city of Lens. Her husband, Shalom Pinchos Posen and five other members of their family were also injured, two seriously, but survived. However a 75-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man who were travelling in a different car died. Mrs Posen, who was a member of the ultra-orthodox Jewish community from Stamford Hill, north London, was travelling in a van at the start of a holiday when the tragedy took place. Her son Izzy paid tribute to his mother in an emotion post on social media the next day. He wrote: My mother sadly passed away yesterday in tragic circumstances. She was young and healthy and full of the spirit of life. I loved her son much. A family spokesman added: Miriam was a devoted mother who was loved so much by her family and friends. She was a special person who will be missed by all who knew her. Dalyce Curry was eager to get back home in Altadena, Calif. after spending 15 hours at a hospital when the devastation struck. It was just after midnight on January 8 when 95-year-old Curry and her granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, arrived at Curry's quaint cottage on Krenz Street. As they drove into Altadena, they both noticed flames and smoke about four miles east of Curry's house. The granddaughter said she wasn't alarmed at the time because the smoke looked too distant to reach her grandmother's neighborhood. Curry, lovingly known to everyone as Momma D, was tired from being at the hospital and just wanted to sleep in her own bed, her granddaughter said. 'She gave me a big wet kiss and she said I love you,' Kelley told DailyMail.com. 'I said, "I love you too" and I made sure that she was safe inside. We were both so tired from the day at the hospital. I didnt feel like she was in eminent danger because there was no evacuation order at that point. 'Sometimes her kisses were too wet that you have to wipe it off a little bit. That's who she was. Just loving. We kissed, said goodbye and I drove back to my home. That was the last thing we said to one another. Kelley, who lives about 25 miles away in Claremont, said she woke up hours later to horrifying news that the Eaton Fire had already consumed several blocks of Altadena. Dalyce Kelley (left) said her grandmother Dalyce 'Mama D' Curry's (right) remains were found inside what was once her cottage in Altadena, Calif. after the Eaton Fire mercilessly destroyed entire neighborhoods Dalyce Curry's family frantically searched for her whereabouts and hoped she had been rescued by someone The deadly Eaton Fire in Altadena has burned more than 14,000 acres as of Tuesday afternoon at onlt 35% containment She called the sheriff's and fire departments and asked someone to check on her grandmother, but the system was just too overwhelmed with calls. That's when she decided to jump in her car and frantically drove 25 miles back to her grandmother's house. 'I found out later that people in the area got an evacuation notice at 3:30 am that [Wednesday] morning, but Momma D was not a cell phone type of girl. When you're elderly, it's hard for them or they just don't like to use their cell phones.' By the time she arrived in Altadena at about 5:30 a.m. and cops had already placed barriers around the neighborhoods. Ash and smoke blanketed that skies that she couldn't even see the sun, Kelley said. 'It was all black and I just panicked because I felt like I was in hell,' she said. 'A man passed me by and yelled that his whole house had burned down. 'Another lady drove by and she screamed, "The whole city is gone!" And I'm like, "Oh, my God! What is happening?"' Kelley said an officer saw her and took down her grandmother's information, but suggested she drive to the Pasadena Civic Center just a few miles away where some residents had been evacuated. Dalyce Kelley said she could barely recognize the piles of rubble and ash that was left of her grandmother's Altadena cottage 'I was on my way to Pasadena when he called me back,' Kelley recounted. 'He said, "Ma'am, I hate to tell you, but your grandmother's house is totally gone." 'I still went to the center and then the Arcadia Recreation Center because maybe someone had taken her out of the house and took here somewhere. I was clinging onto hope that someone had her.' Two days later, Kelley and her family still did not receive any confirmation from law enforcement or the LA County Medical Examiner's Office. She was told someone would get to her grandmother's house and check over the weekend. Kelly instead decided to go back to Altadena on Friday to look for her grandmother's remains. 'I went down there to see if I can look for her body myself but I was stopped by the National Guard,' she said. 'They told me there was nothing they could do but one of them took pity on me and said she would guide me there but we had to go on foot.' A resident who also decided to stay inside the neighborhood saw Kelley and the soldier and gave them a ride through the destroyed Altadena neighborhoods. 'The devastation was unbelievable,' she said. 'Power lines were down everywhere. When we got to the house, it was a nightmare.' Momma D was a beloved member of the Altadena community and lived at her home for over 20 years A Ring camera captured horrifying video footage of the possible origin of the quick-moving Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. The fire quickly traveled down the hill and ravaged several blocks of residential neighborhoods in Altadena Kelley said when she got to the cottage, she could barely make out the area where her grandmother's favorite chair was normally placed. 'She loved that chair and would fall asleep on it all the time, so I thought she would be there but I saw no remains,' Kelley said. 'The smell of gas was just so overwhelming that the National Guard told me we had to go.' Two days later, Kelley received a call from county Medical Examiner officials. 'It was 5 p.m. Sunday when I saw the coroner's number and my heart dropped,' she said. 'They said, "Unfortunately, we did find remains at your grandmother's home."' Officials said the only remains found in the tiny cottage was half a skull with eyeglass frames. 'That means she was probably asleep and she was just so tired she never even took her eyeglasses off,' Kelley said in tears. Kelley told DailyMail.com that her 95-year old grandmother had some heart complications a few months before. However, during Curry's last trip to the hospital, the doctor ordered a CT scan. After some tests, the doctor said her scans and her vitals were normal for a 95-year old so Curry was discharged from the hospital at about 11:30 p.m. on January 7. By that time, a fire was already progressing near some power lines above the Eaton Canyon trail in Altadena. Within 30 minutes and just as the pair arrived at Curry's cottage, the canyon was already on fire. Kelley said she is completely heartbroken and blames herself for taking her mother back to Altadena. The distraught granddaughter said she is struggling with the guilt of leaving her beloved Momma D that night, but she had to go back to her home to help her ailing sister, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Entire rows of homes and power poles were destroyed by the Eaton Fire 'In her 95 years of life, Momma D never had a CT scan but the day before the fires, they ordered one,' Kelley told DailyMail.com. 'I don't know why this happened but ironically, that's the only thing we have left to help identify her remains because only a part of a skull was found. 'I thought to myself, "Was this meant to be, God? Why did this happen? Why didn't we just stay at the hospital?" There are so many questions and what ifs. She wanted to leave the hospital that night and go where she would be happy, which was at her own house.' Kelley said block after block of homes near her grandmother's cottage were destroyed by the Eaton Fire. She said the neighbors, who all looked out for her 95-year old grandmother, are also distraught over her death and their own loss. She recently found out that one of her grandmother's neighbors frantically banged on her door as the flames inched closer toward their homes. The 95-year-old, however, did not answer, so the neighbor took off, Kelley said. Kelley said city and county officials have to come up with a better plan to warn residents of wildfires, especially seniors who probably did not hear the evacuation warnings that was sent to cell phones. 'Altadena was a great place and it breaks my heart to see such devastation for miles and miles,' Kelley said. 'I've never seen this type of destruction in the U.S., except during Hurricane Katrina. 'You never think something like this could ever happen to you. We thought there would be no way that fire could come down from the mountains and wipe out the whole city.' She said at the tender age of 95, her grandmother was 'still sharp' and would often talk about her days as an actress in Hollywood. Curry had small roles in several Hollywood movies that became pop culture classics like The Blues Brothers and The Ten Commandments. Kelley said her grandmother would tell the family stories of working in Hollywood and how she got her start in movies. Curry's godmother, Madame Sul-Te-Wan - known as was the first Black actress to sign a movie contract in Hollywood - helped her get into the business. While she had parts in movies such as Lady Sings the Blues, which starred Diana Ross, Curry decided abruptly to leave the movie industry shortly after 1980. Dalyce Curry had roles in cult classic movies like the Blues Brothers and The Ten Commandments. She quit Hollywood and focused on her career as a nurse for the elderly until she retired 'There was a casting couch situation when she interviewed with a major producer and director when he made some disrespectful advances towards her,' Kelley said. 'He told her to lift up her skirt but she was a woman with a certain kind of integrity and she quickly put him in his place.' Kelley said her grandmother never divulged the name of the producer. 'He threatened her and said she would never work in this town again. After that, the calls from Hollywood stopped.' Curry would appear in community theater from time to time, but she devoted the rest of her life to her career as a home healthcare nurse for the elderly until she retired. Curry lived in her Altadena cottage for over 20 years and loved her independence. Kelley said her family are struggling with moving on without their matriarch and are trying to raise money for her memorial and funeral. 'She loved her cheeseburgers, telling stories and going to all her local shops and stores in Altadena,' Kelley said. 'It's a special place full of eclectic people and hardworking Black and Latino families. 'Everyone who met her loved her. I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy. Momma D would always say, "Well, darling. Nothing is as bad as it seems, even at its worst." I'm trying to remember those words because I miss her so much.' A Sydney councillor has broadened his campaign to ban Welcome to Country ceremonies to now also call for the removal of Indigenous flags from his electorate. Cumberland City councillor Steve Christou shared his mission to rid his western Sydney electorate of the 'offensive' traditions on Six News on Tuesday. 'It is offensive to be welcomed into your own country and for people to have to sit through phrases like "never was, never will be, never ceded lands",' Mr Christou said. 'For people like myself and many other millions of people - they're born in this country or migrated to this country and have worked, contributed and paid their taxes to make this country a better place - it is really offensive and divisive to be told we don't belong in this country and it belongs to somebody else.' Mr Christou served as the mayor of the Cumberland Council from 2017 to 2022. He swore to axe Welcome to Country ceremonies if he was re-elected in 2024. Mr Christou said on Tuesday his criticism of the ceremonies was not an 'attack' on Aboriginal people. 'It's about equality and standing as equals side by side, side of the shoulder, hand in hand with their Indigenous brothers and sisters,' he said. Councillor Steve Christou has called for the Indigenous flag to be removed from council properties so all Australians can 'unite' under one flag (pictured, Australia Day in 2024) Cumberland City councillor Steve Christou (pictured) shared his mission to rid his western Sydney electorate of the 'offensive' traditions on Six News on Tuesday 'It's gone beyond a respectful thing and it's become virtue signalling, way beyond what it was meant to do. 'It's telling people they're not welcome into this country or they don't own this land unless they're of Indigenous nature.' Mr Christou said Welcome to Country ceremonies have infiltrated almost all public events and were being done 'every 10 minutes'. 'Whether you board a plane with Qantas, work in a government department or a large corporation, it's just constantly being shoved down people's throats,' he said. The former mayor has also pushed for the removal of 'divisive' Indigenous flags from council properties. 'We are losing our national identity and we should be proud to all stand together under the Australian flag,' he said. 'You would never see the Americans copping any other flag behind the American flag, and we shouldn't accept it either.' An estimated 240,000 Australians live in the Cumberland area with less than one per cent of the population identifying as Indigenous. Mr Christou claimed the Welcome to Country ceremonies have become less meaningful with them being performed 'every 10 minutes' (pictured, a Welcome to Country for the Trophy Arrival Ceremony of the 2025 Australia Open) Mr Christou said his push to scrap the ceremonies and flags is 'overwhelmingly' supported by voters. 'I keep getting elected back because I represent my community loudly and proudly and I'm letting you know confidently they want me to take a sledgehammer home to these issues because they're sick of the divisiveness,' he said. 'We need to put a stop to this and go back to all being Australians in multicultural Australia, living together side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, hand-in-hand under the Australian flag as equals.' Last month Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton announced he would not display Indigenous flags during press conferences if he was elected prime minister in the upcoming federal election. 'I'm very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag, and if we're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily,' Mr Dutton told Sky News. 'We should have respect for the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not our national flags.' Previous prime ministers chose to only display the Australian flag before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was elected. Hospitals will be forced to close specialist mental health beds across NSW as more than half of psychiatrists in the public health system prepare to resign over working conditions. One doctor has warned that mental health patients will likely overwhelm emergency departments as the NSW government scrambles to make arrangements ahead of the scheduled mass resignation. Some 203 of the state's 295 public sector psychiatrists handed in their resignations in December, with the permanent walkout due to take place on January 21. The mental health specialists have quit over uncompetitive salaries and chronic understaffing. As a result, staff are preparing to close seven of the 14 beds at the mental health rehab unit at Sydney's Prince Of Wales Hospital, a leaked internal document has revealed. At least four of 12 beds at the hospital's mental health intensive-care unit are also due to be closed, while the Kiloh Centre for acute inpatient mental health issues will have an 'inability to maintain their (24) bed base', the document says. At Concord Hospital in Sydney's west, the 26 full-time psychiatrists managing 172 beds are set to be reduced to nine specialists. Chris Ryan, a psychiatrist from UNSW, said colleagues were warning that some hospital mental health units will close entirely if the action went ahead. The doctors' union says mental health patients in NSW have been let down by the state government. Pictured: NSW Premier Chris Minns The union said psychiatrists do not want to resign but have been left with little choice when the government cannot match a salary given in other states 'There's no possible way of running a large service if there are very few psychiatrists available to run it,' he said. Emergency departments would inevitably be filled with mental health patients following the resignations, Dr Ryan added, as patients could not be triaged to unstaffed beds. 'They're not going to stop coming just because there are no beds, they'll keep mounting up,' he said. 'Emergency departments are busy and horrible places so are not great environments to get well ... the idea is you get them out very quickly.' The state government said no decisions on bed closures had been made. NSW Health was scrambling to establish a mental health emergency operations centre to 'help alleviate patient flow and pressures' with the looming staffing crisis. Department secretary Susan Pearce recently wrote to the specialists begging them to reconsider their resignations. She acknowledged the concerns of the psychiatrists and the 'hugely valuable role they play in the health system'. Dr Ryan, who is not resigning but supports his colleagues who have done so, said the issue went beyond wages. Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation NSW acting executive director Ian Lisser warned this the walkout is 'an impending disaster for NSW and our entire health system' 'The reason that people are resigning is because we can't get people into the system to take jobs, and the reason we can't get people into the system to take jobs is because you can get a lot more money elsewhere,' he said. NSW officials have said they can't feasibly agree to the psychiatrists' demand for a 25 per cent pay increase, which is well above the 10.5 per cent three-year deal offered to all public-sector staff Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation NSW acting executive director Ian Lisser warned this the walkout is 'an impending disaster for NSW and our entire health system'. With the current staff shortages, weve already seen mental health beds and clinics across the state close. The crisis will see even more beds and clinics close. Distressed patients presenting to NSW emergency department requiring treatment from psychiatrists could be left in the ED for up to five days. They deserve better, he said. On Monday, federal health minister Mark Butler urged the state government and doctors to resume negotiations or risk 'devastating consequences for psychiatric patients and their families'. NSW Health offered professionals a 10.5 per cent pay rise since April last year, which would be the largest pay increase to psychiatry professionals in more than ten years, according to the minister for mental health, Rose Jackson. That offer, however, was rejected by ASMOF, who want a 25 per cent pay increase for psychiatry staff specialists. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park urged psychiatrists to withdraw their resignations The union has long claimed the increase would fall in line with salaries of psychiatrists in other states and address what they believe is the root cause of understaffing in NSW's mental health service. 'We urgently call on the Minns government to take action to fill the 140 vacant psychiatrist positions in NSW by providing the remuneration and conditions necessary to attract and retain the doctors our mental health system requires.' Health minister Ryan Park begged doctors to withdraw their resignations. 'Don't do this to patients. Don't do this to the healthcare system that I know you love and support. Don't do this to your colleagues who I know you value and trust,' Park said. Britain's surrender of the Chagos Islands hung in the balance last night, just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House. Labour had agreed fresh concessions during last-minute talks, in a desperate bid to win round the government in Mauritius. Ministers had been keen to get the deal rushed through ahead of next weeks inauguration of President-elect Trump, who has been urged to intervene to protect an Anglo-American military base on the archipelago. But in an extraordinary twist last night, just hours before ministers in the Mauritian capital Port Louis were expected to sign off on a new offer, it was claimed the UK could hold off on finalising the deal to seek Mr Trumps approval. He has not commented on the deal, nor has his ally Elon Musk, despite his persistent attacks on the Labour Government. However, Republican Senator John Kennedy yesterday wrote on social media: Left-wingers in Britain are rushing to give away a strategic US military base in the Indian Ocean before Mr Trump takes office and could stop the deal. Keir Starmer could hold off on finalising the Chagos Islands deal to seek Donald Trumps approval Labour is feared to have agreed further concessions during last-minute talks in a desperate bid to win round the government in Mauritius (pictured: Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos) Mr Trump has not commented on the deal, nor his ally Elon Musk despite his persistent attacks on the Labour government The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia Confidence is fading among UK Government figures that a deal will be secured before Monday, according to the Financial Times. It comes after reports that Labour caved in to demands during recent negotiations, agreeing to halve the length of a 99-year lease that would allow the military base in the Chagos Islands to remain operational. Massive upfront payments were also said to have been agreed in a deal that would cost taxpayers as much as 9billion. However, Labour was last night warned that this could undermine the UKs relationship with the incoming US administration, which has raised concerns about the archipelago being handed to an ally of China. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: The fact [Labour has] been bullied by Mauritius into surrendering sovereignty of the Chagos Islands is the most shameful failure of British diplomacy this century. Billions of pounds of British taxpayers money is being thrown away and our national security is being put at risk. She added: This will undermine our relationship with the US. Labour have been negotiating in secret, now we know why. It looks like they are going to pay more and give up what limited control they claimed to have. Senior opposition politicians including Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman also signed an open letter to Labour ministers accusing them of secrecy and not consulting the Chagossian people. It urged them to stop the rushed deal. The BBC has sparked criticism for hiring a new boss at its world news operation who previously instructed journalists in Canada not to call Hamas 'terrorists'. George Achi has recently been announced as Head of Editorial Quality and Compliance at the BBC World Service. He is moving to the BBC from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) where he is director of journalistic standards. Campaigners have said the appointment shows the BBC is prepared to 'double down' on its 'bewildering' decision not to refer to the Palestinian group as terrorists. During his time at Canada's public broadcaster, leaked emails showed Mr Achi instructing staff not to refer to Hamas as terrorists, in the wake of the October 7th attacks. This was despite the fact that Canada had categorised the Palestinian group as a 'terrorist entity' many years earlier. According to the leaked emails, released in October 2023, shortly after the attacks took place, Mr Achi had told staff: 'Do not refer to militants, soldiers, or anyone else as 'terrorists'.' He added: 'The notion of terrorism remains heavily politicised and is part of the story. Even when quoting/clipping a government or a source referring to fighters as 'terrorists', we should add context to ensure the audience understands this is opinion, not fact.' George Achi, pictured, has recently been announced as Head of Editorial Quality and Compliance at the BBC World Service Achi previously instructed journalists at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) not to call Hamas 'terrorists' in this email The BBC has previously faced huge criticism over its own refusal to call Hamas fighters 'terrorists'. This provoked a huge backlash from Jewish groups in the wake of the October 7th attacks. Mr Achi's appointment has sparked criticism by the Campaign Against Antisemitism. It said: 'At this point, it seems that the BBC is completely unashamed of its editorial bias. 'It is bewildering that, despite repeated calls for the broadcaster to call Hamas what it is an antisemitic, genocidal terror group the corporation has decided to double down and appoint someone who appears to have actively directed journalists not to describe terrorists in legally accurate terms.' Broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti, who is also a campaigner against antisemitism, said: '[The BBC's] editorial policy matches his at CBC. 'Of course the Palestinians who invaded Israel, and who have launched rockets at Israel for years, are terrorists. Everyone knows that.' A statement on the BBC Press Office LinkedIn account said: 'We're thrilled to welcome George Achi to the BBC as Head of Editorial Quality and Compliance for World Service. 'Currently Director of Journalistic Standards at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), George is due to start the role later this year. The BBC previously faced criticism over its own refusal to call Hamas fighters 'terrorists'. File image 'George brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played a key role in establishing national and international editorial policy, regulating journalistic ethics and language guidelines, and upholding public accountability while at CBC.' Last year the BBC provoked anger by rejecting calls to describe organisations like Hamas as terrorists, saying it will only use this term when it is attributed to others. A proposed new version of its editorial guidelines said the word 'terrorist' should only be used when 'quoting or citing its use by others', a continuation of the current rules. This is despite the huge row caused in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre by Hamas in Israel, where the corporation refused to call the attackers terrorists. The controversy saw the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, criticise the BBC for its 'atrocious' refusal to brand Hamas as a terrorist group. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis had said that broadcasters were trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word terrorist. The BBC declined to comment about the criticism of Mr Achi's appointment. Two suspects posing as Amazon delivery workers brutally beat an elderly Georgia man after he answered his door expecting a package at his Savannah home. George 'Dick' Hardison, 66, heard a knock on his door early Saturday morning, but as he opened his door, two men posing as Amazon delivery workers pushed their way in and proceeded to beat the elderly man with 'some kind of sledgehammer,' according to a report by Savannah Police. The disguised 'Amazon workers' wore the e-commerce company's signature blue-and-black jackets, covered their faces and even carried a package as they walked into Hardison's home on Price Street around 8 am. The two men allegedly demanded money once inside Hardison's home, before they beat him - nearly to death. Hardison, who is a bartender at OConnells Pub, just one mile from his home, was beaten so badly he was sent to a nearby hospital where he received 14 staples in his head. The brutal attack lasted for nearly eight minutes, according to the police report. Home surveillance footage captured the two suspects leaving Hardison's home with the same package they walked up with. It is unclear what exactly was in the box. Hardison can be heard yelling for help on the footage as the two hooded victims are seen quickly fleeing the scene. Two suspects posing as Amazon delivery workers brutally beat an elderly Georgia man after he answered his door expecting a package The disguised 'Amazon workers' wore the e-commerce company's signature blue-and-black jackets, covered their faces and even carried a package as they walked into Hardison's home on Price Street. George 'Dick' Hardison, 66, heard a knock on his door early Saturday morning, but as he opened his door, two men posing as Amazon delivery workers pushed their way in and proceeded to beat him with 'some kind of sledgehammer,' according to a report by Savannah Police Minutes after the grisly attack, a neighbor arrived to help the ailing man. The neighbor discovered Hardison covered in blood with multiple head injuries. 'A black male wearing an Amazon jacket was running on E. Huntingdon Street towards E Broad St,' the neighbor who ran to Hardions aid told police. Savannah Police Officers 'observed several lacerations on Hardisons head as he was sitting in his own blood from his injuries,' the report said. Police are describing the two men as younger black males, with medium brown complexion, and in their 20s. Police are still searching for the suspects. The two suspects will be charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and home invasion at minimum, according to police. As Hardison recovers, the bar where he works has started a GoFundMe to help with his recovery. 'The police are investigating this heinous crime, but in the meantime, lets show Dirk the love and support he deserves,' the page reads. Hardison can be heard yelling for help on the home surveillance footage as the two hooded victims can be seen quickly fleeing the scene Police are describing the two men as younger black males, with medium brown complexion, and in their 20s. Police are still searching for the suspects Amazon has since confirmed that the two men were 'not making a scheduled delivery for Amazon.' 'Based off our internal investigation, we can confirm that these individuals were not making a scheduled delivery for Amazon,' the company said in a statement. 'We monitor the Internet regularly for unauthorized Amazon apparel and demand that those items be removed when and where we can. People who make deliveries on behalf of Amazon do not routinely knock on doors nor ask customers to sign for packages unless already prearranged.' The investigation is ongoing. Top Republican James Comer is leading the charge in Congress to drag 228,000 federal government employees back into the office. This week, he's working to provide Donald Trump suggestions for a new government 'business model' to cut down on the staggering number of federal teleworkers. Comer, who chairs the powerful House Oversight Committee, is holding a hearing Wednesday on federal teleworking practices that have persisted long after the COVID pandemic. 'We know that more than half of the federal employees, and a vast majority of federal office workers, are either regularly teleworking or fully remote,' Comer revealed to DailyMail.com exclusively. With roughly 2.2 million civilian federal employees, the vast scope of how many of government's workers are remote has been difficult to quantify, the Republican admitted. Comer also shared that he spoke to Donald Trump about the scale of teleworking over the weekend when he was visiting the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago along with other lawmakers. 'At the very least, President Trump expects the federal workforce to show up for work,' the chairman said of their chat. The lawmaker also shared he will share his findings with Trump, who he then expects will use the information to inform his cost-cutting initiatives, such as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 'What we're trying to do, as quick as he gets in office, is to provide him with as much data as possible, to help them try to come up with a new business model of the federal government and the federal work,' Comer shared. Republicans are working to get a new government business plan to Donald Trump after investigating how many federal employees are working from home A picture from the House Oversight Committee's telework report shows the Department of Health and Human Services with most of its lights off before 5:00 pm. The Republican chairman James Comer claims half of the U.S. 2.2 million person federal workforce regularly teleworks 'The business model under the Biden administration is you can work from home, and there's no accountability or transparency,' the chairman continued. 'It's not been well received by the American people.' A report from the committee staff released Wednesday finds that of the over 2 million federal workers 228,000 are completely remote, meaning they never go into an office. Many of the work from home employees were allowed to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic and have never returned to their assigned offices, the chair said. His committee sent inquiries to each federal agency to ascertain how many employees were teleworking and what the levels of office occupancy are. However, he claims the agencies have displayed a total lack of transparency and that few have responded to his requests. 'Again, we've asked these questions of federal agencies, and they have not been transparent at all with their replies. Some agencies have given us some information. Some agencies have never even responded to our request for information.' During their investigation the Oversight Committee found that some agencies who had employees come into the office one or two days a week did not list these employees as 'teleworkers.' Instead they were counted as employees that come into the office regularly. The Social Security Administration headquarters has a virtually empty parking lot at 11:00 am on Wednesday December 6, 2023. According to the Government Accountability Office, 17 of 24 federal agency headquarters buildings in D.C. were operating at 25 percent or less capacity as of March Over half of the Department of Education's 4,245 employees do not regularly show up to work, the committee's report found DOGE co-chair Elon Musk has said getting federal workers back into offices is a priority There are also many questions surrounding which employees can qualify for telework and why, the report details. This lack of transparency has added to lawmaker's skepticism about the need for such remote working measures. 'The Biden administration will go down in history as the least transparent presidential administration in history,' Comer lamented. 'This shouldn't be hard to answer what percentage of your workforce is teleworking, but they don't want to give us any information, and very few media outlets are even curious about it.' Practically, teleworking employees do not appear to be as effective as those who show up to the office, Comer argued. He expressed frustration about the difficulty his office goes through trying to do basic administrative work for constituents. It is difficulty to get workers from many federal branches on the phone, and he recounted his recent challenges trying to get a worker from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on the line. 'There's a record backlog of initial disability claims,' he said. 'There's long wait times for the field offices and it's impossible to get Social Security Administration employees on the phone.' Oversight Committee Chair James Comer 'And we believe this is because there's too much teleworking going on.' It is also 'impossible' to get somebody on the phone at the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, he added. The chairman also touched on how the widespread misuse of telework has eroded public trust. 'The American people know it, and they expect a federal government that is efficient and productive, and they don't have that right now,' Comer said. The hearing Wednesday promises to be an initial step towards a broader realignment of the government's remote work policies. A Georgian-American businessman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in his lawsuit over a passage in the Mueller report he says made him a 'scapegoat' and could give the Trump DOJ an early opportunity to hit back at the Russia probe. The new Tuesday court filing, revealed by DailyMail.com, seeks an intervention by the high court that would allow businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze to seek monetary damages as he pursues a correction over an infamous footnote in the report. The language linked him to a debunked claim of tapes of a 'golden showers' episode involving Donald Trump in a Moscow hotel room. It comes after an Appeals Court panel ruled he could sue the Justice Department for misquoting him about the 'flow of some tapes from Russia' and inaccurately calling him Russian in footnote No. 112 in the Mueller report. Rtskhiladze said it damaged his reputation and misstated his communications with former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Rtskhiladze filed a petition for certiorari, essentially asking the high court to take up the case while contesting parts of the decision that didn't go his way. The appeals court panel at the same time affirmed a lower court ruling that threw out his claim for monetary damages, finding he 'failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted.' He also wants to overturn a lower court ruling that he isn't entitled to get a copy of his grand jury testimony when he was questioned by Mueller's investigators. The new filing says the case is about the 'needless destruction' of his business and personal reputation and says he was 'caught in a crossfire between two titanic American political forces Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton,' referencing a former Clinton lawyer who served on Mueller's team. Georgian-American businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze has taken his lawsuit over the Mueller report to the Supreme Court If the court unlocks that claim, it would put the matter before the Trump Justice Department, soon to be headed by Trump loyalist Pam Bondi if she is confirmed by the Senate as the next AG. 'They have to also acknowledge the extent of the damage that the footnote caused me,' Rtskhiladze told DailyMail.com. They 'have to sit down and say we retracted it, youve been damaged, and there is certain settlement of the damages you should receive,' he said. Trump, who is himself suing the Justice Department over the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, continues to fume about the Mueller investigation and has brought up what he dismisses as 'Russia, Russia, Russia' in recent interviews and posts. During a 2017 appearance with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Bondi seconded the host when he called the Mueller probe 'worse than Watergate.' 'I agree,' she said. That raises the prospect of an entirely new approach at DOJ. Bondi faces her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday. The messages, obtained by DailyMail.com, show Rtskhiladze told Cohen: 'Stopped flow of some tapes' When Rtskhiladze mentioned it was 'not a big deal' but said there are 'lots of stupid people,' Cohen responded: 'You have no idea' Rtskhiladze wants the high court to green light his damages claim in his years-long suit over the Mueller report 'Suddenly Pam Bondi, if she is confirmed she was the first person who said that Russia, Russia, Russia was a hoax, and she talked about this particular incident,' said Rtskhiladze, who is hoping for a turnaround from the new administration after battling the DOJ in court Bondi faces her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday Rtskhiladze wants DOJ to retract a footnote that connected him to unverified rumors about 'tapes' from Trump's trip to Moscow 'Suddenly Pam Bondi, if she is confirmed, she was the first person who said that Russia, Russia, Russia was a hoax, and she talked about this particular incident, and suddenly we are at court fighting over this,' said Rtskhiladze, 'So bringing this type of team, I cannot imagine that [Trump] doesn't want this to be revealed and he doesn't want this to end finally in his favor,' he added. Rtskhiladze, a naturalized U.S. citizen, helped bring Trump to his home country in 2012 on a potential Trump tower project in Georgia that fell through. (The country's new government headed by Mikheil Kavelashvili has suspended its move to join the EU and has faced a series of street protests.) He has long complained in court documents that the report wrongly described him as Russian, when in fact he hails from the former Soviet republic that continues to face tensions with Moscow. The communications that landed Rtskhiladze in the Mueller report came in texts with former Trump fixer Michael Cohen. 'Stopped flow of some tapes from Russia but not sure if there's anything else. Just so you know ...' he wrote Cohen in October 2016. The footnote misquoted him saying he 'stopped flow of tapes,' omitting the word 'some' which Rtskhiladze maintains indicated he was dismissive and didn't know anything about them. 'Footnote 112 remains a chilling example of how government power can be recklessly weaponized to destroy lives with falsehoods,' said Rtskhiladze spokeswoman Melanie Bonvicino. She said the case 'proves that no oneno matter their citizenship, creed, standing, or innocenceis immune from becoming "collateral damage" in a politically driven narrative.' The antidepressants which contributed to the death of Royal Family member Thomas Kingston have reportedly featured in 40 coroners' reports aimed at averting future deaths. Mr Kingston, whose marriage to Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 was attended by the late Queen, died by suicide after he shot himself in February last year. An inquest into his death last month was told the 45-year-old took his own life after being prescribed the drugs sertraline and citalopram for anxiety by a Buckingham Palace doctor. The drugs - known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) - are the NHS's first-choice medicine for anxiety and depression, being prescribed to more than four million people. In a prevention of future deaths report, Senior coroner Katy Skerrett raised concerns over whether there is 'adequate communication' regarding the risks of suicide with such pills. Returning a verdict of suicide, she also questioned whether the current guidance to 'persist' with the drugs is 'appropriate' in circumstances when the individual is suffering 'adverse side effects'. She is the latest coroner to highlight concerns about SSRIs. According to The Times, there are 40 PFD reports which reference the use of either citalopram or sertraline by the deceased person. A range of concerns have been identified in these reports. These include the failure to alert patients to the potential side-effects, breaches of prescribing guidelines, not reviewing patients and not keeping records of patients' behavioural changes while on the medication. Thomas Kingston (left), the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor (right), took his life following an adverse effect to prescribed medication, an inquest heard Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston watch the racing from the Royal Box as they attend day 5 of Royal Ascot 2023 It comes as it was also revealed that thousands of deaths could be prevented every year if public bodies took action over concerns highlighted at inquests. According to the Office for National Statistics, almost 82,000 deaths in 2022 were recorded in England and Wales as 'preventable'. This meant they could have been avoided 'through effective public health and primary prevention interventions'. Coroners highlight measures which could slash that death toll in Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) reports and alert public bodies when they fear that there is 'a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken'. Whilst the recipients - which are usually ministers and their departments, NHS trusts, prisons or regulators - must respond in writing, they are not required to take concrete steps to address the concerns identified by coroners. In January 2020, Samuel Morgan, 25, from Swansea, committed suicide and it was found he had been taking citalopram seven days before his death. At an inquest into his death in South Wales, coroner Colin Phillips suggested citalopram should come with US-style 'black box' warning, as it 'would have a more immediate impact'. He reported: 'Whilst the precise effect of this medication (citalopram) on Sam is unknown, it is clear that Sam had never self-harmed previously and his actions were completely out of character. Thomas Kingston (left) pictured marrying Lady Gabriella Windsor at St George's Chapel on May 18 2019 Mr Kingston (pictured), was visiting his parents in Kemble, in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, for the weekend when he decided to take his own life 'The simple and clear message in this specific case would be that there is an increased risk of suicidal thinking in young adults.' His suggestions were rejected by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who said the warnings in their patient information leaflets had been reviewed and tested. In June 2021, Joshua Asprey, 19, from East Sussex, began taking sertraline 18 days before he committed suicide. An inquest in to his death in 2023 heard a GP had increased the dosage three days before Asprey took his own life and 'did not discuss any risk of suicidal ideation associated with commencing or increasing the dose of sertraline'. Michael Spencer, assistant coroner for East Sussex, expressed concerns that the medicines guidebook, the British National Formulary, 'does not identify suicidal ideation as a risk of prescribing sertraline'. A coroner in Cambridgeshire also expressed concerns about the way a GP, on the advice of a nurse, had prescribed citalopram to Edward Mallen, 18, two weeks before he took his life. The MHRA told The Times it kept SSRIs under constant review and added: 'Following concerns raised by patients and families about how the risk of suicidal behaviours is communicated in the patient leaflets, we have established a new independent expert group to advise the Commission on Human Medicines, which provides expert advice to government ministers.' Despite his symptoms, Mr Kingston 'had not expressed any suicidal ideation' an Ms Skerrett said his 'intent remains unclear' as he was suffering from 'adverse effects of medications he had recently been prescribed'. Mr Kingston watched the racing alongside Queen Camilla from the Royal Box at Ascot in June 2023 The businessman was visiting his parents in Kemble, in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, for the weekend when he decided to take his own life. After having lunch with them, on February 25, he began to load his car and prepared to return to London. Ms Skerrett said that between approximately 5pm to 6pm, Mr Kingston 'removed a shotgun from his vehicle which he had recently borrowed from his father for a shoot'. 'He then accessed an annex attached to his parent's property,' she continued. 'Within a locked bathroom he self-inflicted a gunshot to the head, and sustained injuries incompatible with life.' The former negotiator was subsequently found by his father and was later pronounced dead at 6:54pm by police, who confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. The coroner added: 'Mr Kingston took his own life using a shotgun which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head. 'Intent remains unclear as the deceased was suffering from adverse effects of medications he had recently been prescribed.' Lady Gabriella and Thomas Kingston had official photos taken on their wedding day - here with the late Queen and Prince Philip sat to the right of them An inquest heard he had 'recently been experiencing anxiety' but had 'not expressed any suicidal ideation'. It was reported that Mr Kingston had initially been given sertraline, a drug used to treat depression and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, after complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work. Reports said both were prescribed by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace which is used by royal household staff. Mr Kingston returned to the surgery, saying they were not making him feel better. His doctor then moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug. It was reported that in the days leading up to his death, he had not long stopped taking anti-depressants to treat his symptoms. - For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support A portion of the Crocker Amazon neighborhood is the only part of the city designated by Cal Fire as high risk for fire, according to the citys latest fire hazard map, which was released in 2008. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle San Francisco is unlikely to experience a catastrophic wildfire like those that broke out in the Los Angeles area earlier this month because of its relative lack of wildland and its cool climate, despite ruinous conflagrations early in the citys history. However, one of the citys neighborhoods is at high risk and several are at moderate risk of wildfires. I dont think people in San Francisco need to worry that this can happen here so much, said Lt. Mariano Elias, spokesperson for the San Francisco Fire Department. California fire map & tracker: Latest updates on active fires throughout the state Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Palisades and Eaton fires in L.A. both ignited in large open spaces and were fueled by bone-dry vegetation and treacherous terrain, whereas San Francisco tends to stay cool and humid from the fog and has a different topography. In addition, the neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, where thousands of structures have been destroyed, was designated by Cal Fire as a very high fire hazard zone, which is the agencys highest severity classification. San Francisco has no neighborhoods with that rating. As Californians look for answers about what caused the wildfires in Los Angeles and what more could have been done to prepare for and respond to them, residents in San Francisco and other parts of the Bay Area are wondering how much their community is at risk. Certain parts of the East Bay hills, Santa Cruz Mountains, North Bay and rural parts of Santa Clara County are much more susceptible to wildfires. But only about 1% of San Francisco residents live in areas of moderate or high risk of wildfire, according to Cal Fire. The only part of the city designated by Cal Fire as high risk is a portion of the citys Crocker Amazon neighborhood, according to the citys latest fire hazard map, which was released in 2008. The neighborhood is among the warmest in the city and is made up of winding, hilly streets that straddle the border between San Francisco and Daly City. Its just north of San Bruno Mountain, which Cal Fire also deemed a fire hazard area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A mural on the side of Cordova Market in San Franciscos Crocker Amazon neighborhood. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle I know that I live in a fire area, said homeowner John De Groot, who lives just a few feet over the border from the Crocker Amazon neighborhood in Daly City in a yellow two-story home that backs up to where rows of homes are built into the side of San Bruno Mountain. De Groot said fire risk came up when he was shopping around for insurance about a year ago. In late 2023 his insurer, Farmers, did an aerial inspection of his roof and informed him it would not renew his policy unless he replaced the whole thing. He shopped around for other insurance but didnt find a better deal. He replaced the roof last year for about $20,000, but Farmers still raised his rates, he said. Other nearby residents expressed surprise when they were told they were living in a high fire-risk zone. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its never come up, said Hector Ruelas, who has rented part of a single-family home in Crocker-Amazon for 15 years. He said he previously considered buying the property but wondered whether thickets of eucalyptus trees on the mountain could help accelerate a downhill blaze into the area. The Crocker Amazon neighborhood, an area deemed to have more wildfire risk than other parts of San Francisco, is among the warmest in the city. It is made up of winding, hilly streets that straddle the border between San Francisco and Daly City. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Daliana Sawka, another renter, lives on a street that dead-ends into a rocky, shrubby hillside between San Bruno Mountain and Geneva Avenue. She said the area can get plenty windy, but its so wet here with the fog and rain that shes not overly concerned about a runaway blaze. Only small fires have broken out in the three years Sawka has lived in the area blazes in nearby McLaren Park set off by revelers and their Fourth of July fireworks, which the fire department quickly extinguished. The new supervisor for the area, Chyanne Chen, said in a statement that her office is working with city departments to ensure we have a coordinated response that is culturally and linguistically accessible, better understand the risk assessment, and deploy all available tools to keep our communities safe. She encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts and for Neighborhood Emergency Response Trainings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other areas in San Francisco with moderate wildfire risk, according to Cal Fire, include wooded areas near Fort Funston, Lake Merced, Sutro Heights, Lincoln Park, the Presidio and Fort Mason, as well as Stern Grove, Mount Davidson, Glen Canyon Park, Bayview Park and Candlestick Point Recreation Area. Even in San Francisco, you do have vegetation that can dry out and burn in dry wind events, said Michael Gollner, associate professor of mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley. But generally the city does not have widespread wildland vegetation that quickly propels wildfires, he said. Fires spread much faster through vegetation than they do through structures, he said. San Franciscos population density is also an advantage, according to Elias, who said there are more people to quickly notice and report a fire. A view of downtown San Francisco from the Crocker Amazon neighborhood, which sits on the border of Daly City. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Elias said that the city is also well positioned to tackle fires quickly because of its unique emergency firefighting water system, which was created in response to the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in 1906 and subsequent fires that caused the majority of the damage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The most likely cause of a large urban fire in San Francisco would be a big earthquake, according to a July 2024 city report. The areas of the city at the greatest risk of a quake-sparked urban fire, in part because their soil is prone to turning to liquid, include the Marina, South Beach, Mission Bay, Potrero Hill, Hunters Point, Civic Center, the Tenderloin and Hayes Valley. After the 1906 earthquake, the city built a system of backup high-pressure pipes and reservoirs reserved for firefighting. There are also more than 200 cisterns with backup water supplies, though most are concentrated in the northeastern part of the city, where the historic fires happened. Our water system is above and beyond what most municipalities have, said Elias, adding that San Francisco is the only U.S. city with such a backup water supply for firefighting. San Francisco is working on expanding both the pipes and the cisterns in the western and southern areas. It also recently purchased three hose tenders, fire engines with high-powered pumping ability that allows them to extend coverage to areas in the Sunset and Richmond districts where there are no high-pressure hydrants. The hose tenders can pump 5,500 gallons of water per minute, compared to 1,500 gallons per minute for standard fire engines. The department hopes to get more hose tenders, but Elias said budget constraints might delay the purchase; they start at $1.2 million each, compared with about $750,000 for a standard engine. If other water sources fail, the citys fire boat can pump bay water into hydrants on the wharf, and the hose tenders and other fire engines also have the ability to pump water from the bay, lakes or other bodies of water. Because salt water quickly corrodes equipment, firefighters must rinse equipment well anytime they use it. Bernie Sanders said that Joe Biden's biggest failure as president was not being 'strong enough' or able to communicate his economic policies to ordinary working-class Americans. The Vermont Senator steadfastly stood by his former presidential rival after Biden's Georgia debate disaster in June but admitted in a new interview that Biden's messaging was weak and incoherent. While he claimed Biden's record on domestic policy was 'strong,' Sanders told streamer Hasan Piker that the president fell short of his goals. 'He has not been the kind of leader and communicator that made that record understandable to the American people,' the 83-year-old Democratic Socialist said. Despite listing several things he felt Biden had done well in his four years - including being 'unashamedly pro-labor' - Sanders said that Biden had ultimately been a disappointment. 'The truth is, given where the American worker is today, it is simply not enough,' he said. Sanders claimed Biden should have gone further on his progressive agenda, raising the minimum wage and expanding Medicare. The Vermont socialist even went as far as naming something Biden did poorly compared to Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders said that Joe Biden's biggest failure as president was not being strong enough or able to communicate his record to Americans Sanders, 83, has admitted in a new interview with popular leftist streamer Hasan Piker that Biden's messaging was weak and incoherent 'Biden has accomplished a lot but he does not do what Trump does and identify enemies,' he said. He said that while Trump tends to place the blame on migrants or transgender people, Biden refuses to use equally strong messaging on corporate greed. 'They talk about them, but not quite forcefully enough or present specific policies to deal with that,' Sanders added. He did single out Lina Khan as 'one of the heroines of that administration' but had little positive to say about what the Democrats did in November. Sanders admitted that Trump would 'bring about change' and the Democrats defended the system. Piker asked Sanders if the Democrats failed to communicate that they would bring about change. 'No,' said Sanders with his typical bluntness. 'I don't think it's a question of communication, I think it's what Democrats stand for.' Just before the president dropped out of the election, Sanders admitted Joe Biden 'is old, prone to gaffes, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Trump.' The Vermont Rep outlined his issues with Biden but condemned a vocal 'firing squad' who have become focused on the president's age He did single out Lina Khan as 'one of the heroines of that administration' but had little positive to say about what the Democrats did in November Sanders said that while Trump tends to place the blame on migrants or transgender people, Biden refuses to use equally strong messaging on corporate greed The Democrat Senator laid out his views in an essay for the New York Times , in which he accepted that the president is 'not the ideal candidate.' However, he warned his party's supporters that obsessing over Biden's blunders would only ensure that Donald Trump is elected. Sanders, 82, specifically took aim at a vocal set of elected Democrats, whom he labeled a 'firing squad,' who have been calling for the president to drop out since the presidential debate. 'Enough! Mr. Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he will be the candidate and should be the candidate,' Sanders wrote. 'And with an effective campaign that speaks to the needs of working families, he will not only defeat Mr. Trump but beat him badly. Its time for Democrats to stop the bickering and nit-picking.' The Vermont rep admitted that he and the president do not see eye to eye on several issues including U.S. support for Israel's war on Gaza and the Affordable Care Act, which he views as inadequate. However, he defended the president's 'excellent' record in office, as well as his performance in the last few weeks. Biden dropped out nearly eight days after he published that essay. A Sydney jewellery designer has drawn criticism after claiming she bought a waterfront home for just $15,000, only to later reveal there was one major catch. Zahli shared a video showing off the home she and her partner 'bought' at a holiday park in Wisemans Ferry, a town on the city's northern outskirts. However, it was later revealed the couple had leased a plot of land at a waterski park that only allowed them to stay at the premises for 180 days of the year. Zahli and her fiance, who co-own a building business on top of her jewellery brand, spent two years trying to buy a home in the city. However, they were repeatedly outbid or turned down due to being self-employed while paying 'insane' rent for an apartment on the Northern Beaches. 'So, I started looking at alternative ways to live and since my fiance loves to wakeboard and waterski, I was introduced to this whole idea of waterski resorts. Basically, resort parks with multiple plots of land that you can build your own house on, on the waterfront,' Zahli explained. Plots of land surrounding the popular waterpark largely varied in price with some going for as much as $200,000. 'Since we own a building company, I was like, "show me your worst plot of land with your best view", which is when we were shown this glamour, which was literally uninhabitable,' Zahli said of her new home. 'But she was $15,000 so we bought it and immediately started to rip it down.' The couple had initially planned to build a house on the land but ended up outsourcing an expandable two-bedroom home for $35,000 - which came with the bonus of being easily transported as Wisemans Ferry is prone to flooding. However, the business owner was quickly accused of 'misleading' viewers by starting her video with the statement: 'I bought a house in Sydney for $15,000'. 'So what do you do when you can't live there 365 days of the year?' one person said. 'I don't think you actually own the land when you do this. Good if you have extra spare cash for a weekender but not a wise investment,' another wrote. 'Don't those ski parks only have a 180-night occupancy like caravan parks?' a third commented. Zahli addressed the comments in a follow-up video and clarified she and her partner lease the land under an annually renewed contract. 'I was not expecting that post to get as much traction as it did,' she said. Zahli (pictured with her home) said she and her partner spent $35,000 replacing the 'uninhabitable' home on the lot with a new two-bedroom house 'While the statement "I bought a house in Sydney for $15,000" is correct because I bought the house on top of the land, I totally understand how that could be misleading but it was not my intention. 'I simply wanted to show a way that you could get your own house through different avenues if you are struggling to buy in Sydney, like so many of us are.' Zahli then further explained the details of the couple's lease to help anyone considering buying a holiday park lot. 'Part of the leasehold agreement is that we can only live there for 180 days of the year. It's perfect for us because we'll mostly be spending weekends there,' she said. 'We pay quarterly levies and if you split them into weeks, it works out at less than a quarter of rent for a two-bedroom apartment.' Zahli also addressed commenters who said the lease was a 'bad investment'. 'All the people who are saying, "What about investment? It's the land that appreciates",' she said. 'You're assuming that I bought it as an investment, and while I would never want to lose money on it, my fiance and I bought it so that we can spend weekends down there, create memories and enjoy life on the river.' A Sydney couple leased a home at a ski park in Wisemans Ferry for $15,000 (pictured, a holiday park in Wisemans Ferry) Others applauded them for finding a 'creative' way of getting on the property market. 'Good on you! People should be sharing more information like this as it's so easy to get into a state of panic at just trying to stay afloat there are alternatives to the norm. Fact is, it's yours,' one wrote. 'I can't believe how negative some people are being. I'm super proud of you, we're all struggling,' another said. 'Calling it Sydney is a stretch but worth the commute for that lifestyle and affordability,' another wrote. 'Pivoting when things weren't working out - love it!' another said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Zahli for further comment. A young Samoan man who drowned at an Australian beach had only recently moved to Perth to help his brother's family as they settled into their new home. Sio Afamasaga, 22, was swimming with his brother, sister-in-law and their children at Perth's City Beach on Friday to celebrate the last day of his Christmas holidays. Mr Afamasaga became caught in a rip about 12.45pm alongside another man - who was safely pulled to shore. A Surf Life Saving WA helicopter spotted Mr Afamasaga in the water and brought him to shore where paramedics performed CPR. He was then rushed to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital condition, where he later died. Mr Afamasaga's sister-in-law, Soo Afamasaga, said the generous young man had moved to Perth to help them cover expenses as they settled in their new home. 'He was living with us and worked with my husband (Pita) to help his family back home and help us with rent and stuff,' she told Daily Mail Australia. As the majority of Mr Afamasaga's family is in Samoa, they want to return his body home 'as soon as possible' but do not have the savings for the expensive trip. Sio Afamasaga (pictured with his niece) drowned at Perth's City Beach on Friday. His heartbroken family is now raising funds to send his body home to Samoa A Surf Life Saving WA helicopter spotted Mr Afamasaga in the water at City Beach (pictured) and brought him to shore where paramedics performed CPR 'It was so unexpected and we weren't ready. We don't have the money but his family wants him back home so they can say their final goodbyes,' Ms Afamasaga said. 'The cost for this is very expensive, over $10,000. Then there's paying for medical costs and for my husband to travel with him.' Mr Afamasaga's older brother, Pita Afamasaga, said he was 'treasured' by his family. 'My parents and family aspire to send his body home to Samoa so they can properly pay their respects,' he wrote in a post on GoFundMe. 'He was their youngest and most treasured child.' Mr Afamasaga's brother, Pita, created the GoFundMe campaign on Saturday in the hopes of raising enough money for the repatriation flight. 'Sadly we do not have the necessary funds to send him back Home to Samoa as this was an unexpected accident and we were not prepared,' he said. 'We humbly ask for donations to help cover the costs of funeral director, my flight and medication to preserve his body during the journey. Much appreciate anything you can afford and thanks for your support.' Mr Afamasaga (pictured) moved to Australia to help his brother's family settle down in Perth Pita Afamasaga had hoped to talk about his brother but was too distressed to be interviewed by Daily Mail Australia. Ms Afamasaga said the family had gone to City Beach 'to have some fun' but instead suffered a 'devastating beginning of 2025'. 'It's very hard and that's why we're trying our best to take him home. He is the youngest and his parents are very sad about the news,' she said. WA Police will prepare a report for the coroner. The search for Michigan native Ashley Elkins, who vanished almost two weeks ago, took a grisly turn as investigators began digging through the trash for any sign of her. Elkins, a mother of two young boys, was last heard from on January 2 as she was heading to a beauty supply store. Her family began searching for the 30-year-old, with suspicions falling on her ex-boyfriend, De'Andre Booker, who was later arrested. As the search continues, however, investigators turned to Pine Tree Acres on Monday where they searched the trash for six hours in hopes of finding a sign of the missing mother. Police also seized a dumpster from the apartments as part of the investigation. Elkins' uncle, Maurice Morton, told Fox News: 'I know that they're searching for the body, and so we're a little nervous about that. Hoping that whatever they do find, they find it sooner rather than later.' Her family said that her disappearance was out of character. Her sister, Alexis Elkins, said: 'She loves her family, her kids. She would never just disappear for this many days.' Family members were suspicious of Elkins' ex-boyfriend Booker since she disappeared. According to the family, her phone last pinged near his Roseville apartment, reported the outlet. The search for 30-year-old Michigan native Ashley Elkins, who vanished almost two weeks ago, took a grisly turn as investigators began digging through the trash for any sign of her Her family said that her disappearance was out of character. Her sister, Alexis Elkins, said: 'She loves her family, her kids. She would never just disappear for this many days' As the search continues, however, investigators turned to Pine Tree Acres on Monday where they searched the trash for six hours in hopes of finding a sign of the missing mother. Police also seized a dumpster from the apartments as part of the investigation 'Her mother has said numerous times, "He threw her out with the trash," said Morton. 'That's disheartening.' On January 7, police found Elkins' car just miles away from Booker's apartment. His apartment was searched on the same night, and he was arrested the next day. The 32-year-old was charged with lying to police after allegedly fleeing to Flint where he searched for the fastest routes to Ohio. He has been accused of planning to leave the state. His research, according to the prosecutor, also included what to do while on the run, how to beat a polygraph test, and if blood is traceable, reported Fox News. Additionally, he allegedly looked up how to delete his Google search history. His bond was set at $250,000 cash on Thursday and is due back in court on January 22 before a preliminary exam on January 29. Elkins' family have set up a GoFundMe to help her two sons. 'Ashley LaShay Elkins had big dreams for herself and her two sons,' the GoFundMe said. 'Tragically, those dreams were cut short on January 2, 2025.' Elkins' ex-boyfriend, 32-year-old De'Andre Booker, was arrested for allegedly lying to the police and attempting to flee the state. Elkins' family were suspicious of Booker after her disappearance as they claim her phone last pinged near his apartment 'Ashley LaShay Elkins had big dreams for herself and her two sons,' the GoFundMe said. 'Tragically, those dreams were cut short on January 2, 2025' 'Now, at just 10 and 7, her boys face not only the loss of their beloved mother, but also uncertainty about their care and their future. 'We are committed to ensuring they are well cared for and have the support and resources they need to keep dreaming and achieve the future their mother envisioned for them.' Her family told Fox News that they believe she is dead. A young mum who 'wouldn't do anything' for $60,000 a year has hit back at critics after she sparked fierce debate about 'survival salaries' in Australia. Alice Raspin, 28, who earns $67,000 working as a digital specialist for an insurance company was stunned after learning jobs in her field were being advertised for $60,000 a year. 'Sorry, but I'm not doing anything for $60,000 a year,' the mother-of-one said in a video shared to TikTok last week. 'As a 28-year-old living in a capital city with one child, I have rent and we're saving for a home. How do people expect to compensate someone 75 hours a fortnight for $60,000? What bills am I paying with that? You're dreaming. 'I don't care how much you make, if it's less than $60,000 a year, get a new job.' Ms Raspin admitted within the comments that she has no tertiary qualifications but had been working full-time for the last 10 years. Her video received mixed responses from Aussies. 'I've recently interviewed for a job as a disability support worker and the going rate was $26 per hour. In today's economy that has to be illegal,' one wrote. Alice Raspin (pictured) who earns $67,000 working as a digital specialist for an insurance company was stunned after learning jobs in her field were advertised for $60,000 a year But the older generation was less sympathetic, saying 'kids these days have no idea' and that if Aussies need work they should take what they can get. Recruitment expert Tammie Christofis Ballis said people like Ms Raspin needed to learn to make scarifies and work hard over a long period before enjoying the big wage rises. 'If you want to change your career to make more money, you've got to take one or two steps back to go forward,' she told Yahoo Finance. 'And this is what people don't want to do. They don't want to go back to TAFE or go and start an apprenticeship, or whatever it is, and start from the beginning again.' But Ms Raspin hit back saying she understood she had to climb the ladder, but it wasn't as easy as people made it out to be. She told Daily Mail Australia that while a $60,000 salary could work for younger people with less commitments, she, like many others, cannot afford to be paid less. 'I think $65,000 is suitable if you live with mates or at home and don't have kids while you're saving to buy a house or travel,' she said. 'But when you're 28, have a child and you're living out of home - nothing under $70,000 is going to cut it.' Recruitment expert Tammie Christofis Ballis (pictured) says younger workers need to be patient with wage rises as many are complaining that $60,000-per-year is not enough It comes after a boomer tradie shared a blunt message to young Aussies who were turning down jobs because they didn't pay six figures. The 61-year-old revealed he'd spent four-and-a-half decades in the gritty plumbing industry and was making $180,000-a-year before he retired. He said he only cracked the six-figure mark after putting in years of hard work and urged young Aussies to roll up their sleeves if they wanted a similar salary. 'Do the hard yards at the start, reap the rewards at the end,' he told jobs app GetAhead. 'A lot of young people don't do hard work these days, and to get ahead man, you've got to get through hard work.' In the end, perhaps the only surprise was why the Prime Minister allowed his scandal-hit friend Tulip Siddiq to wither so long before her inevitable pruning. Why didnt she go sooner? True, Sir Keir Starmer and City minister Ms Siddiq have long been friends. But even for a Government that has seen its fair share of sleaze think Lord Alli and freebies she had long been much more than a distraction, the word Ms Siddiq used when resigning yesterday. I should know. I first began investigating her for The Mail on Sunday some three years ago. As I found, its one thing for Sir Keir, his wife, Angela Rayner and others to accept piles of designer clothes from media entrepreneur Lord Alli, but quite another for the minister in charge of tackling financial corruption to find herself being investigated in a billion-pound embezzlement scandal in Bangladesh (an investigation which continues). Like Ms Siddiq, 42, I am of Bangladeshi origin and had kept half an eye on Ms Siddiqs fortunes as she campaigned to become a Labour MP in 2015. She was championed by, among others, actress Dame Emma Thompson. Her seat was Hampstead in north London, after all. Then suddenly Ms Siddiq became more interesting than I could have possibly imagined. Around this time The Mail on Sunday revealed that Ms Siddiq had visited Moscow with her family two years earlier, posing for photos with Vladimir Putin. A misstep that didnt augur well for her future parliamentary career. Tulip Siddiq quit her Treasury post last night 26 days after the Mail revealed she was facing a major corruption probe in Bangladesh Ms Siddiq and Sir Keir, whose constituencies neighbour each other, at the election count in 2015 Ms Siddiq (left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right) in 2013 Then the spotlight fell on her for another reason. It turned out she was the niece of Sheikh Hasina Wazed, then prime minister of Bangladesh, who was ruling the country with an iron fist. In fact it was Hasina signing a 1billion arms deal with Putin and a now-infamous nuclear power deal (of which more later) that brought Ms Siddiq to Moscow though Labour insisted that Ms Siddiq had been totally separate from any official delegation but was invited to an event with her family. We revealed how Ms Siddiq tried to bury the Putin photo and delete posts and images on her blog that showed her campaigning for her aunt in Bangladesh in 2008. By 2015, Hasinas regime was characterised by allegations of human rights abuses and rampant corruption. Political opponents were made to simply disappear. By now I was watching Ms Siddiqs rise through the Opposition backbenches and the volatile politics of Bangladesh with an even keener interest. In 2022 a holier-than-thou Ms Siddiq was noisily criticising then-chancellor Rishi Sunak over his wife Akshatas tax affairs and non-dom status. And she wrote an article for The Times highlighting how, increasingly, British properties were being registered in offshore tax havens. This, she said, was a way for dirty money from Russia to flood Britain. I soon discovered, however, that her own mother lived in a 1.2million house in Golders Green, north London, registered in the offshore tax haven of the Isle of Man. Ms Siddiq with her aunt, the then prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina in 2009. Hasina was disposed from office last summer after 20 years in power Ms Siddiq acknowledged that continuing as a Treasury minister would be a 'distraction from the work of the Government' What is more, we found the five-bedroom house was registered using a Russian doll system of companies, which meant examining one company revealed it was owned by yet another. In the end we traced it to the family of Salman F Rahman, one of Bangladeshs richest tycoons. Hypocrisy? There was more. In April 2022 I discovered that Ms Siddiq owned a flat near Londons Kings Cross which she acquired in 2004 when she had just left Kings College London as an MA student, and appeared to have no income. By any reckoning, this seemed rather fishy. The more so when a perusal of Land Registry documents showed that it was either bought for cash, or, more likely, as we suspected, was gifted to her by its previous owner, Abdul Motalif, a property developer with links to her despot aunt. It was left to the Labour Party to speak on Ms Siddiqs behalf. It said Ms Siddiqs parents bought it for her from the sale of a family property. Any suggestion this money came from any other source is entirely wrong and defamatory, a Labour official told us. There the matter temporarily rested. Armed with new information we went back to Ms Siddiq in July 2022. She repeated that the house was bought by her parents then threatened The Mail on Sunday with legal action if we published our story. Ms Siddiq received this two-bedroom apartment as a gift in 2004 from developer Abdul Motalif, who has links to her aunt Sir Keir out campaigning with Ms Siddiq in Belsize Park in 2018 Once again I put the matter on the back burner but returned to it in July this year when Labour won its historic election landslide. Ms Siddiq was now City minister and economic secretary to the Treasury, effectively the anti-corruption minister tasked with stamping out economic crime. It was this elevation that would lend my story, when we were eventually able to publish, ironic piquancy. Within weeks of Labour winning the election, The Mail on Sunday published our first investigation into Ms Siddiqs living arrangements. Leaving aside the questions over the Kings Cross flat, we revealed how Ms Siddiq rented her family home for 14 months but did not declare it for more than a year. Parliamentary rules require rental income has to be declared within 28 days. Ms Siddiq apologised to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who conducted an investigation and found that she breached the rules, but had done so inadvertently. I sensed there was more and kept digging. Why was she renting out her family home in Finchley, north London, while living in a rented house nearby? Things were becoming increasingly murky. I later discovered that the house she was living in was owned by a close ally of Hasinas repressive political party, the Awami League. Ms Siddiq strongly denies any wrongdoing and has claimed she is being politically targeted Starmer accepted his City ministers resignation with sadness and said that she had made a difficult decision. (Pictured: The letter from the PM to Ms Siddiq) This man, Abdul Karim, was given a special honour by Ms Siddiqs aunt Hasina in Bangladesh soon after Ms Siddiq moved into the five-bedroom property. She denies any wrongdoing. Ms Siddiq also refused to say how much rent she was paying for the property, where estate agents told us the market rate was around 5,000 a month. But barely had the ink dried on our story, when The Mail on Sunday discovered that Ms Siddiq, along with family members, was being investigated in her native Bangladesh for allegedly taking kickbacks from the nuclear power plant deal with Russia. Yes, the one she witnessed being signed in Moscow back in 2013. Dispatched by my editor to Bangladesh, I spent a week investigating the deal. By this time Hasina had been deposed, and had fled to India with Ms Siddiqs mother Rehana. As I travelled through the congested capital Dhaka, meeting officials and investigators, I saw the burnt-out buildings and the places where police shot innocent students. It soon transpired Ms Siddiq and members of her family were being accused of embezzling up to 3.9billion from the nuclear deal. Ms Siddiq referred herself to Sir Laurie last week following mounting questions about her use of properties connected to her aunt She strongly denies any wrongdoing and has claimed she is being politically targeted. With Fleet Street on the scent, I broke the story in the Daily Mail of how Bangladeshs Anti-Corruption Commission was now formally investigating Ms Siddiq, her mother Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, and her aunt Sheikh Hasina, for alleged embezzlement. Weeks later the Kings Cross flat at the centre of our original investigation came back to haunt her when she was forced to admit that it had been a gift after all from another businessman with close links to her aunt though Ms Siddiq categorically rejects any claim the property has links for the Awami League. This confession prompted frantic calls from the Labour press office. Officials apologised profusely, conceding that they knew I had made the same inquiries in 2022. The officials told me they did not deliberately mislead me or The Mail on Sunday, but told me Ms Siddiq bought the flat with the help of her parents in good faith. While I believe the Labour Party did not mislead me deliberately, The Mail on Sunday took the view that Ms Siddiq lied to us. So we published our own story that weekend, detailing exactly what Ms Siddiq told us and how she had threatened to sue when cornered. Yesterday Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Ministers ethics adviser who investigated Ms Siddiq, said the minister admitted to him she misled the public when we made our 2022 inquiry about the Kings Cross property, but she said it was inadvertent. Sir Laurie did not identify any evidence of improprieties connected with Ms Siddiq in respect of his investigation generally. Now Ms Siddiq has resigned though maintains she has not done anything unlawful. Dozens of Bangladeshis contacted me via social media, email and phone calls thanking me for investigating Ms Siddiq. They said that her aunts government from which Ms Siddiq continues to distance herself had not only committed the worst human rights abuses in the country for the past 15 years, but they also looted the country like never before. It was the worlds worst kleptocracy, they told me. Today, I am pleased to have made them happy. A Second World War secret agent who trained allied spies to resist honeytrap plots has been buried with full military honours. Noreen Riols, who died on January 2 aged 98, would test recruits by meeting them at a hotel in Bournemouth, giving them drinks and seeing if they would spill secrets about their work. Those who passed the test were considered suitable for work behind enemy lines. Noreen's funeral was held at the Church Maisons Laffitte near Paris, where she lived for the past 70 years and had five children, on Monday. Flagbearers formed a guard of honour as her coffin was carried to its resting place while a bugler played Last Post. Noreen was born in Malta to a naval officer and grew up in the city of London. Speaking fluent French, she joined the Special Operations Executive, which was based at Beaulieu in the New Forest. Noreen Riols (pictured) would test recruits during World War Two by meeting them at a hotel in Bournemouth, giving them drinks and seeing if they would spill secrets about their work Noreen meeting Brigitte Macron at the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy last June Noreen Riols with Prince William at the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy At only 18, the glamorous youngster would seduce recruits at a hotel and see if she could get them to talk about their work. She once said: 'I hated it. I almost prayed that they wouldn't talk. It was awful to have to betray them.' After the war ended, Noreen trained as a nurse in Romania before moving to Paris in 1956 to work for the BBC. She married a Frenchman and the couple had five children. A great grandmother, Noreen was awarded the Legion D'Honneur and became an MBE in 2023. She was photographed with the world leaders at the 80th anniversary celebrations in Normandy in June. One photo shows her shaking hands by Prince William, who attended the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations. Rachel Reeves looked miserable as she reeled off her cliches at the Despatch Box yesterday. All her pre-election swagger was gone. Remember when she used to claim that the Tories had crashed the economy? Well, it took the markets six months to work out that she had no growth plan. Now we see what crashing the economy really looks like. Labours approach recalls those Melanesian islanders who, after having supplies dropped on their Pacific homes during the Second World War, believed that they could make the goodies continue to rain from the sky if only they mimicked the behaviour of the soldiers once stationed among them. Real life doesnt work like that. You can keep repeating the words growth and investment. You can wear smart suits (suits paid for, naturally, by someone else). You can hang around in City boardrooms, brow furrowed. But unless you are prepared to pursue the policies that make an economy expand lower spending, lower taxes, deregulation, free trade the goodies wont rain down. Boasted Labour inherited a post-lockdown economy, with taxes at a 70-year high, spending at 45 per cent of GDP and debt at 100 per cent. Instead of trying to return to the spending levels of February 2020, Reeves went on another massive spree, borrowing a further 100 million and giving pay-rises to her supporters in the public sector. What did she think would happen? If we keep taxing the private sector, which generates revenue, in order to expand the Government, which consumes it, our economy will shrink. When we take people from private-sector jobs (where there are vacancies around the country) and put them to work for the state, generating regulations to gum up the system for everyone else, we impoverish ourselves. Rachel Reeves laughed off Tory condemnation of the markets meltdown today - as she hinted at emergency spending cuts Ms Reeves' trip to Beijing secured investment worth just 600million When we borrow more money, not to invest in infrastructure, but to increase the pay and pensions of unionised state workers, and show no interest in reducing the sums, let alone paying them back, the price of borrowing rises. This is basic stuff. Youd think an economist would understand it. Then again, the Chancellor of the Exchequer who radiated reassurance before the election when she told us that she had worked as an economist at HBOS actually worked, according to reports, in customer complaints. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, debt interest currently accounts for 8.4 per cent of the Governments budget, as much as the education budget. Borrowing costs spiked to their highest level in 17 years on Monday and sterling collapsed to a 14-month low. Where was Reeves while all this was going on? On a spectacularly unsuccessful visit to China. Lets set aside all the political objections to cosying up to Beijing. Lets accept, hard-headedly, that we want trade and investment from wherever it is offered. What did she actually come back with? After all her effort, the Chinese coughed up an almost deliberately insulting sum: 600 million over five years. To put that number in context, it is roughly what her government spends every five hours. The Chancellor boasted about the figure on her return, as if it represented some kind of achievement. Again, youd think a professional economist would... oh, yes, she isnt one. In Parliament Reeves blamed the latest market turmoil on global movements in international markets, but no one fell for it. There are, by definition, always global movements in international markets a meaningless and tautological phrase. That does not explain why British debt has become so much more expensive, not just than Germanys, but than Italys or Spains. When a herd of wildebeest is panicked, the animals do not all stampede at the same rate. The feeble and infirm fall behind, losing the protection of the herd. Those are the animals targeted by predators. And the sickest, most spavined antelope, right now, is Britain. Why? It is true that, like other countries, we saw a massive expansion of spending and borrowing during the lockdowns. And it is true that those supposedly emergency rises are now being treated as permanent, the assumption being that taxes will rise to meet them rather than that spending will fall back to pre-pandemic levels. Promises To that extent, Labour might fairly claim that it inherited a tough situation (unlike previous Labour governments, which generally come to power just after the Tories have done the hard, unpopular work of restoring order to public finances). The trouble for Reeves is two-fold. First, Labour wanted the lockdowns to be even longer and harsher than they were. When Boris Johnson finally lifted restrictions in July 2021, Starmer talked nonsensically of tens of thousands of deaths caused by the Johnson variant. Sir Keir tried to shore up Ms Reeves earlier this week, saying she was doing a 'fantastic job' running the economy Ms Reeves made a statement in the Commons following her controversial trip to China last week Second, and more seriously, the previous government was at least trying to unwind the fiscal effect of the lockdown. For example, it announced a reduction in civil service numbers to return to where we were before extra officials were hired to deal with procurement, testing and vaccination. Labours first action on taking office was to cancel that reduction. Having hiked both public service pay and the number of people getting it, Reeves then went on to pick about the most growth-destroying tax she could find to pay for it, namely National Insurance. After all the pre-election promises about not taxing working people, she managed to find the one tax that falls solely and exclusively on people with jobs. Combine that tax with the hike in the minimum wage and Angela Rayners proposed reversal of the labour market liberalisation measures that have given us relatively low unemployment since the 1980s, and we are about to experience something we have not known for decades: difficulty finding a job. We are currently in a fiscal crisis because the markets have lost confidence in our ability to grow the economy. What will happen when the budget measures take effect, the proportion of people in work and paying taxes falls, and the number out of work and claiming benefits rises? Will Reeves pour yet more petrol on the fire, trying to raise even more taxes and so tipping us into full-blown recession? Or will she be brave enough to address the excessive spending that is the real problem? Her problem is that Labour has spent 14 years blaming every problem on Tory austerity, even when total public spending was rising. Many Labour MPs have convinced themselves that the slightest reduction, even the undoing of the notionally one-off Covid increases, would turn Britain into some sort of Dickensian workshop. Credibility In fact, as the entrepreneur Jon Moynihan demonstrates in his superb book Return To Growth, the second volume of which was published yesterday, simply returning to the tax and spending levels of the early Blair years would solve most of our problems. Does Reeves have the credibility to do it? Can the woman who presented herself in the City under false premises recover the trust of the markets? Can the minister who spun the taps open on taking office, now be trusted to screw them shut again? We shall have to hope so, since Keir Starmer has made clear that Reeves is in post for the rest of this Parliament. You almost feel sorry for them. There is no obvious successor to Reeves. Tulip Siddiq, the Economic Secretary, has just had to resign in an unrelated scandal. And Starmer, who took a close personal interest in Labours candidate selection process, can hardly complain about the lack of talent. No, for better or worse, we are stuck with this crew until the next election. God help us. *Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is president of the Institute for Free Trade. An Aussie fisherman was left stunned after a dolphin jumped three metres into the air and landed in the back of his boat. Bo Sawyer was out on the water in Dunwich, on the western part of Queensland's North Stradbroke Island on Tuesday, when the unexpected guest arrived aboard. 'We just had a dolphin jump about three odd metres in the air, break the console and he's currently in the boat,' Mr Sawyer said in a video shared to TikTok. 'We're just waiting for a wildlife group to come and hopefully we [can] get this poor fella out.' Mr Sawyer said the dolphin was provided with a constant flow of water until wildlife services arrived, adding the marine animal was far too heavy to move themselves. It took eight rangers from the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Minjerribah Wildlife Rescue to safely carry the dolphin back into the water. Photos shared to social media by the QYAC showed the rangers covering the animal in wet towels as they lifted it out of the boat. 'A dolphin jumped onto a charter boat and our amazing QYAC Rangers alongside QPWS Rangers and Minjerribah Wildlife Rescue swiftly came to the rescue,' it said. Bo Sawyer was out on the water in Dunwich, on the western part of Queensland's North Stradbroke Island on Tuesday, when the unexpected guest jumped aboard 'Thanks to everyone involved, the dolphin was safely returned to the bay where it belongs.' The dolphin appeared to have suffered minor scratches on its tail during the jump. Adult bottlenose dolphins can weigh up to 200kg while calves can weigh up to 20kg. Bottlenose dolphins can also grow up to almost 4metres in length. Several viewers suggested that Mr Sawyer could have lifted the dolphin back into the water himself. 'Just pick it up, throw it back,' one person wrote. 'I would've rag dolled it back into the water or drove to a nearby boat or pier to get help instead of waiting,' another claimed. Many, however, pointed out that dolphins were a lot heavier than they looked, with Mr Sawyer admitting he couldn't even 'budge' it. A Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the dolphin was reportedly trying to catch a fish that was being reeled in by Mr Sawyer's boat. 'Our patrol vessel was quickly diverted from Moreton Banks to Dunwich boat ramp to support Minjerribah Wildlife Rescue in releasing the dolphin,' the spokesperson said. 'A SeaWorld vet confirmed the dolphin was in a suitable condition for release and rangers from Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) supported its release back into the ocean.' It took eight wildlife rangers to help lift the heavy dolphin back into the water (pictured) Embattled Governor Gavin Newsom has been criticized for fidgeting and smiling while discussing the horrific Los Angeles fires wiping out entire communities. Newsom has faced calls to resign over his handling of the crisis, which has left at least 25 dead, destroyed more than 40,000 acres of land and razed an estimated 12,300 structures. On Tuesday, footage went viral of Newsom fidgeting from side to side and awkwardly appearing to shimmy his shoulders as he responded to questions about the blaze. He was speaking with a local Fox outlet in front of the charred remains of burnt out buildings after the fire tore through. 'I was just talking to Josh Green, the governor down in Hawaii... around speculators coming in, buying up properties and the like so were already working with our legal teams,' he said in the now-viral footage. Critics spotted the awkward motion and immediately took to social media to question whether it was intentional. 'What's with this fairy. He's been doing this little side to side shimmy and it gives me the yucks,' one critic wrote on X. 'Gavin Newsom you're not just weird, you're going down over this tragedy.' Newsom has faced calls to resign over his handling of the crisis, which has left at least 25 dead, destroyed more than 40,000 acres of land and razed an estimated 12,300 structures Newsom has faced sustained criticism in the week since the fires broke out as residents and voters accuse him of delivering a lackluster response Another added: 'When Gavin Newsom is doing his shoulder shimmy, thats when you know for sure hes lying 100% and hes up to no good!' Newsom has faced sustained criticism in the week since the fires broke out as residents and voters accuse him of delivering a lackluster response. He has also faced calls to resign for the devastating handling of the catastrophe, with everyone from Donald Trump to Hollywood stars slamming his and Mayor Karen Bass' lack of leadership. Mel Gibson was particularly scathing, telling Joe Rogan: 'I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavins hair gel.' Saving California, a group that touts itself as a 'non-partisan coalition of working families, professionals and community advocates' launched another recall against Newsom this week. Former advisor to RFK Jr. and Saving California spokesman Randy Economy said Newsom has been 'woefully unprepared and incompetent' as the wildfires continue to rage through the city. 'Leadership is solving problems, not passing the buck and the blame, and Californians can no longer afford to have an empty suit occupying the governorship,' he said in a statement. Economy called the recall a 'last hope' to get rid of Newsom before he is term-limited out of office in 2027. They plan to serve the governor with papers in the next two weeks. A spokesperson for Newsom told Newsweek that the governor is '100 percent focused on the fires, ongoing rescue efforts and the recovery process - not politics.' On Tuesday, footage went viral of Newsom fidgeting from side to side and awkwardly appearing to shimmy as he responded to questions about the blaze Your browser does not support iframes. Newsom was criticized after he claimed he does not know how the Los Angeles wildfires happened - while appearing to cast blame on other officials, including Bass. He also tried to draw in donations for the victims through his own Super PAC. The governor shared a link to californiafirefacts.com - a website created by his campaign committee - claiming it would combat misinformation about the devastating Los Angeles fires. Separately, the man once touted as a potential Democrat presidential candidate is also copping flak for cutting over $100million to funding earmarked for tackling wildfires As the campaign against him mounts, critics have dredged up his past as further evidence of his inefficacy as a leader. The Governor of California publicly stated he would be seeking help for his alcohol issues in 2007, amid the fallout from his relationship with his campaign manager Alex Rourk's spouse, Ruby Rippey-Tourk. However, more than a decade went by before he revealed that he had never entered rehab, as had been extensively reported. The issue has reared its head again amid intense scrutiny of Newsom over his response to the California wildfires. In 2018, the then-aspiring governor revealed he quit drinking for two years entirely shortly after the affair, but was back to drinking in moderation. The Palisades Fire - the largest of the three blazes ripping through Los Angeles - ignited on January 7 has scorched 23,713 acres and is only 11 percent contained Firefighters with the California Task Force 3 Urban Search and Rescue comb through the ruins of a beachfront house in search of victims An overhead pole camera image shows wildfire damage to the Saint Marks Episcopal Church wiped out in the Eaton fire He credited his sobriety to the Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco and its CEO, Mimi Silbert. 'There's no rehab. I just stopped,' he told the Sacramento Bee during his 2018 run for office. 'There was no treatment, no nothing related to any of that stuff. I stopped because I thought it was a good thing to stop. 'There is no 12-step (program) here,' Newsom added of his time with Delancey Street. 'There are no issues with that. There never was. This was a need to reset.' Newsom said he decided to give up booze after admitting to an affair with Rippey-Tourk, now Rippey-Gibney, who was his secretary when he was mayor of San Francisco. At the time, Newsom was also married to Fox news host Kimberly Guilfoyle. The renewed interest in the controversy comes as Los Angeles residents continue to grapple with devastating wildfires that have destroyed homes and forced widespread evacuations. As the official death toll from the fires climbs to 25, anxious residents are preparing for more hellish weather conditions which could propel the fires in new directions. The death toll is also expected to climb, with at least 16 people still missing and 150,000 forced to evacuate their homes. A firefighter walks past homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire The Palisades Fire was the first to ignite last Tuesday and has now destroyed more than 24,707 acres In all, four fires have consumed more than 40,000 acres across the most affluent neighborhoods of LA, with A-list celebrity homes and restaurant hotspots among the 12,300 structures wiped out. Local fire departments warned that harsher winds and more fire would prevent those under mandatory evacuation orders from returning home to assess the damage. 'Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California, creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread,' the California fire service (CalFire) said in a statement. 'The winds will cause increased fire activity.' The Eaton fire which tore through Pasadena at the foot of the mountains has already burned through 14,117 acres, destroyed at least 7,000 structures and cost 17 people their lives. Mandy Moore's home was among those charred beyond recognition in the Eaton fire. And a larger fire which was the first to break out in the ritzy celebrity enclave of Pacific Palisades has destroyed 24,707 acres of land stretching from Santa Monica to Malibu. Miles Teller, Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton are among A-list celebrities who lost their homes in the inferno. Keir Starmer thinks the British people are idiots. That's the only rational explanation for his management or appalling mismanagement of the Tulip Siddiq affair. For those not following this tortuous saga, Siddiq was Starmer's hand-picked anti-corruption minister. Or she was until 4.30pm yesterday, when she resigned after finding herself at the heart of an international corruption investigation. According to investigations conducted by this paper, The Mail on Sunday and other news outlets, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn appeared to be benefiting from ties to her aunt, ousted former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A central London property was involved. There were further allegations about a deal involving Russia and a nuclear power plant. And additional mysterious land deals in a 'diplomatic zone of development' near to the residences of her mother, sister and brother. Siddiq denies any wrongdoing. But Starmer, after weeks of mounting pressure, finally caved, and announced his Treasury minister had 'referred herself' to the independent adviser on standards, Sir Laurie Magnus. Yesterday, that investigation concluded. And, in the view of Downing Street, it found that she had essentially done nothing wrong. The Ministerial Code had not been broken. Nor had Siddiq been guilty of 'any financial improprieties'. Magnus found 'no evidence to suggest' her assets 'derive from anything other than legitimate means'. But she was in danger of becoming a 'distraction'. So with sadness, the Prime Minister decided he had to accept her resignation from his government. Tulip Siddiq quit her Treasury post last night 26 days after the Mail revealed she was facing a major corruption probe in Bangladesh (pictured with Keir Starmer) The Prime Minister is also facing pressure over Rachel Reeves. The Chancellor is on course to break her own newly-minted fiscal rules as soaring Government borrowing costs threaten to derail Labours spending plans (pictured together) Last night, Keir Starmer moved quickly to replace Tulip Siddiq with her colleague Emma Reynolds (pictured) It's a load of old cobblers. But precisely the sort of cobblers we have come to expect from Starmer's hypocritical, self-righteous, 'do-as-we-say-not-as-we-do' administration. For one thing, Magnus did not give Siddiq a clean bill of health. Although Starmer chose to overlook it in his exchange of correspondence with his outgoing minister, the Whitehall watchdog was subtly scathing. 'It is regrettable that she [Siddiq] was not more alert to the potential reputational risks both to her and the Government arising from her close family's association with Bangladesh,' Magnus observed. 'I would not advise that this shortcoming should be taken as a breach of the Ministerial Code, but you will want to consider her ongoing responsibilities in light of this.' Which raises the question of why Starmer didn't properly consider her responsibilities in the first place? I've known Tulip Siddiq for several years, after she replaced my late mother Glenda Jackson as the MP for Hampstead. She's a hard-working, diligent and well-respected local MP. In another brief she would undoubtedly have made a very effective minister. Yet her relationship with her family and that family's connections with the more shady side of Bangladeshi politics was common knowledge. And by selecting her as his anti-corruption minister, Starmer was guilty of a staggering error of judgment. Her appointment effectively tied the probity of his government to the probity of Siddiq's relatives in the Bangladeshi Awami League, a party that was ousted from office in August in a national coup. But it also highlights another equally egregious error of judgment. It's exactly a year since the Prime Minister then in his last few months as Leader of the Opposition piously pledged to deliver a 'Government of Service'. Under the feckless Tories, 'trust in politics is now so low, so degraded,' he chided, 'that nobody believes you can make a difference any more'. 'After the sex scandals, the expenses scandals, the waste scandals, the contracts for friends, even in a crisis like the pandemic, some people have looked at us [politicians in general] and concluded we're all just in it for ourselves.' Ms Siddiq (left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right) in 2013 But the British people should not despair, he pledged. Under the saintly Sir Keir things would be radically different. 'I promise a new purpose. To drag politics in this country back to service, tilt our economy back towards the interests of working people.' What have the British people actually been rewarded with? The Downing Street donations for passes scandal. Wardrobe-gate. Freebie-gate. The sacking of one Cabinet minister following an offence of fraud. And now the resignation of the anti-corruption minister following corruption claims. Twelve months ago the Prime Minister was bemoaning the cynicism of the electorate. Well this is where that cynicism comes from. From their politicians attempting to treat them like they're children. Tulip Siddiq hasn't gone because she represents a 'distraction'. She's gone because she's brought into sharp, uncompromising relief the double-standards and duplicity that lay as deeply embedded at the heart of Starmer's 'Government of Service' as it did its predecessor. When it comes to integrity of our public servants, we will not be getting 'change'. Instead we will be subjected to the same conveyor-belt of sleaze, self-interest and self-indulgence. Last night, Keir Starmer moved quickly to replace Tulip Siddiq with her colleague Emma Reynolds. Within hours it had emerged Reynolds had lobbied intensively against tougher business curbs on China. A Government of Service? Maybe. But service to whom? A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to end the bloodshed in Gaza was close to 'finished' last night, Donald Trump said. Relatives of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas were told during a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu that a deal to let their loved ones go and end the war could be settled within hours. Work was under way on the ground last night to ready the transfer of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as mediators hammered out final terms in Doha. Meanwhile, Egypt was also preparing to open the Rafah border crossing to allow captives out of the Gaza Strip while medical teams and hospitals in Israel prepared to receive them. An official involved in the talks in Qatar said this is the most serious negotiation since the last ceasefire in November 2023 as they entered the final round yesterday. Mr Trump said: 'I understand there's been a handshake and they're getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week, but it has to take place.' Both sides have agreed in broad terms for an initial exchange of 33 hostages for hundreds of jailed terrorists over 43 days. But Hamas has yet to reveal how many of those captives are alive, which will affect the number of Palestinians are released from custody. Relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza gather in front of the Ministry of Defense to hold demonstration demanding a ceasefire and a hostage swap agreement in Gaza yesterday The demonstrators carried photos of their relatives and banners reading 'Stop the war' An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on January 14 It is the first phase of a multi-stage deal that would end with all of the 98 hostages released, the IDF pulling out of the Gaza Strip and work commencing to rebuild the ruined territory. Observers have suggested Mr Trump's inauguration next Monday is seen as an unofficial deadline. The President-elect's incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff attended the talks and was seen as vital in leaning on Israel in the early hours on Monday to secure a 'breakthrough'. Israel has reportedly agreed to withdraw from Gaza for the first time, stating they will do so once the last hostage is released. This had been a major sticking point previously as Hamas demanded they pull out before any captives are freed. Arab officials said Mohammed Sinwar, the hardline leader of Hamas in Gaza and brother of slain former leader Yahya Sinwar, has agreed in principle to the terms of the deal yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported. 'Today we are closer than any time in the past to a deal,' said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: 'The ball is now in Hamas's court. If Hamas accepts, the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented. I believe we will get a ceasefire.' Israeli military vehicles move inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on January 7 A Palestinian looks at a damaged residential building following an overnight Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah on January 8 Once the finer details are worked out, the plan will be submitted to the Israeli cabinet for final approval. Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich threatened to resign and collapse the government, labelling the 'terrible deal' a 'catastrophe'. Ben-Gvir even boasted that he had repeatedly sabotaged previous truce talks. The Jewish extremists want to continue the war until Hamas is completely destroyed. But the moderate opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has promised to step in and prevent the government collapsing to get the deal done. A source told the Telegraph: 'Lapid will offer a safety net to Netanyahu to prevent his government from falling after a deal is done, for an agreed amount of time. 'In other words, there is no excuse [not to reach an agreement].' Families of the 98 hostages now face an agonising wait to find out if their loved ones are alive and who will be released first. Novelist Neil Gaiman has broken his silence to deny reports that he raped and sexually abused a number of women - though he admitted he 'should have done so much better.' The 64-year-old author was first accused by five women in July of sexual assault, leading to the third season of Amazon's Good Omens being scrapped. Even more women have since revealed disturbing details about their encounters with the American Gods writer in a shocking report from New York Magazine. With the women's stories circulating online this week, Gaiman said he felt forced to address the allegations. 'Over the past many months, I have watched the stories circulating the Internet about me with horror and dismay,' he wrote on his website. 'I've stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation. 'I've always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters. 'I've now reached the point where I feel that I should say something,' Gaiman explained. Author Neil Gaiman, 64, has broken his silence to deny reports that he raped and sexually abused a number of women - though he admitted he 'should have done so much better' He said he read through his accusers' accounts of their relationships with him and found 'there are moments I half recognize and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen. 'I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,' Gaiman claimed. The author also said he even went back and read through the messages he shared with the woman accusing him of sexual assault. 'These messages read now as they did when I received them - of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again,' he said. 'At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides. 'And I also realize, looking through them, years later, that I could have and should have done so much better,' the Coraline writer admitted. 'I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could have or should have been. 'I was obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings, and that's something that I really, deeply regret. It was selfish of me. 'I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people's.' The author admitted he was 'emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could have or should have been' He is now trying to improve himself, he said. 'I've spent some months now taking a long, hard look at who I have been and how I have made people feel,' Gaiman told his readers. 'Like most of us, I'm learning and I'm trying to do the work needed, and I know that that's not an overnight process. 'I hope that with the help of good people, I'll continue to grow. 'I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care what I say but I'll be doing the work anyway, for myself and the people I love. I will be doing my very best to deserve their trust, as well as the trust of my readers.' Still, he insisted, 'I don't accept there was any abuse. 'To repeat, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.' 'Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality,' he claimed. 'I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made,' Gaiman concluded. 'I'm not willing to turn my back on the truth and I can't accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn't do.' One of his accusers has claimed he raped her in an outdoor bathtub while she was nannying the son he shares with ex-wife Amanda Palmer, 48, on February 4, 2022. Gaiman is pictured with Palmer and his son in 2018 One of his accusers has claimed he raped her in an outdoor bathtub while she was nannying the son he shares with ex-wife Amanda Palmer, 48, on February 4, 2022. Scarlett Pavlovich said the author encouraged her to take a bath after they finished dinner, despite her resistance. After she stripped down and got in, she claimed Gaiman got naked and joined. While he was in the tub, Pavlovich said he told her to stretch out. 'I said 'no.' I said, 'I'm not confident with my body,' Pavlovich recounted. '[Gaiman] said, 'It's okay it's only me. Just relax. Just have a chat.' But Pavlovich said the situation escalated, and Gaiman sexually assaulted her. She claimed he penetrated her with his fingers, before attempting to do so with his penis - all while she told him no. Pavlovich recalled how as Gaiman was climaxing, he asked if he could ejaculate on a certain part of her body - to which she declined. She claims he did so anyway. He allegedly told her during the act: 'Call me master. Be a good girl. You're a good little girl.' Pavlovich said she cried and Googled 'Me Too' and 'Neil Gaiman' in the aftermath. Despite what she allegedly endured, Palmer and Gaiman offered Pavlovich the chance to move to England and Scotland with them to continue her nannying job, to which she agreed. A former nanny for the couple claimed Palmer did not seem surprised by the allegations, reportedly replying: 'Fourteen people have come to me about this' In another incident, which occurred at a home on the New Zealand island of Waiheke, Pavlovich said Gaiman assaulted her while she was cleaning up the kitchen. She said the author approached her from behind, pushed down her pants, began to beat her with his belt and then tried to penetrate her anally without lubrication. After screaming no, Pavlovich said he grabbed butter out of the kitchen and used that as lubrication and penetrated her without using protection. Pavlovich claimed when the rape was over he called her 'slave' and ordered her to 'clean him up.' The allegations published by the magazine detailed how Gaiman's alleged horror would continue, night on night - causing the evenings of abuse to 'blur together.' Pavlovich claimed she would pass out from the pain of the sexual encounters, and recalled one instance when he was so forceful that she vomited over him - before he told her to lick it up. The abuse would allegedly occur while Gaiman's young son was in the room, she said. At the time, Pavolvich said she did not describe her experiences as sexual assault - but noted that Palmer did not seem surprised by the allegations, reportedly replying: 'Fourteen people have come to me about this.' Palmer's Instagram followers have urged her to make a statement about what she knew Pavlovich filed a police report accusing Gaiman of sexual assault in January 2023, and urged police to contact Palmer as part of their investigation. 'I said to them: "She's a public feminist, and she knows what happened. Shell want to protect me. Im sure shell speak,'" Pavolvich told Vulture. But Palmer is said to have declined to talk with officers when they contacted her later that year, while Gaiman provided a written statement and the investigation ended. Still, it remains unclear how much Palmer, who was one-half the punk cabaret duet the Dresden Dolls, knew about her now ex's exploits, as her Instagram followers urge her to make a statement. 'I am still trying SO hard to give you the benefit of the doubt. I AM worried about you. I want you to be okay as much as I want those 14 girls to be okay. 'However. You cannot, CANNOT keep doing the work youve done to advocate for women and survivors of SA without a very long, thought out discussion about this NOT ON PATREON. NOT BEHIND A PAY WALL. 'I absolutely f***ing loved you, and defended you to the ends of the earth, but now I am so, so disappointed.' Another commented: 'YOU WERE COMPLICIT IN THIS?! Youve been a strength and inspiration to me and KNOWING WHAT HE WAS LIKE you presented him these vulnerable victims like gifts. 'WE ARE F***ING DONE. Ive said I love you over the years. I do not love you anymore. Not even remotely.' Billionaire Elon Musk has been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter purchase after he allegedly failed it disclose his stocks, allowing him to save 'at least $150 million.' The SEC alleged that Musk failed to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner in 2022 before he bought the platform. Musk began amassing Twitter shares in early 2022, and by March of the same year he owned more than five percent. The complaint said that it was at this point Musk was required by law to disclose his ownership but failed to do so until April 4 which was 11 days after it was due. The filings are required so investors in the marketplace can monitor the moves of large investors and potential takeover bids, according to the New York Times. Musk signed a deal in April of 2022 to acquire Twitter, and when he tried to back out of it, he was sued by the company to force him to go through with the purchase. The SEC said that starting in April 2022, it authorized an investigation into whether any securities laws were broken in connection with Musk's purchases of Twitter stock, his statements and SEC filings related to the company. Billionaire Elon Musk has been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter purchase after he allegedly failed it disclose his stocks, allowing him to save 'at least $150 million' The SEC alleged that Musk failed to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner in 2022 before he bought the platform Musk has taunted the SEC over the past few weeks on the social media platform, including sharing a latter from his lawyer, Alex Spiro, rejecting a settlement offer. On Tuesday Spiro said: 'Today's action is an admission by the S.E.C that they cannot bring an actual case, because Mr. Musk has done nothing wrong and everyone sees this sham for what it is.' Spiro added that the agency had waged a 'multiyear campaign of harassment' against Musk but filed a 'single-count ticky-tack complaint.' This marks the third time the SEC has gone to court with Musk, the first being in 2016 when market-moving posts on social media where Musk talked about taking his electric car company, Tesla, private. Yet, Musk's legal battle with the SEC may be cut short as President-elect Trump's inauguration on Monday will cause SEC Chair Gary Gensler to step down. It remains unclear if incoming regulators will continue pursuing the litigation. Trump has said he intends to nominate Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner and pro-business conversative, to succeed Gensler. Dennis Kelleher, chief executive of Better Markets, a nonprofit group that pushed for more transparency on Wall Street, said the timing of the lawsuit might have been due to Musk's resistance to the SEC's effort to take a deposition. He added that in most cases there would be a settlement with the defendant's paying a fine and neither admitting nor denying liability, the NYT reported. However, Kelleher pointed out the announcement of the lawsuit was kept under the radar, possibly because due to the optics of going after the richest person on the planet, who is also a close adviser to the President-elect. Musk has been at the center of other lawsuits in relation to his purchase of the social media platform. The Federal Trade Commission investigated into whether X had sufficient resources to protect users' privacy after he laid off much of the platforms staff, and many senior executives responsible for privacy and security resigned. That agency also sought to depose Musk, the NYT reported. Former Twitter shareholders sued Musk and accused him of fraud in a case related to his late disclosure of shares in the company. A chimney sweep whose tragic death at the age of 11 inspired reform has become the youngest person to be honoured with a Cambridge blue plaque. George Brewster died in 1875 after tragically being forced to enter a chimney where he then became stuck. He was one of the last of the 'climbing boys' to die in Britain after his death brought about considerable changes, with the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury permanently banning child chimney sweeps. Brewster joins a host of other famous figures in being awarded the plaque, such as Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin and Alan Turing. The 11-year-old was nominated for the honour by Cambridge resident Joanna Hudson, who rediscovered the tale of his death, the Telegraph report. She told the publication: 'When you realise the momentous turning point George Brewster's death brought to changing child labour laws in Britain, you realise how important his story is and how vital it is that we share it with everyone. 'Every child should know this boy's name, as he represents the countless children who were victims of greed and cruelty in the Victorian era.' George Brewster, a former chimney sweep, has become the youngest person to be honoured with a Cambridge blue plaque. Pictured: A young chimney sweep dressed in rags and covered in soot George was one of the last of the 'climbing boys' to die in Britain. Pictured: a chimney sweep, his face blackened with soot, leans against railings outside an office in an illustration Ms Hudson also claimed that George was forced to enter a chimney at a lunatic asylum in Fulbourn where he became trapped and could not be saved. This was despite people attempting to free him by knocking down the walls of the chimney. Following the death of George, a political campaign was sparked to end the employment of young boys as chimney sweeps. Now, the plaque - which has been installed on the CamLIFE campus once the site of the asylum where George passed - will ensure that the history of the 11-year-old will not be forgotten. Sidney Lewis, who was the youngest soldier to serve in the army during WWI, was formerly the youngest person to be honoured with the plaque. A dedicated Telstra call centre phoneline for Indigenous people has been slammed by former footy great Sam Newman for allowing Aboriginal customers to skip the queue. The Darwin-based call centre hotline came under scathing attack from the AFL veteran during last week's episode of Newman's podcast, You Cannot Be Serious. Newman's co-host shared a story about a woman from Kununurra in Western Australia who faced a 15-minute wait on a call with Telstra to top up her phone card. However, she told him had the option to press a number if she identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. She pressed the number and then got 'straight through' to customer service, she said. The co-host said he'd since discovered that Telstra had a dedicated Aboriginal line which customers could use to 'jump the queue'. 'Why doesn't everyone do it?' said Newman in response. 'Indigenous people - why do they get through while the rest of us wait in line? 'This will get to - you'll go to a film, and there'll be a queue for Caucasian people. And over here, there'll be a queue for anyone whose skin color is not white.' Sam Newman has courted controversy as a media figure in the past, and made headlines for his comments on Welcome To Country 'It's basically segregation and it's left-wing people that are suggesting it, that's what is incredible,' co-host Richard Wolstencroft replied. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Telstra for comment. The telco announced in October 2021 that it was opening a call centre in Darwin to cater to Indigenous customers. 'Every year we receive 25,000 calls from Indigenous communities,' it said in a statement at the time. 'From today, when our First Nations Connect contact centre opens, these calls will be serviced by a dedicated Darwin-based hub, using staff who are regionally based and of Indigenous descent. 'Were also anticipating that some of these calls will be taken and solved in-language for our Indigenous customers.' Telstra denied the call centre allowed Indigenous callers to skip the queue faced by the rest of the community. Telstra announced in October 2021 that it was opening a call centre in Darwin to cater to Indigenous customers 'Telstras First Nations Connect Hotline is supported by a small dedicated team to service our most remote customers,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. 'It also provides culturally appropriate customer service to our First Nations customers. 'The First Nations connect team is based in Darwin and is staffed solely by First Nations agents. 'The team has access to interpreter services with approximately 50 different First Nations languages and dialects, to help support customers where English is a second or third language. 'This service has been available for over 15 years.' Newman has courted controversy as a media figure in the past, and made headlines for his comments on Indigenous culture. In September he urged Australians to boo the 'welcome to country' ceremony at the AFL grand final. Coles has banned the sale of knives across Australia after an employee was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy in Queensland on Monday. Mother-of-two Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, was stacking fridges in the supermarket in Yamanto Central shopping centre in Ipswich, south-west Brisbane, shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was allegedly attacked from behind. As she continues to fight for life in hospital in a critical condition, her alleged attacker, 13, was charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody. Following the incident, a Coles spokesperson said the supermarket would withdraw its range of kitchen knives for sale from supermarkets across the country. 'Coles complies with all legislation regarding the sale of kitchen knives, and this withdrawal is being taken out of an abundance of caution as we conduct a review,' the statement said. 'The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority across all aspects of our business.' Say Sushi worker Dshering Dema was working across from the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screaming and saw people running out of the store. She went to see what the commotion was about and saw the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her. 'It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,' she told AAP. Police lead away a 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a Coles worker in the back on Monday Police returned to Coles supermarket on Tuesday where the alleged stabbing took place The boy tried to flee but shoppers and security staff restrained him until police arrived. Ms Campomayor Watt was treated by police before being transported by paramedics to Princess Alexander Hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition. The teenager was charged and his matter was mentioned in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday. The boy did not appear in person and duty lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment for a brief of evidence to be prepared. The teen was remanded in custody to face court again on February 25. Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack. 'This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent, 63-year-old woman who is going about her daily employment at that shopping centre and it shouldn't happen in society,' he said. Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and they believe the boy acted alone. Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, with recent legislation known as 'Jack's Law' restricting their sales in Queensland. Ms Dema said the incident has made her concerned about coming to work. 'I now feel very unsafe here,' she said. Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation Police have assured the community there would be extra high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the incident reflected the youth crime epidemic in the state. 'What has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see,' he said. 'There's a sense of deja-vu for the state and is exactly the kinds of incidents that Queenslanders have had enough of.' The premier flagged further changes to youth justice legislation, following the 'adult crime, adult time' laws passed in December which did not include harsher sentences for attempted murder. 'I've already indicated that we are putting together an expert panel to do future changes,' he said. The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teen boy in the carpark of a shopping centre. Ms White's daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt a sense of history repeating as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mum's death. 'It's absolutely awful. This is very surreal ... it's like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?' she told Nine Network's Today Show. Millions of passengers will be facing 10 years of severe disruption as once-in-a-generation upgrades are due to start on one of Britain's most important railways. Workers are expected to begin work next year on replacing the more than 150 miles of wires installed on the west coast main line in the UK. The work which will also include signal upgrades and track replacement is seen as essential to keep passenger and freight trains moving between Scotland and England. Network Rail will close sections of the line for weeks every year once the project gets under way, planning documents show. A source familiar with the industry told the Times engineers will take control of the line and shut it down for trains for three separate two-week periods each year between 2026, 2027 and 2028. The stations affected will include Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan, Pres- ton, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle. It is expected that bus replacement services will be offered but planners are bracing themselves for delays across the UK and fear frustrated passengers may ended up flying to their destinations rather than booking trains between Scotland and London. One source told the newspaper this will cause levels of disruption never seen in the past 25 years. One source told the newspaper this will cause levels of disruption never seen in the past 25 years. Picture: Passengers travelling to Glasgow at London's Euston station The work which will also see signal upgrades and track replacement is essential to keep passenger and freight trains moving between Scotland and England (stock) 'There is a huge amount of planning taking place but it is still early days,' they said. 'It's a major project that will ensure the line is fit for the future.' Avanti West Coast, which operates services between London and Scotland said said it was too early to say what the full impact would be on its timetable. The company could be nationalised and brought under Labour government's control as early as next year. The west coast main line along with the east coast line from London to Edinburgh and Aberdeen runs at close to capacity, meaning any closures result in a huge knock-on to services. The work starting in 2026 is designed to 'renew' rather than simply enhance the west coast main line. The full programme of works is understood to include the replacement of 155 miles of overhead wires installed in 1974, when the line was electrified, as well as the renewal of 140 miles of track and replacement of 2,000 signalling units. Avanti West Coast, which operates services between London and Scotland said said it was too early to say what the full impact would be on its timetable It has been suggested the final bill could reach 3.8billion over a ten to 15 year period but Network Rail could not confirm the total cost. It is understood the infrastructure operator has planned spending for the project until the end of the 'control' period, which runs until 2028. Stuart Patrick, the chief executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, has been lobbying for years for better cross-border rail connections. He said: 'This is a demonstration of how bad we are at long-term investment in infrastructure when you get to the point when you have to replace things that are 50 years old.' He added: 'The long-term solution to the west coast main line was supposed to be HS2, because we were struggling with congestion on the west coast main line. It is increasingly difficult to see how we shift from air to rail.' HS2 was scrapped between Birmingham and Manchester by the former PM Rishi Sunak in order to save money. South Koreas impeached president has been detained after police swarmed his home in the darkness of night amid a drawn-out stand-off. The arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol comes after supporters were locked in a stand-off with police as officers try to detain the impeached premier. He is the country's first sitting head of state to be detained. 'The Joint Investigation Headquarters executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol today - January 15 - at 10:33 am,' authorities, who are probing Yoon on insurrection charges, said in a statement. Hundreds of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office had streamed up the driveway to the presidential residence before dawn on Wednesday, some scaling perimeter walls and hiking up back trails to reach the main building. It was their second effort to arrest Yoon. A first attempt on January 3 failed after a tense hours-long standoff with members of Yoon's official Presidential Security Service (PSS), who refused to budge when investigators tried to execute their warrant. Yoon's lawyer announced on Wednesday morning the president had agreed to speak to investigators and that he had decided to leave the residence to prevent a "serious incident". The impeached president lunged the country into political chaos last month over his botched attempt to declare martial law, which triggered political chaos engulfing Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key US ally. The leader earlier was holed up in the presidential residence, surrounded by hundreds of loyal security officers. Dramatic photographs showed police laying siege to the property by cutting through the barbed wire perimeter, before trekking up the hill towards the waiting president. Over the last week thousands have protested outside his gates, with an arrest warrant for alleged insurrection expiring at midnight on Monday and many demanding his immediate arrest. Dramatic photographs have since shown police laying siege to the property by cutting through the barbed wire perimeter Officers could then be spotted trekking up the hill towards the waiting president Yoon Suk Yeol lunged the country into political chaos last month over his botched attempt to declare martial law Investigators from the police make their way to the official residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeo Police officers gather in front of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol A person adjusts barbed wire between vehicles blocking the entrance to the compound of the presidential residence Police officers walk toward the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Security guards (rear) are on standby at the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Now the country's law enforcement have massed outside the property in the capital Seoul as they attempt to detain him for a second time. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police are jointly investigating whether Yoons brief martial law declaration on December 3 amounted to an attempted rebellion. They pledged more forceful measures to detain him after the presidential security service blocked their initial efforts on January 3. Despite a court warrant for Yoons detention, the presidential security service has insisted its obligated to protect the impeached president and has fortified the compound with barbed wire and rows of buses blocking paths. Vehicles from the anti-corruption agency were spotted near the residence, while rows of police officers dressed in black jackets were observed approaching its gate. TV footage showed lawmakers from Yoons People Power Party, along with at least one of his lawyers, lined up near the residences gate, apparently arguing with anti-corruption officials and police officers attempting to enter. Hundreds of Yoons supporters and critics held competing protests near the residence - one side vowing to protect him, the other calling for his imprisonment - while thousands of police officers in yellow jackets closely monitored the situation, setting up perimeters with buses. Insurrection, one of a few crimes not subject to presidential immunity, means he could be sentenced to prison or, at worst, the death penalty. If the warrant is executed, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. Yoons top aide pleaded with law enforcement agencies yesterday to abandon their efforts to detain him. Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk said Yoon could instead be questioned at a 'third site' or at his residence and said the anti-corruption agency and police were trying to drag him out like he was a member of a 'South American drug cartel.' Police officers stand in front of the gate of the presidential residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea A police vehicle arrives at the entrance of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Police officers patrol near the residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Police officers stand in front of the gate of the presidential residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea Police officers patrol near the residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol People gather outside the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, as authorities, including the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, are seeking to execute an arrest warrant But Yoon Kab-keun, one of the presidents lawyers, said Chung issued the message without consulting them and that the legal team has no immediate plan to make the president available for questioning by investigators. If investigators manage to detain Yoon Suk Yeol, they will likely ask a court for permission to make a formal arrest. Otherwise, he will be released after 48 hours. Yoon has not left his official residence in Seoul for weeks, and the presidential security service prevented dozens of investigators from detaining him after a nearly six-hour standoff on January 3. The National Police Agency has convened multiple meetings of field commanders in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province in recent days to plan their detainment efforts and the size of those forces fueled speculation that more than a thousand officers could be deployed in a possible multiday operation. The agency and police have openly warned that presidential bodyguards obstructing the execution of the warrant could be arrested. Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops around the National Assembly on December 3. It lasted only hours before lawmakers managed to get through the blockade and vote to lift the measure. Yoon's presidential powers were suspended when the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on December 14, accusing him of rebellion. His fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberating on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reject the charges and reinstate him. Tucker Carlson was shocked by a theory that meth addicts are starting some of the fires in Los Angeles out of pure nihilism. Michael Shellenberger, who Carlson said 'may be the best reporter in America,' appeared on the host's talk show to discuss the incitement of the blazes, which have so far killed 25 people. The fires are still raging a week on - costing at least 25 lives, razing an estimated 12,300 structures and wiping out 40,000 acres of land. Upwards of 200,000 residents have been subject to evacuation orders and thousands are still trapped in shelters, unable to return home as authorities begin the arduous task of searching the ash and debris for human remains. After slamming city and state Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass for their incompetence, Shellenberger said homeless people were 'starting fires all over' the city. Carlson asked: 'Why do homeless people start fires?' Shellenberger responded: 'Well, it turns out meth heads love to start fires.' He then explained that meth is 'the drug of nihilism' and therefore, 'perfect' for California and said LAFD figures showed 'half of all fires' started in the county for many years have been by the homeless. Michael Shellenberger shocked Tucker Carlson by suggesting a theory that meth addicts are starting some of the fires in Los Angeles out of pure nihilism Shellenberger, who Carlson said 'may be the best reporter in America,' appeared on the host's talk show to discuss the incitement of the blazes, which have so far killed 25 people Carlson then wondered if the fires started by addicts were in the act of cooking the drug, which his guest suggested was possible. Shellenberger then added that meth drives psychosis and psychopathy that would lead someone to starting fires and said that they were 'into fire.' He even referred to it as 'Satanic' and said that the homeless problem has been a constant issue for Democrats in the area. 'They were always gonna come out and say it was inevitable and that's just a total lie,' Shellenberger added. His comments come as Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass is facing new calls to either resign or lose her job for swatting away questions about whether she regrets traveling overseas in spite of extreme weather warnings. Bass was enjoying cocktails at a party at the US Embassy in Ghana when the devastating Palisades wild fire was erupting in the ritzy celebrity enclave of Pacific Palisades and spread rapidly up to Malibu and down toward Santa Monica. It quickly emerged that Bass was aware of the increased weather risk ahead of traveling overseas as part of a delegation formed by Joe Biden to mark the inauguration of new Ghanaian president John Mahama. She left the country despite forecasters sounding the alarm about a 'recipe for fire' more than two days before she departed. Asked on Tuesday whether she 'would have taken that trip overseas' in hindsight, Bass stumbled over an answer before dismissively conceding, 'no.' A second enormous fire broke out inland near Pasadena hours later, and both are still raging a week on - costing at least 24 lives , razing an estimated 12,300 structures and wiping out 40,000 acres of land Shellenberger slammed city and state Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass for their incompetence 'You know, I am going to focus today-' As she delivered her response avoiding the question, the CBS journalist interrupted, asking: 'But please-' 'No,' she said sharply, before turning around and walking away from cameras as journalists scrambled to ask more questions. The criticism Bass has faced goes beyond the decisions she made as the fire threat loomed. Her administration has made decisions over the years which have left emergency services chronically underfunded. LA's fire chief Kristin Crowley told CNN: 'Over the last 3 years, we have been clear that the fire department needs help.' She added that she has emphasized how 'understaffed, under-resourced, and underfunded the LAFD is', adding: 'I rang the bell that these additional cuts could be very very devastating for our ability to provide public safety.' Bass slashed the LA Fire Department's budget by $17.6million in 2024 after being talked down from $23million in cuts, and officials ignored warnings about the threat of infernos. A firefighter sprays water on a home burning in the Eaton Fire in Altadena Your browser does not support iframes. In less than a week, four fires around the nation's second-biggest city have scorched more than 40,000 acres, roughly three times the size of Manhattan. The National Weather Service warned the weather will be 'particularly dangerous' on Tuesday, when wind gusts could reach 65mph. Huge swathes of Southern California is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley. Two fires continue to burn largely uncontained as: The sheer scale of the devastation is unprecedented, with prime real estate stretching from Malibu to the Palisades and down to Santa Monica wiped off the map. The Palisades fire remains just 17 per cent contained, having burned through 23,713 acres. So far, eight bodies have been found in the wreckage. The Eaton fire, which has wiped out large swathes of Pasadena and Altadena, has burned through less land than the Palisades fire, but the human cost is far greater. Altadena was reduced to rubble in the Eaton fire Mandatory evacuation orders were put in place on Tuesday as the fast-moving fire rapidly approached Already, 16 bodies have been found in the carnage. Some 7,000 structures are estimated to be gone, but the process of examining what remains is slow going. Mandy Moore's home was among those charred beyond recognition in the Eaton fire, which spans 14,117 acres. It is just 35 per cent contained. The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen people have been reported missing, he said. Luna said he understands that people are eager to return to their homes and neighborhoods to survey the damage, but he asked for their patience. 'We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors,' he said. Bass is not the only Los Angeles official under intense scrutiny. More than 100,000 people signed a petition calling on Governor Newsom to resign from his position. He has made a concerted effort to shift blame onto other officials, including Bass, and maintained he didn't know how the wildfires happened. Most recently, Newsom was slammed for trying to draw in donations for the victims through his own Super PAC. A beloved Malibu icon who died in the Los Angeles fires while trying to save his home left a heartwrenching voicemail for his mom in the hours before he perished. Randall 'Randy' Miod, 55, had seen plenty of fires pass through Malibu during his 30 years living in the area, and always chose to stay and defend his property. His little red home across from the ocean, affectionately known as the 'Crab Shack' among locals, was his most prized possession. As a fire broke out in Pacific Palisades and rapidly began spreading toward Malibu, Miod called his mother, Carol Smith, to let her know that he could see smoke billowing toward him. 'He was almost in tears on Tuesday when I talked to him,' she told People. 'I can see the smoke.' Smith recalls telling him to save his cat and seek out a shelter amid mandatory evacuation warnings. 'I've worried so much about him because in all the fires that he's been through, he never evacuated any of them. He always stayed. He always felt that he could hose the house down with his hose,' she said. Several hours later, Miod called his mom back. This time, the call went through to voicemail. As a fire broke out in Pacific Palisades and rapidly began spreading toward Malibu, Miod called his mother, Carol Smith (pictured together), to let her know that he could see smoke billowing toward him Randall 'Randy' Miod, 55, had seen plenty of fires pass through Malibu during his 30 years living in the area, and always chose to stay and defend his beloved property (pictured) Miod's remains were found inside the charred remnants of his home in the aftermath of the blaze 'The last thing he said to me was, "Pray for the Palisades and pray for Malibu, and I love you."' Smith wasn't at home by the time the final call came through. 'I have that message, and I will keep it forever,' she said. Miod's remains were found inside the charred remnants of his home in the aftermath of the blaze. He died from smoke inhalation and thermal heat on January 8, Smith said. At the time, he was standing behind his property, trying to protect it. 'I don't think that he ever really knew what hit him,' she said. 'The detectives said that this kind of a fire, or any kind of a fire, just sucks the wind out of you.' Miod's community have remembered him as a hero and icon of Malibu who was often out in the surf and opened his home to 'anybody.' One tribute described how he 'loved his house on PCH, otherwise known as the Crab Shack, so much so, that he stayed in the evacuation. Much of the Malibu coastline was decimated during the fires Miod's community have remembered him as a hero and icon of Malibu who was often out in the surf and opened his home to 'anybody.' One tribute described how he 'loved his house on PCH, otherwise known as the Crab Shack, so much so, that he stayed in the evacuation Friends have paid tribute to Miod, who was a mainstay in the Malibu surf community 'Randall was a special breed of human. He had a good heart and soul and he put a footprint on his stomping ground in Malibu.' Another said: 'He was a Malibu surf legend. A man we ALL loved dearly.' One friend described the history behind the home, revealing: 'Once the home of Steve Olsen, this house was legendary. 'Kelly Slater played guitar there. Tommy Lee played drums there. Pam Anderson sat on the couch in this house. It was in this house that "Todd Proctor - Todd Proctor" shaped his first longboard, where it hung for years until stolen. 'Generations of surfers walked these uneven splinter infested floors through the years. The inside of the house look like Salvador Dali painted it. 'You could roll a marble on the floor on Tuesday and it would still be rolling around by Sunday. It was hard to tell if the countertops were off kilter or the ceiling was crooked. But it was perfect for the many surfers who lived there throughout the last three or four decades. A burnt car is seen among the wreckage of a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire The iconic Malibu coastline has been forever changed Firefighters work from a deck as the Palisades Fire burns a beachfront property in Malibu Your browser does not support iframes. 'We used to say no one goes to the crab shack, you just somehow end up there at the end of the night. As many did. Many rats were caught, virginity was lost and legends were made at the world famous crab shack.' Smith said she often told him to sell the house and move because of the constant looming threat of fires. Miod is one of 25 people who have tragically been found dead in the rubble of the infernos, which separately tore through Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Altadena. Authorities expect that number will rise as they slowly gain access to the smoldering wreckages. The fires have collectively destroyed more than 40,000 acres of land and razed 12,300 structures across some of the most sought-after real estate in southern California. High-profile businessman Adrian Portelli has denied charges of conducting an unlawful lottery and his lawyer has asked that the matter progress 'quickly' to trial. Portelli, 35, is charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery in South Australia, while his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which trades under the name LMCT+, is charged with 10 counts of the same offence. He was not required to appear In Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where lawyer Ben Lodge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of Portelli and Xclusive Tech. The charges, instigated by South Australia's Consumer and Business Services, allege Portelli's business did not hold a licence to conduct the lotteries in SA There had not been any negotiations with the prosecution on the charges, Mr Lodge told Magistrate Luke Davis. 'We have had our discussions with our clients and the matter is contested. We are keen to progress the matter to trial as quickly as we can,' he said. 'We ask that these matters be listed for a pre-trial conference and our preference is that be listed today.' Mr Davis adjourned the matters for a pre-trial conference on March 6. Businessman Adrian Portelli has denied charges of conducting an unlawful lottery in South Australia Portelli's company offers members subscriptions to a 'rewards club', which includes entries to win cars and properties. Under SA law, any trade promotion lotteries with prizes exceeding $5000 need a licence to operate and entries must be free of charge. 'The major prize for the lottery was a property situated in Gisborne in the state of Victoria, as seen on the Australian television show The Block, or a cash prize of $3,000,000,' court documents state. Winning the prize 'involved an element of chance' but the defendant 'did not hold a licence to conduct the lottery in South Australia'. Portelli and his company face a potential maximum penalty of $190,000. Portelli and his company face a potential maximum penalty of $190,000. He has said on social media that if he were convicted, he would 'round it up to $200,000'. In a social media post in December after the charges were laid, Portelli promoted a membership-based giveaway for South Australians. 'It's okay SA we still love you. Your gambling commissioner won't allow you to win major life changing prizes so I've decided to run exclusive, DAILY $1000 cash giveaways to you guys instead,' he wrote. Melbourne-based Portelli gained fame as 'the Lambo Guy' in 2022, after arriving at a house auction for The Block in a yellow Lamborghini. In last year's series of the reality show, he spent $15.03 million to acquire all five homes on offer. A bus driver accused of careless driving causing the death of an 18-year-old woman has had his case delayed by at least two months over a mechanical report. Tia Cameron was struck by a Brisbane council bus while walking on a footpath in the city's central business district on March 8, 2024. Ms Cameron, an administration worker, was pinned against a wall and died at the scene while four bus passengers were treated for minor injuries. Council bus driver Lindsay Francis Selby, 70, was months later charged with driving without due care and attention causing death. Selby was not required to appear in person when his charges were mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Ms Cameron's father, Alastair, attended court in the public gallery. Defence solicitor Claire McGee told Magistrate Ross Mack she had not been provided with a full forensic report's 'assessments related to the mechanics of the bus'. 'I do have part of a report. The report I requested prior to the first mention, the substance of it has not yet been received,' Ms McGee said. Ms Cameron's father, Alastair, attended the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday and sat in the public gallery Ms Cameron, an administration worker, was pinned against a wall and died at the scene while four bus passengers were treated for minor injuries 'We have half the report. It's missing the annexure to the report: the mechanical inspection.' Prosecutor Bimal Raut said he could only ask for the report. 'It should be able to clear the path. I can only hope,' he said. Ms McGee said she had been told by another prosecutor that it could take three weeks to provide the report, which she had requested multiple times. 'You should live my life. I request things all the time and I never get them, especially in this court,' Mr Mack said. The magistrate said he would adjourn the matter until March 26. 'You are not going to get anything done in three weeks. You have to give it to someone other than a lawyer who can read a mechanical report,' he said. Mr Mack told Ms McGee she could bring the matter back to court if the prosecution did not supply her with the full report within three weeks. Selby's release on bail was continued. The death toll in the Los Angeles fires has risen to 25 as 84,800 people are placed under a new evacuation alert and warned to brace for more dangerous fire weather. Authorities warned anybody in the vicinity of the blazes to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice, amid concerns that increasing winds will whip up new fires and fan the flames of those already burning. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service said 'we are not out of the woods yet' despite winds not reaching the predicted intensity. 'The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow,' NWS said in a statement. This round of Santa Ana winds was not expected to be as strong as last week, but they could carry fire-sparking embers for miles and stoke new outbreaks in a decimated region where at least 25 people have already been killed. The death toll is expected to continue to rise as authorities gain access to the smoldering sites ravaged by the fires. The coroner initially said two new bodies were discovered on Tuesday - one in the vicinity of the Palisades fire which tore through the celebrity enclaves of Malibu and the Pacific Palisades - and another near the Eaton fire in Pasadena and Altadena. But the death toll only went up by one after the coroner revealed the remains from the Eaton fire were not human. Authorities warned anybody in the vicinity of the blazes to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice, amid concerns that increasing winds will whip up new fires and fan the flames of those already burning The death toll is expected to continue to rise as authorities gain access to the smoldering sites ravaged by the fires A fire crew drives through a mobile home park that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire On Tuesday, the National Weather Service said 'we are not out of the woods yet' despite winds not reaching the predicted intensity Meteorologist Ryan Kittell warned both fires - which are still burning and not yet completely contained - could flare up between Tuesday night and Wednesday, and new ignitions could quickly turn problematic. Tuesday's forecast included a rare warning that winds, combined with severely dry conditions created a 'particularly dangerous situation,' the National Weather service said. The forecast was later adjusted to say gusts were expected to pick up strength early Wednesday. About 88,000 weary and anxious residents remain under evacuation orders Tuesday morning because of the fires. Another 84,800 have been warned that they might be ordered to evacuate at a moment's notice. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna encouraged people to consider leaving when they get a warning without waiting for an order. Luna pointed out that his deputies had to rescue many people who waited until the last minute when evacuations were ordered last week. The latest warnings come as: The death toll is expected to continue to rise as authorities gain access to the smoldering sites ravaged by the fires Some 12,300 structures have been wiped out in the carnage Officials insist they are poised for any renewed threats, particularly around the existing burn sites, after hydrants ran dry in the initial firefight. 'Please be assured that the Los Angeles County region is prepared,' fire chief Anthony Marrone said. 'We have checked the water system in the Eaton fire area, and it is operational, meaning that we have water and we have pressure.' Gusting winds were also whipping up toxic ash, with health officials urging everyone to wear a mask. 'Ash is not just dirt,' said Anish Mahajan of the LA County Public Health Department. 'It's hazardous fine dust that can irritate or harm your respiratory system and other parts of your body where it lands.' EXCLUSIVE A man with a skull and crossbones tattoo below his right eye sparked a major police operation when he pulled out a replica flintlock pistol he was taking to a pirate-themed party. Adam Nunan claimed he had no intention of alarming anyone and only withdrew the Pirates of the Caribbean-style weapon from his waistband because it felt comfortable. The 34-year-old nonetheless pleaded guilty to using an unauthorised firearm when he appeared in Parramatta Local Court to explain his actions to a magistrate on Wednesday. Nunan's problems began shortly after he left his grandmother's home in Cooyong Crescent at Toongabbie in western Sydney about 5.20pm on December 20. A few minutes later, he was seen by a member of the public carrying a small side bag and what appeared to be a threatening-looking firearm. That person called Triple Zero and reported 'an unknown male stumbling along Cooyong Crescent wielding a sawn-off shotgun', according to a statement of facts tendered in court. 'The male was holding the firearm up around his side before concealing it in his waistband,' the statement said. 'The accused was last seen continuing south-westerly along Cooyong Crescent towards Toongabbie train station.' Adam Nunan, who has a skull and crossbones tattooed below his eye, sparked a major police operation when he pulled out a replica flintlock pistol he was taking to a pirate-themed party Nunan claimed he had no intention of alarming anyone and only withdrew the Pirates of the Caribbean-style weapon from his waistband because it felt comfortable A police report went out describing Nunan as a Caucasian male of skinny build, wearing a white singlet, blue shorts and black hat. According to the statement of facts, 'this information was broadcast over police radio and initiated an immediate response'. 'Numerous police' soon arrived at Toongabbie train station and began searching for the supposedly armed suspect. At 5.35pm, plainclothes officers identified Nunan as matching the wanted man's description as he walked through a unit block connecting Cooyong Crescent with Wentworth Avenue. Police got out of a vehicle and approached Nunan as he crossed Wentworth Avenue and entered the train station, activating their body-worn video cameras. Officers then approached Nunan from behind, took hold of his arms and apprehended him as they announced who they were. Nunan, from Eastwood in Sydney's north-west, was handcuffed and police found the 'sawn-off style firearm' tucked into his waistband. 'Police carefully and gently removed the firearm from the waistband of the accused and moved it away from the immediate location,' the statement of facts said. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to using an unauthorised firearm when he faced Parramatta Local Court to explain his actions to a magistrate Nunan's lawyer compared the imitation firearm his client was carrying to the sort of pistol carried by Johnny Depp's character Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films 'Police conducted a search on the accused, revealing nothing else of interest. 'The firearm was identified as an imitation flintlock pistol with a 23cm steel barrel and 20cm stock.' 'The firearm consists of a brown wooden stock leading into the flint and trigger mechanism followed by the steel barrel. 'The firearm was rendered as safe as possible on sight whilst police dealt with the accused.' When Nunan was formally arrested he said of the imitation pistol, 'that's been in my nan's house for 20 years' and 'it's just a display piece'. Nunan was taken to Parramatta police station, where he agreed to an electronically recorded interview. 'During the interview, the accused made admissions regarding the obtaining and waving of the firearm,' the statement of facts said. 'The accused informed police that he had obtained the firearm from his grandmother's home. Nunan, who is unemployed and cares for his terminally ill mother, had made 'full and frank admissions' and was sorry for what he had done 'He advised police that he could not fit the firearm within his side bag, so he placed it within his waistband to take the firearm to his home.' On Monday, Nunan's lawyer told magistrate David Price his heavily tattooed client had been planning to attend a pirate-themed party and the imitation pistol was part of his costume. Nunan had not intended to frighten any member of the public and had not wanted to carry the weapon out in the open but took it out of his waistband because it was causing discomfort. The lawyer asked Mr Price to imagine the sort of pistols carried by characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, such as Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. Nunan, who is unemployed and cares for his terminally ill mother, had made 'full and frank admissions' and was sorry for what he had done. Mr Price accepted 'there was no real intent on his behalf here to cause any concern to members of the public'. He hoped Nunan had 'learnt a difficult lesson about which themed-parties he should go to' and what sort of props he should take along. Mr Price also warned no one should walk the streets carrying any device which looked like a firearm. He convicted Nunan and fined him $600. Wollongong's council has cracked down on the act Aussies have been called out for resorting to a bizarre measure to reserve a spot at the beach by using glad wrap to secure public gazebos. Signs have been raised along Cliff Road in North Wollongong, south of Sydney, warning beachgoers not to lay claim to the facilities by wrapping them up. 'This is a shared public space,' they read. 'The use of cling wrap or any material to enclose picnic shelters is prohibited.' Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown said she was disappointed that council had to go so far as erecting the signs. Council rangers had been ordered to 'remove' the wrapping if they found it, she told news.com.au. It comes after NSW Premier Chris Minns laid down bold new 'rules' about the use of portable gazebos on Australia's prime beaches. The national debate is centred on the use of cabanas to reserve spots on the shoreline - a practice that has been deemed 'un-Australian'. The signs along Cliff Road, North Wollongong warned beachgoers not to lay claim to the beachside gazebos by wrapping glad wrap around them (above) 'You can't like, put a peg in the ground and claim the land is yours with the cabana, like Richard Nixon did with the moon,' Mr Minns said on Thursday. 'It doesn't work that way. You can't just stick a cabana up and lay claim to it.' Mr Minns then revealed his 'rules' for anyone who wanted to use a cabana. 'You have to have one of your stupid friends who agrees to go down there early in the day and have a rotation process,' he said. 'You can have one person, one person's enough, and they can be sleeping or hungover or reading a crap novel. 'They can even use the beach, you can go for a swim, but you have to be on site on the beach.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also dipped his toe in the cabana waters. During an appearance on Today, Mr Albanese said the practice was 'not on' and that it went against the country's egalitarian spirit. Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown said she was disappointed that council had to go so far as erecting the signs around the gazebos Aussies have shared images of gazebos lying empty on the sand while other beachgoers are forced to fight over what little spots are left. Popular Instagram influencer Miss Double Bay, who has almost 64,000 followers, has shared a 'solution to the cabana epidemic that is plaguing the beaches' by dividing the sand into areas where they're allowed and those where they're banned. Miss Double Bay proposed that councils need to set up 'Cabana Corners'. 'While I am all for sun safety I think we can all agree here they (cabanas) are unsightly,' she said. 'Especially if you are a family of two why do you need an eight-seater (popular make) CoolCabana?' 'People come to the beach to take in the sights and sounds of mother nature not some weird patterned tent that looks like your grandmother's couch.' The solution 'everybody will get around' is to have a 'designated area of the beach where the CoolCabanas can live'. 'This section would be in the back of the beach so no one could see,' the influencer said. The 'Cabana Corners would have 'parking meters where if you want to stay for longer you have to put more money in'. To enforce this a new type of inspector would have to employed. 'If we are seeing a cabana that is not in the Cabana Corner, immediate fine, immediate fine and you are asked to leave the beach,' she said. She then - a little overenthusiastically - outlined other cabana offences that could attract an 'immediate fine'. Almost two dozen residents have been evacuated from an apartment building in Sydney's south-west after the roof suddenly caved in. Emergency services rushed to the two-storey unit block on Myall Street in Cabramatta after the roof collapsed at 12.30pm on Wednesday. A NSW Ambulance spokesman said two people were assessed at the scene but did not require further treatment, with several treated for dust inhalation. Fire and Rescue NSW said the building has sustained substantial damage. It is not yet known what caused the roof to collapse. 'Specialist FRNSW crews are assessing the extent of the damage to six two-level units within the complex,' a spokesperson said. Fire and Rescue Superintendent Mat Sigmund told Daily Mail Australia there does not appear to be any external damage to the property. He said fire crews had received reports the roof may have already been damaged before it collapsed. A NSW Police spokeswoman said residents will not be allowed back into the unit block until it is cleared of further collapse and asbestos risk. Almost two dozen residents have been evacuated from an apartment building (pictured) in Sydney's south-west after the roof suddenly caved in Emergency services rushed to the two-storey unit block on Myall Street in Cabramatta after the roof collapsed at 12.30pm on Wednesday (damage to the building is pictured) Cladding from the roof had been ripped apart during the fall and debris and building materials has been scattered along a inner staircase (pictured) 'Police have identified 13 residents, who needed to be relocated and have confirmed accommodation has been arranged,' the spokeswoman said. Images from the scene showed the roof of the apartment building covered in large silver tarpaulins. Several residents had gathered outside the apartment block after firefighters arrived and cordoned off the area. Cladding from the roof had been ripped apart during the fall and debris and building materials has been scattered along a inner staircase. Footage from the scene showed the street blocked off by a fire truck and other emergency service vehicles including a police car. A ban on pig, cattle and sheep imports to the UK from Germany has been triggered after a case of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed. UK Ministers announced health certificates, which approve import requirements for animals, fresh meat and animal products, will no longer be issued to those susceptible to the disease. The measures were announced yesterday in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease to the UK, where there are currently no known cases. UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss has urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant in their biosecurity as well for the clinical signs of foot-and-mouth. Food-and-mouth poses no risk to human or food safety but is a highly contagious disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Clinical signs vary depending on the animal but symptoms in cattle include sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue as well as the potential for a fever, lameness and reluctance to feed. A ban on pig, cattle and sheep imports to the UK from Germany has been triggered after a case of food and mouth disease (file image) A case of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany was confirmed in a herd of water buffalo in Brandenburg, outside of Berlin For sheep and pigs, the disease tends to manifest with lameness and potential for blistering. The disease can have a devastating financial and emotional impact on affected farmers, who face production losses like reduced milk yields and culling their livestock. But it can also lead to wider economic impacts with the loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries. Dr Middlemiss said: We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of foot-and-mouth disease. We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britains food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease. I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the utmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity, and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. A goat, which was due to be killed, due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, stands on a farm in Schoeneiche, Germany A sign tells visitors not to feed of touch the animals at a petting farm in Germany due to the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease Farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nations farmers from the risk posed by foot-and-mouth. That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak, and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads. We will continue to keep the situation under review, working closely with the German authorities. Ministers said foot-and-mouth is a legally notifiable disease, which means failure to report it to the Government is an offence. The UK suffered major outbreaks of the disease in 2001 and 2007, leading to millions of pigs, cattle and sheep being slaughtered across the country and costing both the public and private sector billions. The Government recently announced a 200 million investment in the UKs main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease. Alarming new evidence of 'trophy' videos has been discovered in the home of the Alexander brothers, who are accused of drugging and raping dozens of women over nearly two decades. Oren and Alon, both 37, and Tal Alexander, 38, prominent real estate agents based in Miami Beach, were indicted on December 11 and charged with sex trafficking offenses by the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan. Federal prosecutors allege that more than 40 women have reported being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the brothers between 2002 and 2021. Now, ahead of a major detention hearing set for Wednesday, prosecutors claim they have damning new evidence, explicit sex videos and photos - or 'trophies' - that were seized from an apartment in New York City, leased by Tal and Oren Alexander. The alleged new evidence was uncovered during an execution of a search warrant on December 11, NBC reported. The explicit content allegedly depicts the three brothers, and other individuals, engaging in sexual acts with women who were intoxicated and unaware they were being recorded. In one video, a camera was used to record over a bathroom stall where a man and a woman were engaged in intercourse. Alarming new evidence has been discovered in the case of the Alexander brothers , who are accused of drugging and raping dozens of women over nearly two decades. Pictured: Alon Alexander (right) and his twin brother, Oren, (left) attend a bond hearing at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami, Florida on December 13, 2024 Oren (left) and Alon (right), both 37, and Tal (middle) Alexander, 38 , prominent real estate agents based in Miami Beach, were indicted on December 11 and charged with sex trafficking offenses, according to a press release from the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan When the woman noticed the camera, she reportedly expressed distress, saying 'no' and objecting to being recorded, according to the filing. Other videos allegedly show women visibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs being manipulated into sexual acts by the brothers or others, sometimes without actively participating or appearing to consent, the filing states. Prosecutors now argue that the newly uncovered evidence, combined with earlier allegations, demonstrates the 'depraved nature' of the defendants' conduct - and the threat they pose to the public. The Wednesday detention hearing will determine whether the brothers remain in custody as the case proceeds. All three brothers have pled not guilty and plan to ask US District Judge Valerie Caproni to let them await trial on home detention in Miami, NBC reported. A December 11 indictment alleges that the Alexander brothers 'worked together and with others to engage in sex trafficking, including by repeatedly drugging, sexually assaulting, and raping dozens of female victims.' The scathing document also claims the wealthy real estate agents 'focused on ultra-luxury markets and used their wealth and prominent positions in real estate to create and facilitate opportunities to sexually assault women.' 'The charges outlined in this indictment reflect some of the most heinous and dehumanizing crimes of sexual exploitation that our NYPD detectives investigate,' NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. A December 11 indictment alleges that the Alexander brothers 'worked together and with others to engage in sex trafficking, including by repeatedly drugging, sexually assaulting, and raping dozens of female victims' Ahead of a major detention hearing set for Wednesday, prosecutors claim they have damning new evidence, explicit sex videos and photos - or 'trophies' - that were seized from an apartment in New York City, leased by Tal and Oren Alexander. Pictured: Oren Alexander, 37, (front) and his twin brother, Alon, attend a bond hearing The explicit content allegedly depicts the three brothers , and other individuals, engaging in sexual acts with women who were intoxicated and unaware they were being recorded. Pictured: Alon Alexander, 37, (right) and his twin brother, Oren (left), attend a bond hearing in Miami, Florida Separate from the younger two, the eldest brother, Tal, is additionally charged with a second count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. 'The Alexander brothers allegedly conspired using their wealth and status to prey on innocent women, coercing them into engaging in sexual acts. We will not allow this type of alleged behavior to go unimpeded,' FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy said. 'Predators forcefully coercing victims into sexual acts cannot and will not be tolerated. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to investigating sex trafficking and ensuring anyone attempting to engage in it is held accountable in the criminal justice system.' Kamala Harris has delivered one of her infamous 'word salad' messages to victims of the Los Angeles fires in the final days of the Biden administration. The Vice President was attempting to call for patience as emergency services crews try to sift through the toxic rubble, ash and debris left in the wake of the wildfires. But the precise message was lost in space as she delivered a rambling statement full of meaningless platitudes with no discernible conclusion. 'The work that still needs to be done to ensure the safety around utility lines, this work is still very much in progress and so it's critically important that to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, um that you do,' she said. Harris was holding a conference call from within President Joe Biden's office alongside reporters when she made the comments. 'Lots of people who still have a home who were under evacuation order, I know you want to get back home, but this is a time to be patient,' she said. 'There is still so much work that firefighters, police officers, FEMA and others are doing that is about search and rescue.' Authorities have told residents that they intend to lift evacuation orders as early as Thursday morning, after a red flag weather warning for the region has lifted. In the meantime, the threat of fire is still too great. Kamala Harris has delivered one of her infamous 'word salad' messages to victims of the Los Angeles fires in the final days of her administration Beach homes along the Pacific Palisades were entirely wiped out by the inferno Authorities have also warned scorched communities are now rife with asbestos-filled ash and dangerous debris in amongst the carnage Harris was holding a conference call from within President Joe Biden 's office alongside reporters when she made the comments Pictured: A homeowner from Altadena clutches onto her cat after the fire tore through her neighborhood Authorities have also warned scorched communities are now rife with asbestos-filled ash and dangerous debris in amongst the carnage. Officials warned the ash can contain lead, arsenic, asbestos and other harmful materials. Anish Mahajan of the LA County Public Health Department said on Tuesday: 'Ash is not just dirt.' 'It's hazardous fine dust that can irritate or harm your respiratory system and other parts of your body where it lands.' Anyone with access to fire-ravaged communities are urged to wear masks to avoid inhaling the ash. As access to these communities becomes easier, authorities are also bringing in cadaver dogs to search for human remains in the rubble. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reminded impatient residents: 'We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors.' Harris' efforts to deliver the message were widely mocked on social media. 'Classic Kamala,' one critic said. The Vice President was attempting to call for patience as emergency services crews try to sift through the toxic rubble, ash and debris left in the wake of the wildfires In some areas, homeowners have been able to return to their properties to assess the damage, but huge swathes of land remain under mandatory evacuation orders Firefighters set up to defend houses threatened by the Palisades Fire 'Be patient means the same thing but listen to this word salad instead,' another person added. The outgoing Vice President was repeatedly criticized during her Presidential campaign for diluting her intended message by overcomplicating her speeches. Over the Christmas period, she hosted a holiday reception for her supporters, urging them not to lose hope despite her devastating 2024 loss. During a speech to mark the event, Harris urged her supporters not to succumb to defeat, disappointment and depression. But it quickly derailed into her signature 'word salad' gibberish as she droned on about food and the importance of getting rest. 'Our work continues and so please everyone, look I know this election was not what we intended, certainly now what we wanted, I know there's a lot of emotion that we are all feeling right now. I get it,' she said with a knowing chuckle according to video clips published on social media. 'Please I have to just, I have to insist, that please do not let your spirit or your purpose be defeated,' she added. Potentially her most famous 'word salad' is: 'We have dreams. We can see what is possible, unburdened by what has been.' Authorities have told residents that they intend to lift evacuation orders as early as Thursday morning, after a red flag weather warning for the region has lifted The outgoing Vice President was repeatedly criticized during her Presidential campaign for diluting her intended message by overcomplicating her speeches The death toll is expected to continue to rise as authorities gain access to the smoldering sites ravaged by the fires Some 12,300 structures have been wiped out in the carnage Harris initially uttered the odd line when she spoke about what the word innovation meant to her during a March 2023 speech during a trip to Ghana. Speaking at the time, she explained that innovation was 'one's ability not only to see, but to do things differently' and 'challenging the premise, questioning the status quo, and bold thinking,' and 'the pursuit of what can be unburdened by what has been.' One of Harris' most confusing outbursts was to burst into laughter after uttering the phrase 'you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?', while giving a speech on equality and advancement for Hispanic people. Iran-China ties to deepen thanks to civilizational bonds: FM Xinhua) 10:02, January 15, 2025 TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Iran-China relations will continue to deepen, further building on their long-standing and deep-rooted civilizational bonds. Baghaei made the remarks at a press briefing while wishing the Chinese people greater happiness and tranquility in the upcoming Lunar New Year, which is to be celebrated late this month. In response to a question from Xinhua about bilateral ties and cooperation, he said the relations have experienced a diversified development across various fields including economic and trade, science, and tourism and cultural exchanges. He expressed confidence that, based on solid cultural links, the two nations will constantly move forward in the development of their relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) January 14, 2025: Italian defense firm Leonardo recently developed BriteStorm, a more capable disposable air-launched decoy to protect aircraft from enemy aerial and ground based air defenses. In 2013 Leonardo put BriteCloud on the market. This battery powered decoy weighs one kilogram and fits into standard aircraft 55mm countermeasure dispensers. Some reprogramming of the aircraft fire control software allows pilots to manually release BriteCloud or have it done automatically when a threat is detected by the aircraft sensors. American and British aircraft have already adopted BriteCloud for use on Typhoon and F-16 aircraft as well as MQ-9 Predator drones. BriteStorm not only updates BriteClouds capabilities but makes them more useful while adding new capabilities like creating the electronic illusion that the decoy is one or more real aircraft. This makes BriteStorm useful for suppressing and destroying enemy air defenses. BriteStorm is capable of quickly adapting to enemy systems that change frequencies during operation. BriteCloud and BriteStorm are an upgrade but not a replacement for the earlier American Mald series of decoys. The MALD stands for Miniature Air-Launched Decoy, the most recent version is MALD-N, a powered disposable decoy that can broadcast signals imitating various radars and do so while networked. Thats what the N stands for. MALD-N can be networked with other MALD-Ns as well as manned aircraft. This enables all the MALD-Ns in a swarm to automatically share information and quickly make changes to maintain the maximum confusion for enemy radars. Theres a pilot or system operator monitoring all this and able to intervene if needed. The MALD-N is a variant of the 2012 MALD-J, the first jammer version of MALD. The original ADM-160B MALD finally passed acceptance tests in 2009 and the air force agreed to buy it. MALD is a 115 kg powered decoy with a range of 900 kilometers and speed comparable with the cruise speed of several types of manned warplanes. MALD appears on the enemy radar as a warplane. MALD itself is a torpedo-shaped object that is about half the size of a Tomahawk cruise missile. MALD operates on the same principle as Tomahawk. When launched short wings pop out and a small jet engine starts. MALD deceives enemy radars with electronics that can generate signals that make MALD appear to be one of several actual warplanes. MALD is preprogrammed to fly a specific route with its electronic radar transmitter programmed to emit signals making the tiny MALD appear like a larger aircraft on the enemy radar. It took fourteen years of sometimes wasted effort on earlier designs to finally get a MALD that worked effectively and reliably. All that extra work made it clear that MALD would be even more effective if it included active broadcasting jammers and work on MALD-J began in 2008, just as MALD was almost ready for mass production. MALD-J was ready in 2012. The jammer version was found to be even more effective. Since 2011 over 2,000 MALDs have been delivered or are on order. A thousand of these were in service by 2014. MALD was used successfully in Ukraine to protect guided bombs from Russian air defenses. Initially, only the B-52, F-18, and F-16 were equipped to carry MALD. Over the years large UAVs and maritime patrol aircraft have been equipped to carry MALD. The navy operates MALD-J from F-18Es, which accompany EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft and is now equipping the new F-35. The EA-18G could carry MALD-J but this would be at the expense of range. The EA-18G needs as much range as it can get in order to go deep into enemy air space and destroy air defenses. The MALD manufacturer has also developed the needed equipment, like special racks so that up to 192 MALDs can be loaded on military transports and quickly launched. MALD soon replaced the similar U.S. Navy jet-powered ADM-141C ITALD or Improved Tactical Air Launched Decoy, which entered service about the time MALD entered development. ITALD is 2.34 meters long with a 1.55 meter wingspan. It weighs 180 kg (400 pounds), has a top speed of 460 kilometers an hour, and a range of about 300 kilometers. ITALD, as well as the earlier 59 kg unpowered TALD, contains passive and active devices to enhance the radar image the enemy will receive when they spot the decoy. The navy bought about 200 ITALDs. In the late 1980s, the navy bought over 2,000 ADM-141 TALDs, which proved successful during the 1991 Gulf War. Israel also had success in combat with their version of TALD, which was developed from similar decoys designed in the 1970s based on Israeli and U.S. Navy experience with Russian-equipped Arab air defense systems. The U.S. Air Force didn't get interested until after the Cold War ended and that led to MALD. TALD was basically an updated version of the Israeli Samson, which the navy bought 500 of in the late 1980s and early 1990s as TALD and these were the ones used successfully in 1991 against Iraq. The MALD is three meters long and its pop-out wings give it a 1.55 meter wingspan. The current versions weigh 130 kg and are powered by a small turbojet engine that gives it a speed of up to 1,000 kilometers an hour, for 45 minutes, at 11,000 meters, or 20 minutes at 1,000 meters. It can be programmed to fly a specific course to try and get enemy air defenses to open up so the enemy weapons can be spotted and destroyed. MALDs are also designed to be used in swarms to overwhelm enemy air defenses. The new MALDs cost nearly $300,000 each. The MALD-J is more expensive and about five percent heavier. The MALD-J was so successful in tests that the air force initially converted 200 of its MALDs to MALD-J. Early on the MALD was supposed to be a 15 percent smaller, simpler, and cheaper at $30,000 each design. But, as is common with these projects, both the air force and the manufacturer kept coming up with new things the MALD had to have. Some were necessary while others were just part of the usual procurement politics. The current MALD has a range of nearly 900 kilometers and is reliable enough to be used in combat. The radar jamming capability of MALD-J was the first of many electronic warfare capabilities added to the higher-priced, at up to half a million dollars, or more, each version of MALD. MALD-X has almost completed development and contains more interchangeable modules, each performing a different EW or Electronic Warfare task. Thus the air force has pulled ahead in aerial decoy technology, although only the TALD/ITALD series has the distinction of having been tested, and successful, in combat. The mother of little girl who was savagely mauled by a Rottweiler in an unprovoked attack has warned parents that the dangerous breed 'cannot be trusted'. Four-year-old Lucia was rushed to hospital after the ferocious dog latched onto the back of her neck at a Quindalup beach in Western Australia's on January 7. She was swimming in knee-deep water with her three older siblings when the dog suddenly lunged at her, according to her mother Natalie. Lucia suffered serious injuries with one of the dog's teeth coming millimetres away from a crucial artery. Natalie did not give details about where the dog came from but explained the animal was initially calm when it approach and that the attack came 'out-of-the-blue'. She rushed to the aid of her youngest child but was unable to get the dog off Lucia until another beachgoer intervened. Four-year-old Lucia was savagely attacked by a Rottweiler at a Quindalup beach on January 7 Lucia was playing with her siblings in knee-deep water when the Rottweiler attacked her 'He was very big, very strong. There was no way that we could control what was unfolding ... your instinct as a mother is to remove your child from that situation, but you couldn't,' Natalie told 7News. 'He wasn't stopping, he just kept biting her.' She said Lucia was a bloodied mess by the time the bystander rushed over to strangle the dog with its own collar and kicked it in the stomach. 'She wasn't really moving much,' Natalie said. The distressed mum ordered her oldest daughter to call an ambulance and asked her son to run and get help from other adults. Fortunately, the bystander's wife was a paramedic who took charge of the situation and instructed Natalie how to begin treating the wounds. They managed to control the bleeding before driving to Busselton Health Campus Emergency Department. Lucia was then airlifted to Perth Children's Hospital, where she underwent several surgeries. She is now recovering at home. Natalie now wants every other parent to understand the dangers Rottweilers pose to children and added that the attack happened on a beach where dogs are permitted off-lead. Lucia is now recovering at home with her mother Natalie who is warning other parents about the dangers of Rottweilers '[Large dogs] have the propensity to cause huge amounts of injury or damage,' she told the ABC. 'They are often unpredictable and most of the time when they attack it is unprovoked and that's just not a risk that I think any responsible parent is willing to take. 'People need to be armed with the knowledge of "this is what these dogs look like and they cannot be trusted".' The City of Busselton confirmed the dog was later euthanised and has launched an investigation. An Irish backpacker's cause of death has been revealed after his body was found in his bed on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Robby Kinlan, 21, from Quilty in Co. Clare, found dead with his phone in his hand and his earphones on last week, his family said. Initially there was mystery around Robby's sudden death but in an interview with the Irish Daily Mail yesterday, the family said that initial postmortem results found he had died as a result of acute pulmonary cardiac failure. The family expects to get more concrete results in the coming weeks. Speaking to the Mail, Robby's mother Tracy King said her son's 'personality was his greatest talent' and described how he loved to work with people and that his kindness and selflessness shone around with others. Robby was found dead last Thursday on Koh Tao, which some refer to as 'death island' due to the number of unexplained or suspicious tourist deaths there. Robby had just completed an advanced diving course on the island and was 'living his dream', friends said. Paying tribute to her son, Ms King said: 'He was a freediver and a master diver. He went out there on November 20 last year. He got two qualifications in the short time he was there.' She described her son as a 'water baby' and diving was 'all he wanted to do'. She said of his death: 'It was all very unexpected. He was in a really good place mentally and his normal self. Robby (left) pictured with his mother, Tracy, and brother, Tommy Robby was found dead last Thursday on Koh Tao, which some refer to as 'death island' due to the number of unexplained or suspicious tourist deaths there Officers said Robby was staying at a resort fewer than two miles from the Sairee Beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 - the incident which gave rise to the grim moniker 'Death Island' 'He was an absolute water baby since he started when he was 12 and he spent lots of time over in Lahinch and then went back to Inis Mor last summer. 'He just walked in one day and said, '"I am going to Thailand. I have already booked the ticket." It's all he wanted to do. That's where all the diving was,' she said. 'He was doing very, very well over there and supported himself through his [diving] qualifications. His personality was his talent and I would say to him, 'Robby, you have to be an actor or a barman' or someone who deals with the public in some way.' Robby's older brother Tommy, 28, told the Mail that he would give anything to see his younger brother again. He made the comments after a GoFundMe to return Robby's remains to Ireland reached over 43,000 in less than a week. Tommy said: 'He got to work with tourists and they loved him. He had that way about him. He was just fun and charming and people took to him.' He said the family would be 'eternally grateful' for the funds raised and the support they are receiving from neighbours and friends of Robby, but they just wished he was still with them. 'He was just a really good guy. He didn't have a bad bone in his body. He was young and the world hadn't made him cynical yet. 'He had such a good outlook. I looked up to him most because he was able to see the good in any situation,' said Tommy. 'Other than that just like any other person he struggled but he was really working on himself.' Robby's friends have since set up a crowdfunder to pay for his repatriation Robby's body is currently being kept at a temple until it can be sent for an autopsy He was discovered still holding his phone, which was connected to a wall socket and charging, police said today 'We often spoke about supporting each other and how we were going to work out the problems we had. He was doing a really good job of doing that. He was absorbing the wisdom and listening to his elders and he was doing well and now he's gone.' He added: 'You can offer me any amount of money in the world and I'd turn it down to have him back.' Tommy said that he and his family are still dealing with the Thai authorities with the help of the Irish consulate and that they hope to have Robby home by the end of the week but that it could end up being longer. He said: 'People on GoFundMe and people being around physically, it's been a great help and support and we do appreciate it. We'll be eternally grateful for the help towards his funeral.' Robby was found unresponsive after his friend knocked on his hotel door at around 11am on January 9. 'The room had not been broken into or searched, and there were no signs of any assault. He died alone in the room,' Lieutenant Colonel Theeraphat Sanjai said. Robby's friends at Dive Academy in Inis Mor, Co. Galway, set up the fundraiser to help bring the body home to his grieving mother. One of Robby's friends has decided to stay with his remains in Koh Tao so that he 'is not alone', his mother said. Robby was travelling in Thailand, 'living his dream... in the place that made him happy' Police search the room of the young traveller after a friend and staff found him unresponsive Robby was staying at the BaanTao Bungalo Resort on the Thai island Officers said Robby was staying at a resort fewer than two miles from the Sairee Beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death in September 2014 - the incident which gave rise to the grim moniker 'Death Island'. In the last decade alone, there have been more than a dozen cases of unexplained or suspicious tourist deaths on the island. Many believe that cases are covered up or not investigated properly to protect powerful local interests on the island, which has a long history of violence and corruption. A hardline Russian MP has warned that it is 'inevitable' that Russia will strike Britain directly with missiles to wipe it off the Earth. Andrey Gurulev, a reservist general and pro-Putin MP, insisted that the Kremlin would avenge the Ukrainian use of British Storm Shadow missiles against his country. He told Kremlin-controlled state television: 'There's still going to come a point where we're going to strike. It is inevitable. 'The question is simply a matter of time and decision-making. And there is no other way. 'If today Britain is hitting our territory with its missiles from Ukraine, everyone realises that they will not fly anywhere without NATO control systems and satellite navigation. The Russian defence ministry claims six Storm Shadows were fired at Bryansk region on Tuesday alone as part of Ukraine's largest aerial bombardment of the war on Vladimir Putin's territory. Moscow claimed the 2 million missiles were shot down. Another two Storm Shadows were shot down over the Black Sea, it was alleged. Today's Russian onslaught on Ukraine is seen as revenge for the strikes a day earlier which hit chemical plants and fuel facilities. But Gurulev said Putin would ultimately strike directly on Britain. Andrey Gurulev, a Russian reservist general who serves as a hardline pro-Putin MP and TV propagandist, threatened Britain with being wiped off the planet A Russian Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch on April 20, 2022 'I believe that this is a direct reason for Britain to simply not be on Earth,' he said. 'And I'm not the only one who thinks that, we're not the only ones who think that. 'I think 80 per cent of the world will clap for us. That's 100 per cent.' TV propagandists have previously suggested using Putin's new Satan-2 missile - known to the Russians as Sarmat - to obliterate Britain. This is a 208-ton intercontinental silo-launched 15,880mph hypersonic nuclear missile, the size of a 14-storey tower block. It is supposedly deployed with the Russian nuclear forces. Bryansk region was also hit with half a dozen US-supplied ATACMS missiles, according to the Russians. Earlier this week Gurulev mooted Putin and Donald Trump carving up Greenland - getting half of the territory each. He also forecast Russian seizing Spitsbergen, a Norwegian island in the Arctic where military operations are banned, and use it as a defence stronghold. TV propagandists have previously suggested using Putin's new Satan-2 missile - known to the Russians as Sarmat - to obliterate Britain (pictured, file, January 12 in Moscow) A view of a Polish donated Krab mobile howitzer for Ukrainian army in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on January 9 Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Wednesday, forcing the country to introduce preventive power cuts, the Ukrainian energy minister said. 'The enemy continues to terrorize Ukrainians,' Herman Halushchenko wrote on Facebook, urging residents to stay in shelters during the ongoing threat and follow official updates. The state energy company Ukrenergo reported emergency power outages in the Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad regions. Russian forces launched missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure in the western Lviv region early Wednesday, said the city's mayor, Andrii Sadovyi. 'During the morning attack, enemy cruise missiles were recorded in the region,' he said. No casualties or damage were reported. 'The enemy attacked the energy infrastructure of our region and Ukraine,' Andriy Sadovyi wrote on social media. 'Emergency shutdowns have been introduced in 6 regions, but Lviv is not on this list yet.' The Princess of Wales has told a cancer sufferer that she 'got so attached' to her chemotherapy port while undergoing treatment for the disease. Kate - who was visiting the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, South West London, yesterday - also joked that she 'hesitated' when medics said it could be removed. The Princess had been animatedly talking to 45-year-old patient Katherine Field, who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair. Kate - on her first major solo official engagement in over a year then gestured to her own arm and chest to discuss the 'port' mechanism used to deliver the medicine. 'I got so attached to it,' the Princess said, joking that she had hesitated when finally told 'you can have it taken out'. She is not thought to have used a cold cap herself. The 'port' - also known as a portacath or subcutaneous port is a small, implantable device that allows chemotherapy drugs to be delivered directly into a vein. The device can be left in for weeks, months or even years and when it is no longer needed, it can be taken out by a doctor or specialist nurse with an anaesthetic. Meanwhile a cold cap can be worn during some chemotherapy treatments and its cooling effect reduces blood flow to the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy medication reaching the area and helps to prevent hair loss. After making an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated to comfort fellow patients, Kate also revealed that she is now in remission from cancer. The Princess of Wales talks with Katherine Field, who who was wearing a cold cap during her chemotherapy session to preserve her hair, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London yesterday The Royal Marsden in London is where the Princess of Wales underwent treatment last year The Princess of Wales talks to Katherine Field during her visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Kate, in a written personal message following her visit, described her 'relief' and said 'there is much to look forward to'. Chemotherapy ports deliver medicine and can stay in for years An implanted port - also known as a portacath or subcutaneous port - is a small device inserted under the skin which is kept in place until chemotherapy treatment finishes. It attaches to a long thin tube which goes into a vein close to the heart or sometimes in the arm. File photograph of a chemotherapy port Medicine is given using a special needle inserted into the device through the skin, but this is not painful. The port can be felt under the skin or a small bump seen, but patients can go home with a portacath in place, and it avoids the need to have needles in the arm during each course of treatment. The device can be left in for weeks, months or even years and when it is no longer needed, it can be taken out by a doctor or specialist nurse with an anaesthetic. Advertisement It is the first time Kate has used the word remission to describe where she is in her cancer journey. The princess said, in her message which was signed 'C': 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. 'As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.' She also thanked the Royal Marsden for its 'exceptional' care and for 'looking after me so well'. 'My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn't have asked for me,' the princess added. In September, Kate told how 'doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus' as she announced the end of her chemotherapy treatment. Sufficient time has passed since the end of her chemotherapy meaning the princess can now describe herself as in 'remission'. Kate spoke candidly about her own diagnosis, the 'shock' of her 'really tough' chemotherapy and the challenges of getting back to normal as she thanked her 'amazing' medical teams for her care during her trip to the Marsden on Tuesday. The princess, on her first major solo official engagement for more than a year, hugged Tina Adumou, who broke down in tears as she told Kate that her 19-year-old daughter is in the intensive care unit. Putting an arm around her, Kate looked emotional and told her she is in the best possible place. The princess said: 'I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could do to help. I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that's going on here, and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time.' Kate added: 'Are you OK? Yes?' then said, smiling: 'There is light at the end of that tunnel. Very nice to meet you and best of luck. You are in the best of hands.' The Princess of Wales hugs Rebecca Mendelhson during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital The Princess of Wales looks up at a sign during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London The Princess of Wales talks with Kerr Melia during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Kate talks with Richard Bosworth (centre) during a visit to the Royal Marsden yesterday The engagement - the princess's first for 2025 - was described as an important and 'incredibly poignant' moment in Kate's 'personal journey'. Inside the world leading hospital where Kate had cancer treatement The Royal Marsden in London, where the Princess of Wales underwent treatment, is one of the world's leading cancer hospitals. Rated outstanding by the regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it has an international reputation for research and thrives on pioneering the use of cutting-edge cancer treatments. The Prince of Wales became president of the Royal Marsden in 2007 following in the footsteps of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. He has witnessed several operations at the hospital. In 2018, he donned surgical scrubs to watch the latest technology being used to deliver cancer care. The royals have a long-standing connection to the hospital, starting in 1910 when the Marsden was granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation by King George V. Queen Elizabeth II became patron in June 1952, followed by Diana, who became president in 1989. Kate and William have now become joint patrons of the Marsden, whose full title is the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. William most recently visited the trust's Sutton site in June 2023 to open the Oak Cancer Centre. The Marsden offers patients a range of treatments, including chemotherapy, drug therapies, radiotherapy and surgery, and may have played a role in delivering Kate's chemotherapy. It opened in 1851 as the world's first hospital dedicated to cancer diagnosis, treatment, research and education. Other people treated at the Royal Marsden include Dame Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer in 2022. A 1 million donation from the Bowelbabe Fund she set up has meant the Marsden has been able to install a state-of-the-art interventional radiology machine. This enables minimally invasive, image-guided cancer treatment for patients and also supports ongoing research. Advertisement It had not been previously disclosed that Kate was treated at the Marsden - a world-leading state-of-the-art cancer centre known for its pioneering research. The unannounced visit coincided with the news that Kate has become joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, alongside the Prince of Wales - a patronage once held by Diana, Princess of Wales. Kate said in her message: 'My hope is, that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing, we might save many more lives, and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.' In September, Kate promised to remain with all those continuing their own cancer journey 'side by side, hand in hand'. Crowds of people gathered to see the princess outside the medical treatment room, and she made an impromptu walkabout among patients and their supporters waiting in the corridor. She tightly hugged Rebecca Mendlesohn, 57, who is on a trial for secondary cancer - breast and liver. The princess, wearing a burgundy polo neck top and matching skirt, met four other cancer patients, swapping stories about their time at the Marsden as she sat alongside them in the hospital's treatment room. 'It's really tough,' she told one patient who was having chemotherapy. 'It's such a shock.' 'Everyone said to me 'Please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference',' Kate said. She added 'when I came in everyone said 'Make sure you have all your warm things (clothes) on'' because of the side-effects. Asked how she is feeling now, Kate replied that she is doing well, but spoke about life post-treatment. 'You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that's still a real challenge,' she said, and referred to 'more long-term side-effects'. Kate also spoke about the overwhelming nature of receiving a diagnosis. 'Understanding the diagnosis, it's a massive amount of information to take on as a patient,' she said. She told several patients it is important to keep 'doing the things that give you joy'. The princess joked about the novelty of going in through the main entrance of the Marsden after so many quiet visits in 'secrecy'. Ruth Bosworth, whose husband Richard, 77, is having treatment for myeloma, told the princess: 'I think you've managed the children amazingly well.' Kate replied: 'Oh, that's kind.' During a discussion on holistic care, the princess said: 'I feel like it's sometimes harder for the loved ones around us. They need support just as much as I did as the patient.' The Princess of Wales meets Scout, a therapy dog, during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital Kate talks with members of staff during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital yesterday The Princess of Wales during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London yesterday The Princess of Wales talks with Peter Burton during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital William has described 2024 as 'brutal', with his father, the King, also diagnosed with the disease. When one woman's machinery started beeping during their conversation, signalling action is needed, the princess jumped and remarked: 'I recognise that beep.' Kensington Palace stressed that the guidance around Kate's return to public-facing engagements has not changed and it will continue to be gradual. The visit to the Marsden came two days before the first anniversary of Kate's admission to the London Clinic for major abdominal surgery on January 16, 2024. NATO scrambled its warplanes early today in response to a fierce Russian bombardment of Ukraine close to its border with Poland. The Russian strikes - hitting vital energy facilities in the coldest weeks of winter - were led by Vladimir Putin's Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers. The onslaught was seen as instant revenge for Tuesday's Ukrainian aerial strikes on Russia, the heaviest of the almost three year war. In particular, Putin was rattled by Ukraine's use of British Storm Shadow and American ATACMS missiles which hit key defence facilities including a chemical plant in Bryansk region. NATO forces went on full alert in Poland with warplanes scrambled, the country's operational command headquarters said. 'Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness,' said a statement. 'The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.' President Zelensky described it as 'another massive Russian attack' and said Putin's forces had continued to focus their attacks on his country's energy infrastructure as Ukrainians face the harsh winter cold. Ukrainians take shelter in Kyiv's metro station during a Russian bombardment of the capital Kyiv and other areas of the country were targeted by the strikes early this morning The onslaught was seen as instant revenge for Tuesday's Ukrainian aerial strikes on Russia (pictured) File image shows a Rafale B standard F4 fighter jet of France's air force flies as part of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission in the Baltic States, on Dezember 17, 2024 'Among their objectives were gas and energy facilities that sustain normal life for our people,' he said. He added that more than 40 missiles had been launched in the attack, including ballistic missiles. At least 30 of these were destroyed, he said. Additionally, more than 70 Russian attack drones were launched during the night. Zelensky issued an appeal to Ukraine's western allies to rapidly shore up its air defences, stating that 'promises made by partners at the NATO summit in Washington... still remain partially unfulfilled.' Andriy Sadovyi, mayor of the western city of Lviv, said that 'during the morning attack, enemy cruise missiles were recorded on the territory of the region.' Some seven TU-22M3 and six TU-95MS strategic bombers were in the air with the Ukrainian capital Kyiv among the targets. Russia had earlier vowed to respond to Tuesday's attacks when a reported 14 Western missiles and more than 200 drones hit chemical plants, energy facilities and other defence-related targets in Russia in Ukraine's most ambitious aerial strike of the entire war. 'The actions by the Kyiv regime supported by Western handlers will trigger retaliation,' said the Russian defence ministry in a statement. Russia claimed to have shot down eight 2million Storm Shadow missiles but this could not be verified. Today Russia attacked with Kh-22 missiles, triggering emergency power outages in multiple Ukrainian regions, already hit by crippling electricity shortages due to earlier Putin strikes. Sea-launched Kalibr missiles were also deployed. Gas facilities were also hit. Herman Halushchenko, Kyiv's Energy Minister, warned: 'The enemy does not stop terrorising Ukrainians. 'Due to the mass attack, the operator of the transmission system applies preventive measures of restrictions. 'Stay tuned for official announcements. While the danger lasts - stay in shelters!' Svitlana Onishchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk military administration, said: 'The morning in Ukraine began with rocket fire. 'The enemy used various types of weapons. 'In the Carpathian region, the target was critical infrastructure facilities. Air Defence Forces were operating in the region. 'Fortunately, there were no injuries. The relevant services are working at the scene. 'The situation is under control. We thank our defenders and everyone involved in eliminating the consequences of the enemy attack.' In Kharkiv, a 52-year-old man was reportedly killed. A 56-year-old nurse from a local outpatient clinic was killed as a result of shelling of the Kherson suburb of Antonivka,said the head of the region's military administration [Oleksandr] Prokudin. Ukraine also hit Russia overnight, setting fire to a key Lukoil refinery in Volgograd. Footage showed a huge explosion at the strategic plant. A teen has drowned and two others are lucky to be alive after getting into difficulty while swimming at a popular lagoon. Emergency services rushed to Werri Lagoon near Gerringong on the NSW south coast at about 5.15pm on Wednesday following reports three teens were struggling in the water. Two aged 16 and 18 managed to get out of the water without assistance while a lifeguard pulled the other to shore unresponsive. The third boy, 14, was unable to be revived and died at the scene. 'Two teenage boys made their own way to safety with a third brought to shore by a lifeguard; however, the boy was unable to be revived,' a police statement read. 'That part of the lagoon is not patrolled.' A teenage boy drowned at Werri Lagoon, near Gerringong on Wednesday. Pictured are police speaking to onlookers Locals reported seeing multiple emergency vehicles and a rescue helicopter heading to the scene. Multiple ambulances and police cars remained in the vicinity on Wednesday night. Distressed family members were seen speaking with police and consoling each other. Two surviving teens were assessed by paramedics at the scene. Police have launched an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers. Paramedics were unable to revive the 14-year-old teen who was pulled to shore unresponsive Locals reported seeing emergency vehicles and a helicopter racing towards the lagoon shortly after 5pm It comes weeks after a woman, 66, drowned at nearby Werri Beach on December 21. A off-duty teenage lifeguard pulled the woman to shore but she was unable to be revived. At least 55 drownings across Australia have been recorded this summer since December 1. Tech billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are set to attend Donald Trump's inauguration next week, it has been revealed. NBC news reported the trio are expected to have a prominent spot at the ceremony, citing an an unnamed official source involved in planning the event for January 20. According to the source, the tech moguls' will be seated together on the platform with other notable guests, including Trump's cabinet nominees. It further highlights their efforts to develop a closer relationship with the incoming president, who has already tasked Musk with leading his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and the majority owner of X, has become one of Trump's closest allies and his planned presence at the ceremony is not a surprise. Musk shares Trump's hard-right politics and put millions of dollars into supporting his presidential campaign. Pictured: President-elect Donald Trump greets Elon Musk as he arrives to attend a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19 Pictured: US President Donald Trump with Mark Zuckerberg in the White House in September 2019 Trump has tapped Musk to co-lead an advisory commission aiming to slash federal spending and bureaucracy, which while dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, or 'DOGE,' will not be an official US agency. Bezos and Zuckerberg have less close ties with Trump, but both have made moves since the election viewed as seeking to curry favor with the president-elect, including meeting with him at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Meta CEO Zuckerberg signalled a rightward political swerve last week when he announced Facebook and Instagram would scrap fact-checking in the United States, a response to what he characterized as censorship by governments and so-called legacy media. The pivot to Trumpian talking points shocked some Meta watchers but was also in line past decisions by Zuckerberg aimed at preserving his dominance of social media. Pictured: Jeff Bezos with his fiance Lauren Sanchez at the Sunset BLVD Broadway opening night in New York In the summer, Trump threatened to put Zuckerberg in prison over Facebook's decision to ban him from the platform in 2021. Highlighting Zuckerberg's continued step into politics, he will be co-hosting a post-inauguration reception for Trump with several well-known Republican donors, according to an invitation obtained by the Puck news site Tuesday. Bezos's relationship with Trump has also seen moments of significant friction. The founder of Amazon also owns The Washington Post, one of the many newspapers Trump has railed against for years. In a decision that shocked many in US media, The Post declined to endorse a presidential candidate ahead of the November election. According to a report by the paper, Bezos intervened to block the board from publishing its editorial in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. The paper's leadership denied that report. Bezos's aerospace company Blue Origin also competes for lucrative government contracts. A mother-of-two has seen the grief of her dog's passing compounded by a delivery company losing his ashes and collar. Lisa Rooney, who lives in Forfar, Scotland, saw her beloved labrador Milo pass away last month. Following her pet's death, the 35-year-old arranged for a cremation to take place and planned to keep his ashes for their sentimental value. Ms Rooney even purchased a specially made urn to hold Milo's ashes for 75 from a company in Mansfield. However, she has now suffered double heartache after being informed that parcel delivery company Evri has lost her pet's ashes, along with his collar and favourite ball. The makers of the urn had sent the package containing Milo's ashes with the tracked delivery couriers, only for Evri to misplace the item and mark it as 'unaccounted for'. The urn had originally been placed in a secure locker in Mansfield on December 27 where Evri would then collect and transport it to Ms Rooney in Scotland. But now, over a fortnight later, the package has vanished without a trace, with its last scanning at an Evri facility occurring on January 2. Lisa Rooney, who lives in Forfar, Scotland, saw her beloved labrador Milo pass away last month Following her pet's death, Ms Rooney arranged for a cremation to take place and planned to keep his ashes for their sentimental value Ms Rooney purchased a specially made urn to hold Milo's ashes for 75 from a company in Mansfield Speaking of her devastation, the mother-of-two shared how the incident has left her feeling 'sick to her stomach'. 'I was so upset that my boy hasn't come home, but that's now turned to anger. 'A tracked package can't just disappear so where's it gone?', Ms Rooney said. Having contacted the maker of the urn, Ms Rooney received a full refund, though she states the blame should lie with Evri and not the seller. 'I wholeheartedly believe the lady who is also really upset and has refunded me the money,' said Lisa. The heartbroken dog lover added: 'Evri somehow has lost the item and has taken away all the memories I had of my precious boy. 'They are a complete shambles. 'Milo's ashes have just disappeared and all Evri can say is they are sorry and it won't happen again... Evri has ruined everything'. The urn had originally been placed in a secure locker in Mansfield on December 27 where Evri would then collect and transport it to Ms Rooney in Scotland After contacting Evri about their misplacing of Milo's ashes, Ms Rooney received an email response earlier this week in which the company accepted the package was now 'unaccounted for'. The email stated that a search of an Evri sub-depot was conducted but no urn was found and that 'due to the length of time that has passed since its last scan we must deem this parcel unaccounted for'. The courier company went on to apologise, and remarked that they understood Ms Rooney's frustrations. 'This is a lot to lose and is irreplaceable, I would feel the same way if I was in your shoes', the email read. 'We are going to investigate this further to try and prevent this from occurring again in the future'. The MailOnline has previously chronicled other Evri customer's horror stories, including a man who lost his phone and was then investigated for fraud and the company's employee who was caught poking a customer's dog with a mop. When approached for comment, an Evri spokesperson told the MailOnline: 'We recognise the irreplaceable nature of this parcel and are very sorry to Ms Rooney for the upset caused by the delay in it being delivered. 'Every one of the 730 million parcels we deliver matters to us, and we are urgently investigating to locate Milos memorial pyramid'. Amazon is set to take on Royal Mail as it launches deliveries on foot as part of a package of measures to reduce emissions amid the climate crisis. Delivery associates - as they are called by Amazon - across central London will now take to the streets with carts filled with packages instead of driving from house to house, the firm said. The pilot scheme is taking place in Hackney, Westminster and Islington and will see employees refill their carts from stocked-up vans around the city. It comes as part of a wide range of measures by Amazon to cut delivery emissions, after the firm pledged to become carbon neutral by 2040. Amazon insists the new plans will not delay or slow down deliveries, including of Prime parcels. The company is also expanding its fleet of electric vehicles and using electric rail services for the first time. But it all means Royal Mail will not be the only posties visiting Brits' homes. Michelle Gardner, Deputy Director, Policy, Logistics UK, said: 'Decarbonisation is one of the biggest challenges facing the logistics industry, as businesses seek to match the need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels with pressures from customers to maximise delivery efficiency. Employees across central London will now take to the streets with carts filled with packages instead of driving from house to house, Amazon said 'Currently, almost 90 percent of the UK's freight is moved by road, so it is important that the sector considers alternatively-fuelled vehicles and a shift to different transport modes in order to fulfil demand. 'Today's announcement from Amazon demonstrates the sector's willingness to change and its commitment to reducing overall emissions.' As well as walking deliveries, Amazon says more than 140 new electric Mercedes-Benz Truck eActros 600 trucks and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks are joining Amazon's transportation network over the next 18 months, replacing traditional fuel-driven vehicles. According to the firm, this marks the UK's largest ever order of eHGVs and will dramatically increase the fleet from its current nine vehicles. As part of the project Amazon will also install additional fast charging infrastructure across key UK sites, and the vehicles are expected to deliver around 300 million parcels per year once fully operational. Today's announcement also sees Amazon launch rail deliveries using the UK's electric network to cut down on the use of road vehicles. It estimates 20 million products will travel on Britain's rails per year. Elsewhere, electric cargo delivery bikes are being launched in Belfast and Norwich, in addition to existing schemes in London, Manchester and Glasgow. The pilot scheme is taking place in Hackney, Westminster and Islington and will see employees refill their carts from stocked-up vans around the city Amazon says more than 150 million deliveries have been made using its electric vans and cargo bikes in the UK since 2022. The delivery firm is far from the only company in the industry aiming to cut emissions - although Royal Mail is a step ahead having carried out on-foot deliveries since its inception. But Royal Mail has suffered in recent years as a decline in letters being sent in favour of parcel deliveries means it faces increasing competition from rivals such as Amazon, Evri and DPD. It comes as Royal Mail today said it remains on track to return to annual profit after a parcel boost over Christmas as its 3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky nears completion. The deal was given the go-ahead by government last year. Royal Mail saw revenues lift 2.4 percent in the three months to the end of December, with sales of parcels up 3.2 percent and a 1.4 percent rise for letters. The group said addressed letters continued to fall by volume, down 7 percent, but that this was offset by stamp price rises. Parcel sales across the UK by volume remained unchanged, at 334 million, but revenues rose 2.5 percent to 1.02 billion as prices rose, while the division was boosted by a better performance internationally, where revenues jumped 6.6 percent to 227 million. It remains to be seen whether Amazon's walking deliveries will have any effect on Royal Mail. The figures come as the takeover of IDS by Mr Kretinsky's EP Group is expected to finalise by the end of the first quarter, having been cleared by the Government last month. Nicola Fyfe, EU VP of Amazon Logistics, said: 'Decarbonising our transport network is key in helping us achieve our goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040 and today's announcement is an exciting and major step forward for us in this mission. 'The combination of our and the UK's biggest ever order of eHGVs, the UK's electric rail network now being used to transport customer packages, and the launch of restocking on the move on-foot deliveries, all alongside our partners' fleet of electric vans and e-cargo bikes, will help us move more customer orders across our fulfilment network with zero exhaust emissions. This is a win for our customers, the environment and our business.' MrBeast has joined the bid to buy TikTok in an attempt to save the popular platform from being banned in the United States, it has emerged. The YouTube star, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, seemingly joked about purchasing the platform in tweet late Sunday night. 'Okay fine, I'll buy TikTok so it doesn't get banned,' he posted on X, in a message that appeared to be nothing more than online banter. But hours later the internet star, who has more than 300million subscribers on YouTube, doubled down on the assertion, claiming he had been in contact with possible billionaire investors. 'Unironically I've had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let's see if we can pull this off,' Donaldson tweeted Monday. Donaldson did not specify who had been in touch, but sources close to him told TMZ that his team is having conversations with 'multiple parties' who have 'expressed interest in buying TikTok'. The future of TikTok's operations in US hangs in the balance, with the Chinese-owned platform planning to shut off its app for American users on Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect. Donaldson's alleged bid for partial ownership of the company comes amid reports that China is in 'secret talks' to sell TikTok to Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, who in 2022 acquired his social media X, formerly Twitter. YouTuber MrBeast - whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson - has joined the bid to buy TikTok in an attempt to save the popular platform from being banned in the United States, it has emerged. Donaldson is pictured at the TikTok House Part at VidCon in June 2022 Donaldson seemingly joked about purchasing the platform in a tweet late Sunday night But hours later the internet star, who has more than 300million subscribers on YouTube, doubled down on the assertion, claiming he had been in contact with possible billionaire investors No official deal between Donaldson and any potential investors has materialized yet, according to TMZ. But insiders familiar with the 'ongoing conversations' claim the wealthy investor groups think Donaldson would be an ideal partner for maintaining operations and expanding the business because of his 'unique success' on social media. The sources also claim that Donaldson, who has an estimated net worth of $700million, would hypothetically secure equity in TikTok and become a minority owner in the platform. However, they note it is too 'premature' to speculate exactly how much equity the influencer would actually have in the firm. With a possible TikTok ban just days away, Beijing officials have become to explore alternative options, including the involvement of Musk, who may be uniquely positioned to bridge the divide between the world's two largest economies. 'Senior Chinese officials had already begun to debate contingency plans for TikTok,' sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. One intriguing proposal involves Musk's company X taking control of TikTok's US operations. Donaldson's alleged bid for partial ownership of the company comes amid reports that China is in 'secret talks' to sell TikTok to Tesla billionaire Elon Musk (pictured in 2023). Musk in 2022 acquired his social media platform X, formerly Twitter President Joe Biden (left, pictured in July 2024) had in April last year signed a law requiring Bytedance to sell its assets by January 19, 2025 or face a nationwide ban. President-elect Donald Trump (right, pictured in December 2024) , whose inauguration takes place the day after the law goes into effect, has said he should have time after taking office to pursue a 'political resolution' to the issue With more than 170 million users, TikTok would provide Musk's platform with a massive user base and a treasure trove of data - and the perfect complement to his burgeoning AI enterprise, xAI. Such a move could help X attract advertisers while solidifying Musk's influence across social media, artificial intelligence, and global trade. Musk's ties to the incoming Trump Administration adds another layer of intrigue to the potential deal. Having donated more than $250million to Trump's re-election campaign, Musk is seen as a trusted ally by the incoming administration. It's not clear how much TikTok parent company ByteDance knows about the Chinese government discussions or whether TikTok and Musk have been involved. It's also unclear whether Musk, TikTok and ByteDance have held any talks about the terms of any possible deal, Bloomberg reports. President Joe Biden had in April last year signed a law requiring Bytedance to sell its assets by January 19, 2025 or face a nationwide ban. TikTok and Bytedance have sought, at the very least, a delay in implementation of the law. TikTok's legal team has argued that banning the app violates American's First Amendment's free speech protections. However, national security concerns, underscored by the Supreme Court justices, may outweigh those arguments. TikTok said in a court filing last month that it estimates one-third of the 170 million Americans using its app would stop accessing the platform if the ban lasts a month. TikTok faces an imminent shutdown in the United States after Congress passed a law last year forcing its Chinese owner ByteDance to either sell the platform or close it by Sunday. The US Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on TikTok's challenge to the law But last week, the Supreme Court seemed inclined to uphold the law despite calls from President-elect Donald Trump and lawmakers to extend the Jan. 19 deadline. Trump, whose inauguration takes place the day after the law goes into effect, has said he should have time after taking office to pursue a 'political resolution' to the issue. The President-elect has 14.7 million followers on TikTok. Trump's plan to delay TikTok's ban until he assumes office on January 20 suggests Musk's potential acquisition could be a strategic point of negotiation between Washington and Beijing. Aside from all the geopolitical and economic implications, a deal between TikTok and Musk might even go so far as to reshape the relationship between China and the United States, experts have suggested. January 14, 2025: The tragedy began eleven years ago on February 27th when Ukrainians demonstrated in the capital Kyiv. This became known as the Euromaidan protests, which ousted pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych because he refused to sign a trade agreement with the European Union or EU. With Yanukovych gone, Ukraine returned to its 2004 Constitution, which was amended in 2019 to include seeking to join the EU and NATO. The Russian response was to invade Ukraine in February 2014 and seize Crimea while Russian soldiers in civilian clothes and pro-Russian locals seized most of the eastern Ukraine Donbas region, This area contained most of two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, which local Russians renamed Donetsk People's Republic or DPR and the Luhansk People's Republic or LPR. Russia recognized the two as independent states and began sending in more Russian soldiers dressed as civilians along with more weapons and munitions. Ukraine quickly mobilized soldiers and volunteer militias to stop the two new republics from expanding. Meanwhile Russia annexed Crimea and made it part of Russia. Thousands of Russians lived in Crimea, where Ukraine had leased the Russian Navy the port of Sebastopol as a base for the Black Sea Fleet. The Russians in the port included members of the Spetsnaz, the Russian special operation force. The Spetsnaz operatives managed the fake referendum that justified Russia annexing Crimea. Crimea and the Donbas had ethnic Russian minorities that comprised about half the population in these areas. That made it easier for Russia to organize local militias to fight for Russia. Ukrainian Russians who refused were sent to Russia and persuaded to become pro-Russian. The Russian government and its leader Vladimir Putin has warned the West to not get involved in Ukraine as otherwise Russia would consider using its nuclear weapons to protect Russian interests. This was a frightening development because Russia had, since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 cooperated in dismantling most of its nuclear weapons. The West provided billions in aid and technical assistance to help with this effort. Ukraine also agreed to give up the Soviet nukes it inherited in return for cash and a promise from Russia that Russia would never take advantage of the surrendered Ukrainian nukes to try and regain control of Ukraine. Russia ignored all the evidence, from inside Russia and Ukraine, that its officials were lying about successful Russian efforts to grab Crimea and Donbas. The rest of the world feared this might lead to a nuclear war. At the very least it has become clear that the Russians felt they had the right to grab territory from neighbors and were willing to see themselves destroyed in a nuclear exchange if the rest of the world did not give in. Eventually this was revealed to be a Russian bluff, even though Putin would regularly threaten to go nuclear if he didnt get his way. The low level fighting in Donbas continued from 2014 to 2022 and left about 11,000 dead, 59 percent of them pro-Russian. Over 300,000 Ukrainians were driven from their homes, many of them ending up in refugee camps. The Ukrainian military tried to get organized. Since Ukraine became independent in 1991 the military had been crippled by small budgets, corruption and a general attitude that military effectiveness was not important. Until the 2014 Russian invasion it was believed that the 1994 treaty with Russia and guaranteed by the United States and Britain would be honored and Russia would not invade. When it became obvious that Russia was reneging on that deal it was too late to quickly undo two decades of military mismanagement. There are too few officers who were honest and competent enough to get things done, like buying ammunition, recruiting and training troops and leading them into combat effectively. Despite that, between 2014 and 2022 Ukraine trained troops for combat, organized special counter-terror and urban combat units as quickly as it could and sent them off to Donbas. The United States and NATO provided help unofficially since there was not yet a formal military alliance with Ukraine. The main problem was that by 2021 Russia had about ten times as many troops as Ukraine and for over a decade has been concentrating on getting theirs trained, equipped and in shape for combat. Ukraine had been at it for less than ten years. Thus when Russia sends in troops, which it did regularly between 2014 and 2022, the less competent Ukrainian forces had a hard time dealing with that. Russia was still reluctant to send in a larger force or one or two combat brigades and still pretended that the Donbas rebels were locals. Most of them were Russians, and most of those were Russian Federal Republic soldiers, including a number of the Spetsnaz operatives that keep rebels organized and functioning. That had been difficult with the Ukrainian August 2014 offensive which caused many of the local separatists to desert. This apparently caused Russia to send in troops rather than risk seeing the pro-Russian rebels crushed. Russia was feeling a lot more internal opposition as families of Russian soldiers killed or captured inside Ukraine demanded information and explanations from the government. The state-controlled media kept this out of their news coverage but Russians published cell phone videos of the anguished families, and even Russian soldiers, contradicting the official government line that there were no Russian troops in Ukraine. This happened despite the families of dead or missing soldiers being warned to keep quiet, especially when foreign media was involved, about their loss or what they have learned. Some of the few remaining independent TV and radio stations also went public with what was really happening in eastern Ukraine. Hundreds of Russian troops had been killed, wounded or captured in eastern Ukraine and efforts to keep the troops and their families quiet were not working. Among Russians there was a lot of unhappiness with what their government was doing. Even some of the major Russian businessmen urged their government to reconsider. The businessmen, along with government and non-government economists, warned that the sanctions and loss of trust from the rest of the world would do enormous damage to the Russian economy. Senior government officials insisted that the West would back down and leave Ukraine with no choice but to let go of whatever territory Russia wanted. Most Russians were also appalled at their government's threat to use nuclear weapons. Nevertheless the idea of rebuilding the Russian Empire is popular with most Russians, especially older ones. The 28 nations of the EU were divided on how far to go with EU wide economic sanctions. Some of the smaller nations do not want to suffer the economic pain the trade sanctions would cause them. The major trading nations especially the U.S. and Germany imposed their own sanctions and those hurt Russia the most. Moreover America, Britain and Germany, the major banking countries also made it more difficult for Russian banks to get desperately needed credit. Russia increasingly turned to China for help. But this made many Russian leaders nervous as China could make demands as payback for such aid and do it sooner rather than later. China has long-held territorial claims and much of the Russian Far East and wants more access to Russian markets and technology. Chinese help could cost more than Russia can afford in the long run. August 23rd 2014 was the 75th anniversary of the secret, for a while Nazi-Soviet treaty in which the two dictatorships agreed to divide up East Europe. Thus when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, so did the Russians and each side knew where to stop and who would have what. Russia then seized the Baltic States and tried to take Finland, which defeated that invasion. This treaty ended in 1941 when Germany reneged and invaded Russia. Europeans dont like to dwell on the fact that they tried to negotiate with the Nazis and that allowed Germany to take a lot of territory without any interference from the major powers France and Britain. What happened in the late 1930s was happening again in 2014 Ukraine. Not the exact same situation. In 2014 Germany was one of the pro-Ukraine powers and Russia is not as powerful, relatively, as the Soviet Union was back then. But the fundamentals are the same with a dictatorship pretending to be a democracy using all manner of subterfuge and deceit to justify aggression against a neighbor. In 2014 it was Ukraine but in 2008 Russia went after tiny Georgia and forced them to do what Russia wanted rather than what Georgians wanted. Then as now European nations are reluctant to confront the aggressor. The Russian threat to use their nukes is real, if remote. The fear of economic damage at home, even if it hurts Russia more from the use of sanctions against Russia, is a more immediate excuse to do nothing. Some EU members wanted to do as little as possible for Ukraine to avoid Russian economic retaliation. Russia is a major trading partner with Western Europe and imposing sanctions caused lost business and unemployment in Europe. For European politicians the memory of what happened in the Great Depression of the 1930s is not as important as getting reelected. Moreover, many European leaders believed their Russian counterparts were desperate and not willing to take the public backlash in Russia if they backed off on Russias aggression and allowed Ukraine to keep its territory intact. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has never hidden his contempt for Western leaders and his belief that in a test of wills Russia will win and the West will back off, just as they did in 1939. The growing list of sanctions against Russia hit the Russian arms industry particularly hard because new Russian weapons depend on Western suppliers for some of the high tech components needed. China took advantage of this by pointing out that China has become a major producer of high-end electronic and mechanical components and could probably replace Western suppliers now unavailable because of the sanctions. While Russia does not buy a lot of foreign weapons it does buy a lot of electronic components from the West. A lot of these items are dual use items that China and other East Asian countries also manufacture a lot of. China initially backed Russian efforts to annex parts of Ukraine. China believes they can replace enough Western suppliers to Russia to create about a billion dollars a year in additional business for Chinese firms. By September 2014 the Ukrainian army had sent more troops to Donbas to keep defensive operations going. Ukraine also carried out a prisoner swap with Russia, sending back nine Russian paratroopers in return for 63 captured Ukrainian soldiers. Russian leaders were using a new term, New Russia to describe what they were doing in Ukraine and, without saying so, planned to do elsewhere. The objective was to restore the old Russian Empire. It was built by the czars over several centuries, taken over by the communists in the 1920s and then lost by the communists in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. This caused half the Soviet population to leave for newly formed nations. Current Russian leaders, especially Vladimir Putin, are quite explicit in describing this loss of empire as the greatest tragedy of the 20th century. Many Russians agree, although most of the people in the 14 new nations created from the wreckage of that empire do not agree. Putin initially called for Ukraine to negotiate autonomy and eventually statehood for Donbas. That would be followed by Donbas asking to join the New Russia. Ukraine responded by reviving conscription. It was only in 2013 that the always unpopular conscription was eliminated and the military went over to an all-volunteer force. Then came the Russian invasion. Before the end of 2014 over 100,000 young men were to be conscripted. It takes time to train new recruits and Ukraine asked NATO to supply trainers because many of the Ukrainian soldiers who would normally handle that were off fighting the Russians. Ukrainians were also discussing joining NATO, something many Ukrainians opposed in the past because there was fear it would make Russia very angry. That anger is no longer an issue but a reality and belonging to NATO seems one way, although a risky one, to keep the Russians out. The fighting in Donbas was still going on in 2022 when Russia invaded northern Ukraine, hoping to quickly capture the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. That did not work out and Russia lost most of their modern tanks in that failed offensive. The surviving Russian troops were moved to Donbas, which has been a major front in the continuing Ukraine War. Its unclear how this will end. Putin says he will fight a forever war until NATO countries tire of supporting Ukraine and ignore Russia conquering Ukraine. The Ukrainians insist they will keep fighting no matter what. To Ukrainians, the only thing worse than fighting Russians is being ruled by them. Keir Starmer is facing a backlash over his judgment in making his close friend Tulip Siddiq anti-corruption minister - after she was forced to quit. The Treasury minister announced her resignation to avoid being a 'distraction' to the government after a sleaze probe said her behaviour was 'regrettable'. Sir Keir's independent adviser Sir Laurie Magnus concluded there was no evidence of 'improprieties' or that the ministerial code had been broken. But he suggested Ms Siddiq should have been more alert to the risks of her family ties to the deposed former PM of Bangladesh. He also revealed that Ms Siddiq had been unable to produce conclusive evidence that the tax and funding arrangements for the houses she used that were connected to Sheikh Hasina were 'in order'. Despite Sir Laurie's findings, the PM told her that the 'door remains open' for a comeback to government. In a letter to Keir Starmer, Tulip Siddiq stressed that the independent adviser had found she did not breach the ministerial code Ms Siddiq and Sir Keir, whose constituencies neighbour each other, at the election count in 2015 Ms Siddiq acknowledged that continuing as a Treasury minister would be a 'distraction from the work of the Government' In her resignation letter, Ms Siddiq stressed she did not act 'improperly' and had provided 'full details of her relationships and private interests' to the Government. But she acknowledged that staying as a Treasury minister would be a 'distraction from the work of the Government' Sir Keir is facing questions about his judgment in appointing Ms Siddiq, including from his own side. 'It was an own goal,' one Labour MP told the Guardian. 'Everybody knew she was a member of Bangladesh's political dynasty with links to huge power and money. 'Who on earth thought it was a good idea drawing attention to all that by giving her that job?' But touring broadcast studios this morning, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told Times Radio it showed that the ministerial standards watchdog 'process is working'. 'I don't think there's a question about the Prime Minister's judgment,' he said. 'The independent process has been followed. It concluded, and Tulip took the decision to step down from Government.' He said the developments showed that 'the process is working'. The day before her departure, No 10 voiced 'full confidence' in Ms Siddiq in spite of several weeks of damaging headlines. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of 'weak' leadership and questioned whether he had delayed the process due to his friendship with the minister. She said: 'It was clear at the weekend that the anti-corruption minister's position was completely untenable. Yet Keir Starmer dithered and delayed to protect his close friend... 'Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.' Ms Siddiq (left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right) in 2013 Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Bangladesh's prime minister in August amid allegations of corruption and brutality. Ms Siddiq and members of her family are under investigation by an anti-corruption commission set up by the new government in Dhaka. She was alleged to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which billions are said to have been embezzled. She has also been named in a second investigation into the illegal allocation of land to members of her family during her time as an MP. Ms Siddiq referred herself to Sir Laurie last week following mounting questions about her use of properties connected to her aunt. In her resignation letter, she cited the row over her connections as a 'distraction' to the Government. A high-flying couple who won a millionaires' war over their neighbour's noisy wooden floor have failed in a second court battle. Businessman Sergey Grazhdankin, 44, and his wife, Maria, claimed their lives in a gated art deco development in West Kensington, London, became 'torture' after new neighbours moved into the 1.1million flat apartment above them in 2018. Mr Grazhdankin, who runs an insurance services company, sued his neighbours, City banker Medhi Guissi and his wife Meriem El Harouchi, after they ripped up the carpets and installed new wooden flooring, leading to 'unbearable' noise. The Grazhdankins claimed their lives were made a 'torture' by the everyday noises of the young family on the uncarpeted floor upstairs - including kids playing and crying, creaking joists, footsteps and noisy conversations. The bitter neighbour row first reached court in 2023, when a judge ruled in favour of the Grazhdankins, ordering that their noisy neighbours fork out 16,087 in compensation for the time up to when carpets were relaid. Despite his victory in November that year, Mr Grazhdankin returned to the High Court, where he argued that the carpets had not solved the problem of his neighbours' 'creaking' floors and that they needed to be taken up and fixed. Appealing against the earlier finding that the ongoing creaking is no more than can be expected in the flats, he claimed that his neighbours should be forced to do work to fix the noisy floors. However, after a hearing at the High Court, Mr Justice Adam Johnson rejected his bid, saying that the lower judge had considered the creaking floors properly and found the noise was 'not outside the norm.' Sergey Grazhdankin and his wife Maria (both pictured) claimed they'd been 'tortured' by the noise of Mehdi Guissi's family and their creaking floorboards above. A judge ruled in their favour in November 2023 Mr Grazhdankin, who runs an insurance services company, sued his neighbours, City banker Medhi Guissi (pictured) and his wife Meriem El Harouchi. The legal battle continues to rumble on Mr Grazhdankin returned to the High Court, claiming that the new carpets have made no difference. Pictured: The wooden flooring in the West Kensington flat During the initial trial in 2023, Central London County Court heard Mr and Mrs Grazhdankin moved into their fourth floor flat in North End House, Fitzjames Lane, in 2011, before their neighbours bought the apartment upstairs for 1.1m in 2018. Previously, the Grazhdankins had an elderly lady living above them and told the court that they very rarely heard noise from upstairs, other than the occasional banging of a door. But after Mr Guissi and his wife bought the property, they began a major refurbishment of the flat, tearing out walls, changing the layout of the rooms and replacing the floor. In place of the carpeted floor which the former owner had, they installed a wooden floor, with a floating acoustic barrier in an attempt to alleviate any noise. However, the Grazhdankins complained that the acoustic floor was fitted incorrectly, with screws being driven through it and into the joists, against the specific instructions of the manufacturers. The 'incorrect' installation of the floor resulted in creaking and the constant passage of impact and airborne sound from above, they said. In a statement written at the time and put before the court, Mr Grazhdankin said that, after a year living in Germany, he and his family had moved back into the flat in August 2020. Once back in the apartment, he and his marketing manager wife had found the noise 'unbearable,' he said. Mr Grazhdankin and his wife, who is a marketing manager, moved into their fourth floor flat in North End House (pictured) in 2011. Their neighbours bought the apartment upstairs for 1.1million in 2018 'During the week, we are woken up daily between 5.30am and 7.30am by the noise from above and we can hear the floor making creaking sounds, walking sounds and the sound of moving furniture right above our main bedroom,' he said. 'On weekends we are woken up between 7am and 8am by walking, banging, jumping sounds, children running and voices. 'During the day, throughout the whole week, there is a lot of noise of similar nature, being creaking floor, walking, dropping things on the floor, moving objects on the floor, children crying, shouting and voices. 'This is experienced especially between 2pm and 10pm. 'Overall, living in our apartment feels like living in a shared apartment with another family. It is impossible to have our peace and live in our own rhythm.' 'Living with this every day since we moved is torture,' he added from the witness box. His wife said the only time they were free from the noise above was after Mr Guissi and his family go to bed, which can be after 10pm at night, making the Grazhdankins dependent on their neighbours' daily schedule. 'We live with our neighbours in the most direct way of speech as we are always disturbed by the sounds of their daily life in their apartment,' she said in a statement. 'We are automatically able to tell not only if they're at home but also who exactly of the family is at home, which room they're in and sometimes what kind of activity they are engaged in. 'It feels depressing because I do not have a feeling of privacy, peace and quiet in my own home.' After Mr Guissi and his wife bought the property, they began a major refurbishment of the flat (pictured), tearing out walls, changing the layout of the rooms and replacing the floor Mr Guissi and Mrs El Harouchi eventually had carpets fitted in most areas of their flat, but the Grazhdankins pressed ahead with the 'nuisance' claim against them. Ruling, Judge Tracey Bloom handed victory to the Grazhdankins, finding that the noise they suffered after their neighbours tore up the old carpets was 'unbearable' and kept them awake at night. The Grazhdankins had been 'clearly distressed' by the noise, which was the result of sound restricting flooring being incorrectly installed, meaning it was as much use as a 'piece of plywood' laid across the floorboards, the judge said. She awarded them 16,087 in compensation, but crucially agreed with one expert witness who said that any ongoing creaking noise after the carpets were laid was not so bad that it constituted a 'nuisance' in law. At the High Court, their barrister Mark Lorell fought on, complaining that despite being 'very critical' of the upstairs floor, Judge Bloom had wrongly 'allowed it to stay in place.' He said there could be 'no comparison' between what the Grazhdankins were experiencing and what could be considered 'common creaking in a house.' 'The judge evaluated the evidence in a way no reasonable judge could have done,' he argued. 'She made her decision based on the fact she believes this creaking appears all over the property - and there is no evidence of that whatsoever.' But now rejecting the Grazhdankins' application to appeal, Mr Justice Adam Johnson said he considered there was 'no realistic prospect' of them winning. 'The appeal here is really against the judge's evaluation of the evidence on the question whether, once carpeting had been installed, ongoing creaking amounted to a continuing nuisance,' he said. 'The evidence before the judge included the results of testing by [two experts] Mr Rogers and Mr Anderson, the upshot of which was that both could detect some level of creaking. 'The difference between them was that Mr Rogers thought this a significant issue and Mr Anderson thought it not. 'It seems to me the view that Mr Anderson was expressing was that the level of noise he had detected was not outside the norm and was consistent with what he would expect in a property of this type. 'It is clear that the judge preferred the evidence of Mr Anderson on this and other topics. The core question is whether she was entitled to take that view. 'I am far from satisfied that the judge can be criticised...I decline to grant permission to appeal.' The decision means the Grazhdankins' neighbours can keep their floors in place. Britain's top employers have been named following an in-depth survey of company reviews - and those with flexible work-from-home policies are among the top performers. The research, conducted by employee development platform Zensai, analysed reviews of companies on Glassdoor - an online platform where people can rate their company based on eight 'workplace factors'. Scores for each category, which include culture and values, diversity and inclusion, compensation and benefits, and career opportunities, were weighted and then added together to give an index score out of 100 for each workplace. Only companies with over 100 reviews were surveyed, with just over 200 firms narrowed down into the top 100. The list includes a range of employers from the public and private sector, including well know brands such as Coca-Cola and Apple and even some top universities and local councils. But the best performers appear to be those with flexible working arrangements - ranging from hybrid arrangements mixing home and office work through to full-time WFH. Octopus Energy ranked as the best company to work for, topping the list with a score of 87.16, despite being founded in the UK less than a decade ago. The renewable energy provider, led by CEO Greg Jackson, boasts on its website that it employs 'authentic humans' who work 'with freedom and responsibility', with many employees praising the firm for its flexibility in allowing them to work from home. Octopus Energy has been ranked as the best company to work in a list of Britain's top 100 employers (Stock image) The renewable energy provider's CEO Greg Jackson is pictured with Chancellor Rachel Reeves Your browser does not support iframes. Meanwhile, the lesser known Bain & Company - a management consulting firm based in Boston - ranked second with a score of 85.92. The company, which was founded in 1973, also offers a hybrid of remote and in office working, claiming employees' choice of the two is dependant on 'the situation, the team, your growth, and the client'. Well known employers including Mastercard (82) and Salesforce (81.93) ranked second and third, respectively, while Google (80.30) came in seventh, and Redbull (78.99) just scraped into the top ten. Among those companies to be ranked were a host of UK universities, with the University of Sheffield being voted as the best higher education provider to work at with a score of 75.89. The University of Warwick (69.81) was second in terms of university rankings, having come in at 29th on the list, one place ahead of the University of Leeds (69.17). Tech giant Microsoft (68.88) outperformed its rival Apple (68.87), beating it by just 0.01, ranking them 31st and 32nd, respectively. While the Tube may not always be as reliable as some would hope, its employees seem to find it a welcoming place to work, with the London Underground ranking 53rd on the list with a score of 65.58. Parent company Transport for London only just made the cut, ranking 89th with a score of 59.33. Global brands including Coca-Cola (61.82) and Nike (61.73) also made it onto the list at 73rd and 75th, respectively, ahead of British consumer goods company Unilever (60.39), which ranked 83rd. Commenting on the findings, Rasmus Holst, Chief Executive Officer of Zensai said: 'It's inspiring to see organisations like Octopus Energy and Bain & Company leading the way in fostering positive work environments. Well known employers including Mastercard (82) and Salesforce (81.93) ranked second and third, respectively, while Google (80.30) came in seventh. Pictured: Google's headquarters in Mountain View in the US Among those companies to be ranked were a host of UK universities, with the University of Sheffield (pictured) being voted as the best higher education provider to work at While the Tube may not always be as reliable as some would hope, its employees seem to find it a welcoming place to work, with the London Underground ranking 53rd on the list (Stock image) 'It is also interesting to see so many tech and software companies show up in this top ten listing of the best places to work in the UK. 'While salary is important, employees clearly also prioritise their well-being, as well as company culture and values when choosing where to work.' Keir Starmer's Government is currently looking to pass legislation aimed at strengthening workers rights at work through measures such as abolishing zero hours contracts. The Employment Rights Bill will bring in guaranteed hours provisions on zero-hours contracts and allow workers to bring unfair dismissal claims from the first day of employment. But, while the Bill has been hailed an handing more power to employees, 92 per cent of small employers say they are concerned at the impact it will have on them. A poll from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) also found 67 per cent plan to recruit fewer staff, 56 per cent will cancel or scale down plans for expansion and 32 per cent look set to reduce staff headcount due to the measures. One of the main concerns cited in the Bill is changes to unfair dismissal legislation, which would expand the grounds for employees to take their new employer to a tribunal from their first day in the job. The majority say they will avoid hiring those with a poor work history, with just under half of small businesses reluctant to employ anyone out of work or who havent previously had a job before. A retiree has revealed the huge amount of money he was able to saved while working as a truck and public transport driver, back when living costs were low. The unnamed man, 84, from New Zealand, told home financing company Coposit he had amassed a whopping $2.3million. The man was interviewed in a TikTok video while sitting on bench in Sydney and was initially wary about revealing his nest egg, asking the interviewer if she 'really wanted to know'. When asked how he accumulated such impressive savings, the man replied it had been done by 'working hard and investing in property' while driving trucks, trams and buses in Wellington. 'I invested some money which I trebled and that gave me a chance to build on,' he said. The man also revealed that he bought his first house 30 years ago. He admitted the property market was 'a lot better than what it is now'. However, he thought people could still set themselves up financially these days, despite the higher cost-of-living and expensive real estate. An elderly man has stunned TikTok viewers by revealing he has stashed away $2.3million 'It's up to them if they want to work then they can work and they can get to make money,' he said. 'But if they don't want to work, people who are on the dole ... 'We used to have taxis in the Wellington area. We used to take four or five people home - all on on the dole - who were getting more money a week than what we were getting.' He had some advice to those wanting to build similar riches. 'Save up or else capitalise with the bank, borrow yourself right up to the hilt with a house and then within 18 months sell it when it starts going up,' the man said. Several social media users thought his advice was less applicable now. 'That generation - if you bought property, you are now sweet,' one said. 'I'm guessing he's talking about Wellington, New Zealand, and it's a lot more expensive now I think the average house is over 900K,' another commented. 'He didn't work any harder than we are now.. he was just born at the right time,' another said. '90k on a house .. pay it off then just buy up the property market.' Others shared tongue-in-cheek respones. 'Can you be my grandpa?' one said. 'Is he single?' another hopeful asked. Celebrity chef Tom Kitchin has made the 'very tough decision' to close one of his restaurants after two years, explaining he had 'no option' amid rising financial costs. Kora by Tom Kitchin opened its doors in the summer of 2022 in Edinburgh, where the 47-year-old was born and bred. The other restaurants in his portfolio - The Kitchin and The Scran & Scallie - also located in Edinburgh, as well as Bonnie Badger, in Gullane, East Lothian, are operating as usual. But the chef has called time on Kora for now, explaining the economic climate contributed to his decision and he hopes to 'bring the concept back one day'. In a post on Instagram, he wrote: 'Thank you to everyone who has supported KORA over the years. 'We have made the very tough decision to wrap KORA up at the end of this month.. 'KORA by Tom Kitchin has always been a restaurant which we felt really passionate about and we are proud of the great food, service and experiences we have provided to our guests over the past few years. 'Our regular diners and our suppliers have been instrumental in KORAs success. Celebrity chef Tom Kitchin has made the 'very tough decision' to close one of his restaurants after two years, explaining he had 'no option' amid rising financial costs Kora by Tom Kitchin opened its doors in the summer of 2022 in Edinburgh , where the 47-year-old was born and bred The chef has called time on Kora for now, explaining the economic climate contributed to his decision and he hopes to 'bring the concept back one day' 'Our incredible team has really shown visitors to Edinburgh how incredible Scottish fare is and how proud we are to promote Scottish hospitality. 'We have every intention to bring the KORA concept back to Edinburgh one day, but there is no hiding that the current economic climate contribute to this difficult decision. 'We have no option but to exercise our lease break clause which is now due.' He added that any unexpired gift vouchers purchased will be honoured in the restaurant's sister venues. The statement ended with a thanks to 'everyone who made Kora by Tom Kitchin such a special, happy place to so many of us. The memories will always live on.' Kitchin began his career at the age of 18 at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, before going on to three Michelin star restaurant, La Tante Claire, in London's Chelsea, under the mentorship of Pierre Koffman. Aged 29, he became one of the youngest recipients of a Michelin star when his flagship restaurant, The Kitchin, achieved the award in 2007. Kitchin has faced tough financial situations previously, having had to close the doors of the Castle Terrace restaurant in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Kitchin said he had been 'proud to promote Scottish hospitality' through his restaurant Inside Kitchin's restaurant, Kora, which is calling time after two years in the Scottish capital Kitchin blamed the current economic climate for his latest restaurant closure Speaking to MailOnline in 2022, Kitchin, who was a vocal critic of Scotland's pandemic lockdown measures, said: 'Restaurant businesses don't have millions in the bank, it's all about cash flow. 'In your darkest moments you are thinking are you going to have to liquidate everything and there were times we thought we might not be able to open up again.' Last February, hospitality chiefs in Scotland spoke out against the Scottish Governments refusal to offer any relief from sky-high rates, claiming they were doing little to support the sector. Hundreds of bars, restaurants and hotels have shut down or been left teetering on the brink because of the SNPs punishing tax regime, they claimed. It is estimated that nearly 3,000 hospitality businesses closed in the UK in 2023, many of them north of the Border. Kitchin is also not the only celebrity chef to have considered closing his restaurant because of spiralling costs. Last week, Giorgio Locatelli, star of hit Channel 4 show Celeb Cooking School, took to social media to say his Italian venue Locanda Locatelli had shut for good. Mr Locatelli, 61, opened the establishment, Located within the Hyatt Regency the Churchill on Seymour Street, with his wife Plaxy in 2002 and received a Michelin star one year later. Craig Rogan (pictured) shut the doors on The Collective in Leeds and claimed the decision was 'out of his hands' The eatery had garnered a strong local following since opening, with punters celebrating its modern take on British cuisine It was regarded as one of London's best Italian restaurants and also one of its priciest, with mains usually priced in the 30 to 50 range. In November, Craig Rogan shut the doors on The Collective in Leeds and claimed the decision was 'out of his hands'. The eatery had garnered a strong local following since opening, with diners celebrating its modern take on British cuisine. Their innovative dishes and commitment to sustainability earned them a coveted place in the Michelin Guide 2024 - the only new restaurant to be added from the Yorkshire city this year. In a heartfelt statement on Instagram, Mr Rogan and his team said they had intended to honour their bookings until the end of 2024, but 'mounting operational costs' had forced them to close abruptly. The statement read: 'It is with a heavy heart that we share this update with you 'After long negotiations, the landlord made the decision to close our doors overnight.' The statement continued: 'We've worked tirelessly to keep our vision alive, exploring every possible option to move forward. Giorgio Locatelli, star of hit Channel 4 show Celeb Cooking School, took to social media to say his Italian venue Locanda Locatelli had shut for good The reasons behind the decision remain unclear, but the eatery did hint at a 'new project' in the future when addressing their customers in a statement released on their website 'However, the recent budget and ongoing economic challenges have made it clear that continuing to trade in our current location is no longer feasible.' Last January, Michel Roux Jr closed the doors on his iconic restaurant Gavroche after 56 years in business, while former Masterchef finalist Tony Rodd was forced to close his restaurant in Blackheath. In October, MasterChef winner Simon Wood announced the sudden closure of his Michelin Star-recommended restaurant amid rent arrears and ballooning costs. According to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by accountancy firm Price Bailey, 1,932 restaurants entered insolvency in 2023, equating to an average of more than five closures per day. Matt Howard, Head of the Insolvency and Recovery at Price Bailey, said many hospitality businesses were on 'life support'. He said: 'Many hospitality businesses are on life support, and with the services sector leading the way into recession, business failures in the restaurant trade are likely to continue to rise throughout 2024. 'As rates have risen banks are piling pressure on restaurants to make capital as well as interest repayments on loans. This has proved the final nail in the coffin for many restaurants.' A prison nurse who helped inmates smuggle in mobile phones for drug dealing has avoided jail because her family 'needs her'. Kimberly Finn was an agency nurse at HMP Durham when she agreed to pass a package to an inmate during a consultation so he could give it to another prisoner, who she went to school with. Newcastle Crown court heard the illegal deal was exposed when a cell search was carried out at HMP Northumberland and staff found a phone containing damning conversations about drugs and contraband being taken into and transferred between prisons. Finn had previously warned her co-conspirators to be careful, telling them: 'Delete chats lads, wise heads on'. As a result of what was revealed on the handset, five people were implicated over the racket and have now been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court. Prosecutor Deborah Smithies told the court a search was conducted in August 2022 in a cell at HMP Northumberland. Staff found a Samsung phone, hidden inside a speaker, which contained a large volume of messages as well as WhatsApp, Snapchat and TikTok accounts. Ms Smithies said the messages on that phone contained conversations about drug dealing but also a specific arrangement for inmate Gladstone Allen to carry a package of contraband with him when he was transferred from HMP Durham to HMP Northumberland, with the help of Finn. Kimberly Finn was an agency nurse at HMP Durham when she agreed to pass a package to an inmate during a consultation so he could give it to another prisoner, who she went to school with Drugs were recovered as part of the investigation into the smuggling operation, which involved an inmate Finn had previously been to school with The plan hinged on inmate Gladstone Allen carrying the package as he was transferred from HMP Durham (pictured) to HMP Northumberland The court heard the inmate owner of the phone had previously been at school with Finn. Ms Smithies said: 'He had been in touch with her and on June 26 she set up new accounts on Snapchat and TikTok. On July 15 she added him as a contact on Snapchat.' The court heard phone records show Finn spoke to the former schoolmate, who was also in contact with others both inside and outside prison. Miss Smithies said: 'The group were making arrangements for the movement of a contraband package, firstly into HMP Durham where Kimberly Finn worked, then via Gladstone Allen into HMP Northumberland.' The court heard the inmates knew Allen had a court hearing coming up and would be temporarily transferred from HMP Northumberland to HMP Durham, just for the duration of that case. Ms Smithies added: 'The plan was for the nurse Kimberly Finn to hand the package to Gladstone Allen at Durham then for Allen to bring that package with him on transfer back to HMP Northumberland.' During one conversation on the phone, Finn said: 'Yes, I need you to come to the hatch and ask me to look at something so I can get you in and do it that way.' She also said: 'Delete chats lads, wise heads on.' Also smuggled in the illegal package was a quantity of drugs, although the court heard Finn was not aware of this Kalvin Thomas, of South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison. He was sentenced to 26 weeks suspended for 18 months with 150 hours unpaid work Alexandra Wallace, of Houghton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and conspiracy to supply drugs. She was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation requirements The court heard the conversations revealed Allen made the trip from HMP Durham to HMP Northumberland with a package containing a phone and drugs, namely monkey dust and pregabalin tablets. Prosecutors accept Finn was aware only of the phone being transferred to her former schoolmate and was not involved in the supply of drugs. Officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), who had worked alongside Counter Corruption Teams at HM Prison Northumberland and HM Prison Durham, spent hundreds of hours downloading, decoding and reviewing voice notes, images, texts and emails found on the original phone. The enquiries uncovered more people involved with the group, including Peter Swinney, 23, Alexandra Wallace, 30, and Kalvin Thomas, 26. Judge Gavin Doig said any member of prison staff who gets involved in supplying contraband faces being put behind bars. But the judge said Finn, 33, of Boldon, South Tyneside, who admitted conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison, was employed at the jail by chance through an agency, and had worked hard to gain nursing qualifications as a single mother. Judge Doig said Finn has a family who needs her and the 'exceptional' mitigation in her case meant her nine-month jail term was suspended for 18 months, with rehabilitation requirements. Allen, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison and one count of conveying prohibited articles into prison. He was sentenced to 14 months behind bars. Scott Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and conspiracy to supply drugs. He was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars Peter Swinney, of South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison, two counts of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and one count of possession with intent to supply. He was sentenced to six years and three months behind bars Kalvin Thomas, of South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison. He was sentenced to 26 weeks suspended for 18 months with 150 hours unpaid work. Peter Swinney, of South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply drugs into prison, two counts of conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and one count of possession with intent to supply. He was sentenced to six years and three months behind bars. Alexandra Wallace, of Houghton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and conspiracy to supply drugs. She was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation requirements. Scott Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison and conspiracy to supply drugs. He was sentenced to two years and four months behind bars. The court heard the defendants became involved through pressure or debt. NEROCU Detective Inspector Gaye Martin, said: 'This is just part of the continued work with our prison partners to address drug supply behind bars and target anyone involved. 'This has been the result of years of hard work, and I want to thank everyone who has dedicated their time to getting justice. 'Criminals often think they can continue their criminal operations once in prison but that is not the case our work doesn't end with a conviction, and we continue to dismantle illicit activity and pursue offenders. 'Operations like this are just some of the tactics we are using to continue to disrupt Organised Crime under the banner of Operation Sentinel our region wide approach to tackling organised crime in all its forms.' An HMP Northumberland spokesperson said: 'Our team works tirelessly to identify and prevent criminal activities in our prison. We are proud to support our partners in bringing those involved to justice.' A council meeting descended into chaos when a Labour councillor accused a Reform member of being expelled by the Conservatives for sending a 'private parts' photo. Labour's Aidan McGurran angrily made the allegation against Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor during a dramatic Essex County Council full meeting on January 10. The row erupted over a controversial decision by the council to ask the Government to cancel its local elections scheduled for May, which Mr McIvor had opposed. But Mr McGurran, who represents Pitsea, said: 'I will take no lectures from someone who's sat here under false pretences. He was elected as a Conservative councillor. 'He was elected as a Conservative councillor [repeat], he's now representing Reform, and he hasn't had the decency to hold a by-election and has no intention to do so. 'And if you're really interested in transparency and democracy Jaymey, tell the people of Ongar why you were expelled from the Conservative Party and jumped ship. 'The reason is you sent an unsolicited picture of your private parts, which is a criminal offence. Tell people that and see what they think of it then.' Mr McGurran was then told by chairwoman Jill Reeves: 'Councillor McGurran, when I stand, you have to sit.' But he remained standing, as he was ordered again to 'sit'. Labour's Aidan McGurran (pictured) accused Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor of sending a 'private parts' photograph, during a heated Essex County Council meeting on January 10 Reform UK councillor Jaymey McIvor spoke later on in the meeting but did not address the allegation. After the meeting, he said he had not sent unsolicited explicit pictures of himself Ms Reeves continued: 'You have to sit when I stand.' But Mr McGurran said: 'I'm not allowed to tell the truth about a criminal offence?' Ms Reeves then added: 'Councillor McGurran! Order please.' When Mr McIvor spoke later on in the meeting, he did not refer to the allegation - and later claimed that he did not hear it being made. However, Mr McIvor then told BBC News following the meeting that he had not sent unsolicited explicit pictures of himself. A video of Mr McGurran making the allegation was published in full by BBC News. But the official video from the meeting on the Essex County Council YouTube channel was cut after 'has no intention to do so' until 'order please' - therefore removing the allegation. MailOnline contacted Essex County Council for an explanation on this, and a spokesperson replied: 'There is a risk of defamation in respect of this broadcast, where the law requires a right of reply to be given when publishing allegations like these. 'The allegation has of course been published elsewhere by the media, along with the comments of the individual concerned. 'The council is not a media organisation, so is not in a position to prove or disprove the allegations, or publish a right of reply. Therefore, a very short part of the recording has been removed.' Mr McIvor, who represents Ongar, is Essex County Council's only Reform councillor having been initially elected as a Conservative in 2021 before switching to Nigel Farage's party. Mr McGurran was ordered by chairwoman Jill Reeves (above) to 'sit', but he remained standing Asked about the allegation by Essex Live after the meeting, Mr McIvor said: 'I honestly didn't hear him say that - there was a lot of shouting going on. What I will say is he is referring to why I am no longer in the Conservative Party. 'All I would simply say is people should worry about their own residents and things going on in their own communities rather than what other councillors are and are not doing.' It comes after Essex County Council voted in favour last week of cancelling the elections this May so they can focus on a shake-up of local government. But Mr McIvor said that he visited the area Mr McGurran represents to ask people about the plans, and 'everyone I spoke to thought there should be elections'. He added: 'I think perhaps he is a bit angry that I did that. And I do not know why any sensible councillor would start saying things like that in the council chamber. 'But, I honestly didn't hear him say that, so it would be very wrong of me to comment.' Mr McIvor (left) later posted a clip on Instagram of him speaking behind Mr McGurran (right) Asked whether he denied the claims, Mr McIvor added: 'I don't think this meeting is about me; it's about democracy.' In June last year, the Conservatives dropped Mr McIvor as one of their parliamentary candidates hours before nominations closed after receiving a complaint about his conduct. Mr McIvor had been due to fight the Hemel Hempstead seat for the Tories in the General Election, but announced on June 7 that he was withdrawing from the contest 'for personal reasons'. In a post on X just 50 minutes before the 4pm deadline for submitting nominations, the councillor said he was 'sad' to announce he was no longer a candidate. In a message to local members, Hemel Hempstead Conservative Association chairman William Wyatt-Lowe said Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) had made him and Mr McIvor aware of 'an anonymous complaint' about the candidate's 'prior conduct'. Mr McIvor joined Reform UK in October. He is pictured with the party's leader Nigel Farage The message said Mr McIvor had denied the allegations and refused to resign his candidacy, but his party membership had been suspended pending an investigation meaning he was not eligible to stand as the party's candidate. The Conservatives later confirmed that Mr McIvor was expelled from the party on October 9 after a disciplinary hearing. Then on October 24, Mr McIvor announced on X that he had joined Reform because it 'puts people and country first', adding that the Conservatives were 'too weak to deal with its handful of toxic individuals' and 'tried to punish my ambition and vision'. A Reform spokesman said at the time that it believed Mr McIvor 'has been the victim of vicious Tory infighting', adding: 'We look forward to announcing many more councillors joining us in Essex from the Tory sinking ship.' As for the local elections this May, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council have now requested that these are postponed. Southend-on-Sea City Council has no planned elections this year. Mr McIvor (pictured), who represents Ongar, is Essex County Council's only Reform councillor having been initially elected as a Conservative in 2021 before switching to Mr Farage's party The three councils wrote to the Government to confirm they 'want to proceed with devolution and the reorganisation of local councils in the area', they said in a joint statement last week. It added: 'The letter to the Minister for Local Government confirms that the councils want to be part of the Government's devolution priority programme.' The moment in the council chamber is reminiscent of a famous Zoom meeting of Handforth Parish Council which spiralled into chaos and racked up millions of views online in February 2021. Stand-in clerk Jackie Weaver took the internet by storm when footage of the meeting showed her booting out two troublesome council members and being famously told 'you have no authority here'. MailOnline has contacted Mr McIvor, the Conservatives and Reform for comment. This is the chilling moment two young offenders are seen wielding huge zombie knives from behind bars. In terrifying footage posted on Snapchat, two inmates at Feltham Young Offender Institution, in west London, are seen unsheathing the deadly weapons before swinging them around. Both lags are believed to have been released since the video was filmed last year in the exercise yard. The disturbing nine-second video, taken on an illegally smuggled phone, was shared on Snapchat last week. Other inmates can be heard jeering as the one filming shouts: 'My f sons, you know.' Retired Met Police officer Norman Brennan condemned the video as 'outrageous', telling MailOnline: 'We've got a knife epidemic on the streets of Britain. We don't want to start that spreading into prisons otherwise we might as well all give up because prisons are meant to be safe and secure from these types of weapons. 'We don't want to start these knives getting in there, because it can only end in somebody being murdered or maimed.' The Sun reports that both lags have since been released, with one recently sharing a video of him inhaling nitrous oxide. It comes as the Government desperately tries to crackdown on zombie-style knives amid a horrific outbreak of violence on the streets of London. In September last year, Daejaun Campbell was fatally stabbed in the leg with a suspected zombie knife. He screamed 'I'm 15, don't let me die' as he bled to death in Woolwich, south east London. This is the disturbing moment two young offenders are seen wielding huge zombie knives from behind bars In terrifying footage posted on Snapchat , two inmates at Feltham Young Offender Institution, in west London , are seen unsheathing the deadly weapons In September last year, Daejaun Campbell (pictured) was fatally stabbed in the leg with a suspected zombie knife Police said his murder was a 'stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives'. Zombie-style knives were banned in England and Wales from September 24 2024. The Government defines 'Zombie-style' as weapons which are over eight inches in length and often have a serrated edge, spikes or more than two sharp points. Retired officer Mr Brennan, who was stabbed in the chest as he apprehended a robber at night during his career, told MailOnline: 'The Government's nonsense about banning zombie knives makes absolutely no difference to those that carry them, or want access to them, or use them to maim and kill other people. 'If that's not bad enough on the streets of Britain, it's even worse when those who have been put away because they're serious and dangerous offenders, putting the lives of prison officers and other prisoners at grave risk. 'One has to ask how they can get these knives into prisons. Prisons are meant to be places that are secure, ie. that people will go to prison and will not have access to drugs, mobile phones and zombie knives, and it appears in this video that whatever you want to get into a prison, you can.' Mr Brennan speculated that a drone may have been used to drop off the zombie knives as it would have been 'almost impossible' to take them through the prison gates. This year has also already seen the fatal stabbings of Kelyan Bokassa, 14, on a bus in Woolwich, and Thomas Taylor, 17, at Bedford bus station. Retired Met Police officer Norman Brennan (pictured) condemned the video as 'outrageous' One of the lags can be seen swinging the zombie knife around, while others around jeer The Ministry of Justice has condemned the video and has launched an urgent investigation The footage was filmed at the Feltham Young Offenders Institute (pictured) in west London It comes after there were 225 knife murders in the year to June 2024, according to Office for National Statistics data. HM Inspectorate of Prisons revealed Feltham YOI, which holds inmates aged 15 to 18, has the worst violence of any jail across England and Wales. There were 410 violent incidents and 343 weapons found in the year to March 2024. Staff have also reported struggling with attacks from inmates. In one incident, a teenage Muslim convert who was jailed for plotting a music festival terror attack has reportedly stabbed 10 prison officers since being put behind bars. A source told The Sun: 'The first attack happened in the reception area on the day he arrived at Feltham. 'He asked a guard if he was Muslim, and when he said 'No', stabbed him. 'Yet he's also allowed treats from the canteen, and loves Pringles. He's babied and mollycoddled.' A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This is unacceptable behaviour. We take a zero tolerance approach to violence across the prison estate. 'An investigation has been launched into this old footage, which dates back to around a year ago. 'Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will be punished, which could include extra time behind bars.' This is the moment two passenger planes came perilously close to colliding in midair with 400 people on board as they prepared to land at the Phoenix airport. United Airlines Flight 1724 and Delta Air Lines Flight 1070 had been cleared to land on parallel runways when came came incredibly close to each other as they began their descents into the airport on Saturday morning. The planes experienced 'a loss of required separation' when they were heading toward the airport, with flight tracking data revealing that at one point they were just 425 feet apart in vertical distance. Seconds later, they were within 1,200 feet apart horizontally, which is less than a quarter of a mile, FlightRadar data shows. Both flight crews received alerts that the other jet was nearby and were given 'corrective instructions' from air traffic control, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told DailyMail.com. Air traffic control instructed the United flight to land on Runway 7, while the Delta flight was told to shift course and land on Runway 8. 'Descend. Descend,' a robotic voice told the Delta crew, an audio recording obtained by CBS News has revealed. Both planes landed safely and the FAA has launched an investigation into the incident. This is the moment United Airlines Flight 1724 and Delta Air Lines Flight 1070 came perilously close to colliding in midair with 400 people on board as they prepared to land at the Phoenix airport The planes experienced 'a loss of required separation' when they were heading toward the airport, with flight tracking data revealing that at one point they were just 425 feet apart in vertical distance The near collision occurred around 11am on Saturday after both jets had been cleared for landing. The United flight - inbound from San Francisco, and carrying 123 passengers and six crew - was descending toward the airport above the Delta plane as it headed for the runway. The Delta flight, inbound from Detroit with 245 passengers on board, was travelling at a speed of 275mph as the United plane approached. Pilots received an 'automated flight deck warning' instructing them to change altitude and 'acted immediately', an United spokesperson told DailyMail.com The United plane began to climb and shifted altitude before resequencing for landing, FlightAware data shows. A Delta spokesperson told the Independent: 'As nothing is more important than safety, Delta flight crews extensively train to handle uncommon scenarios such as this and followed the resolution advisory as directed.' Justin Giddens, a self-described 'aviation nerd' who captured footage of the incident, described the descent as 'immediate panic mode'. 'I know the way the planes are supposed to be in the pattern on approach to Sky Harbor,' he told KPHO. 'It just makes you think oh man, they really avoided a major disaster.' The FAA, in a statement to DailyMail.com said: 'United Airlines Flight 1724 and Delta Air Lines Flight 1070 landed safely after experiencing a loss of required separation when they were inbound to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. 'Both flight crews received onboard alerts that the other aircraft was nearby. Air traffic control issued corrective instructions to both flight crews. 'The FAA is investigating the incident, which occurred around 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, January 11.' DailyMail.com has approached Delta for comment. Spanish politicians have hit out at the government's 'xenophobic' plan to tax non-EU property buyers - including Brits dreaming of retiring by the sea. Luis de la Matta, communications director for the centre-right Partido Popular, said the party was 'not going to facilitate a xenophobic measure', casting further doubt on whether the plan set out by the ruling minority coalition would pass in parliament. 'The problem is not that people want to live in Spain, the problem is that there is a lack of housing,' he said on Tuesday amid growing backlash over the 12-point proposals for reform. Real estate agents based in the country also told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that they thought the plan was 'silly', but doubted Sanchez would be able to gather enough support for the law to pass. Resolving a housing crisis has become one of prime minister Pedro Sanchez's most pressing challenges amid a chronic shortage of affordable homes and rising rents. His Socialist government said on Monday it would limit the purchase of homes by non-EU residents by increasing the tax they have to pay by as much as 100% of a property's value, pointing to similar schemes in Denmark and Canada. Spanish real estate platform Fotocasa said the measure may discourage foreign investment, but suggested its effectiveness would be questionable since only two per cent of Spanish homes are purchased by non-EU residents. The Catalonia Tenants' Union likewise said most of the foreign buyers in the region were from the EU and described the measure as 'grandiloquent but irrelevant'. Demonstrators march shouting slogans in downtown Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, June 19 Tenerife locals hold placards raising concerns about the impact of mass tourism, October 2024 Pedro Sanchez (pictured January 8 in Madrid) faces mounting backlash over the proposals The contentious tax for non-EU residents would need approval from a fractured parliament and would be applied by Spain's regional governments. The PP governs in most of the regions popular with British and Latin American buyers of second homes such as Andalusia, Valencia, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. The tax would be applied through a so-called Property Transfer Tax (ITP) and would affect as many as 26,000 second-hand properties located in large cities and coastal areas popular with tourists, a Housing Ministry source said. Homebuyers in Spain currently pay between 6% and 13% ITP tax, depending on the region. Criticism continues to mount over the proposals, many slating it as an ineffective measure to solve much deeper issues with housing. Jose M. Lopez-Avalos, a solicitor at Malaga Solicitors, told MailOnline the measures 'will not sort out the housing problems in Spain'. 'Instead of promoting new construction, reducing taxation, reducing the bureaucracy of local councils, put public plots of land in the market at a reduced price, et cetera, they insist on old practices which will only enlarge the property problem that young people have in Spain.' 'For the moment they are just announcing this and not creating confidence, and it will take months or years in order for these measures to come into force,' he added. He assured that, for now, Brits 'should not worry'. Malaga Solicitors has been helping expat property investors in Malaga for over 25 years. In 2023 alone, non-residents from outside of the EU bought 27,000 houses and flats in Spain, 'not to live in them, but mainly to speculate', Pedro Sanchez said (Altea pictured) The 100 per cent tax would put rocket boosters under Spain's famously affordable property prices, with a five-bed coastal villa in Andalucia that's currently being advertised for just under 400,000 Kate Spalton is thinking about selling her two-bedroom holiday home in Cala Blanca, Menorca but is now worried she won't be able to Britons furious with the proposals have already shared their concerns about the viability of their overseas investments, however. Kate Spalton, 68, told MailOnline she was thinking about selling her two-bedroom holiday home in Cala Blanca, Menorca but is now worried she won't be able to if non-EU citizens face a massive extra charge. She told MailOnline: 'I have been holidaying here for 25 years and finally bought my own place eight years ago. As I am nearing 70 I had thought of selling in the next couple of years but with this tax nobody will want to buy. 'I'm horrified to be honest. Menorca is very much a tourist island and we seem to be getting stymied at every turn. I feel this is really victimising non-EU people when the Balearics also attract a lot of Germans and Spanish second home owners from Madrid. 'I support the economy by employing local Spaniards to paint my home and do the plumbing, I go to local supermarkets and don't take anything with me. 'All that will happen is that I will leave my home empty and eventually in disrepair. That's not in anyone's interests. This is a disaster for everyone and British tourism will fall away completely.' Sean Wooley, a British expat who lives in Marbella and runs Cloud Nine Spain, which sells 'prestige' properties to wealthy buyers, told MailOnline: 'Spain needs to be careful what it wishes for, bearing in mind that tourism is its number one export, and the country has attracted a huge amount of tax revenue from people who have relocated to Spain for a better quality life. 'For sure, they need to take care of their own, but they need to be careful that they dont alienate those foreigners that have helped to create wealth for those everyday Spaniards who are now demanding change.' Demonstrators carry a sign reading 'Alicante is not for sale' in a protest against overtourism An England supporter stands among a crowd protesting outside the Alicante tourism office Pedro Sanchez assured that the new tariff would help 'prioritise the availability of housing for residents'. He noted that in 2023 alone, non-residents from outside of the EU bought 27,000 houses and flats in Spain, 'not to live in them, but mainly to speculate'. He said this was 'something that, in the context of the shortages we are experiencing, we cannot afford'. Sanchez didn't provide a timeline or details on how he plans to implement the tax. CaixaBank, Spain's third-largest lender by market value, revealed in fresh analysis this month that foreign demand for housing in Spain has continued to grow since the end of the pandemic. Foreigners were driving nearly 20 per cent of all transactions, a 30.7 per cent increase from 2019 levels. While Sanchez will be in part trying to respond to demand for affordable housing options for residents, non-resident foreigners, including Brits, more often buy more expensive properties, with an average price of 2,895 per square metre in H1 2024, compared to 1,734 for resident foreigners and 1,659 for Spaniards, Caixa reports. Spain is also planning to bring an end to its 'golden visa' programme by April, which has allowed non-EU citizens to obtain residency by investing in lucrative property worth more than 500,000. Still, analysts at Caixa expect the end of this programme will have little impact on the wider market. Just over 15,000 such visas were granted between 2013 and October 2024, many to Brits. January 15, 2025: In late 2024, facilities at Murmansk in northwest Russia were being upgraded to deal with possible Ukrainian drone attacks. Now that Russia was attacking Ukrainian power supplies and heat supplies, officials in Murmansk feared the Ukrainians would do the same to them. So the Murmansk government ordered all facilities related to keeping Murmansk warm be fortified and protected in other ways. In a place like Murmansk, loss of heat during the coldest part of the year can be fatal. In mid-2024 Russia announced that it was reinforcing air defenses at their Olenya air base in Murmansk province. This came after Ukrainian long-range drones attacked and damaged two of the Tu-22M3s used to attack Ukrainian targets 1,800 kilometers to the south. With the Ukrainians reciprocating, Russia is trying to upgrade air defenses before the Ukrainians strike again. Ukrainian UAV developers and manufacturers have an advantage in that entrepreneurial developers and manufacturers are encouraged. In Russia such intellectual and manufacturing freedom is discouraged. The Russian state must control everything because that is how Russia became mighty and remains so. Thats the official explanation. Russians consider the Ukrainians seduced by, and addicted to, heretical Western ideas and concepts like innovating without official permission. Ukrainians see those Russian attitudes as an asset for the Ukrainian war effort. This gives Ukraine an edge in the development and use of new UAV technology. Ukraine encourages individuals and small groups of entrepreneurs to develop, manufacture and share new UAV designs and technologies. The government or wealthy individuals will often finance effective new concepts so that production can be rapidly expanded before the new tech becomes obsolete or be simply replaced by a more effective version. Russia adapted to their disadvantage in UAV development by concentrating on electronic jammers. By rapidly upgrading their jammer technology, Russians can disrupt a lot of new Ukrainian UAV tech for a while. This disruption is becoming more important for the Russians because Ukraine has developed several generations of long range drones that can reach targets over 1,000 kilometers distant. In 2023 this meant attacks near Moscow and St Petersburg as well as nearby factories and industrial operations. Ukrainian drones are increasingly reaching their targets deep inside Russia. That means Russian economic and military facilities far from Ukraine are suddenly under attack. These targets include refineries and fuel storage sites as well as weapons development, manufacturing, and storage facilities. In 2023 these attacks destroyed about fifteen percent of Russian refining capacity, reducing the amount of vehicle fuel available for commercial and military users. Ukrainian air strikes are not the only danger in the far north. Winters are much worse in Murmansk, which is the only city in the world north of the Arctic Circle. Winters arent as bad as you might think because Murmansk weather is moderated by the warm Gulf Stream current which also warms up Britain and much of northwest Europe. The Gulf Stream originates in the Gulf of Mexico between the southern United States and east coast Mexico. Murmansk has other problems to deal with. For example, a significant Russian nuclear accident took place at the Andreyeva Bay Soviet naval base 569 in February 1982. Andreyeva Bay is a radioactive waste repository 55 km northwest of Murmansk and 60 km from the Norwegian border, on the western shore of the Kola Peninsula. The repository entered service in 1961. In February 1982 a nuclear accident occurred in which about 700,000 tons of highly radioactive water was released into the Barents Sea from a pool in building 5 of the repository over the next few years. Cleanup of the accident took place from 1983 to 1989. About 1,000 people took part in the cleanup effort. The nuclear power plant fuel repository, constructed in the early 1960s, was a naval base on the shore of the Zapadnaya Litsa bay. It consisted of two piers, a stationary mooring bay, a sanitation facility, spent fuel pools in building 5 that was unused since the cleanup ended in 1989, three 1,000 cubic meter dry storage containers, a 40,000-ton crane, an open-air field for storing spent nuclear fuel containers, a security checkpoint, and other technical facilities. In 1982 the area contained spent nuclear fuel in storage facility Building 5 consisting of about 22,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies, solid radioactive waste in storage facility Building 7, and liquid radioactive waste in storage facility Building 6. Building 5 contained two pools for storing spent fuel assemblies, encased in steel drums. Each drum contained 5-7 spent fuel assemblies, weighing 350 kg fully loaded. Each of the pools was 60 meters long, 3 meters wide, 6 meters deep, and had a volume of 1,000 cubic meters. Each was designed for about 2,000 drums. The drums were suspended underwater from massive chains, which were attached to anchor points a certain distance from each other to hopefully avoid an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction from starting. The water served as a radiation shield for people on the deck around the pools. The drums were placed underwater using the chains and a crane cart, but due to the construction's unreliability, drums often fell to the bottom of the pool. As a result, spent nuclear fuel drums dangerously piled up at the bottom which defeated the water protection from uncontrolled nuclear reactions by the chains and anchor points. Someone who worked there remarked that the first time they saw all this they were shocked. The facility seemed like a nightmare. The facility was an enormous black windowless building atop a cliff. The entrance to building 5 was decorated with deformed trucks previously used for carrying nuclear fuel and half-torn-down heavy gates. Inside, the building was dilapidated, and deteriorating electrical equipment was another hazard. Building 5 was completely radioactive. The right-hand pool in building 5 started leaking in February 1982. Finding cracks in the drums metal coatings required diving into the pool, which was out of the question due to the gamma radiation levels in the vicinity of the nuclear waste drums. An attempt to eliminate the leak was made by pouring in 20 sacks of flour, thus filling the cracks with dough. That did not last and the leak continued. Later it was found there was ice on the right side of the building. This indicated that earlier containment efforts were ineffective. In April 1982, the basement part of the building was filled with 600 cubic meters of concrete but this was ineffective. There was a risk of contamination of nearby Zapadnaya Litsa bay. In order to safeguard against radioactive leaks, iron-lead-concrete covers, weighing thousands of tons, were built over the pool. In fact it was later discovered that it was only good fortune that prevented the collapse of the whole structure. In early 1983 government officials confirmed the closing of the repository, except for work related to the cleanup of the accident. No more spent nuclear fuel was loaded in building 5. March 1983 through September 1987 saw spent fuel unloaded from the left-hand pool. All of the fuel was unloaded and sent to the Mayak nuclear facility. As of December 1989, all 1,500 drums of nuclear waste from building 5 were declared dealt with. This was not the case. Poor welding seam quality in the pools' coating led to more leaks. The left pool sprouted a leak due to the building sagging under the weight of the iron-lead-concrete covers over the right pool. Specialists believed that temperature changes in the pool's water stressed welding seams, tearing them. When building 5's repository was designed, it was assumed that the water would be kept at a constant temperature by heat from the nuclear assemblies suspended under the surface. A separate water heating system was thus deemed unnecessary. That did not work because the extreme Arctic climate created a thick layer of ice in winter. In order to solve this problem, the ice was melted using steam from the boiler. This was a violation of radiation safety guidelines. Radioactive air spread through the building and leaked into the outside atmosphere. Several workers were killed during the cleanup efforts due to accidents, inadequate protective equipment and the generally dangerous state of the facility. A teenager has been charged with the murder of a mother gunned down in a drive-by shooting outside a wake in Brent just days before Christmas. Tahjin Sommersal, 18, of Feltham, was arrested last Wednesday in connection with the death of Michelle Sadio on 14 December. The 44-year-old mother from Walthamstow, East London, was gunned down when a car pulled up outside a church in north west London, near Wembley Stadium, and opened fire on a crowd of mourners in the street last month. Two men, both aged in their 30s, were also injured during the incident. On Saturday, he was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was remanded in custody and appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on Monday. Sommersal will appear again at the Old Bailey this afternoon. Met Police also arrested a further five men at addresses in Brent and Hounslow in connection with the murder. Michelle Sadio, 44, from Walthamstow, East London, was shot dead in a drive-by shooting outside a wake in north west London on December 14 Tahjin Sommersal, 18, of Feltham, was arrested last Wednesday in connection with the death of Michelle Sadio. Pictured: Forensic officers at the scene on December 14 Forensics comb the scene of the shooting in North West London, near Wembley Stadium - December 14, 2024 Two aged 18 and the others 21, 24 and 33. They remain in custody. Michelles family have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist officers. At the time of the tragedy, Detective chief inspector Phil Clarke, who leads the investigation, described it as 'a senseless act of violence that resulted in an innocent woman being killed.' He added: 'Michelle's family continue to grieve and we are determined to ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions.' Ms Sadio, from Walthamstow, East London, was attending a nine night ceremony on December 14 to celebrate the life of 80-year-old Dinah Boateng, who was the mother of one of her school friends. The ceremony - held at the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church in Harlesden - was organised to mark the ninth day on from Mrs Boatengs death on December 5. She had stepped out of the venue to take a breather when she was shot just before 9.15pm. One friend described Ms Sadio as a 'brilliant' person and mother who was 'the light in the lives' of her loved ones. Hilarious video shows how a whole team of firefighters had to intervene to free a woman from her office chair after her nose ring got caught in it. The hapless employee in Bandung City, Indonesia, got her piercing stuck in the mesh chair after jokingly sticking her nose through the holes in it, a local fire officer said. 'She had a new piercing and was playing around, just playing for fun, before she messed up,' Bandung City Fire Department Officer Asep Rizky told local media. 'She kept putting the piercing in the chair and it got stuck, and in the end she had to call the fire brigade,' he added. CCTV footage from inside her workplace shows the moment she and her fellow employees realise she had got herself into difficulty. Her face is attached to the back of the wheelie chair and her colleagues come over to try and disentangle her from it. Half a dozen people gather around to take a look and try to help, but they have no luck and the piece of jewellery stays firmly attached to the chair. They realised they had no choice but to call the local fire department, who rushed to the premises to offer their assistance. The unnamed woman 'kept putting the piercing in the chair and it got stuck,' according to a local fire officer Around half a dozen of her colleagues gathered around the woman, with several trying to carefully detach her from the chair The firefighters brought out a chainsaw at one point as they teased the woman Still unable to detach her from the chair, they carefully moved her and the seat to a van to take her down to the local fire station. Her friend who accompanied her on the journey could not contain her laughter, local media reports, even as her friend worried that her new piece of jewellery could be ripped out. They filmed the whole journey, including the hilarious moment the woman, still facing backwards on the chair, was wheeled out of the car. The fire crew responded with good humour as they tried to allay her fears and keep spirits high, joking around as the woman continued to panic. At one point they even brought out a chainsaw and other heavy duty tools, chuckling as they pretended to use them on the chair. Fortunately, no sawing was necessary and a fire officer with a pair of pliers and a steady pair of hands managed to remove the woman from the chair after around 10 minutes of trying. She was put in the back of a van and taken to a local fire station to be detached from the chair The hilarious footage shows the woman being wheeled out on the chair, with her nose still attached to the back of it The woman excitedly stood up from the chair after finally being freed while the firefighters celebrated with a dance The woman happily posed with her rescuers - and the pesky chair and nose ring - after the ordeal They danced around in celebration and the woman, grateful to finally be freed from the chair, thanked them wholeheartedly. She was not injured and happily posed for a photo with her rescuers - and the pesky chair and nose ring - afterwards. The bizarre nature of the woman's predicament and the firefighters' lighthearted response has seen the footage go viral in Indonesia. The incident occurred on January 11 and video of it has been shared widely on social media in the days since., with people praising the actions of the firefighters and applauding the woman's sense of humour at the end of the ordeal. Embattled LA Mayor Karen Bass enjoyed a cocktail party at the US Embassy in Ghana at the exact moment the devastating Palisades wild fire was erupting, deleted social media posts show. The Democrat, who has come under intense scrutiny for her response to the fires that have killed at least 24 people and burned over 12,000 buildings, was seen posing alongside other dignitaries at the party on January 7. According to a delegate's watch that is visible in the pictures, Bass was posing for selfies just before 8pm Ghanaian time, or just before 12pm in Los Angeles. The first evacuation orders for the Palisades Fire were issued minutes later, with officials placing the initial ignition time at 10:30am. She was in the African nation leading a delegation sent by President Biden for the inauguration of John Mahama as the new president of Ghana. At the post-Presidential Inauguration cocktail party, Bass was seen chatting with ambassadors and smiling for selfies, with King Tackie Tieki Truru II of the Ga Traditional Area in southern Ghana also in attendance. By the time she left the party for her flight home, huge plumes of smoke had already covered large swaths of Los Angeles, reports the LA Times. It comes after Bass was slammed for visiting Africa after she promised voters at a campaign rally in 2021 that she would not travel internationally if elected. Embattled LA Mayor Karen Bass enjoyed a cocktail party at the US Embassy in Ghana when the devastating fires in her city began last week Bass was in the African nation leading a delegation sent by President Biden for the inauguration of John Mahama as the new president of Ghana, with the images taken at a post-Presidential Inauguration cocktail party The mayor has come under intense scrutiny for her response to the fires that have killed at least 24 people and burned over 12,000 buildings Images of the event were shared to social media by Marissa Bowman, a staffer in Bass' office who was not part of the official White House delegation. Bass left for Ghana after the National Weather Service issued warnings about conditions which ultimately ended in historic blazes erupting. She was subsequently condemned for slashing the city's fire department by millions of dollars before refusing to apologize to residents. Bass flew to Ghana on January 4 to attend Mahama's inauguration, the same day that the National Weather Service intensified warnings about windstorms set to batter Los Angeles. A spokesperson for the mayor told the LA Times that Bass attended the cocktail party as it was hosted by the US Ambassador to Ghana, but she spent most of the party in a separate room making calls, they said. The delegation then left the party and arrived back on a military plane at 11am on January 8, over 24 hours after the fires had started. In a statement from Bass' spokesperson Zach Seidl, the mayor's office said: 'The presidential delegation was hosted by the United States ambassador to Ghana on the way to the plane. 'For the majority of the time, the mayor was in a different room on calls from L.A.' Bass attended the party after warnings over the fires began, with a spokesperson for her office saying the mayor 'was in a different room on calls from LA' A litany of failures by LA city officials have been uncovered since the breakout of the crisis, as fire hydrants were found without any water and electricity to power cables was left on to fuel the flames Firefighters watch as water is dropped on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 When questioned by reporters upon her return, Bass later claimed at a press conference that 'although I wasn't physically here, I was in touch with many of the individuals standing here throughout the entire time. Ghanaian emcee Nathaniael Attoh, one of the attendees seen in a selfie with Bass, told the LA Times that the cocktail party was a low-key event held to introduce the White House delegation to high-profile Ghanaians. He said several speakers addressed the party including religious leaders, businesspeople, athletes and diplomats. Bass was quickly met with criticism after she arrived back in the United States, as city officials slammed her for slashing the Los Angeles Fire Department budget by over $17 million in her latest budget. A litany of failures by LA city officials have also since been uncovered, as fire hydrants were found without any water and electricity to power cables was left on to fuel the flames. Upon her return at the airport, Bass suffered a humiliating moment as she was left in stunned silence while being peppered with questions from a Sky News reporter. 'Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?' they asked. As the mayor remained stone-faced, the reporter continued: 'Do you regret cutting the fire department's budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?' Both Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have faced intense criticism for their response to the fires as some residents call for them to be booted from office A Change.org petition demanding Bass's resignation has reached over 140,000 signatures, 'due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles' Still without receiving any answer, the reporter asked once again: 'Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today? Elon Musk says that you're utterly incompetent. Are you reconsidering your position?' The question of Bass resigning has been fueled in recent days, with California Governor Gavin Newsom also facing calls to step aside for the state's apparent lack of preparedness. A Change.org petition demanding Bass's resignation has reached over 140,000 signatures, 'due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles.' 'Despite the tireless efforts of our first responders, the city has been woefully unprepared to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Basic resources, such as water and emergency services, have been inadequate, and leadership has been nowhere to be found when it was needed most,' the fundraiser said. To recall Bass, proponents must gather signatures from at least 15% of the registered voters in the city. Newsom has previously survived a recall effort in 2021, however his handling of the crisis has also led to renewed efforts to boot him from office and a formal recall initiative was launched this week against him. Randy Economy, who is leading the recall effort against Newsom - who is term limited in 2027 - told Newsweek that he was insulted by Newsom's call to 'rebuild' the Pacific Palisades. 'How dare he? It's up to the 10,000, 15,000 homes that have been destroyed,' he said. 'It's up to the people. 'This is emblematic of who he is as a leader, and I think this is emblematic of who he is as a politician, and he has no depth. 'So therefore we are taking the extraordinary steps to officially recall him.' This week, former US Attorney Michael Valentine shared footage of the breakout of the Palisades fire showing fire trucks took over 45 minutes to respond, arguing it 'could have been contained' with better funding. 'I think Mayor Bass bears the ultimate responsibility for this failure, and I think she should be held accountable,' Valentine told NewsNation. 'There's no way that that I could trust her again as my mayor in light of this tragedy, there's, no way.' A passenger has died on board Air France flight from Paris to Boston despite doctors trying to save them. The traveler fell ill after the flight took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport on Tuesday, NBC Boston reported. Doctors tried to treat the individual, but they 'couldn't be rescued' and died shortly after. Emergency crews were pictured at Boston Logan International Airport on Tuesday night after the plane landed. Police have described the death as 'unattended' but have not provided further details. The individual's identity will not be released until their loved ones have been notified. A passenger has died on board Air France flight from Paris to Boston despite a doctor trying to save them. The plane is picture at Logan airport last night The traveler fell ill after the flight took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport on Tuesday. Emergency crews responded once the plane landed at Boston Logan International Airport The Massachusetts State Police, whose detective unit responded to the airport Tuesday night, is investigating the death (file photo of Boston Logan International Airport) The Massachusetts State Police, whose detective unit responded to the scene, is investigating the death. Air France, in a statement to NBC Boston, confirmed that a passenger died on board Flight AF334 after suffering a medical emergency. 'Despite the assistance of a doctor on board, the customer couldn't be rescued,' a spokesperson said. 'Air France reminds that its crew members are regularly trained to handle these kinds of situations.' DailyMail.com has approached Massachusetts State Police and the airline for comment. Massachusetts Port Authority, which oversees Boston airport, referred us to police. The tragedy comes just months after a pilot died after collapsing mid-flight on a 12-hour Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul. The pilot, identified as Ilcehin Pehlivan, collapsed during the October 2024 flight, forcing the jet to make an emergency landing in New York. Pehlivan, 59, who had worked for Turkish Airlines since 2007, had passed a medical examination in March and there had been no indication of any health problems. Medical emergencies are not uncommon on flights, with data showing that in the US alone around 44,000 flights experience some form of medical event each year. These incidents include minor discomforts to life-threatening situations, according Aviation Services' March 2024 report. The most common medical situations to occur during flight include fainting, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems and neurological issues. Seizures and cardiac issues, such as a heart attack, are also common. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. Millions are on high alert as a new 'firenado' threat looms, as the tinderbox city experiences a second day of warnings. A combination of strong winds, high heat and dry conditions have created a 'particularly dangerous situation' in the city, the National Weather Service has said. The rare warning is in place for an area near to where two large blazes have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes. 'Firenados' are a rare and dangerous phenomenon where fire whips up to resemble a tornado, resulting in a twisting column that can reach several hundred feet in height. They are dangerous to both firefighters and anyone in the vicinity due to the intense heat, the rapid spreading of flames, and their unpredictability in nature. It comes after firefighters got a reprieve on Tuesday, when winds were unexpectedly light, allowing them to make progress battling the two huge LA area fires in the Palisades and Eaton, while quickly snuffing out several new fires. The Eaton Fire, burning just north of Los Angeles and the Palisades Fire, destroyed much of the seaside LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. It broke out last Tuesday in conditions similar to what is expected today. High winds last week pushed flames at remarkable speed and carried fire-sparking embers sometimes miles away. A fire tornado (pictured on January 11) is a rare phenomenon that occurs when a fire and turbulent winds create a spinning column of fire, ash and smoke Footage taken on January 11 shows a fire tornado swirling as flames spread toward Mulholland Drive in the Santa Monica Mountains Firenados are dangerous to both firefighters and anyone in the vicinity due to the intense heat, the rapid spreading of flames, and their unpredictability in nature - pictured on January 11 The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings done when temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected from 3am to 3pm. This covers the area from the Central Coast 275 miles (443 kilometers) south to the border with Mexico. The 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' was in effect for an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. 'Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,' the weather service said in a post late last Tuesday. 'The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow.' More than 77,000 households were without electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes. Weary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moment's notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other. Meanwhile, Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes. Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited brush and a third tried to light a trash can, he said. All were far outside the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the major fires. Flames from the Eaton fire in Altadena engulf a home as the huge blaze moves through the area The ruins of many homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire are seen on January 10 in Altadena, California A firefighting aircraft drops the fire retardant Phos-Chek near homes during the Palisades Fire Among nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy award from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. The biggest worry remained the threat from intense winds. Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to attack flareups or new blazes. The firefighting force was much bigger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation's costliest fire disaster. Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to spend the night at their home, one of the few left standing in Altadena, near Pasadena. They intended to keep watch to ward off looting and to hose down the house and her neighbors' properties to prevent flareups. 'Our lives have been put on hold indefinitely,' Johnson said via text message, adding that they cannot freely come and go because of restrictions on entering the burn areas. 'But I would rather be here and not leave than to not be allowed back at all.' Javier Vega, who said he feels like he has been 'sleeping with one eye open,' and his girlfriend have planned out how they can quickly pack up their two cats, eight fish and leopard gecko if they get orders to evacuate. 'Typically on any other night, hearing helicopters flying overhead from midnight to 4:00 in the morning, that would drive anyone crazy,' Vega said. 'But figuring they were helping firefighters to keep the flames from threatening their neighborhood, he explained, 'it was actually soothing for me to go to sleep.' A County Firefighters assess spot fires from the Kenneth Fire Kenneth Fire in West Hills on January 10 Local residents give away food, clothing, personal items and water to assist anyone affected by the Eaton Fire on January 10 A view of the burned auditorium at the Eliot Arts Magnet Academy that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 10, 2025 in Altadena, California Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials who were criticized over their initial response expressed confidence that the region is ready to face the new threat. The mayor said she was able to fly over the disaster areas, which she described as resembling the aftermath of a 'dry hurricane.' Winds this time were not expected to reach the same fierce speeds seen last week but they could ground firefighting aircraft, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. He urged homeless people to avoid starting fires for warmth and to seek shelter. With almost no rain in more than eight months, the brush-filled region has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area. Firefighters have jumped on small blazes that popped up, quickly smothering several in Los Angeles county, including a blaze Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest. The four largest fires around the nation's second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze, in Pacific Palisades on the coast, was far less contained. The death toll is likely to rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Nearly 30 people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported as missing earlier have been found. Just under 90,000 people in the county remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week. Hollywood's awards season has been put on hiatus because of the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards shows and announcements without rescheduling. Some wealthy Los Angeles homeowners have taken up arms to defend their devastated neighborhoods from looters. Residents of Altadena, where fires demolished more than 2,700 structures, have been patrolling the area, questioning strangers, as they work to keep away criminals who want to take advantage of the chaos. In some homes, residents have messages that read: 'Owner armed and present.' In Pacific Palisades, finance boss Ross Gerber, 53, has been sneaking past police tape to check on his house and walk around the neighborhood with his gun and other locals, interrogating anyone they didn't recognize. 'I have no patience for any of them,' Gerber told The Wall Street Journal about edicts telling people to stay away from the burnt homes. 'After you survive this, you dont care what they say.' Gerber's home is still standing but has no electricity or safe drinking water so he and his family are staying at the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey. The president of a wealth management firm and some of his neighbors hired a private water truck and driver to sit by their homes in case there were more fires. Attorney Aaron Lubeley , 53, told The Journal he is one of the few holdouts in the neighborhood ready to defend surviving homes from more fires and looters as officials continue telling people to stay away from the area. Attorney Aaron Lubeley , 53, is is one of the few holdouts in his neighborhood ready to defend surviving homes, though his own was destroyed Lubeley reacts as he arrives at his burned home during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county Lubeley's home in Altadena is seen before it was destroyed by the Los Angeles fires 'I could be having a Manhattan and a steak, but I couldnt live with myself if I did that and my neighbors house goes up,' said Lubeley, who has been sleeping in his SUV outside his charred home. In Pacific Palisades, finance boss Ross Gerber, 53, has been sneaking past police tape to check on his house Amid the devastating fires that have left at least 25 dead, officials have charged more than 40 people with various offenses including burglary. Santa Monica Police said officers detained ten burglary suspects within the Palisades Fire evacuation zone and six of those arrested were carrying 'burglary tools'. Three of the ten burglary suspects have been pictured, including Joshua Kaliel Love - who was found carrying a dagger, a window-breaking tool, a mask, gloves, narcotics and a gold window punch, cops said. Dominic Pacheco Magana, 18, and Miguel Angel Dorantes, 22, are also accused of conspiring to burgle homes after they were pulled over driving a van displaying stolen registration stickers. Officers scoured the vehicle and found black Nike nylon gloves, a black ski mask and three large freight tote bags and black t-shirts. Pacheco's phone had the Watch Duty app open. The app monitors fire and evacuation zones. Gerber has been walking around his neighborhood, with a gun, and shared the above image 'I walked through and checked on neighbors houses and moved throughout what was left of the Palisades to let people know their house was ok,' Gerber wrote alongside the images 'Based on the items located inside the vehicle, the location of the vehicle stop, the ski mask, and the attempt to conceal their identity and avoid detection by removing the license plate, officers arrested the duo for being in the mandatory evacuation area with the specific intent to commit residential burglaries,' police said. Extreme dry weather conditions due to a prolonged drought, dry vegetation and powerful Santa Ana winds that reached up to 80 mph in some areas this week created the 'perfect storm' for the fires. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said dry winds reached speeds of 40mph on Tuesday morning in coastal and valley areas and 50mph in the mountains. Gusts up to 65mph were forecast to continue through midday Wednesday as firefighters struggle to contain the infernos. The Palisades Fire, which had razed 23,700 acres as of 10am Tuesday, is only 17 percent contained. Just north of Pasadena, the Eaton Fire has burned through more than 14,000 acres, and was only 35 percent contained by 10am Tuesday. The Hurst Fire north of San Fernando is almost extinguished with a 97 percent containment after burning through 800 acres. A fourth major blaze - the Auto Fire - broke out on Tuesday in Ventura. The latest inferno has burned through 56 acres so far and is zero percent contained, per the Cal Fire heatmap. A trainee gas engineer who won 7.5million in the lottery has revealed he spent the next day unblocking drains in the freezing cold. James Clarkson, 20, was in disbelief when he received a message on January 5 alerting him to the prize. The lucky Carlisle local, who lives and works with his parents, said he immediately woke up his girlfriend to tell her the news but she didn't believe a word. Despite the win, the young tradesman still plans on qualifying as a heating engineer as his dad won't let him quit. Mr Clarkson told of how he sat on the edge of his mum and dad's bed in anticipation while he waited for the National Lottery line to open at 9am. The good news was soon confirmed with a prize of 7,533,329 ready to enter his bank account. It marked a double win in the space of less than two weeks as he had initially won 120 on Christmas day before bagging his millions. He says he has already started to enjoy the money, booking a luxury holiday and designer treats - but his dad insists he shouldn't stop working. The lucky Carlisle local, who works with his parents Stephen and Becky, said he immediately woke up his girlfriend to tell her the news but she didn't believe a word A trainee gas engineer who won 7.5million in the lottery has revealed how he spent the next day unblocking drains in the freezing cold 20-year-old James Clarkson celebrates winning 7,533,329 on the National Lottery with his parents, grandparents and family members at Dalston Hall near Carlisle Mr Clarkson had already received a 'news about your ticket' email over Christmas when he bagged 120 in the special Lotto Christmas Day draw. With some of his winnings he decided to buy five more lines for the first draw of the new year - two Lucky Dip and three of randomly selected numbers. It was one his own randomly selected lines that delivered the life-changing jackpot. Recalling the eventful Saturday morning, the day after the draw, Mr Clarkson said: 'I was at my girlfriend's house and got up early to check on the snowfall when I saw a message saying I'd won on the National Lottery app. 'I opened it straight away but couldn't see anything to begin with; then I scrolled down and saw I'd matched all six main Lotto numbers to hit the jackpot and that my prize amount was 7,533,329! I just didn't believe it! I thought I was dreaming! 'It was only 7.30am so everyone was asleep. I woke up my girlfriend and showed her my ticket on the phone. She took a sleepy glance and said "no, you haven't won", turned over and went back to sleep! I wasn't so sure, so called my dad as I knew he would be awake. He calmly told me to come home and we'd have a look. 'We called dead on nine and chatted through the ticket details and who I was. They eventually confirmed mine was the winning ticket. I think I just started laughing. I thought, "this is mad!" 'I spent the rest of the day visiting my family and girlfriend who all live close by, all of us talking about the win. I have a big family and we are all close. News spread fast and we all ended up celebrating later at my Grandma's and Grandad's with a roast beef dinner and Champagne!' But it was back to reality on Monday morning as James had work commitments to fulfil alongside his dad, Stephen, 47, carrying out property maintenance. Mr Clarkson explained: 'I need to have a purpose in life, plus Dad wouldn't let me not work anyway! He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day' Mr Clarkson explained: 'I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won. It was a bit grim but that's reality. 'I'm not going to stop working, I'm too young. I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there. I need to have a purpose in life, plus Dad wouldn't let me not work anyway! He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.' It comes as the young millionaire had left school during the Covid pandemic and went on to start an apprenticeship in bricklaying which he stuck with until a year ago when he started working for his dad. He said: 'Bricklaying is a hard job and is really cold most of the time too. Now, working with dad, the van isn't much warmer but there is more variety, and I am getting to work towards my gas engineer certificate. 'I know people might think I'm mad to still work but I want to and, of course, there'll be some nice holidays in-between.' Mr Clarkson has already booked an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde and has treated himself to a few designer items, including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself. The engineer hopes his next purchase is going to be a new car, preferably an Audi. He said, 'I'm not really a fan of shopping, it's not my idea of fun but a new car, that would be massive! If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you'd understand. The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds. Not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.' The young millionaire had left school during the Covid pandemic and went on to start an apprenticeship in bricklaying which he stuck with until a year ago when he started working for his dad There have been further celebrations since the news first broke, with several generations of the family gathering in one of the local pubs over the weekend He is also a massive Manchester City fan and says he goes to games whenever he can get a ticket. The young tradesman described how he had supported the club all his life, after his dad took him to his first match when he was just three years old. He said he hoped he would be able to see many more matches and even get a season ticket for him and his family. Mr Clarkson added he has a large extended family and was working out how he could help them. Top of the list was paying off his parents' mortgage. He said: 'I've been thinking about it a lot, it's what I want to do. I told them last night and they seemed really overwhelmed. We are close and they have always been there for me. This win isn't just for me, I want to make sure we all benefit.' There have been further celebrations since the news first broke, with several generations of the family gathering in one of the local pubs over the weekend. 'Everyone was there, Grandad, Dad, my brother, cousin, even my Mum came along, and she doesn't even drink. It was great we all enjoyed the craic,' Mr Clarkson said. He had played Lotto on the National Lottery app with winning numbers on Saturday 4 January, 2025 which were 16, 19, 22, 24, 27 and 35. The German cabinet has agreed plans to allow the army to shoot down suspicious drones after several sightings over military sites, the government announced today, as Russia is accused of waging a 'hybrid war' against the West. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that 'especially since Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently, which poses an increasing challenge for the police and their current technology.' The ministry said that 'security services have noted that reports of sightings of uncooperative drones over critical infrastructure and military properties in Germany are increasing.' 'Espionage or sabotage are regularly considered as a possible reason,' it added in a statement, as tensions between Moscow and Berlin continue to run high. Under current regulations, soldiers can assist the police in forcing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to change direction or land, threaten to shoot it down or fire warning shots. But under the new proposals, a drone could be shot down by the army if it is believed the device is being 'used against the lives of people or against a critical facility, and the use of armed force is the only means of averting this present danger', the ministry said. Unidentified drones have been spotted flying over several military bases and other sensitive sites in Germany in recent months, at a time when the country is on high alert for Russian espionage. Police in the southern state of Bavaria this week said they were looking into several incidents in which drones had flown over military installations in Manching and Neuburg an der Donau. In this photo taken from a video released by Russian Defense Ministry press service on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, Russian serviceman launches a FPV-drone towards Ukrainian position in an undisclosed location Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured on January 15 hosting a video conference meeting A Russian drone flies in the sky over Kyiv following a missile strike on the city in November The Manching site hosts a military aerodrome and is where the Eurofighter jet is developed by Airbus. Several drones have also recently been spotted at an industrial zone near the North Sea and near the US airbase in Ramstein. The changes must still be voted through in the lower and upper houses of parliament before becoming law. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in October that Moscow was using 'hybrid means' to target Germany, adding: 'We see many, many examples, time and again.' She cited drone activity around the new gas terminals, suggesting they were 'not there to observe the beautiful local landscape, but because there is a chemical park there and a... storage facility for nuclear waste nearby,' According to German media reports, the reconnaissance was carried out by unmanned Russian military aircraft. Officials warned the scouting could be 'for the purposes of sabotage'. It comes as Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk today warned that Russia had planned acts of 'air terror' against airlines worldwide, accusing Moscow of staging sabotage and diversion on Polish soil and beyond. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) ahead of their talks in Warsaw Members of the Ukrainian police investigate a crater following a strike on the village of Sknyliv, some 60km from Lviv, on January 15 'All I can say, and I will not go into details, but I can confirm the validity of these fears, is that Russia has been planning acts of air terror, and not only against Poland, but against airlines all over the world,' Tusk told reporters. Russian spies were accused of sending a package full of erotic gadgets to DHL depots in Britain and Germany last year in an alleged 'test-run' for a larger attack on a US-bound flight. Two incendiary devices had been shipped via a DHL logistics centre on July 22 from Lithuania to Birmingham, England, and Leipzig, Germany, resulting in a fire. It was later revealed the explosives were hidden in a box containing sex toys and massage pillows. Moscow has also been accused of jamming satellite systems for civilian air flights with state of the art technology. The Kremlin has been accused of trying to undermine European interests over their backing of Kyiv and sharp sanctions on Moscow since the war in Ukraine began almost three years ago. In August, Russia was accused of flying multiple drones over Germany to collect sensitive information on a nuclear power plant. Germany decommissioned the last of its nuclear power plants in 2023 after years of fierce debate. Intelligence officers blamed Russia, telling Bild drones were scouting over Brunsbutte as a potential target for sabotage. Pictured: A fire ignited at a plant in Berlin containing poisonous sulphuric acid and copper cyanide that is reportedly linked to missiles supplied to Ukraine In July, US intelligence uncovered a plot they believe shows Russian intent to sponsor a series of assassinations of defence industry executives across Europe, including Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, a staunch supporter of Ukraine. A top German official confirmed that Berlin was warned about the plot by the US, and western officials said the Papperger plot was the most far along. Rheinmetall is the top German manufacturer of 155mm artillery shells used by Ukraine to deter the Russian advance. The company was on the brink of opening a new plant within Ukraine tasked with producing armoured vehicles as news of the foiled plot broke. Baerbock said Russia was waging a hybrid war of aggression, including cyberattacks and sabotage of infrastructure. 'This underlines once again that we as Europeans must protect ourselves as best we can and not be naive,' she said. 'Russia's intensifying campaign of subversion is something that we are taking extremely seriously and have been intently focused on over the past few months,' National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told CNN at the time. Bubbles break to the surface amid a leak at the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 Migrants near the Polish border. Poland said hundreds of people were being ushered across from Belarus as a deliberate tactic to strain the frontier 'The United States has been discussing this issue with our NATO Allies, and we are actively working together to expose and disrupt these activities,' she said, reiterating support for Ukraine in the face of destabilisation efforts. Russia has been accused of trying to destabilise Ukraine's allies since the war in Ukraine began. Moscow also allegedly upped its subversive activities after Biden relaxed rules on Ukraine firing long-range missiles into Russia. The hybrid warfare tactics they are alleged to have engaged in include the 'weaponising mass migration' along the EU's western border. Western leaders accused Russia of sabotaging vital cables in the Baltic in November, and have repeatedly accused Russia of sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines which provide Europe with gas. There have also been accusations that Russia has influenced elections in Moldova and Georgia. Britain's crumbling jails are being overseen by underqualified new guards who are being interviewed over Zoom and do not even know how to lock a cell door, a union chief has warned. Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said it was not surprising that corrupt or unsuitable prison officers were being recruited because the hiring process was 'simply not fit for purpose'. His intervention follows damning inspection reports into two high-security prisons that revealed photos of their grim interiors and concluded they had such a serious problem with drug-carrying drones that it 'posed a threat to national security'. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor has previously found several prisons to be similarly rife with drugs - a problem he partly blames on corrupt prison officers working for organised gangs. Mr Fairhurst, whose union represents frontline prison officers, told peers that new officers were frequently being recruited without an in-person interview before being handed just six weeks' training. 'We recruited a person before Christmas who got sent back to their establishment from the training college because they were not capable of locking or unlocking cell doors, they were incapable of controlling restraint training and they were incapable of conducting a rub down search,' he said. 'That governor has had to dismiss that member of staff because he discovered that that staff member had been recruited and has cerebral palsy. We are setting people up to fail.' Appearing before the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Mr Fairhurst echoed Mr Taylor's warnings about the threat posed by drones - claiming that they would now be powerful enough to lift an escaping inmate out of an exercise yard. Prisoners are burning holes in windows at HMP Manchester in order to receive drone deliveries Rubbish strewn over the razor wire at HMP Manchester in a photo taken by prison inspectors Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said he it was not surprising that corrupt or unsuitable prison officers were being recruited because the hiring process was 'simply not fit for purpose' He added that it was a 'matter of time' before they were used to bring in firearms. Following his inspections of HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin, Mr Taylor said bosses had 'ceded the airspace' above both jails to 'organised crime gangs'. Apart from consignments of illegal drugs and weapons, prisoners are receiving mobile phones and even takeaway meals, Mr Taylor concluded. 'The safety of staff, prisoners and ultimately that of the public, is seriously compromised by the failure to tackle what has become a threat to national security,' he said. 'It is highly alarming that the police and Prison Service have, in effect, ceded the airspace above two high-security prisons to organised crime gangs, which are able to deliver contraband to jails holding extremely dangerous prisoners including some who have been designated as high-risk Category A. 'It is chilling that weapons can be delivered in this way especially when some of these wings hold terrorists.' The chief inspector's report into Manchester said: 'The prison had a serious problem with drugs, weapons, mobile telephones, and even takeaway meals being delivered by drones to cell windows. 'Organised criminal groups led this activity. In the last year there had been 220 drone sightings.' A broken cell window at HMP Manchester HMP Manchester was found to have a chronic rodent infestation. Pictured is a rodent in a segregation yard Blood-stained walls at HMP Manchester, which is known locally as Strangeways Charlie Taylor described the outdoor areas at HMP Long Lartin as dirty and overgrown The shower ceiling of E Wing at HMP Long Lartin, which appeared to be covered with mould A filthy 'kitchenette' inside HMP Manchester Inspectors found basic security measures such as protective netting to stop drones and CCTV had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Mr Taylor criticised the 'widespread dirt, damp and litter' at both high-security jails, and described how Manchester had a 'chronic rodent infestation' with many cell windows smashed and prisoners using torn-up foam from mattresses to keep out the cold. Meanwhile, at Long Lartin, Mr Taylor said the lack of in-cell toilets for many prisoners prompted them to use buckets in their cells and throw bags of excrement out of the windows, many of which were not cleared up. The inspector linked the neglected state of both prisons to the issue of drone incursions, with holes found burned into 'secure' windows in Manchester by prisoners wanting to receive packages. In some cases, contraband packages were rolled in grass cuttings and dropped into overgrown areas to be collected later, or disguised in bin bags and dropped into areas littered with rubbish, Mr Taylor said. 'Just doing the basics correctly in a prison, like cutting the grass and picking up rubbish, will actually make a difference,' he added. Nearly four out of ten prisoners at Manchester who underwent mandatory drug tests tested positive. Mr Taylor first reported his concerns about the jail, formerly known as Strangeways, last autumn. In November ministers announced the jail would get extra staff and 'bolstered security measures', including anti-drone netting. The latest warning comes after Mr Taylor likened high-security jail HMP Garth in Lancashire to an 'airport' because there were so many drones flying in drugs. A dilapidated cell and shower room at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire Another shower room at HMP Manchester Prisoners at HMP Manchester covered broken windows with foam from mattresses And a report from Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB) - made up of volunteers tasked by ministers with scrutinising conditions in custody - into 'crumbling' jails in England and Wales said delays in fixing broken prison windows was making it easier for drones to be used to deliver drugs and weapons. In December, MPs heard contraband was being taken into HMP Parc in South Wales in 'children's nappies', while there were 'industrial specification drone drops being organised by organised crime gangs'. Lucy Adcock, 47, was jailed for six years last year for recruiting a five-man ground crew to drop packages of cocaine, spice, mobile phones and SIM cards into the prison. The mother-of-five was the 'operational manager' behind 22 prison drops in under a month - flying in a potential 1,420,000 in drugs and phones. The drones were airborne for up to 22 minutes flying over prison walls in the middle of the night to drop their cargo into exercise yards. Adcock was caught after packages of cocaine, spice, cannabis, phones and chargers were flown into HMP Parc. Police were able to download telltale software from the home made, heavy duty drone found in the boot of her car. 'We are investing in prison maintenance and security, working with the police and others to tackle serious organised crime, and building more prison places to lock up dangerous criminals.' An interior photo of HMP Manchester, which was visited as part of an unannounced inspection HMP Long Lartin (pictured), which holds some of Britain's most dangerous offenders It revealed Adcock had also carried out drug drops at HMP Gartree, Leicestershire, HMP Onley, Warwickshire, HMP Guys Marsh, Shaftesbury, HMP High Down, Sutton, and HMP The Mount, Hemel Hempstead. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said there were 22 'incursions' at the six prisons which dropped 600 grams of cocaine over the walls. A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Our prison officers undergo robust assessments and an extended period of training before they work in prisons. 'We also continuously review our recruitment process to ensure our officers are best suited to their role and have strengthened vetting procedures to root out applicants who fall below our high standards.' Two Biden staffers who screamed and swore at Meta workers for refusing to censor accurate posts and memes about Covid vaccines have been named and shamed. The House Judiciary Committee named former senior Biden advisor Andy Slavitt and former White House digital director Rob Flaherty as the two who demanded the social media company remove posts which criticized vaccines. The report, which was released last year, has been recirculated after Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, 40, told Joe Rogan last Friday about the bullying his staff had to endure at the hands of Biden staff. The meme that outraged Slavitt was a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at a TV in the movie 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' which said: '10 years from now you're going to see an ad that says if you took a Covid vaccine you'd be eligible for a payment.' Communications between the two top mandarins and Meta's President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg were shared in the report concerning the post. Clegg described his efforts to explain the First Amendment to Slavitt saying the latter was 'outraged - that we did not remove this post.' Slavitt and the administration were irate by the caption of the post. Clegg pushed back against their demands, saying: 'I countered that removing content like that would represent a significant incursion into traditional boundaries of free expression in the US.' Slavitt and the administration were irate by the caption of the post which they said compared Covid vaccines to asbestos Rob Flaherty meanwhile had lashed out at Facebook employees with an expletive ridden email The former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said that Slavitt 'replied that the post was directly comparing Covid vaccines to asbestos poisoning in a way which demonstrably inhibits confidence in Covid vaccines.' Zuckerberg says his staff were also bullied into removing anything suggesting Covid vaccines could cause injuries, despite that being true. In testimony before the Committee, Clegg said that: 'The White House certainly urged us to take down content and pointed out content which they felt should have been removed.' Clegg also said that the requests from the White House for more to be silenced were 'pretty persistent' and 'at the heart' of most of their interactions. The report also highlighted an email exchange between Biden and Kamala bully Rob Flaherty to the team at Facebook over technical issues relating to President Biden's Instagram follower growth. After a Facebook employee replied to Flaherty that he was unable to explain the issue, they noted that it had been 'resolved and shouldn't happen again'. Flaherty's vile and abusive language makes for uncomfortable reading. In what was described as a 'tone familiar to Facebook personnel', Flaherty responded: 'Are you guys f****** serious? I want an answer on what happened here and I want it today.' That email was dated July 15, 2021, and the following day President Biden came out and said Facebook was 'killing people'. Internal emails between Clegg and Meta Sheryl Sandberg show that they were 'infuriated' over the remarks. The meme in question was a picture which made use of a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio pointing at a TV in the movie 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood', seen here Clegg, seen here, said that the requests from the White House for more to be silenced were 'pretty persistent' and 'at the heart' of most of their interactions Clegg said in one: 'The behavior of the White House over the last 24 hours has been highly cynical and dishonest. The Surgeon General has been telling us that we are doing a decent job. Infuriating.' Sandberg responded: 'We should consider doing things like speaking publicly about what they say. Happy to discuss.' Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also chimed in after the comments, saying: 'Can we include that the White House put pressure on us to censor the lab leak theory?' Sandberg responded that she believed the company was being used as a scapegoat to cover up missed vaccination rates and 'a virus they can't get control of.' Zuckerberg responded: 'That is certainly true as well', before adding in a follow up that the attack on Meta had been coordinated by the White House. Leadership at Facebook also noted the double standard between coverage of statements made by Biden and former President Trump, saying: 'Did Trump say things this irresponsible? 'If Trump blamed a private company and not himself and his govt, everyone would have gone nuts.' Flaherty more recently was the Deputy Campaign Manager for Vice President Kamala Harris' failed bid for the White House. The report, which was released last year, has been recirculated after Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg , 40, told Joe Rogan of his company's interaction with the White House Public records indicate he resides in Washington DC inside a 4 bedroom townhouse valued at over $1 million. Slavitt meanwhile stepped down from his role in helping the White House Covid response in 2021 and is now a group working on public healthcare. He lives in Pasadena, California, at a home valued at over $4 million and is also a public speaker, charging between $25,000 and $40,000 per gig. The appearance by Zuckerberg on the Joe Rogan Podcast comes amid moves by Meta to make inroads with the incoming Trump administration. Earlier this month they dramatically axed their own team of fact-checkers and have also terminated all DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs. Speaking on the show about the meme that caused such fury in the White House, he said it was 'sort of like a class action lawsuit type meme' and personally deemed it little more than a harmless political joke. After being told to take down the meme, Zuckerberg claimed he and his team responded: 'No we're not we're not going to take down humor.' Zuckerberg said the White House 'pushed us super hard to take down things that were honestly true', and 'said anything that says vaccines have side effects, you need to take down.' 'Basically, it just got to this point where we were like no, we're not going to take down things that are true,' Zuckerberg said. 'That's ridiculous.' Zuckerberg recently donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, in a complete reversal on past relations between the two. The policy change, and the donation come after Zuckerberg sat down with the President-elect for dinner in Mar-a-Lago in November. January 15, 2025: NATO countries are alarmed at the recent spate of so-called accidental severing of underwater power and communications cables. The culprits were Chinese and Russian ships that were in the areas when the cables were cut. One of these ships was boarded and searched. Evidence of cable cutting was found. Chinese and Russian officials continue to profess surprise and ignorance of these acts of sabotage. Worse, all this is not new, its been going on for some time under the designation of Hybrid Warfare. Ten years ago many Western politicians, especially in the United States, were calling on the U.S. Department of Defense to pay more attention to the new hybrid warfare that Russia is practicing in Ukraine, and that Islamic terrorists seem to be using worldwide to further their goals. Calling more attention to hybrid warfare is a good thing but assuming that the Department of Defense doesnt know about it is a dangerous misunderstanding of the situation. Since the 1970s, when the Department of Defense finally listened to its own internal critics, much more attention was paid to the lessons of the past. Not just the general history of warfare but to the American military experience during the past three centuries. This revealed the United States was born through the use of hybrid warfare and has successfully used it many times since. But this debate about new military developments has also taken place before, more than once. The missing link was an institutional effort to study, remember and use past experience. For example in the last two decades of the 20th century the Revolution in Military Affairs or RMA was the next big thing but it glimmered in the distance, always just out of reach. To many pundits and military analysts all the new technology of the last few decades of the 20th century was seen as capable of causing a fundamental change in how wars are fought. Then came the end of the Cold War, the disappearance of the enormous Soviet army and the sudden appearance of a new military landscape. This meant there would be no clash of huge, mechanized armies in Europe, or anywhere else anytime soon. Then, unexpectedly, came the 1991 Gulf War which showed that many of the American military technologies worked quite well. U.S. troops could now see more of the battlefield, communicate better, fight faster and roll over the Russian-equipped and trained Iraqi army in record time. This was a true RMA because in the past American troops had rarely done that in the openly stages of a war against a well-armed opponent. But the RMA that developed over the next decade had less to do with technology and more to do with the nature of future wars. With The Big One, war in Europe against the Soviet Union, out of the picture after 1991, new kinds of wars became more common. Thats because there have been three major changes since the Cold War days. First, there is a lot of neat new technology that allows for quicker, less bloody conflicts via the use of better sensors and precision weapons that actually work. Second, the current and future wars were smaller than what NATO and the Soviet Union were planning for nearly half a century. These 21st century wars also involved a lot more civilians getting in the way in addition to lots of politics, diplomacy and other complications. Then there is the growing media angle. Mass media has been around since the early 19th century but has grown enormously in presence and volume since the 1990s. News is now a 24 hour a day operation and reporters are everywhere. Moreover, the Internet makes is easy for anyone with a camera, or a way with words, to join the media stream and get their story out. All of this has changed the battlefield atmosphere enormously since the Cold War. The New Wars involved smaller forces fighting more complicated, by political, diplomatic and media issues, battles. While better sensors and communications gear give troops a better view of the battlefield, the greater presence of civilians and media actually make it a more complicated place. As a result, RMA went to places its first boosters never imagined. And no one knows exactly where the final destination is. Military analysts and planners in the major countries, especially the United States and China, agree that brute force is still important in a major war, and new technology makes the troops of major powers far more effective than in the past. But most of the wars since 1991 have involved irregular forces or nuclear armed nations confronting each other indirectly so as to not trigger a mutually destructive nuclear war. Thus intelligence, special operations forces and precision weapons become the primary tools that nations use regularly. This in itself is not revolutionary as great powers have for thousands of years used special operations troops, diplomacy, subterfuge and all manner of deceptions and feints to get their way. Noted military analysts from Shen Tzu to Machiavelli, Clausewitz and a dazzling array of late 20th and early 21st century pundits have recognized that operations other than war or OOTW are the way to go if you can pull it off. It still is and its not RMA or Hybrid Warfare. A lot of what is proclaimed as new is just another case of old wine in new bottles. If you want solutions, look to the ones that worked in the past. Many still work or will with a few tweaks to account for new technology. Keir Starmer has insisted he will examine 'every conceivable way' to stop Troubles internees such as Gerry Adams from getting compensation. Sir Keir was grilled on the prospect of the former Sinn Fein leader receiving a payout during PMQs. The previous Tory government had legislated to block such claims for unlawful detention. But the Labour government is planning to repeal the Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 after the Belfast High Court ruled it breaches the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Conservative Kemi Badenoch said in the Commons it was 'shameful' Sir Keir is proposing to 'write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams'. Sir Keir replied: 'That Act was unfit not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasn't supported by victims in Northern Ireland, nor I believe by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. Keir Starmer was grilled on the prospect of the former Sinn Fein leader receiving a payout during PMQs Critics say the law change paves the way for Gerry Adams to receive tens of thousands of pounds in compensation for alleged unlawful detention Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness attend the funeral of Patrick Kelly, the reputed IRA commander in East Tyrone, in May 1987 'The court found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework, we're working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. 'It's important I say that on the record.' Outside the chamber, Downing Street refused to guarantee that compensation will be blocked. There is no obligation for ministers to follow the Belfast court's ruling but they have decided to without challenging it. Northern Ireland's High Court delivered its ruling last February. It could open the door for Mr Adams, who has always denied being a member of the IRA, and hundreds of other former suspected terrorists to lodge taxpayer-funded compensation claims. Sixteen peers - several of them former judges and top lawyers - last night criticised ministers as part of a report opposing the move drawn up by the Policy Exchange think tank. In a foreword to the report, they branded the Government's move 'wholly inappropriate' and said that paying compensation would be a 'very poor use of scarce public funds in a time of national economic crisis'. They added: 'We strongly support Policy Exchange's critique of the [Northern Ireland] High Court's judgment and the Government's response to it and call on the Government now to reconsider.' Lord Wolfson KC, the Shadow Attorney General, said the Government's pledge to press ahead because of its 'absolute commitment' to human rights 'makes no sense'. Professor Richard Ekins KC, a law professor at the University of Oxford, said: 'The Government has wrongly taken the say-so of a single High Court judge in Northern Ireland to justify reversing recently enacted and entirely reasonable legislation. 'The Government's decision to change the law is inexplicable and unjustifiable. 'It will reopen the door to a wave of meritless litigation in relation to events of over 50 years ago, which may result in hundreds of people who were lawfully detained then for suspected involvement in terrorism now being paid compensation, which is an unjust and wasteful use of public money.' Experts said that Mr Adams could get tens of thousands of pounds if the new legislation, tabled by ministers last month, passes. If hundreds of others also lodge claims, it raises the prospect of the compensation bill reaching tens of millions of pounds. Mr Adams was twice detained without trial during the Troubles, a practice introduced by UK ministers in Northern Ireland in a bid to contain spiralling violence in the early 1970s. He was interned under article 4 of the Detention of Terrorists (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, which covered anyone 'suspected of having been concerned in the commission or attempted commission of any act of terrorism'. More than 1,900 people suspected of being members of paramilitary or terror groups such as the IRA were detained under the powers. In 2020, the UK Supreme Court agreed that Mr Adams and others were unlawfully detained. An picture of Gerry Adams (centre) in Belfast in 1973, acting as a member of the IRA guard of honour at the funeral of a member who was killed whilst planting a bomb Mr Adams was detained at the Maze high-security jail near Belfast, also known as Long Kesh internment camp Gerry Adams was the president of Sinn Fein between 13 November 1983 and 10 February 2018 But this conclusion was reached on a technicality, which was that then Northern Ireland Secretary Willie Whitelaw had not personally signed the interim custody order. Tory ministers rejected the ruling before passing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which under sections 46 and 47 blocked Mr Adams and hundreds of others from lodging claims. But Labour has tabled secondary legislation which would repeal these sections. It is likely to pass the Commons because the party has a huge majority. But it could run into trouble in the Lords, where the Tories have a majority. Other peers which backed the Policy Exchange report included former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler of Brockwell, ex-Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice Lord Etherton KC and former Home Secretary Lord Howard of Lympne. Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Margaret Thatcher's ex-Private Secretary, Lord Powell of Bayswater, also signed it. The Northern Department, which has tabled the legislation, was contacted for comment. Ministers tabled a Remedial Order, secondary legislation which gives Parliament 60 days to consider it before becoming law, unless it is voted down. Sir Keir Starmer faced a House of Commons grilling today over claims Labour is preparing to pay nearly 9billion to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. The Prime Minister was told to abandon his 'dud' deal to handover the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, which will reportedly land taxpayers with a huge bill. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Government of 'rushing' an agreement ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House next week. Allies of the incoming US President have criticised Labour's draft deal with Mauritius, viewed as an ally of China, over islands that host a crucial US-UK military base. This has led to claims the Government is trying to push through the agreement before Mr Trump replaces Joe Biden, who has given his approval for the deal, on Monday. But Downing Street this afternoon indicated there would be no final sign-off on the deal before Mr Trump takes office on 20 January. No10 said it would be 'perfectly reasonable' for the new US administration in Washington DC to have an opportunity to consider the terms of the agreement. Sir Keir suffered a fresh blow this morning as the new Mauritius government continued to hold out on its own rubber-stamping of the sovereignty handover. Sir Keir Starmer faced a House of Commons grilling today over claims Labour is preparing to pay nearly 9billion to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Government of 'rushing' an agreement ahead of Donald Trump 's return to the White House next week Labour made the shock announcement in October that it was going to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which has been a British overseas territory for more than 200 years At a cabinet meeting in Port Louis, it was decided the African country's attorney general Gavin Glover should return to the UK for further negotiations. Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, who took office in November after winning an election landslide, has criticised the terms of the agreement he inherited. Amid continuing negotiations, it has been claimed his administration is seeking changes to the financing of the agreement. Ministers have so far kept silent on how much it will cost the UK to lease the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, under the deal. But Downing Street has not denied reports the Government is offering about 90million a year for the initial 99-year lease, which would be a total of 8.9billion. There have also been claims that Labour has proposed frontloading a tranche of payments to Mauritius as a 'sweetener' to finalise the agreement. At Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Ms Badenoch took Sir Keir to task over the cost of the Chagos deal. 'The Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) is apparently promising to be ruthless in reducing spending. Let me suggest something he should cut,' the told the PM. 'There is no way that we should be giving up British territory in Chagos. He is rushing a deal which will be disastrous and will land taxpayers with a multi-billion pound bill. 'Why does he the PM think British people should pay to surrender something that is already ours?' Sir Keir responded: 'We inherited a situation where the long-term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenges. 'The negotiations were started under the last government. The then-foreign secretary came to this House to say why he was starting negotiations and what he wanted to achieve. 'He said the aim was to 'ensure the continued effective operation of the base'. That is precisely this deal has delivered.' But Ms Badenoch hit back: 'There is no one he can blame for this dud deal except himself.' After the Commons exchanges, the PM's official spokesman told reporters: 'We will only agree to a deal that is in the UK's best interests and protect our national security. He added: 'It is obviously now right that the new US administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office.' Asked if this meant the UK would not sign a deal before Mr Trump officially begins his presidency, the spokesman replied: 'You can take from what I have just said about that the new US administration.' No10 steered away from suggestions Mr Trump would have a 'veto' on the deal. The spokesman said: 'It is perfectly reasonable for the new US administration to actually consider the detail and we will obviously have those discussions with them.' Ministers have so far kept silent on how much it will cost the UK to lease the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, under the terms of the deal At a cabinet meeting in Port Louis, it was decided the African country's attorney general Gavin Glover should return to the UK for further negotiations Labour made the shock announcement in October that it was going to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which has been a British overseas territory for more than 200 years. As part of the arrangement, the Diego Garcia base will remain operational for at least 99 years. But the former leader of Mauritius who agreed it, Pravind Jugnauth, was ousted in November's election and the deal has yet to be officially signed. Opponents of the handover are hopeful that Mr Trump will force Labour to scrap the deal when he returns to the White House. Labour has insisted it had to strike a deal to protect the Diego Garcia base after the International Court of Justice ruled the UK's administration of the islands was 'unlawful'. Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for the military base. The expulsions are regarded as one of the most shameful parts of Britain's modern colonial history and Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands. In a statement following the meeting of Mr Ramgoolam's cabinet, the Mauritian government said: 'The attorney general will travel again this evening in order to continue with the discusssion in London. 'Upon his return, cabinet will then be apprised of the situation. The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago remains unshaken.' Tory shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: 'This is a complete humiliation for Keir Starmer and (Foreign Secretary) David Lammy and marks yet another failure of British diplomacy under Labour. 'Labour have been desperate to sign off the surrender of the Chagos Islands before President Trump returns to office, and the Mauritius Government know. 'They see the weakness at the heart of this Government and are trying to exploit it by pressuring Britain into paying more for an even weaker lease for the military base at Diego Garcia. 'While Labour have been hiding the details from us, we know they are prepared to blow billions of pounds of taxpayers' money for the indignity of this dodgy deal, which will undermine our security and defence. 'It is high time they abandoned it altogether start focusing on how to strengthen our defence capabilities and get the economy growing.' The 'abusive' white parents from West Virginia accused of locking their adopted black children in a barn also forced them into grueling manual labor, a court heard. Jeanne Whitefeather, 62 and Donald Lantz, 61, were arrested in October 2023 after two of their adoptive children were found severely neglected with no food, light or running water in a cramped 20 by 14-foot shed fit with a camera in the corner. Whitefeather and Lantz appeared in court on Tuesday as their trial kicked off a little more than a month after they pleaded not guilty to additional charges, which came on top of a series of other accusations that they also deny. In 2018, while living in Minnesota, the couple adopted five siblings from a farm in Washington state - ranging from the ages of five to 16-years-old. During the trial, a neighbor, Joyce Bailey, testified about the horrific tasks the couple allegedly forced the young children to do. Video that she took of the children performing the physical jobs was also shown to the court. 'He [Lantz] made them carry it all, that heavy fencing. They would just stand there and wait for him to tell them what to do,' Bailey recalled as she got emotional. The distressed neighbor also said that she saw some of the children haul full buckets of water and other supplies, including propane tanks between the trailer, barn and home, all while Lantz stood by and watched. At one point, Bailey said the oldest boy 'could barely walk' as he lugged one of the tanks while Lantz watched him. Jeanne Whitefeather, 62 and Donald Lantz, 61, appeared in court on Tuesday as their trial kicked off after being accused of abusing their five black adopted children The couple was arrested October 2023 after two of their adoptive children were found severely neglected with no food, light or running water in a cramped 20 by 14-foot shed (pictured) fit with a camera in the corner 'He [the boy] acted like his feet were so sore. He was dragging them,' Bailey said. 'Mr. Lantz was just standing there. He never said anything, not helping him.' At some point, Bailey decided to start filming what the kids were allegedly doing, because she said 'it was tearing me up.' While she recorded, she said her husband told her to stop after he spotted Lantz looking at her, but Bailey kept on, telling her partner 'I don't care.' She also testified that she had seen the teenagers being locked up in the 'shop,' and that she feared the couple 'would move away,' leaving the kids helpless. 'I was afraid that they would move away and those little kids, nobody would be there to help them. 'I wanted to make sure, I just prayed to God that he would give me some sign to get the police back there to get them before they left,' Bailey added. Bailey also told the court that when the family first arrived at their home in Sissonville in 2023, she saw a vehicle hauling a trailer of animals pull up to the house. During the trial, a neighbor, Joyce Bailey (pictured), testified about the horrific tasks the couple allegedly forced the young children to do She said it was raining that day and that the children were told to line up outside. Bailey also recalled never seeing the children speak to each other or play. 'You never see them talk to each other. They didnt talk at all among themselves. You didnt see them out unless they were working. They never played,' she said. When the couple was initially caught allegedly abusing the kids, the children were found with sores on their feet, wearing wet clothing, and wreaked of body odor, a deputy noted in a criminal complaint. Inside the couple's main residence, a nine-year-old girl was found crying alone in a loft, without any protection from falling. Meanwhile, another child was discovered with Lantz before deputies were led to the couple's five-year-old adopted daughter. The couple was then arrested and all the children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services (CPS). Kanawah County prosecutors previously said that the children were used basically as slaves' because of their race. In her opening statement on Tuesday, assistant prosecutor Madison Tuck said that evidence presented at the trial will show that Lantz and Whitefeather used and forced the minors 'physically, emotionally and mentally so that they would comply.' Donald Ray Lantz, 63, and Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 62 of Charleston, West Virginia Whitefeather's attorney Mark Plants said the barn located on the couple's property was actually used a 'teenage clubhouse', and that there was a key inside Tuck also noted that there are text messages between the couple that mentioned the children standing for long periods of time and locking two of the oldest, both teenagers, in the outhouse. She also mentioned that 'while the couple has more than enough resources to care for these children, they simply chose not to do so.' Whitefeather's attorney Mark Plants said the case 'is about adoptive parents struggling to deal with their children's past trauma and severe mental illness.' Plants went on to explain that friends and family of Whitefeather are set to testify that four of the five children previously endured 'physical, sexual and emotional' abuse at the hands of their biological mother. The attorney added that their biological mother also used drugs and alcohol while she was pregnant with them. Friends and relatives previously defended the couple, telling DailyMail.com they are 'not guilty and not racist.' Whitefeathers brother, Marcus Hughes, 60, said: Theyve been made out to be monsters which isnt true. You're supposed to be innocent until you're found guilty.' Plants said the couple provided 'a normal family' dynamic for their adopted kids. The West Virginia couple are seen pictured at one of their previous court hearings Pictured: Photos from inside a Sissonville shed where two teenagers were allegedly found locked inside, were shown during a bond hearing for Whitefeather in October 2023 'This is a normal family. They have Christmases. All of them. They have Christmas presents. They have family vacations. They sit around dinner tables and eat,' he said. DailyMail.com previously obtained a half dozen police reports giving more shocking details including how two of their children ran away from home, and they allegedly forced one of them at gunpoint to stay in his room while using a bullwhip for punishment. Plants said the barn located on the couple's property was actually used a 'teenage clubhouse', and that there was a key inside. Tucks said the children never knew about a key. Plants added that the oldest boy had tried to run away from the home, and that was the reason a lock was placed on the outhouse. Now, that boy is receiving full-time treatment in a psychiatric facility. They are both charged with human trafficking of a minor child: civil rights violations based on color, race and/or ancestry, use of minor child in forced labor, and child neglect creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death. Defense attorney Mark Plants makes his opening argument to the jury on the first day of the trial of Donald Lantz and Jeanne Whitefeather in Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers' courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Charleston, W.Va. (Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP) After they posted bond on their initial round of charges, they sold the house where the children were allegedly abused for $295,000. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers said in June that the couple's original bond of $200,000 was insufficient compared to the severity of their crimes. Akers said: 'Along with human trafficking and neglect was serious risk of bodily injuries or death, I don't find the bond to be sufficient. 'It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labor. 'Human rights violations specific to the fact that these children were targeted because of their race and they were used basically as slaves from what the indictment alleges.' The trial is set to pick back up on Wednesday. A homeowner who bought a narrow house which was 'built a house out of spite' on a small sliver of land between other properties has said it's been a 'solid investment'. Mike Cavanagh, 51, said his friends have introduced him as 'the guy who bought the skinny house' since he purchased the 10ft wide property for $619,000 last year. The two-story home was built by developer John Atkins, who was hellbent on constructing on the small land parcel despite fierce opposition from neighbors. Less than one mile from the golden sands of north-east Florida's Jacksonville Beach, the house caused chaos in the peaceful area. Framed by a white picket fence, the narrow property is more than 19 feet tall, looming over surrounding family residences, pools and backyards. Floor blueprints reveal its open-plan design, with the garage opening out into an entryway with a toilet room, followed by a dining room, kitchen and living area. A central stairway emerges into a vaulted 10ft loft area with two bathrooms flanked by two double-bedrooms at either end of the property. Cavanagh, who works for a medical device company, said that as a single man, the controversial home is the 'perfect size' for him. A homeowner who bought a narrow house which was 'built a house out of spite' on a small sliver of land between other properties has said it's been a 'solid investment' Mike Cavanagh, 51, said his friends have introduced him as 'the guy who bought the skinny house' since he purchased the 10-foot wide property for $619,000 last year A central stairway emerges into a vaulted 10-foot-high loft area with two full bathrooms flanked by sunlit-drenched double-bedrooms at either end of the property 'If I were 40 with young kids, it wouldn't have worked,' he wrote in a Business Insider essay about his home. 'Despite its narrow layout, the exterior has great curb appeal. Inside, it has a modern feel, with beautiful flooring and tile work throughout.' 'I've definitely acclimated,' he added. 'It doesn't feel small; its bumped-out walls give the house an almost container-like feel, reminiscent of an RV from the outside.' Cavanagh praised the design of the 1,547-square-foot property for making it feel larger than it is - including 'built-in nooks' for furnishings. 'The upstairs bedroom has a built-in platform where my mattress sits, so I don't need a bed frame,' he wrote. The property also features a built-in dining table carved out of reclaimed wood from a local pier which was destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Cavanagh also hailed the home for its abundance of natural light which floods through windows set into the nine-foot-high walls on the first floor, and 10-foot-tall walls on the second. 'The builder did an excellent job positioning the windows to create a bright, inviting atmosphere,' he wrote. Cavanagh also hired a local designer to add his own touches to the place last year to make it a peaceful haven for working from home, and the occasional dinner party. 'We added a built-in white oak couch in the living room with custom cushions,' he wrote. 'It was a bit pricey but totally worth it because it's incredibly comfortable and has an artsy vibe. 'By the TV, we also installed built-in shelving and cabinets made from white oak.' Floor plans reveal its open-plan design, with the ground-floor garage opening out into an entryway with a toilet room, followed by a dining room, kitchen and living area The two-story home was built by developer John Atkins , who was hellbent on constructing on the small land parcel despite fierce opposition from neighbors The two-story home was built by developer John Atkins , who was hellbent on constructing on the small land parcel despite fierce opposition from neighbors Cavanagh said his skinny house remains a 'solid investment' because even if he decided to leave, he could rent it out on AirBnB, and Jacksonville's gradual population growth means it would be easy to sell. 'Compared to other cities in Florida, Jacksonville Beach has been slow to develop, which helps keep it affordable especially relative to other beach towns,' he wrote. 'As more people discover it's a fantastic place to live, there's been an influx of movers from the Northeast, some from California, and many from the Midwest. 'But I plan to continue living in the home. It's my only property, and my job is based in the area, for now at least.' 'Overall, I do think buying the home was a good decision,' Cavanagh concluded. 'Smart people just don't buy real estate to make money; they buy to have a great place to live and to avoid losing money.' However, the controversial home still attracts comments. 'I think the fact that my home was featured on Zillow Gone Wild and that there used to be a 'For Sale' sign in the yard both drew a lot of attention,' Cavanagh admitted. 'It's more subdued now, but I occasionally notice random people driving by or walking past and making comments. 'I still get jokes, too. Some friends introduce me socially as 'the guy who bought the skinny house.' Cavanagh said he first came across the property amid plans to downsize after his kids moved out of their family home. He sold his 3,700-square-foot home back in 2020 and started renting a townhouse, hoping the market would adjust. Framed by a white picket fence, the narrow property is an impressive 138-feet tall, looming over surrounding family residences, pools and backyards The ground-floor garage opens out into an entryway with a toilet room, followed by a dining room, kitchen and living area towards the back of the long, narrow property But after years of spending money on rent, Cavanagh decided it was time to invest in property again. In June last year, he called a real-estate friend in Jacksonville Beach and they toured three homes. 'None of them felt right,' Cavanagh wrote. But when they found the skinny house, they called him back and said: 'I've got something you need to see. It's really unique.' 'The moment I walked into the house, I turned to my real-estate agent and said, 'I'll take it,'' Cavanagh recalled. 'The same day I toured the home, I made an offer. It was accepted, and we closed in just 30 days. I purchased it in early June for just over $600,000.' Cavanagh said he was attracted to the 'quiet and peaceful' surrounding neighborhood. He eventually also met the home's builder John Atkins, who explained that he had owned the land parcel for a long time. Neighbors had wanted to buy the land from Atkins, but he refused, originally eyeing up plans to create a 15-foot-wide home. The city shot down his first round of blueprints, so he scaled it down to fit requirements. 'That's how its unique design came to be,' Cavanagh said. A quick-thinking call handler has been praised after a woman fearing for her safety was able to communicate with officers after dialling 999 'to order a pizza'. At the beginning of the call, the woman asks to order a pizza but Pippa Harvey's intuition told her something was awry. After the caller began discussing pizza, Ms Harvey swiftly queried: 'Do you require pizza delivery or do you require the police? If it's the police say yes.' When the scared woman on the phone said 'yes', confirming she was in need of the police, the operator dispatched officers whilst trying keep the act going. Ms Harvey asked a series of yes or no questions to help decipher what was happening at the other end of the phone, including if the perpetrator or weapons were present at the property. Keeping up the ruse, the handler asked: If he threatened to hurt you, tell me pepperoni. If he threatened to hurt the children, tell me cheese.' To which the distressed called answered: 'Pepperoni,' while children could be heard crying in the background. Assuring the caller police were on the way to her home, Ms Harvey told the woman she would have to hang up so the man would not suspect their phone call. Pippa Harvey was commended by the Met Police after her quick thinking helped a woman who had called asking for a 'pizza' Quickly assessing something was awry despite the food order, the swift call handler was quick to ask the woman if she was under duress or in danger 'If you need to call back 999, keep in a separate room for the moment alright? Police will be with you very soon,' she added. How to make a silent 999 call Not everyone calling for help can do so out loud. The Metropolitan Police has issued advice on how to make a silent 999 call - with different methods depending on whether you are calling from a mobile or a landline. If you're in danger, call 999 and try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. You may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions. From a mobile If you don't speak or answer questions, press 55 or tap when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police. The police will usually be able to find your location. If you don't press 55 or respond, your call could be ended. From a landline If you don't speak or answer questions and the operator can only hear background noise, they'll transfer your call to the police. If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again. Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location. Advertisement '[She] recognised the disguise and used her initiative to ensure the woman received the help she needed,' the Met Police said. Ms Harvey's honourable work hasn't gone unnoticed, and was later handed a commendation. Ms Harvey had only begun the job a few months before she guided the woman via the phone call, according to the Metropolitan Police. She has since been praised by charity the Women's Organisation, who said: 'Fantastic work from this call handler Pippa Harvey. 'We hope this woman and her children are now safe. It comes after another call handler was praised for a similar approach when a woman from York phoned 999 asking for a pizza. The woman, who was riding a bus in the York area at the time, contacted the emergency services to order the takeaway before covertly answering the North Yorkshire Police handler's yes or no questions in 2022. Rather than hang up or consider it a prank call, the handler immediately asked the woman to clarify if she was in trouble, to which she replied yes. Her position was later geolocated using tracking data, and a 40-year-old man from Leeds was arrested in connection with the incident and was taken into custody. Elsewhere an illegal migrant was allegedly caught sexually assaulting a woman in Florida field was arrested after the victim alerted police using the same tactic. 'I would like to order a pizza. I'm so stuck in here,' the victim told dispatchers in the harrowing emergency call obtained by DailyMail.com 'Okay. Are you aware you're calling 911?,' the dispatcher replied to which the woman quickly responded: 'Yes, I'm sure I'm calling to that number. Trying to get a pizza.' 'Say you've got my location please,' the woman desperately pleaded after the dispatcher asked for the address of her emergency. She added: 'I'm stuck in here. He won't take me back home.' The Metropolitan Police have since commended Ms Harvey for the call which she took only months into the job Charity The Women's Organisation has also praised her quick action to help the woman on the phone It's not the first time call handlers have been praised for their quick thinking after being greeted with calls that sound like pizza orders (file image) West Yorkshire Police revealed in 2022 a woman riding a bus in York contacted the emergency services to order a pizza after an incident broke out on board Volusia County Sheriff's deputies used the location services in her phone to track her location to the middle of a field in Pierson, a rural town located north of Orlando. When officers arrived at the scene they found Luis Diego Hernandez-Moncay, 27, on top of a screaming woman. The suspect, who had applied for asylum just one day before the attack, was arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault. The woman called 911 around 4am on October 19 after Hernandez-Moncay allegedly took her to the field. As authorities traced her location, the victim was managed to confirm that she was alone with the suspect and he was unarmed. 'Do you know his name?' the dispatcher asked, but she declined to give it. The dispatcher then asked for her name and the woman replied: 'I would like to order extra cheese pizza.' 'Are you hurt?' the 911 operator then asked. The victim, sounding as if she was on the brink of tears, answered: 'Yes.' 'Stay on the line with me, okay? I'm going to get help out there to you,' the dispatcher said. Deputies were dispatched to Pierson and searching the area by foot when they heard loud music coming from a field. Luis Diego Hernandez-Moncay, 27, (pictured) was arrested and charged with attempted sexual battery, battery by strangulation, and false imprisonment in October 2024 The victim reportedly knew Hernandez-Moncay before the attack, but told police he turned on her after taking a line of cocaine, according to the sheriff. He is pictured after deputies grabbed him, tackled him to the ground and placed him under arrest The woman cried out 'Thank you, Lord!' as officers took Hernandez-Moncay away As they approached, they saw Hernandez-Moncay on top of the screaming victim. 'He's trying to rape me. Can you help me?' the woman yelled, bodycamera video released by police showed. Officers ordered Hernandez-Moncay to 'get off her now' before they grabbed him, tackled him to the ground, placed him in handcuffs and said 'Don't you, f*****g move.' The woman cried out 'Thank you, Lord!' as deputies rushed to help The victim reportedly knew Hernandez-Moncay before the attack, but told police he turned on her after taking a line of cocaine, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. Russia has been planning acts of 'air terror' against airlines worldwide, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sensationally claimed today as he met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw. Mr Tusk accused Moscow of staging sabotage and diversion on Polish soil and beyond. 'All I can say, and I will not go into details, but I can confirm the validity of these fears, is that Russia has been planning acts of air terror, and not only against Poland, but against airlines all over the world,' Tusk told reporters. It comes just weeks after Russia was accused of shooting down an Azerbaijan Airlines plane over its soil, before the plane crash landed in Kazakhstan, killing 83. Government sources blamed Russia but said they did not think it was done on purpose. Ten years ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was also shot down over eastern Ukraine in territory controlled by Russian and Russia-led forces, killing 298, including 80 children. A Joint Investigation Team found that the plane was hit by a Russian missile from the Russian 53rd Anti-aircraft Brigade. Counter-terrorism police were last year said to be investigating suspected Russian involvement in the planting of a hidden incendiary device in a parcel on a plane headed for Britain. The device burst into flames at a warehouse and no injuries were reported, but investigators believe there could have been far more serious consequences had it ignited while in flight. The allegation comes amid growing fears Putin could be plotting to use 'hybrid warfare' to undermine Ukraine's backers in the West. Defence officials warned in November that Europe remains 'totally unprepared' to deal with such threats, lacking the resources to effectively counter sabotage, arson, assassination and attacks on infrastructure. Putin has been accused of plotting to use 'hybrid warfare' to undermine Ukraine's allies File photo. The Polish prime minister accused Russia of planning terror attacks against airlines Two incendiary devices had been shipped via a DHL logistics centre on July 22 to Birmingham , England, and Leipzig, Germany, resulting in a fire Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured) attend a press conference in Warsaw, Poland, January 15, 2025 A former senior European official told the Guardian said Europe could expect more 'hybrid' attacks to unfold on the continent in the wake of the American decision to permit usage of long-range ATACMS missiles against targets deep inside Russia. Russia has been accused of trying to destabilise the West and allies since the war in Ukraine began by allegedly 'weaponising mass migration' along its western border; sabotaging Nord Stream pipelines providing Europe with gas; influencing elections in Moldova and Georgia; jamming aircraft GPS; and even sending exploding sex toys to Western Europe. The cutting of crucial underseas telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea in November generated outrage and stark warnings about Russia's ability to allegedly interfere in European affairs. A 135-mile internet link between Lithuania and Sweden's Gotland Island went out of service, according to a local supplier, before a 745-mile cable running from Helsinki to Rostock, Germany went offline. Finland and Germany said in a joint statement that they were investigating 'an incident (that) immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage' before European ministers put together a joint statement blaming Russia on Tuesday. UK and EU ministers said Russia's hybrid attacks were 'escalating' and 'unprecedented' in scale, posing security risks. The German cabinet has since agreed plans to allow the army to shoot down suspicious drones after several sightings over military sites. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that 'especially since Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently, which poses an increasing challenge for the police and their current technology.' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk shake hands in Warsaw today The ministry said that 'security services have noted that reports of sightings of uncooperative drones over critical infrastructure and military properties in Germany are increasing.' 'Espionage or sabotage are regularly considered as a possible reason,' it added in a statement, as tensions between Moscow and Berlin continue to run high. Under current regulations, soldiers can assist the police in forcing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to change direction or land, threaten to shoot it down or fire warning shots. But under the new proposals, a drone could be shot down by the army if it is believed the device is being 'used against the lives of people or against a critical facility, and the use of armed force is the only means of averting this present danger', the ministry said. Poland, with a deeply scarred history with Russia, made overtures to redressing historic tensions with Ukraine today as Donald Tusk stood defiant against the perceived threat from Moscow. Speaking at a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in Warsaw today, Tusk vowed to use his country's presidency of the EU to push forward with Ukraine's membership quest. 'We will break the standstill we have in this issue,' Tusk told reporters in Warsaw, as he stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'We will accelerate the accession process.' Poland now holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, the 27-member bloc that Ukraine aspires to join, and Warsaw will have the influence to put the issue high on the agenda for the next half year. Zelenskyy was in Poland on Wednesday after the two countries reached an agreement under which Ukraine will allow the exhumation of some Polish victims of World War II-era massacres by Ukrainian nationalists, a longstanding source of tensions. Zelenskyy's visit came just days after Tusk announced progress on starting exhumations. Although Poland has been one of Ukraine's most stalwart supporters since Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, the issue of the Polish victims lying in mass graves in the Ukrainian region of Volhynia eight decades after they were brutally killed has left a festering bitterness among many Poles. Bubbles break to the surface amid a leak at the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 Pictured: A fire ignited at a plant in Berlin containing poisonous sulphuric acid and copper cyanide that is reportedly linked to missiles supplied to Ukraine Tusk, in power for more than a year, faces domestic pressure to show progress on an issue of continued importance to many people in Poland. It is particularly important as his party's candidate in a presidential election in May is expected to face a strong challenge from a nationalist opposition candidate. Standing next to Zelenskyy, Tusk said the two sides are 'finding a common language and methods of action on the issue of the Volhynian crime and sensitive issues of our history.' 'We will help Ukraine, but we will also look after our national interests and this is obvious to both sides,' Tusk said. Zelenskyy noted that the ministries of culture were already working on the details. 'I believe we must move forward together with Poland. We are neighbors, and Russia is the main threat. This threat exists today, it will exist tomorrow, and we must do everything to strengthen our alliance'. A pro-EU centrist, Tusk has been working for some time to embrace an inclusive form of patriotism - part of an effort to prevent nationalist conservatives from presenting themselves as the leading advocates of Poland's interests. Western Ukraine was once under Polish rule, with Ukrainians largely subservient to a Polish landowning class. Resentments erupted in ethnic bloodshed during World War II, when the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a nationalist military formation, slaughtered tens of thousands of Poles in the Nazi-occupied Polish regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in 1943-44. A British Challenger 2 tank operating in Ukraine in August 2023 Residents clean the debris from the damaged residential house after a Russian shelling in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine on November 19 Entire villages were burned down, their inhabitants killed by the nationalists and their supporters who were seeking to establish an independent Ukraine state. Thousands of Ukrainians were killed in retaliation. Poland in 2016 declared the massacres to be genocide, which led Ukraine to block exhumations. Poland has in recent years been asking Ukraine to let Polish authorities exhume the victims to give them proper burials. The issue is sensitive for Ukraine. Some of the World War II-era Ukrainian nationalists are today regarded as national heroes because of their struggle for Ukraine's statehood. A nongovernmental organization, the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, said Monday that it would begin exhumation work on victims in Ukraine in April. An Oregon veterinarian accused of murdering his lover's husband left a condom wrapper in their car in an attempt to try and derail their marriage, a court heard. Kenneth Fandrich, 56, was found dead in an Intel parking garage in January 2023. Prosecutors say he was murdered by Steven Milner, 57, after the retired veterinarian waged a terrifying stalking campaign against him and his wife Tanya. Tanya was an employee of 20 years at Milner's vet practice when the two began a months-long affair in 2017, Oregon Live reports. However, things turned ugly when she ended things and Milner began harassing her and her husband, prosecutors said. Tanya testified that Milner was caught on home surveillance footage creeping onto their property and planting eight trackers on their cars. Milner's lawyers claim he was acting in self defense and trying to protect Tanya from domestic abuse. The widow told the court she had suffered violence throughout her 30-year marriage at her husband's hand. Oregon veterinarian Steven Milner has been accused of murdering his ex-lover's husband Kenneth Fandrich was found dead in his car in January 2023, his cause of death was a broken neck Tanya also testified that Milner became possessive even after their affair ended and began obsessively writing her letters, 'trying to convince me that he was better than Kenny.' 'His level of aggression and vengefulness to try to come between me and my husband was unbearable,' she testified. 'We didn't even feel comfortable stepping outside our own back door to let the dogs out without both of us going out together.' Fandrich became so anxious that he filed a lawsuit against Milner following an altercation in 2022 in which the veterinarian allegedly threatened to cut Fandrich's 'body into pieces' before following from his home to a gas station, KGW reports. The allegations resulted in criminal charges against Milner and he was ordered to cease all contact. However, he allegedly ignored the order and continued stalking the couple, who began sharing their locations with each other as their sense of unease grew. Tanya recalled her terror when she could not get hold of her husband on the day of his death. Prosecutors say that Milner killed Fandrich after waging a stalking campaign against him and his wife, which saw him creep onto their property to install trackers on their car (pictured) Milner's defense lawyer claims that he was trying to protect Tanya Fandrich from domestic abuse which she suffered at her husband's hands She checked his location and saw that he was still on the Intel premises and immediately dialed 911. Bodycam footage played to the court showed the moment that cops confirmed to the stricken woman that her husband had been found dead in his Honda Civic. 'This can't be happening, this can't be real, this can't be happening,' she sobbed. When police questioned her on what could have led to his death, Tanya was heard telling the cops her husband had a stalker. An autopsy revealed Fandrich's cause of death to be blunt compression trauma to the neck. Prosecutors claim Milner carried out the premeditated attack as the culmination in his terrifying campaign. Defense lawyer Amanda Alvarez Thibeault told the court that Tanya had shown Milner evidence of the injuries inflicted by her husband. Fandrich was found dead in this Intel parking lot after warning police he was being stalked 'Mr. Milner believed that Kenneth Fandrich presented a clear and present danger to Tanya Fandrich,' Thibeault said. Milner is not expected to take the stand in his defense during the two-week trial. His arrest stunned the Oregon City community where he was a well-known veterinarian renowned for his compassionate care. McDonald's has been slapped with a lawsuit over a $33 million scholarship scheme for Latino and Hispanic students, that accuses it of unlawfully discriminating against other groups. American Alliance for Equal Rights, a conservative group, filed papers against the burger giant's HACER program, which dishes out grants of up to $100,000 to 30 Latino students each year. It's the latest blockbuster lawsuit aimed at ending so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in American schools, colleges, and businesses. It comes after McDonald's last week became the latest corporate titan to scrap some DEI efforts in the face of a conservative backlash, by ending diversity quotas and other steps. McDonald's did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment, but is understood to be reviewing the complaint. DEI is a battlefront between progressives, who say it helps women and minorities get ahead in education, and conservatives, who say it amounts to reverse discrimination against white men. The lawsuit is led by Edward Blum, the conservative legal activist who in 2023 persuaded the Supreme Court to reject affirmative action at US colleges and universities. 'It is our hope that McDonald's immediately pauses this scholarship program so it can be opened to all under-resourced high school students regardless of their ethnic heritage,' Blum said. The burger giant's HACER National Scholarships Program has doled out more than $33 million in college scholarships to Hispanic and Latino students Edward Blum, the conservative activist who persuaded the Supreme Court to end affirmative action in US colleges, says the scholarships discriminate against non-Latinos Since its launch in 1985, McDonald's says its HACER National Scholarships Program has doled out more than $33 million in college scholarships to Hispanic and Latino students. Up to 30 schools receive up to $100,000 through the program each year. Blum's group says that by restricting eligibility to students who have at least one parent of Hispanic or Latino heritage, the scheme discriminates against other students. That includes one of his group's members, a white high school student in Arkansas. This violates Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a Civil War-era law that bars racial bias in contracting, says the complaint. The 20-page document asks a judge to issue an injunction blocking McDonald's from considering the race and ethnicity of scholarship applicants. McDonald's in a statement said it was reviewing the complaint. It added that as part of its announcement last week about changes to its DEI efforts, it was reviewing programs to ensure they 'align with our vision moving forward.' The Chicago-based firm on January 6 said it was scrapping some DEI efforts, including its diversity targets for executives, citing a 'shifting legal landscape' in the US. Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, and others have similarly axed DEI work under pressure from conservative activists. The HACER program dishes out grants of up to $100,000 to 30 Latino students each year McDonald's scrapped some DEI schemes earlier this month, but critics say it did not go far enough But Blum slammed McDonald's for not going far enough and said its proclaimed rollback was 'little more than a public relations exercise.' 'When corporations say they will replace controversial and polarizing programs with more neutral ones, it does not always mean the company has undergone any meaningful changes,' Blum said. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has taken the credit for the 'first corporate flip of 2025' that saw McDonald's dump DEI policies 'It is astonishing that after what McDonald's describes as a comprehensive civil-rights audit of its programs and policies, the Hispanic-only HACER scholarship was not flagged for likely being a violation of our nation's civil rights laws.' Corporate America stepped up its focus on diversity initiatives after widespread protests following the police killings of George Floyd and other black Americans in 2020. But some companies have backtracked recently over pressure from conservative legal groups, which have relentlessly targeted corporate diversity efforts as 'woke overreach.' For some, DEI schemes are important and necessary, as they can help to overcome historical racism and sexism and make it easier for people of all backgrounds to get ahead in education and work. Critics say it's a form of reverse discrimination that unfairly blows back on straight, white men. Others say DEI schemes may be well-intentioned, but seldom achieve their desired goals and often make things worse by stirring up divisions in lecture halls and offices. President-elect Donald Trump, who during his election campaign cooked up fries at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, is a vocal critic of DEI. McDonald's last week said it was ending some of its DEI practices McDonald's message to franchise owners said the company remains committed to inclusion and would continue to 'embed inclusion practices' in its operations Conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck threatened consumer boycotts of prominent consumer brands that don't retreat from their diversity programs He tapped Stephen Miller, a former adviser who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies, as his incoming deputy chief of policy. Vice President-elect JD Vance introduced a bill in the Senate last summer to end such programs in the federal government. Conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck has threatened consumer boycotts of prominent consumer brands that don't retreat from their diversity programs, said on X that he recently told McDonald's he would be doing a story on its 'woke policies.' A hero volunteer rescuer was forced to watch her own home burn down as she battled the flames in Los Angeles. Heather McAlpine, 33, was helping people evacuate their homes as the fire approached when she noticed the blaze was heading towards the cottage she rents in Altadena. While she was able to save her pet cat, her home was destroyed in the Eaton fire - one of four blazes that devastated the LA area, as reported by People. 'I could see the flames from my house. They were on the hillside,' she said. 'It was unsure if it was going to reach the house, but it was so close that we needed to get out.' After saving her cat, cameras, skis, a book and some photos, the 'devastated' Altadena Mountain Rescue Team volunteer went back into search- and-rescue mode. A GoFundMe for McAlpine was established after she lost her home and most of her things. It has raised $32,000 of its $35,000 goal. 'I'm very sad,' the photographer said. 'I'm happy to be keeping myself busy and still trying to give back and doing everything I can 'cause I really just don't know what else to do. I still want to do whatever I can to support my community.' Altadena Mountain Rescue Team volunteer Heather McAlpine saw her home burn as she helped others escape the fires in Los Angeles 'I could see the flames from my house. They were on the hillside,' said McAlpine, who shared the above photo The cottage McAlpine rents in Altadena was destroyed by the fire While the team of volunteers usually rescues people in distress in the San Gabriel mountains, the volunteers jumped in to help victims of the dystopian fires. 'We saw that the fire was spreading so quickly, it just turned into a 'get everyone out as fast as possible' situation,' McAlpine said. 'Our mission was just to evacuate everyone. So that's what we did all night, door to door.' McApine added that 'It was pretty overwhelming with the wind speeds that we were dealing with. 'It was kind of like there was no way to control the fire in any way because of the wind. So we were just doing our best to get people out.' The wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area since January 7 have claimed at least two dozen lives and destroyed thousands of structures. AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, puts the damage and economic losses at $250 billion to $275 billion. Fewer than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders. Firefighters continue their work in the burning residential areas of Los Angeles A helicopter flies over the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County While the team of volunteers usually rescues people in distress in the San Gabriel mountains, the volunteers jumped in to help victims of the dystopian fires Extreme dry weather conditions due to a prolonged drought, dry vegetation and powerful Santa Ana winds that reached up to 80 mph in some areas this week created the 'perfect storm' for the fires. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said dry winds reached speeds of 40mph on Tuesday morning in coastal and valley areas and 50mph in the mountains. Gusts up to 65mph were forecast to continue through midday Wednesday as firefighters struggle to contain the infernos. The Palisades Fire, which had razed 23,700 acres as of 10am Tuesday, is only 17 percent contained. Just north of Pasadena, the Eaton Fire has burned through more than 14,000 acres, and was only 35 percent contained by 10am Tuesday. The Hurst Fire north of San Fernando is almost extinguished with a 97 percent containment after burning through 800 acres. A fourth major blaze - the Auto Fire - broke out on Tuesday in Ventura. The latest inferno has burned through 56 acres so far and is zero percent contained, per the Cal Fire heatmap. A woman accused of murdering her newborn baby and dumping the body in an airport trash can 20 years ago has been bailed out of jail by an abortion rights group. Annie Anderson, 51, was arrested last year after genetic genealogy tied her to the baby's remains that were left in a Sky Harbor Airport bathroom in Phoenix, Arizona in 2005. Anderson confessed to dumping the baby girl, named Skylar, when she was taken into custody. She claimed she didn't know she was pregnant at the time when she travelled to Arizona from her home in Washington. She said she gave birth to a stillborn child in a hotel bathtub, and confessed to holding the baby underwater when she didn't know what to do. Anderson then dumped the body in the airport when she flew back to Washington the next day. A medical examiner claimed the newborn was alive for 24 hours before it was found, and died from suffocation. She has remained in custody since her arrest, until the Repro Legal Defense Fund stepped last month and paid her $200,000 bail. Repro Legal Defense Fund has now gotten involved with the murder case, with the organization's website noting they provide funding for people fighting charges related to a pregnancy or abortion. Criminal defense attorney Russ Richelsoph, who is not affiliated with the case, told AZ Family that the bail payment may be indicative of how Anderson's defense plan to challenge her case in court. 'Its possible that the defense in this case is going to be that the medical examiner is wrong and that the baby was in fact stillborn,' he said. Annie Anderson, 51, was arrested last year after genetic genealogy tied her to a 20-year cold case of a newborn baby dumped in an airport trash Anderson confessed to the crime when she was arrested, claiming she didn't know she was pregnant during a trip to Arizona in 2005, and left the dead infant in a women's bathroom at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona The Repro Legal Defense Fund's reason for aiding Anderson's murder case came as a surprise to the community, with Anderson's arrest coming years after the 'Baby Skylar' case made headlines decades ago. 'Its an interesting situation and a new twist in the case,' Richelsoph added. 'Prior to today, I hadnt heard of this group and hadnt seen a political group like this post a bond in this kind of case, so I dont think its very common.' The legal expert said Anderson's defense team may be planning on producing their own experts to challenge the medical examiner's findings. If they presented these findings to the Repro Legal Defense Fund, this may be why the organization decided to join in the controversial case. Anderson is also facing charges of child abuse and abandoning a dead body, alongside her murder charges. DailyMail.com has contacted the fund for comment. It is unclear why the Repro Legal Defense Fund became affiliated with the murder case, as it provides funding for people fighting charges related to a pregnancy or abortion. Pictured is director of the fund's parent company If/ When/ How, Mariko Miki Anderson was arrested last year after DNA testing tied her to the case, which became infamous in Arizona as the 'Baby Skylar' case Anderson (seen in her mugshot) being bailed out could be an indication that her defense team plan to challenge the medical examiner's report in her trial, a legal expert said Anderson is set to stand trial in June, with the case set to hinge on Anderson's disputed claim that her baby was stillborn. Police said she was in Arizona for a real estate boot camp, and she claimed she had no idea she was pregnant at the time. Court documents say Anderson told detectives that after her unexpected birth in the hotel, she put the child in a backpack and travelled to the airport. When she got there and 'knew she could not go through security with a dead baby', she decided to dump the newborn in a women's bathroom trash can, reports AZ Family. Anderson said she never called 911 or asked anybody for help during the tragic episode. The 'Baby Skylar' case became well-known in Arizona, but the trail went cold for years until genealogy testing was introduced in 2021. After she was tracked down through DNA testing in 2021, but was not arrested for the crime until December 2023. Anderson fought extradition before she was eventually transported to stand trial. The saga of a disturbing hack into Disney World Resort's menu system has finally ended as the man responsible has pled guilty to his crimes. Michael Scheuer, a former employee at the Florida park, pled guilty to hacking into the company's computer systems and changing their menu items on Friday. Scheuer was fired from Disney on June 13, 2024, from his role as the park's Menu Production Manager, according to a criminal complaint. After a 'contentious' firing over misconduct, Scheuer accessed the company's menu system, Menu Creator, from a personal device. He changed fonts, added profanities, altered prices, and inserted hate symbols, prosecutors alleged. Scheuer also changed employee login information to prevent current staff from accessing the system. He made these alterations first from his employee account which he still had access to and then by hacking the company systems. Perhaps one of the most dangerous alterations he made was to allergen warnings on certain menu items. 'Namely, the threat actor manipulated the allergen information on menus by adding information to some allergen notifications that indicated certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies, when in fact they could be deadly to those with peanut allergies,' the complaint read. Scheuer used a VPN while hacking into the system which encrypts data and hides a user's IP address. He then used his administrator account to create another account under the alias, Emily P. Beaman. The former Disney employee hacked the company's systems after he was terminated (stock image) Michael Scheuer was arrested and charged after hacking into Disney's menu system After three months of wreaking havoc on Disney's computer systems. The company eventually noticed the shocking changes and shut down the application for two weeks. During this period, current employees were unable to access the site. Throughout these three months, Scheuer was also able to shut down staff accounts and attempted to log in to them over 100,000 times, according to the complaint. The FBI stepped in to investigate and eventually traced the unusual activity to a personal Chrome browser associated with Scheuer. Agents searched Scheuer's home on September 23, 2024, at around 12:48 pm. Disney then informed investigators that Scheuer had stopped the cyber attacks just two minutes before federal agents arrived at his front door. When questioned by investigators, Scheuer claimed that Disney was attempting to frame him because of the 'conditions under which he was terminated,' the complaint read. According to Scheuer's lawyer, David Haas, Disney fired him after he returned from paternal leave. Investigators seized Scheuer's electronics and found evidence of the hacking crimes. They found that 14 employees were impacted by Scheuer's hacks, all of which had personal interactions with him when he worked at Disney. The following month, Scheuer showed up on the doorstep of one of his victims. He was pictured on Ring camera footage walking up to their door, giving a thumbs-up to the security camera, and walking back to his car. The fiasco has now come to an end as Scheuer pled guilty to knowingly transmitting a program, information code, and intentionally causing damage without authorization to a protected computer. He also pled guilty to conduct resulting in a loss of at least $5,000 and aggravated identity theft, according to the agreement. Scheuer's damage to Disney's account reportedly totaled up to $150,000. Although his altered menus never made it to print, the company was forced to shell out thousands to combat the cyber attacks. Allergen content on menus can be life-saving for those with fatal allergies. Last February, a doctor at NYU Langone in New York died after eating contaminated food. Scheuer's altered menus never made it to print so no one was harmed due to the false allergen warnings (stock image) A woman died after she ingested food she was allergic to while dining at a restaurant in Disney Springs (stock image) Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan was dining with her family at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant in Disney Springs before suffering a deadly anaphylactic shock. Her husband, Jeffrey Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida, alleging that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was negligent by failing to properly train their staff about food allergies. Piccolo sued Disney for $50,000 for mental pain and suffering, funeral expenses, medical expenses, and loss of income. He claimed that Tangsuan repeatedly told the servers she had a severe allergy and was assured that her food would be allergy-free. About 45 minutes after she ate her meal she began to experience symptoms of a reaction. She administered an epi-pen before collapsing to the floor at Planet Hollywood. Tangsuan was transported to a nearby hospital where she died from anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nuts in her system, both of which she was fatally allergic to. Last December, an influencer named Dominique Brown died after eating food provided at an industry event. She was reportedly told that the food was allergy-safe before ingesting it. Dominique founded Black Girl Disney in 2018, which became a dedicated space for Disney influencers of color. Scheuer's lawyer, David Haas, told Dailymail.com, 'Mr. Scheuer is prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct. Unfortunately, he has mental health issues that were exacerbated when Disney fired him upon his return from paternity leave. No one was ever at risk of injury of his pranks and he is deeply remorseful for what happened.' Dailymail.com has reached out to Disney World Resort and Parks for comment but didn't immediately hear back. Just three days earlier, the UK had been shivering through its coldest January night in 15 years as temperatures plummeted under a blanket of heavy snow. But a remarkable turnaround in conditions has now seen a new date record set for the UK's highest temperature on January 14 since records began. The Met Office confirmed this afternoon that thermometers at Cassley in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands reached 15.7C (60.3F) last night. This also made yesterday the UK's warmest day of 2024 so far - beating the previous high of 14.2C (57.6F) set at Merryfield in Somerset on Sunday, January 5. It comes after Altnaharra, also in Sutherland, plunged to -18.9C (-2F) on Saturday, January 11 - which was the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010. Much of the UK endured sub-freezing temperatures last weekend, dropping to -11.2C (11.8F) at Shap in Cumbria while Bala in Wales recording -6.7C (19.9F). The UK Health Security Agency had a cold weather health alert in place for all of England during what became a prolonged chilly spell at the start of the year. But the sudden change in conditions this week has resulted in a 34.6C (62.3F) swing in temperatures in just three days in northern Scotland. TODAY: A fiery pink sunrise over the cliffs at West Bay on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset today SATURDAY: Snow around by the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire on Saturday morning, when the UK recorded its coldest January night in 15 years as temperatures plummeted The average low in northern Scotland for this time of year is -0.3C (31.5F), while for England, overnight lows are about 1.5C (34.7F). In January 2010, the mercury dropped below -15C (5F) several times at locations across the UK, including -22.3C (-8.1F) on January 8 in Altnaharra. The last time the UK had seen a temperature under -20C (-4F) was February 11, 2021 when Braemar in Aberdeenshire dropped to -23C (-9.4F) shortly after Storm Darcy. This was the UK's coldest day since December 30, 1995, when the all-time coldest recorded temperature reached was also at Altnaharra with -27.2C (-17F). That record is tied in first place with the same temperature in Braemar observed more than a decade earlier on January 10, 1982. Met Office data goes back to 1961. The Met Office posted on X today: 'It's been very mild for some in the last 24 hours. Cassley in North West Scotland recorded a temperature of 15.7C last night. 'Provisionally, that's a new date record for the highest temperature in the UK on January 14 since records began.' White wintry scenes have been a fixture across the UK so far this year, with flooded fields frozen over, and frost and snow making for picturesque views. Now, forecasters say a north-south divide has been emerging this week with milder temperatures in the north but cooler conditions in the south. Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said: 'There's a north-south divide this week, with temperatures significantly milder across the north, with a more gradual recovery in the south. 'This will bring some thawing of lying snow in the north and some rain, whilst it will largely be drier in the south.' Downing Street has refused to say if Labour's new City minister will make decisions about China after it emerged she previously lobbied against tougher rules for Beijing. Emma Reynolds was yesterday appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury to replace Tulip Siddiq, who quit following a sleaze probe. In the role, Ms Reynolds will be responsible for policy on both the City of London and tackling corruption. But there have been questions about her past job as managing director of TheCityUK, a trade group representing the financial services industry. It has been reported that Ms Reynolds, in the role she held until May, urged the previous Tory government to water down proposed restrictions on Chinese business activity. According to Bloomberg, she was part of a campaign to convince the Conservatives not to impose tougher rules on those doing business with China. National security laws passed under ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak aimed to increase transparency of any dealings with nations posing a 'potential risk to UK safety'. There were efforts to keep China out of the strictest risk category, known as the 'enhanced tier', amid claims it would harm investment. Emma Reynolds was yesterday appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury to replace Tulip Siddiq, who quit following a sleaze probe Ms Reynolds serves as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' team. In her new role she will be responsible for policy on both the City of London and tackling corruption Ms Siddiq quit after a watchdog said it was 'regrettable' she was 'not more alert' to the reputational risk caused by her links to her aunt's political movement in Bangladesh Following her appointment as Ms Siddiq's replacement, No10 dodged questions about whether Ms Reynolds would be involved in policy-making related to China. Asked today if she would be recused from matters related to China, given her previous job, the PM's official spokesman said: 'She brings a wealth of experience to this role as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury as we drive forward our plan for change to raise living standards across the UK. 'When it comes to the process for ministerial appointments, that process will be followed in exactly the usual way, all of the usual declarations will be made. 'Any judgements that need to be made in relation to matters governing that will be made in the usual way.' Asked when the public would find out if Ms Reynolds is able to make decisions about the UK and China, the spokesman added it would be released in the regular publication of ministerial interests, which happens four times a year. A spokesperson for TheCityUK said: 'Industry has been focused on these proposals for some time. 'Emma was part of a wider team of members and colleagues who engaged with government on this issue.' Ms Siddiq quit yesterday after the ministerial standards watchdog said it was 'regrettable' she was 'not more alert' to the reputational risk caused by her links to her aunt's political movement in Bangladesh. Her aunt is the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled into exile after being deposed last year and is facing an investigation by an anti-corruption commission in Bangladesh, with Ms Siddiq reportedly named as part of the case. Ms Siddiq has also come under intense scrutiny over her use of properties in London linked to her aunt's allies. The deputy mayor of Los Angeles who oversees the city's fire department was placed on administrative leave over an alleged bomb threat less than three weeks before the deadly wildfires erupted in the LA. Deputy Mayor Brian Williams has been on administrative leave since the FBI raided his home in mid-December over a bomb threat he allegedly made against City Hall in September. The Los Angeles Police Department investigated the threat after it was first reported and determined that Williams was 'likely' the source of the threat. Williams was hand-picked for the role as deputy by woke Mayor Karen Bass in February 2023 and given significant public safety responsibility, including oversight of the city's fire and police departments. Due to his working relationship with the LAPD, the bomb threat investigation was handed over to the FBI, who then carried out a search of his home. The deputy mayor has not been arrested or charged with a crime, but still remains on leave. His attorney told KCAL that he 'strongly maintains his innocence and intends to vigorously fight the allegations'. Bass, shortly after the raid, issued a statement saying her 'number one job is to keep Angelenos safe' and promising to 'hold people who commit crimes accountable'. Her statement has now come under scrutiny, as it is nearly identical a remark she made over the weekend regarding the city's response to the apocalyptic fires that have killed at least 25 people. Los Angeles Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Brian Williams has been accused of making a bomb threat at City Hall last year Williams was hand-picked for the role as deputy by woke Mayor Karen Bass in February 2023 and given significant public safety responsibility. Bass is pictured on Sunday at a press conference addressing the ongoing fires that have razed LA Williams, who oversees the city's fire department, was placed on administrative leave less than three weeks before the deadly wildfires erupted in the LA. Pictures is a Malibu beach front home that was destroyed by the Palisades Fire Agents searched Williams' home on December 17 after an investigation allegedly determined he made the September bomb threat against City Hall. Bass, whose spokesperson claimed said that she took the 'matter very seriously', quickly issued a statement after the raid, saying: 'My number one job is to keep Angelenos safe. 'The only way to do that is to hold people who commit crimes accountable and to take real steps to prevent crime from happening in the first place.' But critics are now questioning her sincerity after she made an almost verbatim remark over the weekend during a press briefing about the deadly fires. A CBS News reporter, noting how the strong hurricane-force winds were set to further fuel the fires this week, asked Bass: 'Why are you not implementing broader closures right now to keep your constituents safe?' 'We are doing everything to keep Angelenos safe,' she replied, adding that the city would issue further closures if there was a 'need' to do so. Mayor Karen Bass's office confirmed Wednesday the FBI raided Williams' home. They are pictured together with Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka (right) aboard the Battleship USS Iowa to officially announce the start of LA Fleet Week in 2023 Bass named Williams deputy mayor of public safety in February 2023. Williams' duties included oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Fire Department and the various police department that patrol Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles. During his time as deputy mayor, Williams also worked on issues including police hiring, public safety spending and the search for a new police chief, the Los Angeles Times reports. Williams had earlier served for seven years as the executive director of the Los Angeles County's Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, and was previously a deputy mayor under former Mayor James Hahn. In that position, he oversaw management of public works and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, fires have been burring homes and businesses in LA for a week. The infernos killed at least 25 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings in what might be the most expensive set of conflagrations in the nation's history. The blazes started January 7, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds that have posed problems for the large forces of firefighters deployed across several areas of the sprawling city. Fire Crews battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles An overhead pole camera image shows a neighborhood destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on January 14, 2025 Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires have consumed a total area of about 63 square miles. Cal Fire reported containment of the Palisades Fire at 19 per cent and the Eaton Fire at 45 per cent on Wednesday. The Palisades Fire, along the coast, has been blamed for eight deaths, while the Eaton Fire farther inland has been blamed for 17 others, the LA County medical examiner's office said. Nearly 30 people were missing. Investigators are still trying to determine what sparked the fires. They could be the nation's costliest ever. Government agencies haven't provided preliminary damage estimates yet, but AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, puts the damage and economic losses at $250billion to $275billion. Hikers who were meditating in the hills above Pacific Palisades were left terrified after they were blamed for starting the devastating fires in Los Angeles. Beni Oren, 24, and four other men were meditating off the trail after a hike when they become the first people to spot the earliest stages of the fires that have devastated the LA area. Footage of the group running down the hillside as they tried to escape the flames quickly went viral, sparking suspicion against them. 'Ive been feeling a mix of emotions. Its definitely kind of infuriating that people are blaming us,' Oren the Los Angeles Times. 'Also its scary. Just knowing as a matter of fact of our experience that we didnt do it but then seeing the amount of people that have different theories is overwhelming.' He added: 'We actually almost died and it was fairly traumatic. Going through that and then have people try to blame us pretty ruthlessly. It sucks.' Oren said the group had their eyes closed in meditation when they all noticed the smell of fire and opened their eyes to the sight of flames cresting over the mountain. The flames were about 10 feet high and 100 feet away, causing the men to immediately move to escape them. Beni Oren, 24, and four other hikers were wrongfully accused of starting the LA fires after footage emerged of them fleeing the flames Beni Oren, 24, and four other men were meditating off the trail after a hike when they become the first people to spot the earliest stages of the fires Oren said they had to run uphill, almost towards the fire, to get back on the main trail and away from the blazes. 'Once we ran out of there and made it down past Skull Rock we felt we had dodged death,' he added. 'It was a thrilling experience making it out close like that.' Oren, a Malibu native, posted clips of his experience on social media, and they sparked a wave of accusations against him and the group, with people asking for officials to look into them. Actor Rob Schneider shared the footage and wrote: 'Investigate these kids who were right near the fires starting point... PLEASE HELP IDENTIFY.' After a few days of similar messages directed at the group, Oren deleted his X account. 'I literally grew up in Malibu. Why would I start this fire?' he said. 'If we did it, why would we post it? It really doesnt line up once you know all the details.' The wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area since January 7 have claimed at least two dozen lives and destroyed thousands of structures. AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, puts the damage and economic losses at $250 billion to $275 billion. At least 24 people have died and 12,000 buildings burned to the ground in multiple fires across Los Angeles this month A Pacific Palisades resident surveys the damage to his neighborhood after it was devastated by fires over the past week Fewer than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders. Extreme dry weather conditions due to a prolonged drought, dry vegetation and powerful Santa Ana winds that reached up to 80 mph in some areas this week created the 'perfect storm' for the fires. Millions of Southern Californians nervously kept watch as winds began picking up Wednesday during a final round of dangerous wildfire weather forecast for the region. A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said. They were expected to increase through the morning. The more manageable winds on Tuesday allowed firefighters to make headway on controlling the most deadly and destructive fires that have been burning for just over a week. Almost half of the Eaton Fire just north of Los Angeles has been contained, and one-fifth of the fire that destroyed much of the seaside LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is now surrounded. Both of those fires broke out January 7 in conditions similar to whats expected Wednesday. High winds last week pushed flames at remarkable speed and carried fire-sparking embers for miles. A New York crime victim dialed 911 to report a burglary - only to be shot by a female cop who rushed to help but couldn't understand Spanish. The Bronx resident called 911 on Sunday to report the crime at around 6pm.He placed the call in Spanish and required a translator. Two female cops were the first on the scene. Surveillance footage shows them advancing along the hallway of the apartment building on East 148th Street. The NYPD said they were then confronted by the 32-year-old man coming up the stairs clutching a knife. They told him to drop the weapon in English, according to the cops, before opening fire when he refused. The officer did put her hand out and extended her hand and told him to wait,' NYPD Deputy Chief Rohan Griffith told ABC7. Officials added that bodycam footage shows them verbally and physically attempting to stop the man with hand gestures. It is feared the victim's inability to understand English may have ultimately led to the shooting. Police said they shot a Bronx resident who called to report his air conditioner being stolen after he refused to drop a knife he was holding However, an investigation is underway to examine whether a language barrier played a part in the incident since the man required a Spanish translator In a split second the cops open fire and the man was shot in the torso. He was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition. His name has not been released but neighbors identified him as a Mexican fruit and flower vendor. It is thought that after he placed the 911 call, the seller went to confront the thief in his building. Police shared a photo of a large butchers' knife they said he was clutching when the cops arrived. But locals have been left stunned by the incident and questioned if it was handled properly. 'Why don't they send a Spanish cop? Maybe with a Spanish cop that doesn't happen,' said neighbor Juan Rivera. 'Maybe the guy talks to him in Spanish and the guy drops the knife. Not necessary to take the action last night.' He was shot in the torso during the altercation and rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition The NYPD released this image of the knife the 32-year-old was reportedly carrying at the time 'Yeah, especially those specific words like put it down, those little words that might help the person to understand what they're saying,' resident Camilla Rosario added. Local representative Ritchie Torres called the incident 'deeply troubling' and demanded an investigation. The NYPD is now examining if a language barrier played a role in the events. A Texas man has been booted off a Spirit flight for wearing an 'obscene' hoodie, as shown in a chaotic video posted online. John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR'. The video shows the father-of-four from San Antonio remonstrating with airline staff before being escorted off the plane. Garcia was first confronted as he started to place his luggage in the overhead locker. A female flight attendant approached him to ask if he was in the right seat. The passenger confirms it was his seat, but several minutes later, the flight attendant returns and says something to him. Garcia said she told him to remove his hoodie because of the 'obscene language'. 'It caught me like totally by surprise,' Garcia told the San Antonio Express-News. 'Like, 'Man, are you serious?'' The clothing brand, called Fvck What You Heard or FWUH, doesn't promote any particular political message. A Texas man has been booted off a Spirit Airlines flight for wearing an 'obscene' hoodie John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online as the passenger in question, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR' Garcia was first confronted as he started to place his luggage in the overhead locker It outlines its mission as being: 'To fashionably poke FUN at Pop Culture, Current Events and other everyday ordinary B***-ISH!, while proudly boasting a BIG FAT middle finger to YOUR feelings!' Garcia refused to remove the hoodie at first. The flight attendant responded by telling him she was going to report him to the captain. A security guard and male flight attendant then joined in, telling Garcia he had to remove his hoodie or get off the flight. Garcia demanded to know whether the garment violated the airline rules, but the flight attendant told him he had to accept what they were saying. He eventually departed the plane, and got a rescheduled return to San Antonio. Garcia said he wore the same hoodie on this flight without any problems. The passenger said the chaos came on the first flight after a woman on the plane complained about his attire to a flight attendant. Another passenger who filmed the disagreement blasted her as a 'Karen' who he said called out Garcia unfairly. 'Some Karen on the plane from LA to San Antonio on spirit didn't like this guys hoodie 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR',' he wrote on social media. 'The flight attendants asked him to remove it and he did but the Karen said she didn't like his attitude and booted him. 'What's this world coming to SMH his shirt literally is anti hate and he got hated on. This guy was so chill and was flying first class. 'Please Share it so this guy can hopefully get the video of them blatantly violating his freedom of expression! Then they put a flight attendant in his seat.' John Garcia Jr, who has identified himself online as the passenger in question, was wearing a black pullover emblazoned with the words 'FVCK HATE WORLD TOUR' on the flight A section of Spirt Airlines' Contract of Carriage discusses that certain clothing can get passengers kicked off a flight 'We are aware of the video, and our team is investigating,' Spirit Airlines said of the incident Garcia has vowed to take legal action against the airline - but it's unclear what his argument would be. 'Just spoke to a lawyer and I got something cooking,' he wrote. Spirit Airlines has a 'Contract of Carriage' outlining a dress code for passengers. 'Our Contract of Carriage, a document all Guests agree to upon making a reservation with us, includes certain clothing standards for all Guests traveling with us,' the airline said. The dense document outlines what is expected of passengers on their flights and who or what can be denied from flying. It goes through the definitions of airline phrases, fare details and cancelation policies. This contract was last updated on August 14. But the long and hardly-read contract includes a brief section about passengers onboard clothing. A part of the 'Conduct/Condition' section states that someone 'shall not be permitted to board the aircraft or may be required to leave' if they are 'barefoot or inadequately clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene, or offensive in nature'. Spirit Airlines released a statement about Garcia's incident specifically. 'We want all our guests to feel welcome and have a great experience while traveling with us,' the airline said in a statement to the San Antonio Express-News. 'We are aware of the video, and our team is investigating.' James Stunt insisted today he had no idea that up to 30 million in cash that was allegedly counted and collected from his London office was connected to crime. A 207 million international money laundering operation to turn 'dirty' money to 'clean gold' was said to involve vast amounts of 'criminal cash' being paid into the bank account of Bradford-based jeweller Fowler Oldfield, who was involved in a gold bar manufacturing partnership with Stunt's company. Stunt said he agreed to allow cash to be dropped off by courier, counted and collected from his London base, but believed the money came from the jeweller's customers and had no idea it could be part of a 'criminal enterprise.' Asked by his barrister if he even knew how much money was being counted there, he replied: 'No.' Stunt, 42, told the jury that in around 2014 he decided to return to his business life by entering the gold business. He was married to heiress Petra Ecclestone at the time and had access to her substantial wealth, Leeds Crown Court heard. He invested millions to build a gold refinery in Sheffield but ended up striking a deal with the Yorkshire jewellers to provide 'scrap' gold because his original idea to make pure gold bars from unrefined Africa metal failed, the court was told. He said he expected the price of gold to rise and said one reason was that he learnt from discussions with Bahrain's royal family that Islamic banking law was to be changed to allow banks in Muslim countries to trade in gold for the first time. In due course those legal changes were made and the price of gold has risen significantly in the years since. James Stunt, pictured with Petra Ecclestone at their engagement party in 2011, is accused of being involved in a 207million international money laundering operation Stunt told the court he had no idea how much money was being counted at his opulent London office (pictured) The socialite formed Stunt and Co so he could enter the gold business and said he expected to 'lose money for five or six years.' Stunt said the move was supported by his wealthy father-in-law Bernie Ecclestone. He spent 1 million furnishing plush offices in London, which cost another 1m a year to rent, Leeds Crown Court heard. The initial plan was to source unrefined 'dore' gold from Africa effectively rocks containing gold to be extracted in a refining process. Stunt's grand plan was to refine Stunt & Co branded gold bars. He struck a deal with the Sheffield Assay Office one of a network of official government offices that test the purity of precious metals to build a refinery for gold production. The deal was ratified by the then Business Secretary Vince Cable and involved Stunt paying 25,000 a year for the lease. The refinery cost 2.6m to build but Stunt told the court it ended up being 'useless', as an acceptable source of unrefined dore gold couldn't be found. Meanwhile, in 2015 Stunt signed a deal with Formula One which was run by his father-in-law to make grand prix commemorative gold coins. James Stunt with Petra Ecclestone and her father Bernie Ecclestone in Mayfair in 2010 Stunt struck a deal with Bradford-based jeweller Fowler Oldfield Police allege that up to 30 million in cash was counted and collected at Stunt's London office James Stunt pictured with his then-wife Petra Ecclestone at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2012 Stunt made huge charity donations during his marriage to Petra Ecclestone and his generosity earnt him an audience with King Charles, the court heard A look at Stunt's huge mansion in Los Angeles which he shared with his 'staggeringly wealthy' ex-wife, Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone Desperate for a source of gold to make his Stunt bars, he struck a deal with the Bank of Nova Scotia to buy their gold bars for use in his refining process, the court heard. Mr Ecclestone personally guaranteed the credit agreement, the jury was told. Stunt said he was also introduced to a 'very respectable' Yorkshire-based company Fowler Oldfield and they agreed a 'joint venture' to make gold bars using 'scrap' gold sourced by the jewellers. Stunt initially went to a business lunch with co-defendants Gregory Frankel and Daniel Rawson from Fowler Oldfield and was 'very impressed' with their 'know how.' Their partnership was signed in August 2015, with Stunt and Co getting 70% of any profits and Fowler Oldfield 30%. Stunt said he spent around 500,000 on a machine to refine gold from scrap. Several months later Stunt said he attended a meeting with Frankel who suggested another venture. 'He explained he wanted to use Stunt and Co as a cash collection agency,' said Stunt. Fowler Oldfield had a usual deal that when cash is collected by the Post Office or the security firm G4S it is 'immediately credited' to their NatWest bank account, the court heard. Stunt said Fowler Oldfield had customers who wanted to deposit cash in London. Cash would be delivered to Stunt's London office and collected by the official agencies to be paid into the bank. He said he agreed the arrangement after running it past his own lawyers and discussing the matter with Mr Ecclestone. Stunt, Gregory Frankel, 47, Daniel Rawson, 47, Haroon Rashid, 54, and Arjun Babber, 32, all deny money laundering. The case continues. Hamas has approved a Gaza truce and hostage release deal, Palestinian sources close to negotiations said today, after mediator Qatar expressed hope an agreement to end the war could be reached very soon. After months of failed bids to end the deadliest war in Gaza's history, negotiators were making a final push in Qatar to seal a ceasefire. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari had said on Tuesday that negotiations were in their 'final stages', and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with top security officials to discuss the deal late that night, his office said. Two Palestinian sources close to the talks told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad had approved the draft agreement. 'The resistance factions reached an agreement among themselves and informed the mediators of their approval of the (prisoner-hostage) exchange deal and ceasefire,' one source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Hamas sparked the war in Gaza by staging the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Hamas also took 251 people hostage during the attack, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 46,707 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the UN considers reliable. A woman speaks on the phone at a bus stop decorated with portraits of Israelis hostages held in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem on January 15, 2025 An Israeli Black Hawk military helicopter lands inside North Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, January 14, 2025 A Palestinian paramedic carries a wounded baby at Al Aqsa hospital following an Israeli air strike on Deir Al Balah town, central Gaza Strip, 14 January 2025 Smoke rises from the northern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, as seen from the Israel side of the border, near Sderot in southern Israel January 15 Pressure to put an end to the fighting had ratcheted up in recent days, as mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States intensified efforts to seal a deal and enable the release of the hostages. With just days to go before Donald Trump's inauguration as president of the United States, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said Tuesday that a deal was 'ready to be concluded and implemented'. And Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said there was a 'true willingness from our side to reach an agreement'. Relatives of Israeli hostages and war-weary Palestinians in Gaza were anxious for the deal to be finalised. 'Time is of the essence,' said Gil Dickmann, cousin of former hostage Carmel Gat whose body was recovered in September. 'Hostages who are alive will end up dead. Hostages who are dead might be lost,' Dickmann told AFP. 'We have to act now.' Umm Ibrahim Abu Sultan, displaced from Gaza City to Khan Yunis in the south, said that she had 'lost everything' in the war. 'I am anxiously awaiting the truce,' said the mother of five. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the first phase of a deal would see 33 Israeli hostages freed, while two Palestinian sources close to Hamas told AFP that Israel would release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. A source close to Hamas said that the initial hostage release would be 'in batches, starting with children and women'. Hanan Shaqoura embraces the body of her son, Mohammad, 7, who was killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, during his funeral in Deir al-Balah, Wednesday, Jan. 15 A man holds a poster as families and supporters of Israeli hostages gather to demand a deal that will bring back all the hostages held in Gaza, in Jerusalem, January 14, 2025 Lian Abu Obeida, a 3-year-old Palestinian girl who was wounded in various parts of her body in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, is pictured in Khan Yunis, Gaza on January 14 People walk past stalls selling goods amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during previous Israeli strikes, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on January 15 Negotiations for a second phase would commence on the truce's 16th day, an Israeli official said, with media reports saying it would see the release of the remaining captives. Under the proposed deal, Israel would maintain a buffer zone inside Gaza during the first phase, according to Israeli media. Among the sticking points in talks have been disagreements over the permanence of any ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the scale of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory. The UN's Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, facing an Israeli ban on its activities set to take effect later this month, said it will continue providing much-needed aid. Netanyahu has rejected a full withdrawal from Gaza and opposed any post-war role for Hamas in the territory. Blinken said Tuesday Israel would ultimately 'have to accept reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under the leadership of a reformed' Palestinian Authority, and embrace a 'path toward forming an independent Palestinian state'. He added that the 'best incentive' to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace remained the prospect of normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Palestinian women mourn over the covered bodies of the members of a Palestinian family killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al Balah town, 15 January 2025 Israeli military vehicles move inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, on Jan. 7 A demonstrator raises a placard during an protest calling for action to secure the release of Israelis held hostages, in front of the Israeli defence ministry in Tel Aviv on January 14, 2025 The demonstrators carried photos of their relatives and banners reading 'Stop the war' Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, speaking in Oslo, said the latest push for a Gaza ceasefire showed that international pressure on Israel 'does pay off'. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to pound targets across Gaza. Gaza's civil defence agency said on Wednesday that strikes across the territory killed at least 27 people including a seven-year-old boy. Israel's military said it had targeted Hamas militants overnight. More than half of councils due to hold elections in May have asked to postpone them, it was revealed today. Leaders from 18 authorities in England want delays after Labour announced the biggest overhaul of local government in decades - despite fury at people being deprived of votes. Ministers are proposing to abolish two-tier council areas as part of moves to create more powerful mayors. Some 21 county councils and 10 unitary authorities were slated to stage elections on May 1. But the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it has received requests from 16 counties and two unitary authorities for a delay until 2026. They are: Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Thurrock, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. More than half of councils due to hold elections in May have asked to postpone them, it was revealed today (file picture) Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, local government minister Jim McMahon said requests would not necessarily be granted Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, local government minister Jim McMahon said: 'Where local elections are postponed, we'll work with local areas to move elections to a new shadow unitary council as soon as possible. This is a very high bar, and rightly so.' He added: 'For the avoidance of doubt, this is a list of requests, it's not the final list that will be approved. 'We will consider carefully these requests and only postpone elections where there is a clear commitment to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the ambitious timetable set out. 'While not all areas listed will go forward to be part of the devolution priority programme, we are grateful for the local leadership shown in submitting these requests and a decision will be made in due course as soon as possible.' Shadow communities minister David Simmonds said it is 'not surprising' many councils have requested a delay given the costs of arranging elections. He said: 'There remains significant uncertainty about where and if those elections will be delayed. 'And with deadlines looming for key points in the organisation in those elections, that uncertainty risks some wasted costs for council taxpayers.' Liberal Democrat local government spokeswoman Vikki Slade said there is 'no doubt' local government needs 'significant reform', although she voiced concerns that the Government's plans will result in a 'top-down diktat from Whitehall'. She said MPs and district councillors from some areas, including Devon, Surrey and the Midlands, have told her that submissions appear to have been made without their district councils being 'involved or consulted'. Ms Slade, who remains a councillor in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area after previously leading the authority, said all elections due in May 2025 should 'go ahead' as the reorganisation plans 'will take more than a year'. Her Liberal Democrat colleague Mike Martin, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, claimed 'turkeys don't vote for Christmas', in reference to a possible election dent in the Tories' majority 59 out of 81 county council seats across Kent. 'If it is stretched out like that, we'll have Conservative Kent county councillors in power for seven years which, judging by my inbox, the people of Kent are absolutely appalled about,' he said. Mr McMahon replied that it was not the Government's 'job to get involved in politics as to whether the Liberal Democrats want to see the back of the Tories or the Tories want to avoid an election or vice-versa'. Rupert Lowe, the Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, also objected to local election delays and used the American Revolution-era slogan 'no taxation without representation'. He asked: 'Why should they continue to pay council tax, their council tax beyond May when they will not be represented by elected people? And the second question is by what name do they call these unelected councillors after May?' The minister said council members will have been voted in at past elections. 'They were elected but we might take the view, if they meet the criteria, that their period of office should be extended to allow election to a new shadow unitary authority,' he said. Brexiteer Mark Francois said he would 'gladly vote remain' if the Government agreed to a referendum over whether to split up Essex County Council and other authorities in the county. The Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford asked: 'Why don't we take the opportunity to have a county-wide referendum in Essex to see whether the public the county taxpayers really do support this?' He added: 'If there is such a referendum and I never thought these words would pass my lips I would gladly vote remain.' Mr McMahon replied: 'There will be a range of views on this, but from the Government's perspective, it's our job to give direction and we do believe that efficiencies can be drawn out. 'And when asked, I think local people would say they would much rather that local neighbourhood services are maintained and grown, rather than the overhead costs existing for the sake of existing.' The local government overhaul was unveiled by Angela Rayner, pictured Several MPs urged the minister to say how the Government plans to deal with billions of pounds of council funding shortfalls, including in Thurrock an area of southern Essex where the unitary authority declared effective bankruptcy after finding 469 million of pressure in its 2022-23 budget and Woking in Surrey where the borough council had a 1.2 billion hole in its budget caused by 'extreme' high levels of borrowing. Mr McMahon said: 'Agreeing to write off two billion pound of debt on the despatch box would be quite career-limiting, I would say. 'What I can say is that the scale of the financial challenge in some areas is absolutely understood and we are going to work to try and find a solution, but we are not at the point yet of announcing that.' MBABANE The Miss Culture International pageant, scheduled for October 2025 in the country, has been cancelled. It would have been the first time the pageant is hosted in the country through Creativity Platform studios, which is an organisation dedicated to promoting cultural beauty and talent. This comes after the founder and director of Creativity Platform Studios Nerville Johnson, shared insights into the decision-making process that led to this cancellation. After careful and thorough examination of the pageant, we came to an agreement that we needed to take a step back, Johnson explained. We had successful discussions with models from various countries who acknowledged the projects potential but emphasised the need for meticulous planning due to challenges faced in the past, he said. Concerns raised by participants from last years pageant also reported feelings of embarrassment stemming from their experiences. Johnson noted the importance of addressing these issues cautiously. We must clear all past differences before the next competition can take place. There is still considerable work to be done to ensure the project is handled correctly, Johnson said. discussions The discussions also included insights from the previous Director of the pageant Maynard, who has since resigned, leaving the responsibility to other directors. The new management expressed its support for the event in Eswatini but insisted on maintaining its dignity and reputation. They advised us to take some time for proper preparations before hosting the event, Johnson said. Adding to the complexity of the situation, another pageant is set to take place in Indonesia, which is also seeking participants for Miss Culture International and Miss Teen Culture International. Johnson stated that they find themselves in a challenging position. Models in different countries are competing for the same title, both in Africa and abroad. After careful consideration we have decided to allow Indonesia to proceed with their event, especially since countries like Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe have already committed to their competition and not ours, he said. disappointing While the cancellation of Miss Culture International is disappointing for some local models who had wished to participate, Creativity Platform Studios is not leaving aspiring models without opportunities. The organisation is introducing a surprise competition during the Indigenous African Music Festival and Africa Day celebrations which are set to take place in May 2025, in Manzini. A specific venue for this event will be announced soon, promising an exciting showcase of talent and creativity. On a lighter note, it is worth noting that Miss Africa Unite will be returning to Botswana this year to fulfil its prize obligations associated with her title. While the cancellation of Miss Culture International is a setback, it opens the door for new opportunities and growth within the pageant community. Creativity Platform Studios remains committed to fostering a nurturing environment for models, ensuring that future events are not only successful but also meaningful. A Florida children's book author and her husband will spend at least a decade behind bars for the horrific abuse and neglect of their three adoptive children. Jennifer Wolfthal, 45, and her husband Joseph Wolfthal, 43, pleaded guilty on Monday to aggravated child abuse and neglect with great bodily harm, and will serve 12 years and 10 years, respectively, following a plea agreement. The years-long campaign of abuse included beating the children with a 'whacker', forcing them to write lines, and feeding them only a mixture of cereal and vegetable puree. The couple's crimes were uncovered on New Year's Day in 2021 after Joseph brought the couple's adopted eight-year-old daughter to hospital in 'critically ill' condition. She was found to have been suffering a litany of medical emergencies including kidney and liver failure, sepsis, a staph infection, open infected wounds on both legs and pneumonia in both lungs. A probable cause affidavit reported by Law and Crime added that she suffered sores on her leg that were infected and had ruptured, had a chipped tooth, two black eyes and weighed just 40lbs. In the course of the investigation, police wrote they uncovered evidence of abuse targeting not only the eight-year-old victim, but also the Wolfthal couple's two other adopted children: a nine-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl. Following their plea agreement this week, prosecutors said in a statement that the children are now living with another family, and the Wolfthal couple 'will spend significant time in prison while it protects the already-traumatized victims from the stress of having to testify.' Jennifer Wolfthal, 45, a Florida children's book author, and her husband will spend at least a decade behind bars for the horrific abuse and neglect of their three adoptive children after pleading guilty this week Jonathan Wolfthal (pictured) was sentenced to 10 years and his wife to 12 years, with the couple's crimes uncovered on New Year's Day in 2021 after Joseph brought their adopted eight-year-old daughter to hospital in 'critically ill' condition The couple's arrest three years ago shocked their Florida community as the investigation uncovered sickening details of the couple's abuse. Joseph Wolfthal initially tried to claim the daughter he took to hospital sustained her injuries by falling over and 'brushing her teeth too hard', which detectives quickly dismissed due to her age and condition. When deputies with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office arrived at the couple's home, they found two other severely malnourished children, and discovered their bedrooms had locks from the outside. The children went on to describe regular, near-daily beatings at the hands of their adoptive parents, including the use of a 'whacker' to 'deliver corporal punishment.' They said they would often be denied any food, and when they were allowed to eat the couple would only feed them a mixture of cereal flakes, water and vegetable puree. A search of the home found evidence of the couple forcing the children to write out the same humiliating phrases thousands of times. In one example, they found over 1,100 written paragraphs saying: 'My body stays flat on the bed at all times. I was never given permission to move or say anything else. Now I get to write about this along with everything else. I'm a fool.' Police observed that the doorknobs on the children's bedrooms inside the family's home in Casselberry, Florida (pictured), were installed with the locking mechanism on the outside Detectives uncovered sickening details of the couple's abuse, including beating the children with a 'whacker', forcing them to write the same phrases thousands of times, and feeding them only a mixture of cereal and vegetable puree In interviews, one of the girls told officers that her adoptive parents would constantly tell her she 'couldn't stop sinning.' The 11-year-old girl told police she would be disciplined for not going to the bathroom at the 'proper' times, for not performing her exercises, and refusing to eat the vegetable puree and cereal mix. 'The [girl] said that there were days that she was fed twice and sometimes she didn't eat her first meal until '3 o'clock in the afternoon,'' police wrote in the affidavit. The 11-year-old girl and nine-year-old boy both told police that every night they would have cold water poured over them while they lay in bed as punishment, stated the report. According to the girl, she had not interacted with her siblings or any adults other than her parents in several years, and she 'tried to keep track of the days and months by counting in her head,' the report read. She also claimed that she had not taken a bath in months, and that she would be denied bandages for her open wounds. Just months before her 2021 arrest, Jennifer published a children's book titled A Real Friend, which tells the story of two best friends who get into a fight Officers observed that the doorknobs on the children's bedrooms were installed with the locking mechanism on the outside. They said it was evident from talking to the children that 'they were scared to leave their rooms even at night to use the bathroom. This resulted in them 'peeing their pants' and sleep in it on an almost daily basis rather than risk leaving their rooms or communicating with each other,' the reported revealed. Jennifer became known as a children's author, and published a book titled 'A Real Friend' just months before her arrest. According to her biography posted on Amazon.com, Jennifer has a degree in elementary education from University of Central Florida and spent eight years teaching fourth grade in public school. 'She continued her teaching journey through homeschooling her own children,' according to the post. In the aftermath of Jennifer's arrest in 2021, her publisher Clavis Publishing released a statement saying it will cease further commercialization of her book. 'At Clavis, we believe that children are beautiful and deserve our utmost respect and care,' the statement read. 'That is why we publish books to enrich their lives and help them grow up learning to know themselves, how to interact with others in a good way and how the world works. 'We were made aware of horrific news regarding one-time, Clavis' author Jennifer Wolfthal's arrest and strongly condemn child abuse, abandonment and neglect, today and always. We will do what's within our power to cease commercialization of her book further.' A sacked worker caused an 'explosion' after starting a horrific blaze inside a barber shop where a baby was having his first ever hair cut. Dilovan Sindi, 40, was caught on CCTV taking a jerry can of petrol into Amed's Hair Design in Newcastle in May 2023 and sloshing the flammable liquid onto people and around the floor. Shocking footage from inside the shop showed Sindi then ignite a lighter, causing an 'explosion' of fire which engulfed him and another man. A fifteen-month-old boy, who was sitting on his father's knee having his first ever hair cut, suffered no serious physical injuries but may have post traumatic stress disorder following the terrifying ordeal. The father also came away without serious injury. Sindi left the shop while his body was burning before a passing lorry driver used a fire extinguisher to 'put him out'. Newcastle Crown Court heard Sindi suffered burns to 85 per cent of his body and the other injured man was 75 per cent burned during the shocking 'revenge' attack. Sindi had been in a dispute with the current and previous owners of the barber shop business, which he believed he had a financial interest in. However, Sindi was fired after being accused of stealing, which he denies. Pictures show the devastation left behind after the flames were extinguished, with the interior of the shop charred black and wires hanging from the burnt out roof. Dilovan Sindi, 40, caused an 'explosion' after starting a horrific blaze inside a barber shop where a baby was having his first ever hair cut Sindi was caught on CCTV taking a jerry can of petrol into Amed's Hair Design in Newcastle in May 2023 and sloshing the flammable liquid onto people and around the floor Shocking footage from inside the shop showed Sindi dousing the shop in petrol before igniting a lighter, causing an 'explosion' of fire which engulfed him and another man The court heard that by May 23, 2023, the current owner had told Sindi to cease working at the shop as it was believed he had been stealing, which he denies. On that day the previous and current owners were both in the salon, as well as customers, when Sindi turned up with the jerry can and started spraying petrol, while saying 'get out, get out'. Mr Wood said: 'Once he stopped squirting the petrol around he stopped and pulled out a lighter at this point.' The court heard both the current and previous owners of the shop were sprayed with petrol. The previous owner bravely tried to take the lighter away from Sindi but Mr Wood said it fell to the floor and 'there was an explosion of fire.' The court heard the previous owner suffered 75 per cent burns and said in an impact statement his injuries and their lifelong effects mean he will never work again and feels he would be 'better off dead'. He added: 'I am still alive but I have no life. I am a half of a person. My brain and body will never recover from this.' Mr Wood said when Sindi, who was covered in flames, eventually got to his feet after multiple falls he managed to get out of the shop. Pictures show the devastation left behind after the flames were extinguished, with the interior of the shop charred black Wires could also be seen hanging from the ceiling amid the burnt out barber shop Police forensics at the scene following the fire on May 23, 2023 He added: 'Members of the public attempted to help the defendant while he as on the ground on fire. 'A lorry driver travelling down the road saw the defendant engulfed in flames and helped put out the defendant.' The court heard the baby, who had been in the shop when the fire started, was taken to hospital. The tot had a 'tiny singe' to his hair and doctors noted soot and mucus around his nose and mouth but he was physically well. However, he has since become 'clingy', has thinning hair, will not settle at nursery and has night terrors. His mother was told his symptoms could be due to post traumatic stress disorder. John Wilkinson, defending, said Sindi, who was put into an induced coma due to his burns, still requires surgeries and has been left with lifelong scarring and pain. Mr Wilkinson told the court: 'He believed, rightly or wrongly, he had an interest in (the business) and he was being deprived of that interest.' Police forensics inspect an item from the barber shop at the scene of the fire on May 23, 2023 Police forensics and firefighters stand outside the barbershop following the horrific blaze in May 2023 Mr Wilksinson said Sindi is not a 'dangerous man', adding: 'He is a religious man and sees what happened and the fact he survived that fire, surprisingly bearing in mind the state he was in, as he being given a second chance to prove he is a decent human being and not someone who would go out of his way to commit this sort of offence again.' Judge Robert Adams sentenced Sindi to seven years and two months behind bars and told him: 'There was clearly an element of revenge.' Following the hearing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Inspector Rona Malessa, of Northumbria Police, said: 'First and foremost we would like to pay tribute to the victims. 'They have been put through a horrendous ordeal and we hope that they can take some closure now that their attacker has been jailed. 'I would also like to thank our partner organisations Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service who were so crucial to the emergency response on the day in putting out the blaze and getting those injured the appropriate treatment before transporting them to hospital.' Detective Inspector Malessa added: 'Sindi's actions on May 23, 2023, were utterly abhorrent and he caused serious, life-changing injuries to one of his victims. 'It is fortunate that we are not dealing with much worse outcomes given the seriousness of the attack that day. 'I hope this case demonstrates to the public that we will always look to prosecute violent offenders in our communities and do everything we can to put them before the courts and bring them to justice.' Sindi, of Sulgrave Road, Washington, Tyne and Wear, pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life, attempted wounding and causing grievous bodily harm. Democrats set the tone early in Tuesday's highly anticipated confirmation hearing for President-elect Trump's embattled Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth: Double, triple, and quadruple down on bogus allegations and discredited smears. He's an alcoholic! He's a rapist! He's a misogynist! Oh, and he also ran a veteran's charity into the ground! Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, the top Dem on the Armed Services Committee, led the Banzai charge and his colleagues followed: the hysterical Kirsten Gillibrand, the dim-witted Mazie Hirono, the self-righteous Tim Kaine and the shrieking Elizabeth Warren, numbering among the legislative lightweights. Senator Hirono fabricated a fantastical scenario that no sane person would find plausible and ludicrously accused Hegseth of scheming to invade Greenland and forcibly retake the Panama Canal. Virginia Man, Tim Kaine, clutched his pearls and excoriated Hegseth for being, at the very least an adulterer, if not quite (but maybe!) a literal rapist. This, from the party of Bill Clinton! For his part, Hegseth, who has been victimized by the most egregious coordinated Democrat-mainstream media smear campaign since Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court nomination fight, was backed by a phalanx of Navy SEALs and veterans. Democrats, in turn, were flanked by Code Pink psychopathstwo of whom interrupted Hegseth's opening remarks. One protester shouted, as he was dragged out of the room, that the former Army National Guard was a 'Christian Zionist!' and another condemned him for his support for Israel's war on Hamas. Hegseth proudly said that both claims were true. One protester shouted, as he was dragged out of the room, that the former Army National Guard was a 'Christian Zionist!' (Pictured: Protesters at Hegseth hearing on January 14). Democrats set the tone early in Tuesday's highly anticipated confirmation hearing for President-elect Trump's embattled Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth: Double, triple, and quadruple down on bogus allegations and discredited smears. If these are the people who opposed his confirmation, then the entire nation should rally behind him. So, what gives? Well, there's an adage in the legal profession: 'If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. And if you have neither on your side, pound the table!' Indeed, the Democrats's objections to Hegseth ranged from the merely overwrought to the outright deranged and have been previously addressed here at the Daily Mail. First is the lie that Hegseth is 'unqualified' a smear advanced by none-other-than Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal, who has admitted to 'misspeaking' (read: lying) about having 'served in Vietnam.' In truth, Blumental received five deferments before serving six years in the Marine Reserves but never leaving US soil. Truthfully, it's hard to find a recent nominee more qualified to lead the Pentagon than Hegseth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He served in combat honorably in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service. He led a major veteran's advocacy group and honed his communications skills as a smooth-talking Fox News Channel host. Sounds pretty qualified to me! And as for the specific argument that Hegseth lacks experience maneuvering around the byzantine Pentagon bureaucracy? That actually sounds like more of a credit than a debit on Hegseth's balance sheet. Moreover: God forbid Donald Trump, who ran and won on a populist 'drain the swamp' campaign message, actually nominate to his Cabinet someone who isn't a career bureaucrat. Democrats profess to care a lot about 'democracy,' yet they deny that a democratically elected president can give the people what they voted for. Square that circle. Second, Democrats claim Hegseth ran the non-profit group Concerned Veterans For America (CVA) into the ground when he ran the organization. What nonsense. His CVA successor, my colleague Mark Lucas, has repeatedly said that, when Hegseth left CVA in 2014 to join Fox News, he did so on good terms. Even more to the point: When in the world did Democrats start pretending to take seriously private-sector management skills, such as avoiding organizational indebtedness? It doesn't pass the laugh test. Third, the Democrat-mainstream media information operation has tirelessly defamed Hegseth as an alcoholic, philanderer, and rapist. They claim that Hegseth raped a woman at a political conference in California in 2017. Senator Hirono (pictured) fabricated a fantastical scenario that no sane person would find plausible and ludicrously accused Hegseth of scheming to invade Greenland and forcibly retake the Panama Canal. The hysterical Kirsten Gillibrand, the dim-witted Mazie Hirono, the self-righteous Tim Kaine and the shrieking Elizabeth Warren (pictured), numbered among the legislative lightweights. As Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin (pictured) said yesterday, is these sanctimonious Democrats are a bunch of hypocrites Hegseth denies the charges and says his extramarital sexual encounter was consensualthough he regrets it, has since repented, and is now a committed churchgoer. Anonymously sourced allegations of excessive drinking were also thoroughly rebuttedon the record. But what is definitely true, as Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin said yesterday, is these sanctimonious Democrats are a bunch of hypocrites. 'How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job?' Mullin asked his fellow committee members. 'And then how many senators do you know have gotten a divorce before cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? No, but it's for show.' The Democrats turned the Hegseth confirmation hearing into a grotesque circus. It was everything that ordinary Americans have come to despise. In reality, Hegseth is a brilliant pick to helm the Pentagon. At a time when reversing plummeting military recruitment is the single most important task for any would-be defense secretary, America could do a lot worse than a telegenic, two-time Ivy League alum, 44-year-old, Bronze Star-winning warrior who vows to end wokeness in the military and kick greedy defense contractors to the curb. If the goal is to inspire young people, and above all young Southern and Midwestern men, to pick up arms to serve their country, Hegseth is a picture-perfect messenger. It will soon be clear that Democrats' Brett Kavanaugh-style smear campaign to derail the Hegseth nomination has failedbigly. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, an early Hegseth skeptic, announced Tuesday evening that she will support his nomination. And it is entirely possible that he ultimately garners a Democrat vote or two; perhaps John Fetterman, who recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, has finally had enough following his colleagues' confirmation hearing hysterics. Hegseth, who has been victimized by the most egregious coordinated Democrat-mainstream media smear campaign since Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court nomination fight, was backed by a phalanx of Navy SEALs and veterans. In reality, Democrats will only have themselves to blame for coming up so pathetically shortfor going out with a whimper, not a bang, as they did in their nonstop smearing of Trump as a fascist Nazi throughout the 2024 election cycle. How many times will Democrats cry wolf? How many times will they rerun the weathered Kavanaugh playbook? No one knows. But Democrats seem to lose every time they do this. On second thought, maybe they should keep it up. A hardworking Georgia mother saved hard to buy her $475,000 dream house - only for it to descend into a hellish nightmare. Emoral Farmer and her two daughters have been forced to live in a hotel for two years due to the inhabitable conditions in the Fayetteville property. She accused developer Chisel Mill Homes of 'bamboozling' her after she moved in and discovered the home was built on a septic tank. Her dream home quickly turned into a nightmare when she awoke one morning in March 2022 to find her new property sodden with urine and feces. She moved out while the cause was investigated, but has been unable to return as the home had its entire first floor ripped out and is now infested with mold. The probe revealed that power company Coweta-Fayette EMC accidentally severed a septic line, WSBTV reports, however a third party inspector found that the home was 'defective' well before it was handed over to Farmer. The energy company also says it notified Chisel Mill Homes to allow them to conduct repairs but the problem went unfixed. 'I've been played on what we call the American dream,' Farmer said. 'Everyone can say it's not your fault, but it doesn't matter whose fault it is, it's still my home, my kids have to live here.' A pregnant Georgia mom who awoke to find her dream $475,000 home had been flooded with sewage has blamed the developer for allegedly selling her a dodgy property Emoral Farmer and her two daughters have been forced to live in a hotel for two years due to the inhabitable conditions in the Fayetteville property Images show how water is leaking throughout the property, which has been stripped back to its stubs and cement floor. Farmer says she has lost her job, her cars and even family members' support over the ongoing issues. 'My children have suffered due to being uprooted and constantly moving around, especially since I dont have transportation and we have had to stay in and out of hotels,' Farmer said in a GoFundMe post. 'This has been the hardest time in my life. I recently returned to work, but due to complications with my pregnancy, my doctor has put me on bed rest.' Chisel Mill Homes denied it was made aware of the septic line being cut and told Channel 2 Action News it would have fixed the issue prior to Farmer moving in if it had known. Coweta Fayette EMC hired a third-party inspector which determined that the severed sewer line was not responsible for the continued plumbing issues and stated that the home had problems prior to the incident. The report blames Chisel Mill Homes for improperly installing pipes between the property and the septic tank and for poor indoor plumbing. Fayette County said in a statement that it conducts inspections to determine the structural integrity and electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems on new build homes. The home has now been stripped back to its stubs and concrete floors rendering it completely unlivable Farmer said that the home is infested with mold and has begged developers Chisel Mill Homes to help her However, it said the process does not cover finishes or private utilities, which include the water line between the house and the septic tank. 'Inspections are performed at specific stages throughout the construction process to verify compliance with minimum building codes, and the inspection process does not guarantee that future issues will not arise,' the statement said. 'Our involvement with the property concludes once a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.' A video on social media has the internet divided over what's acceptable behavior in first-class. A woman shared a video of herself brushing her hair in business class and revealed another passenger in the background giving her dirty looks. 'Me in business class minding my business while aunty gives me nasty stares,' she captioned the post. In the video, the woman is seen brushing her hair, tying it back, and getting comfortable in her spacious first-class seat. While she brushed her hair for the video, another woman was seen looking at her in shock and disgust. The original creator turned off the comments on her post, however, an Instagram account reposted the video with the caption, 'I just want to brush my hair in peace.' The altercation prompted a swift reaction from the internet, with many sounding off in the comments on whether it was appropriate behavior or not. 'Miss Ma'am there's a bathroom in first class big enough for all that,' one comment read. Another agreed, 'Nah, she betta take that brush to the bathroom. (And that camera).' The woman who shared the video exposed another passenger for giving her a 'nasty' look A woman on the flight seemed to be annoyed at the woman filming for brushing her hair Others pointed out that it is unsanitary to brush your hair in a space where people eat, with one writing, 'I dont want someone brushing their hair next to me in a small space and are their trays down? No thank you. Keep your stray hairs to yourself.' 'It is unsanitary to brush or comb hair outside of the bathroom. Hair holds all kinds of particles and elements that become free flowing once they are released. Now you know' another informed. 'Yeah don't brush your hair next to me in business class. This is not your bathroom,' a fifth wrote. 'I dont want to see anybody brushing their hair either! I dont care if its yours or not. Gross!' a sixth chimed in. While some commenters were critical of the woman's actions, others were quick to defend her. 'Imagine being in someone else's business and all they are doing is combing their hair? Smh,' one commenter argued. 'Like? Ppl brush their hair on long flights ppl need to chill. Ppl also eat and go to the bathroom on long flights,' a second agreed. First class passengers have extra space, but etiquette experts still warn that they should be aware of those around them (stock image) The internet was divided over what's considered appropriate behavior on an airplane Some took a more diplomatic approach by addressing both sides. 'It's ok to brush your hair but preferably in the restroom. The hair that is being combed or brushed has to go somewhere so why not in the trash.' 'Now sis This is one of the reasons why so many of us come on airplanes and wipe everything down. All the glaring was unnecessary from that old lady but I can see why Delta 1, First Class or Business Class flyers might be a little leery,' another shared. Although social media users seemed to be divided over brushing hair in public, etiquette experts have taken a side. Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, told Dailymail.com that practicing personal hygiene in public should be avoided. 'Its off-putting to have someone brushing their hair next to you and the hair is flying into another persons public space,' she said. Elaine Swann, the founder of Swann School of Protocol and a former flight attendant told The Washington Post that passengers need to be aware of their space on a plane. 'I think people are forgetting that they are still in a public environment,' she said. 'We're on the aircraft and it's small. It feels very much like this is our own space. It's not out and about, walking in the mall or what have you, but an airplane is still a public environment.' Jo Hayes, the founder of EtiquetteExpert.org added that the 'general standard of behavior is higher' in business class. 'The main reason brushing hair is a no-no on an airplane is because it subjects those around us to stray hairs potentially falling on their lap/tray table/food/drink, and/or attaching to their body,' Hayes told Dailymail.com. However, Hayes added that if the passenger is in a business class pod on an international flight with walls separating them, brushing hair shouldn't be an issue. 'The Golden Rule applies to air travel, as it applies to all areas of life: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' Hayes said. On the other hand, a flight attendant with American Airlines told Dailymail.com that what the passenger was doing was, 'completely acceptable.' 'There's nothing wrong with brushing your hair or tending to one's appearance. However, clipping nails, painting nails, or being entirely barefoot is expressly frowned upon and, quite frankly, judged,' he added. Results from a Nexstar survey also support this claim with the top most offensive airplane faux pas named as personal grooming. Although survey respondents didn't directly cite hair brushing as problematic, they found that any sort of grooming including painting nails, clipping nails, trimming beards, or brushing teeth demonstrated a lack of social skills. Sisters who went missing more than a week ago wrote a message to their landlady saying they 'wanted to immediately end their tenancy agreement' - but did not inform relatives of their plans. Police have been looking for Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both aged 32, after they were last seen on CCTV on Market Street at Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen at about 2.12am on Tuesday January 7. Extensive searches have been carried out in recent days, with the police helicopter, dog branch and the marine unit among the specialist resources involved. During the investigation officers have learned the sisters, who are originally from Hungary and part of a set of triplets, had been planning to move out of the flat they rented in the city. However in an interview with the BBC, the sisters' brother Jozsef said they did not tell their family about this decision, despite speaking to their mother on the phone on the Saturday before their disappearance. He said: 'They wrote a message to their landlady that they wanted to immediately end their tenancy agreement. We didn't have any information about that. 'So that's the strange thing, that the girls didn't tell us anything about that. They never mentioned any such plan.' On the night they went missing, the Huszti sisters crossed the bridge and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee, heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club. Police have been looking for Eliza and Henrietta Huszti (pictured), both aged 32, after they went missing last week The sisters were last seen on CCTV on Market Street at Victoria Bridge in Aberdeen at about 2.12am on Tuesday January 7 Extensive searches have been carried out in recent days, with the police helicopter, dog branch and the marine unit among the specialist resources involved (Pictured: Police divers search for the sisters in the River Dee in Aberdeen) Police said they are focusing on the River Dee as there is no evidence the women left the immediate area. Jozsef said his sisters had no financial difficulties and were saving up to buy their own property. The force say they are keeping an open mind about what happened to the sisters, but have said they have not found anything to suggest a third party was involved. Police Superintendent David Howieson said on Tuesday: 'There was an indication from the person from whom they rent a flat who had concerns that they left the flat and indicated they intended to move. 'We're trying to remain open minded in terms of what the wider circumstances may have been. 'What we know is that the behaviour of the sisters in the morning on which they disappeared is very out of character. 'We don't really understand why they seem to have left their home address and walked to this area in a fairly direct line before the CCTV footage of them is exhausted. 'One of our theories has to be that they've entered the water for reasons unknown, and that's why so much of our search activity is focused on the river, the river bank, and the harbour itself, but we're not ruling out the fact that they may have left this area by means that we haven't identified yet.' The sisters' brother Jozsef (middle) said they did not tell their family about this decision, despite speaking to their mother on the phone on the Saturday before their disappearance. On the night they went missing, the Huszti sisters crossed the bridge and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee (pictured), heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club Eliza and Henrietta Huszti went missing last Tuesday Police said they are focusing on the River Dee as there is no evidence the women left the immediate area. A Police diver in the River Dee in Aberdeen during the ongoing search for missing sisters He added that during their investigation, police have not found anything that pointed towards 'criminality or suspicious circumstances'. The women are both described as white and of slim build with long, brown hair. Police Scotland said they have the support of police in their home country, who are liaising with the wider family. Mr Howieson said police remain 'extremely concerned' about the sisters and urged anyone with information about their whereabouts to contact police. The sisters' family released a statement on Monday also appealing to anyone with any information to come forward. 'This has been a very worrying and upsetting time for our family,' the statement read. 'We are really worried about Eliza and Henrietta and all we want is for them to be found.' Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0735 of January 7. Police are investigating an alleged spiking at one of Parliament's bars, it has been revealed. Officers launched a probe after receiving reports of an incident at around 6.30pm on Tuesday 7 January - just a day after MPs returned from their Christmas recess. According to the Politico website, a female parliamentary researcher alerted bar staff and parliamentary security to her drink being tampered with in Stranger's Bar. It is one of several drinking spots in Parliament and is open to MPs, parliamentary staff and guests. The alleged spiking is likely to renew debate over the sale of alcohol in Parliament, with Westminster having previously been criticised over a 'culture of drinking'. The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme - Parliament's official complaints system - said in a 2023 report that a 'culture of drinking in Westminster' was a 'frequent factor' in conduct-breaching incidents. The alleged spiking is likely to renew debate over the sale of alcohol in Parliament, with Westminster having previously been criticised over a 'culture of drinking' A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: 'Police received reports of an alleged spiking at an establishment in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, 7 January at around 18:30hrs. 'The investigation is ongoing and the victim is being supported by officers. There have been no arrests at this stage. 'We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim or witness to spiking, in any form, to contact us on 101, or 999 in emergency. 'Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.' A UK Parliament spokesperson said: 'We are aware of an incident which took place on the parliamentary estate in early January, which was reported to parliamentary security and is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.' Destructive joyriders have been slammed for ruining rare plants in California's Death Valley dunes after they 'illegally drove' through them. The National Park Service (NPS) is currently trying to hunt down who's responsible for the wreckage, with the agency stating that the vicious act on the Eureka Dunes happened in either late December or early January. The vehicle driven on the precious site 'caused significant damage' to plants listed under the Endangered Species Act, as tire tracks were left behind all across the sandy dunes. One plant species that was directly damaged from just 'a few minutes of joyriding,' was Eureka dunegrass, also known as Swellenia alexandrea. The specific plant only grows in Eureka Valley and is classified as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service said. In addition to the Eureka dunegrass being threatened by the senseless act, the agency said eight other plants experienced root damage 'due to their proximity to the tracks.' Although those specific plants weren't identified, NPS said 'over two miles of vehicle tracks were left on the dunes, suggesting that further damage to seeds and other plants is likely.' A total of five other rare plants were damaged as a result, including Eureka Dunes evening-primrose, Shining milkvetch, Gravel milk vetch, Hillmans silverscale and Wheelers chaetadelpha. Destructive joyriders who drove vehicles on California's Death Valley's Eureka Dunes recently damaged multiple rare plants One plant species that was directly damaged was Eureka dunegrass, also known as Swellenia alexandrea. The plant only grows in Eureka Valley and is classified as a threatened species According to the department, Eureka Dunes evening-primrose only lives in the dunes in Eureka Valley. The plant was removed from the endangered species list in 2018 because of a 'reduced threat of damage from off road driving.' Shining milkvetch only exists on dunes in Panamint and Eureka Valleys, the agency added. NPS Superintendent Mike Reynolds shared his dismay about the recent news, adding that there are many nearby areas for people to enjoy off-roading. 'I urge the public to come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible for driving on Eureka Dunes,' Reynolds said. 'Im saddened that someone would disregard the survival of a rare species for a few minutes of joyriding. 'There are multiple areas on BLM land nearby, such as Dumont Dunes, which are set aside for this type of recreation but the sensitive dune systems in the National Park are set aside to be protected.' The agency is currently investigating the act and have asked the public to contact them with any relevant information on the incident. NPS Superintendent Mike Reynolds shared his dismay about the recent news, adding that there are many nearby areas for people to enjoy off-roading. (Pictured: File photo) The Eureka Dunes are the tallest dunes in all of California, standing at 680 feet tall. The dune field itself is measured at approximately three miles long by one mile wide, and is considered a National Natural Landmark. Death Valley has long been known as an extremely hot location with the lowest elevation in all of the U.S. at some 282 feet below sea level. In July, a Belgian tourist suffered horrific burns to his feet after he walked barefoot through Death Valley National Park in 120-degree Fahrenheit heat. The unidentified 42-year-old man ventured onto Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes but was soon unable to walk and had to be carried to the trailhead by other park visitors, the National Park Service said. He was then assessed by park rangers, who determined he had third-degree burns on his feet and needed urgent medical attention. The agency is currently investigating the act and have asked the public to contact them with any relevant information on the incident. (Pictured: File photo) Death Valley has long been known as an extremely hot location with the lowest elevation in all of the U.S. at some 282 feet below sea level. (Pictured: File photo) 'The skin was melted off his foot,' Death Valley National Park Service Ranger Gia Ponce told the Los Angeles Times. She noted that even though it was 123 degrees outside, 'the ground can be much hotter - 170, 180, sometimes up into the 200 range.' 'People think it's going to be like the beach, where you can get out there with flip flops or sandals, but because of the extreme temperatures, those dunes can heat up just as much as the pavement does,' Ponce explained. It is now believed that the man had been wearing flip flops initially, but because of a language-barrier, rangers could not confirm whether he lost them or if they became buried in the sand. Israel reportedly hid explosives inside Iranian nuclear equipment in a plot similar to the deadly pager bomb attack that devastated Hezbollah. Javad Zarif, Iran's former foreign minister and chief negotiator of the 2015 nuclear deal, revealed the allegations during a televised interview, claiming Iranian officials discovered the explosives embedded within a centrifuge platform. 'Our friends at the atomic energy organisation had bought a centrifuge platform, and it was discovered that explosives had been embedded inside it,' Mr Zarif stated on Tuesday. He did not provide details on when or where the alleged incident took place. This revelation comes against the backdrop of a series of suspected sabotage attempts on Iran's nuclear facilities over recent years, including high-profile attacks and the assassination of prominent nuclear scientists. Centrifuges, critical to uranium enrichment, are a focal point of international concern due to their potential use in producing nuclear weapons. Iran, however, insists its nuclear ambitions are purely for civilian purposes, such as medical and agricultural uses. Mr Zarif admitted Israel's infiltration had succeeded and blamed international sanctions for Iran's vulnerability. Javad Zarif said Iranian officials uncovered explosives embedded within a centrifuge platform The former foreign minister did not provide specific details about the uncovered explosives Iranian MPs urged the regime to develop nuclear weapons to establish a power balance 'These are the harms of sanctions,' he said. 'Instead of being able to order equipment directly from the manufacturer, sanctions force you to rely on multiple intermediaries. 'If the Zionist regime infiltrates even one intermediary, they can do anything and embed anything they want, which is exactly what happened.' The allegations come as Israel's covert campaign against Iranian-linked groups continues to escalate. Last year, Mossad, Israel's spy agency, had hired Iranian agents to plant bombs at a guesthouse near Tehran to assassinate former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Additionally, a series of sabotage attacks on Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Tehran, dealt significant blows to Iran's regional allies. Among these attacks, thousands of handheld pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah militants exploded simultaneously last September, killing at least 42 people. Hazbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said more than 4,000 devices were detonated with the intention of killing thousands. 'This could be called a declaration of war,' Nasrallah told his followers at the time. 'We have received a very hard hit, but this is the state of war. Through this experience and its lessons we will be stronger and more powerful.' Iran announced today it has started up advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges towards making more nuclear achievements nuclear program, days after talks on rescuing it got underway Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei views a model of a nuclear facility, in Tehran, Iran June 11, 2023 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi visit an exhibition of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) achievements A car burns on the streets of Lebanon following an explosion A hand shows the destroyed pager or paging device that exploded on September 17 Nasrallah said the explosions had 'happened in hospitals, pharmacies, markets, shops, houses and in cars,' as well as in the streets 'where many civilians were along with women and children.' 'This is the scale of criminality,' he said. 'What can we call this kind of criminal action - is it a big operation? Is it genocide? Is it a massacre?' This was followed by an Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, marking a major setback for the Iran-backed group. Mr Zarif's remarks highlight a challenging moment for Iran's regime, which faces growing instability. The fall of key ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria, mounting setbacks in its regional campaigns, and the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency have placed Tehran on the defensive. Israeli operations targeting Iran's nuclear and proxy activities are likely to intensify, adding further strain to a regime already weakened by sanctions and internal unrest. For now, Iran's nuclear ambitions remain a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. A Missouri man convicted for his role in the brutal murder of his nine-year-old stepdaughter landed a taxpayer-funded job in the Public Defender's Office. David Spears pleaded guilty to playing a role in the 2007 death of his stepdaughter Rowan Ford. The little girl was raped and strangled to death by family friend Christopher Collings, who had been living with them at the time. Collings was given the death penalty for the atrocious crime and executed on December 3. Spears was initially charged with murder for the nine-year-old's death but took a plea deal for felony child endangerment and hindering prosecution charges. In 2012, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He received credit for the time served between his arrest and conviction and was released in March 2015. A KSN16/KODE investigation revealed that shortly after his release from prison, Spears was hired by the Missouri State Public Defender's office before he was off probation. State records show his date of hire was June 27, 2016. However, he was placed on probation until November of 2017, meaning taxpayers were funding his salary while he was on probation for the heinous crime. David Spears (pictured) pleaded guilty to playing a role in the death of his stepdaughter. After his release from prison, he was hired at the Missouri State Public Defender's office Rowan Ford, 9, was raped and killed by family friend Christopher Collins, who she knew as 'Uncle Chris' in 2007 He was reportedly hired by Stephen Reynolds, the district defender in the Clayton, Missouri trial office, who is the husband of Spears' former attorney Sharon Turlington. Collings and Spears admitted to smoking and drinking together the night Collings killed Rowan. Collings said he picked Rowan up while she was sleeping and took her to a camper where he assaulted her. He told police he had planned on taking her home afterwards, but she saw his face and he killed her in a panic, claiming he 'freaked out'. Collings said he spotted a rope in his truck and used it to strangle her to death. He admitted to police that he burned the rope, the clothes he was wearing and the bloody mattress after he attacked Rowan. After murdering the child, he confessed he put her in a sinkhole. Her body was found a few days later. The morning after Collings committed the atrocious crimes, Rowan's mother, Colleen Munson, came home from her overnight shift and asked where her daughter went. Spears said she was at a friend's house. But Munson called the police in the afternoon when her daughter failed to return. Spears was reportedly hired by Stephen Reynolds, the district defender in the Clayton, Missouri trial office, who is the husband of his former attorney Sharon Turlington The morning after Collings committed the atrocious crimes, Rowan's mother Colleen Munson came home from her overnight shift and asked where her daughter went Christopher Collings (pictured) was executed in December for Rowan's killing Collings, Spears and a third man were at the center of the investigation because they were the last people who saw the young girl. Court documents and the clemency petition said that Spears told police he actually killed Rowan after Collings handed him a cord. 'I choke her with it. I realize she's gone. She's... she's really gone,' Spears said in transcripts. Court documents said it was Spears who directed police to the sinkhole where Rowan was found. However, Collings denied that Spears was involved, according to court filings. Outraged Missouri state lawmakers sent a letter to the Public Defenders Commission demanding Spears be fired. 'It just goes beyond outrage. There really isn't a word that describes how I felt when I found out that he was actually employed at the public's expense,' Joplin area State Representative Lane Roberts told KY3. 'To lose a child is in itself just gut-wrenching. But when you look at how he conducted himself, the crying and the carrying on about what a tortured soul he was. 'This was her stepfather. This was a man who was supposed to have protected her. Instead, he sought to help the individual who took her life avoid prosecution.' MBABANE The South African border with Eswatini is continuing to become a major conduit dagga trade, with recent seizures of 270 kilogrammes of dagga worth over E1 million discovered in Barberton. Two men, aged 30 and 36, were arrested on Monday in Barberton after South African authorities uncovered 270kg of dagga, suspected to be from Eswatini, with an estimated street value of E1 million. The arrests were made by South Africas Vala Umgodi Task Team, which has been spearheading efforts to combat illicit mining and related criminal activities in the region. This bust marks the latest chapter in a wider crackdown on drug trafficking along South Africas borders, particularly with Eswatini, where heightened activity in recent months has alarmed security forces. Quantities The smuggling of large quantities of dagga across the South African border has become an increasingly prominent issue, prompting a robust response from law enforcement agencies. The pair were apprehended following a joint operation with the South African Police Services Proactive Unit. While patrolling the area, officers observed a white Isuzu Bakkie travelling from Lows Creek towards Sheba Siding. The vehicle was intercepted after the suspects attempted to evade police, leading to a search that uncovered 10 bags of dagga concealed within. Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane of the South African Police Service confirmed the arrest and emphasised that investigations are ongoing. Authorities believe the dagga originated from the border region of Eswatini and was destined for Sheba. The Barberton arrests follow a series of successful operations in November 2024 when the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) seized dagga worth over E10 million in just five days. These operations form part of Operation Corona, targeted illicit trade across South Africas borders with Mozambique and Eswatini, underscoring the persistent challenge posed by narcotics smuggling in the region. According to reports from the SANDF, the November operations resulted in multiple interceptions of drug consignments, with authorities seizing over 1 500kg of dagga during routine patrols and intelligence-led operations. A key operation in the Monzana area yielded a significant haul of 865kg of dagga, valued at E3.6 million. The escalating sophistication of smuggling networks has necessitated increased collaboration between military and police forces. The SANDFs Charlie Company has played a pivotal role in tracking and disrupting the flow of narcotics, frequently discovering abandoned drug caches and intercepting vehicles en route to their destinations. Lieutenant Fundiswa Xaba, Acting Staff Officer for Operational Communication, provided further details of the operations conducted in October, which yielded significant drug busts, including the seizure of 215kg of dagga valued at over E900 000. Other major seizures included 37.28kg of dagga from a VW Jetta and 289.5kg from a bakkie, both resulting in arrests. Despite these successes, authorities remain deeply concerned by the continued exploitation of South Africas porous borders by drug traffickers. With the ongoing influx of narcotics, governments focus on tightening security at these vulnerable points remains crucial to curbing the illicit trade. As the investigation into the Barberton arrests continues, police and military personnel have reiterated their commitment to dismantling the trafficking networks that exploit these borders. Authorities are hopeful that continued vigilance and intelligence-driven operations will further disrupt the flow of drugs into South Africa, ensuring a more secure future for its communities. The two suspects are expected to appear in court soon, where they will face charges related to the possession and trafficking of illegal narcotics. The chance of eight babies dying in one year on the neonatal unit where Lucy Letby was killing infants was less than one per cent, an expert statistician said today. Sir David Spiegelhalter, emeritus professor of statistics at Cambridge University, said he had recently analysed the number of deaths on the hospital's neo-natal unit between 2010 and 2016. He said that, up until 2015, when Letby began her killing spree, the number of deaths per year at the Countess of Chester Hospital was 'surprisingly consistent.' According to hospital data, there was one death in 2010, two in 2013, and three in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Sir David estimated the underlying average death rate to be 2.4 per year. But the number of infant deaths jumped to eight in 2015 and there was another five in the first seven months of 2016. In August 2023, Letby, 35, was convicted of murdering seven of these infants five in 2015 and two in 2016. Sir David told the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is investigating Letby's crimes, that: 'The probability of getting eight or more deaths in 2015, just by chance alone, I assess as 0.008less than one per cent.' He said the numbers 'would be considered sufficient' to trigger an investigation on a local level at the hospital, as occurred at the Countess, where clinicians, and later hospital chiefs, initiated a series of internal and external reviews into the spike in deaths. In August 2023, Lucy Letby, 35, was convicted of murdering seven of these infants five in 2015 and two in 2016 Sir David Spiegelhalter, emeritus professor of statistics at Cambridge University , said he had recently analysed the number of deaths on the hospital's neo-natal unit between 2010 and 2016 But Sir David, who previously backed calls by the Royal Statistical Society for statistics to be 'expertly analysed' by the public inquiry, stressed they would not be considered 'extreme enough' for the Countess to be considered an 'outlier.' He explained that, of the 150 neo-natal units in the UK, he would expect 'one signal of this magnitude' in at least one hospital every year. 'This is a surprising event in the Countess of Chester Hospital, but on a national level it is not very surprising at all, I would expect this to happen every year, somewhere,' he added. Sir David said analysis of data from MBRRACE-UK, the organisation that collects information on baby deaths from hospitals in the NHS, showed that the number of neo-natal deaths at the Countess in 2015 was more than 10 per cent higher than average, and up to 10 per cent higher the following year. He said the hospital's 'crude' neo-natal mortality rate of 2.96 per 1,000 babies, which equates to nine deaths, placed it 'highest' of 27 units in its tier those units handling between 2,000 and 4,000 births a year. But he also pointed out that Blackpool's neo-natal unit also had a very similar level of 2.73, again adding: 'It (Countess) was high but one would not call that an outlier.' Sir David said the fact that different NHS data collection and computer systems in hospitals, GP surgeries and other healthcare settings were still unable to talk to each other was an 'utter disaster' for the UK. But William Vineall, director of NHS Safety, Quality and Investigations, told the inquiry there was currently no plan to integrate them. The former neo-natal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital during a 13-month killing spree, between June 2015 and June 2016 A sign outside the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester where Letby worked Letby was on duty, or had been working the shift prior, for 12 of 13 baby deaths that occurred at the Countess of Chester Hospital between March 2015 and July 2016 Screen grab taken from body worn camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Lucy Letby The civil servant, who has spent his entire 26-year career at the Department of Health, admitted that a policy document advising when a hospital should contact police if they had suspicions about a staff member causing deliberate harm had been 'archived' and was not available to bosses at the Countess in 2016, when concerns were raised about Letby. But he insisted this should not have stopped hospital executives from calling police sooner. 'I agree there wasn't a memorandum of understanding that people could immediately turn to, but I don't think that should have stopped people approaching the police,' he said. 'Our expectations of a decently operating organisation is that, if they had significant doubts about whether or not to go to the police, they should go to the police.' Mr Vineall also told the inquiry the Government was currently considering appointing a national neo-natal safety champion for the NHS following the Letby case. 'My understanding is that advice is going to go to ministers shortly,' he added. Drake's home was besieged by violent criminals including a would-be killer after Kendrick Lamar released his Not Like Us diss track, according to court documents. The Canadian rapper, 38, filed a lawsuit against his own label, Universal Music Group, on Wednesday for spreading the 'false and malicious narrative' that he is a pedophile, which he claims led to attacks against his life and those of his associates. Court documents seen by DailyMail.com describe the horrifying scene inside the rapper's Toronto mansion as his bodyguard was nearly killed just hours after Kendrick released the song on May 7. An armed group showed up to Drake's $100million home in the middle of the night while the rapper was inside, the suit claims. The car apparently stopped in front of the home and someone yelled, 'f**k Drake,' before a gunman opened fire, with one bullet critically wounding a security guard, who is also the rapper's friend. 'While the car drove away, Drake and others in the house summoned help for the security guard and did everything possible to keep him alive,' the lawsuit says. 'During the nearly thirty minutes it took for the ambulance to arrive, Drake and others labored to keep the man alive by applying pressure to the gunshot wound with towels. Blood was everywhere.' The guard, who has not been named, spent days in the hospital being stabilized but survived the incident, per Drake's legal filing. The shooter was never arrested. Drake's home was besieged by violent criminals including a would-be killer after Kendrick Lamar released his Not Like Us diss track, according to court documents An aerial view shows the home of Canadian rapper Drake in Toronto, Canada Drake says in court documents that UMG knew Lamar's diss track would include lyrics and images in a music video that referred to him as a pedophile The very day next after the shooting, on May 8, an intruder 'used his bare hands to dig a hole under the security fence surrounding' Drake's home. The intruder managed to get inside and 'yell racist slurs and threats against Drake' before guards escorted him out. At the time police said they arrested an unnamed man outside the mansion under the Mental Health Act. Then, on May 9, another break-in attempt happened, according to Drake. Drake says in court documents that UMG knew Lamar's diss track would include lyrics and images in a music video that referred to him as a pedophile. He accuses UMG of allowing the 'inflammatory and shocking allegations' because the song was a 'gold mine' for the company. The rapper claims UMG did everything to promote Not Like Us because they knew it would devalue Drake's music and give them leverage in future contract negotiations. Drake's contract is up for renewal in 2025. According to the lawsuit, UMG paid a third party to use bots to increase the song's streams by at least 30million. The company also allegedly engaged in a 'pay for play' scheme with at least one radio promoter and assigned the track as a 'chart-topper' based on fraudulent data. It comes as Kendrick is preparing to perform at the Super Bowl in New Orleans next month. Police were seen on the steps of the star's huge Toronto mansion last May Police are seen outside Drake's home following the May 7 shooting Drake mentions the performance in the lawsuit, claiming UMG was in on getting Kendrick the gig so the song could be platformed on 'one of the most significant (and viewed) cultural events of the year.' The lawsuit also makes a point of stating it is not against Kendrick himself - 'This lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us. 'It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize' a song that contained false claims. Drake also said the song put him in danger, citing the multiple shootings near or at his Toronto mansion since it was released. Not Like Us broke several chart records after spending 21 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot Rap songs chart, and enjoying 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart - where it reached number one twice. It has hit over 914 millions plays on Spotify while it is tied for third place on the Rap Streaming Songs chart. The rapper had already filed a lawsuit against UMG and Spotify in New York state court but he withdrew that to file a federal case instead. After the state case was filed, UMG told DailyMail.com: 'The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. Since things turned sour, both Kendrick Lamar (RIGHT) and Drake (LEFT) have continued to release numerous of back-and-forth diss tracks about each other 'No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.' Drake and Kendrick, arguably two of the world's biggest hip-hop voices, have been embroiled in a furious rivalry for years. Over a decade ago, the pair collaborated on a few songs, but that didnt last very long. In 2013, Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick was featured on Big Seans Control, in which he called out a slew of contemporary rappers including Drake, J. Cole, Meek Mill, Pusha T, A$AP Rocky, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T and even Big Sean among them. Over the next few years, the rappers launched disses at each other with less frequency. The feud entered new territory in May, 2024, when Kendrick, 36, made some serious accusations on Not Like Us, which was released shortly after he dropped Meet The Grahams - another diss track where the Compton native addresses Drakes son: 'Im sorry that man is your father.' Kendrick also addresses Drakes parents, and 'a baby girl,' alleging that Drake has a secret daughter. He also labels Drake a 'predator,' without elaborating. Just hours later, Kendrick doubled down, releasing Not Like Us, produced by DJ Mustard. 'Say, Drake, I hear you like em young / You better not ever go to cell block one,' he raps. Police officers who spoke to a 12-year-old alleged rape victim weeks before she took a fatal overdose today denied persuading her to drop her complaint. A detective who met Semina Halliwell who was autistic told her the case could take two years to get to court, he admitted at her inquest. Det Con Chris Loughead said he also advised the worried schoolgirl that the case might come down to her account and that of her alleged attacker against each other. However he denied telling her about the amount of paperwork it would involve with the intention of persuading her to drop the complaint, saying he took her claim very seriously. He also revealed that even though Semina decided she didnt want to go ahead, he interviewed to the boy she had accused of attacking her and examined his mobile phone for evidence. Semina later changed her mind after learning that the same boy had allegedly sexually assaulted another girl. However while police were at the family home in Southport, Merseyside in June 2021 over an unrelated assault, Semina said Ive had enough of this and went upstairs. Tragically she took an overdose of prescription medication. Semina Halliwell, 12, died after taking an overdose of prescription medication after making an allegatio of sexual assault Det Con Chris Loughead pictured at the inquest today at Bootle Town Hall near Liverpool Despite being rushed to Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool where she underwent intensive medical treatment, Seminas life support had to be withdrawn three days later, on June 12. Seminas mother Rachel has told the inquest that police treated her daughter unprofessionally and made her feel like an inconvenience when they first met her in March. The schoolgirl had felt like she wasnt believed when Det Con Loughead told her it was her word against his, she added. It was almost like they couldnt be bothered, Mrs Halliwell said on Monday, saying her daughter had been completely destroyed by the attack. Asked what the outcome would have been had Semina received better support after making the rape allegation, her mother replied: Shed still be here today. Today officers from Merseyside Police gave their first account of their dealings with Semina as her inquest continued at Bootle Town Hall. PC Paula Carney, said she met Semina on March 24 to get an initial account. She said Semina told her the boy had been pestering her after contacting her via Snapchat. Semina's mother Rachel Halliwell attended the inquest at Bootle Town Hall near Liverpool with her sister Clare Halliwell On two occasions in January and February 2021 he persuaded her to follow him to woodland and sexually assaulted her, she said. PC Carney said the year 7 schoolgirl was embarrassed and reluctant about pursuing a formal complaint but that her mother was encouraging Semina to go ahead. She said Mrs Halliwell had told Semina: You dont want this to happen to someone else. PC Carney said she told Semina that it was our job to protect the rest of the public, not hers. She recorded that Semina didnt want to proceed, but on March 27 was informed that she had changed her mind, so she and investigating officer Det Con Loughead went to see Semina at home. Denying that he wanted Semina to know it would be a burdensome case, Det Con Loughead said it was a difficult encounter due to pressure Mrs Halliwell and her sister were putting on her to go ahead. He asked them to leave the room, after which Semina opened up and said she wanted to cancel a formal video interview booked for later that day. Semina signed a statement saying she was free to change her mind and any time and was given information about counselling for sex offence victims. Questioned by Mrs Halliwells barrister, Harriet Johnson, the officers confirmed they did not have specific training in speaking to autistic children. Det Con Loughead said he had discussed the backlog of court cases during Covid and explained to Semina that it might come down to their two accounts against each other. He said he needed to be honest with Semina about the potential pitfalls, adding that she would have been angry if she had only found out after giving a video interview. But he denied asking her if she wanted it hanging over your head for two years. Barnabas Branston, representing Merseyside Police, asked Det Con Loughead whether his intention had been to persuade Semina not to bother pursuing the case because it would clutter up your day. No, he replied. The inquest continues. Denmark's prime minister held a 45-minute phone conversation with Donald Trump where she says she delivered the same message about Greenland as the territory's leader: it's not for sale. The official readout of PM Mette Frederiksen's call addressed in black and white one of the most stunning issues of the presidential transition: Trump describing U.S. ownership of the world's largest island an 'absolute necessity.' Trump also refused to rule out military and economic force to obtain it, brandishing a version of the manifest destiny and expansionism that were part of the country's early history. 'In the conversation, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening security in the Arctic, and that the Kingdom of Denmark is ready to shoulder even greater responsibility for this,' according to Frederiksen's office. 'In the conversation, the Prime Minister referred to the statements of the Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament, Mute B. Egede, that Greenland is not for sale, and the Prime Minister has argued that it is up to Greenland itself to make a decision on independence,' the statement continued. Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen has released a readout on her 45-minute call with Donald Trump, where she says they discussed Greenland According to the readout, he also spoke about the way Greenland already contributes to U.S. security. It has a renamed Space Force base, and has a territorial relationship with a NATO ally who subsidizes Greenland to the tune of about $500 million a year. Frederiksen said in a TV interview last week that 'Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.' The latest development follows Donald Trump, Jr.'s visit to Greenland, which itself came after the Danish king changed the royal coat of arms to reflect the importance of the island. On Tuesday Greenland's premier, Egede, spoke of his desire for Greenlandic independence, even while vowing to work with the U.S. 'The reality is we are going to work with the U.S. yesterday, today and tomorrow,' he said in Nuuk, the island's capital. 'We have to be very smart on how we act,' he added. 'The power struggles between the superpowers are rising and are now knocking on our door.' Trump has called obtaining U.S. control of Greenland an 'absolute necessity' Greenland is rich in minerals and has a strategic location in the Arctic, although an inhospitable climate Greenland's ice sheet has been melting Greenland, a former colony of Denmark since the 18th century, became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953. The island gained the right to declare independence through a public vote in 2009 a move Egede strongly supports. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance dismissed Trump's threat of military force in comments to Fox News Sunday, although he highlighted Greenland's strategic importance and its rich resources. But Trump critics have warned his repeated comments about Greenland risk alienating a U.S. ally. His comments, along with his demand for the Panama Canal and repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state, also have muddied U.S. comments condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A pro-Putin MP has now spoken publicly about carving up the island between Russia and the U.S. According to the Danish PM's readout, the two also spoke about the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, as well as China. Trump allies have pointed to China as a reason to pursue Greenland to avoid its influence. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Trump transition for comment on the call. A Sudanese migrant who was seen steering a small boat into Britain before he changed his clothes to disguise himself has been jailed. Daniel Malual was seen driving the dinghy by Border Force patrol on September 21 last year. Malual, who travelled to the UK with his wife and young child, is accused of changing his clothes and 'mingling with others' after he was seen steering the boat to avoid being identified as the helmsman. The 24-year-old said he got changed as his clothes were wet. On Wednesday, Malual appeared at Teesside Crown Court to be sentenced after he pleaded guilty to attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance at a hearing in December. Police arrested him at North Yorkshire hotel on November 12, last year and he then told Border Force officials he left his native country in 2020. He said that he arrived in Italy where his fingerprints were taken and he travelled to Libya and France. Malual said that he 'wanted to come to the UK as he didn't feel comfortable in other countries'. Daniel Malual, pictured, was seen steering the dinghy by Border Force patrol on September 21, last year Malual, who travelled to the UK with his wife and young child, is accused of changing his clothes and 'mingling with others' after he was seen at the steering the boat to avoid being identified as the helmsman. Picture: Stock image He said he made the travel arrangements for his family and that he left Sudan because of the 'political difficulties'. In mitigation, Daniel Carmichael told the court that Malual 'accepts that he did not have permission to enter the UK' and that he had a scheduled phone interview with the Home Office on January 17, but that has now been cancelled because he is being held on remand at Holme House prison in Stockton. Judge Jonathan Carroll told Malual: 'As far as we can tell, you are 24 and you have no known previous convictions. 'You arrived by crossing the Channel in a dinghy boat which had been well loaded with other potential claimants for asylum. 'All of them were entering the country illegally. You were piloting the boat. You were clearly aware of the prospect of being identified as the pilot by Border Force and you changed your clothes and started mingling with others. 'According to your account, you travelled to Italy, Libya and France before the UK. 'There are a series of countries that are open for you to claim asylum. 'But for your own reasons, and with complete disregard for the rules in place to provide asylum to those needing it, you came to the UK, bringing your partner and child.' Malual was jailed for 12 months. He will serve half of the prison term, before being released on licence. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'It is a matter of longstanding government policy that we do not comment on individual cases.' A California Democrat congresswoman stunned a CNN anchor after suggesting Los Angeles authorities deliberately let a historically-black neighborhood burn. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove called for a 'full-scale investigation' into the wildfires and seemed to imply that blazes in the Altadena suburb were set on purpose, prompting CNN's Sara Sidner to quickly prompt her for clarification. 'Congresswoman, did you just say 'sacrifice' Altadena?' she asked. 'Are you suggesting somehow that this was done on purpose?... there are a lot of conspiracies out there.' After Sidner likened Kamlager-Dove's comments to arson theories raised by actor Mel Gibson, she clarified: 'I am not suggesting arson. There are some initial investigations about if an electrical fire started this. 'But what we do know is that power was shut off in Altadena, and what we do know is that residents were not given adequate time to leave their homes.' Sidner countered that officials previously told CNN that power was shut off in some areas because they were worried 'it was going to create more fire danger.' Kamlager-Love's remarks come amid mounting pressure on California leaders to explain a series of failings in the state's response to the fires, including a lack of water at fire hydrants and the fire department's budget being slashed. California Democrat Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (right) stunned CNN anchor Sara Sidner (left) after suggesting Los Angeles authorities 'sacrificed' the neighborhood of Altadena in the wildfires Kamlager-Love called for a 'full-scale investigation' into the response to the fires amid mounting scrutiny, with the fires killing at least 24 people and burning over 12,000 properties The congresswoman called for an investigation into California's response to the fires, saying it would be vital to get to the bottom of 'what went wrong.' 'I and the CBC, the Congressional Black Caucus, for example, are curious about who decided to sacrifice Altadena, a historically black community in the LA County area,' she continued. 'There is no reason why only 2/5 of the folks who had their houses burned down were insured, and why companies are leaving California in droves, as well as other disaster-prone states.' The Democrat was referencing scrutiny on several insurance firms who cancelled policies in the time before the fires started. In one example cited by Fox News, State Farm cancelled over 72,000 home and apartment insurance policies in the months before the fires, leaving many uninsured when the disaster struck this month. The issue has been blamed by some on California's state laws, with Los Angeles fire insurance expert Richard Giller telling Fox that lawmakers drove insurers from the state by refusing to allow them to increase premium costs. 'So the insurance companies tried to seek approval for rate increases and the California Department of Insurance and the insurance commissioner decided, you know, they didnt want homeowners to pay more money,' he said. 'It all came to a head with seven of the 12 largest insurance companies pulling out of the state.' Kamlager-Love, seen with Kamala Harris in July, called for an investigation into California's response to the fires, saying it would be vital to get to the bottom of 'what went wrong' Experts warn that drought-like conditions and high winds created the perfect conditions for wildfires to erupt and spread rapidly across Los Angeles Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have come under mounting pressure following the state's fumbled response to the crisis It comes amid mounting pressure on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom following the state's fumbled response to the crisis. In new photos revealed this week, Bass was seen enjoying a cocktail party at the US Embassy in Ghana at the exact moment the devastating Palisades fire was erupting. Bass was seen posing alongside other dignitaries at a post-inauguration party on January 7, celebrating John Mahama as the new president of Ghana. By the time she left the party for her flight home, huge plumes of smoke had already covered large swaths of Los Angeles, reports the LA Times. Bass left for Ghana after the National Weather Service issued warnings about conditions which ultimately ended in historic blazes erupting. When questioned by reporters upon her return, Bass later claimed at a press conference that 'although I wasn't physically here, I was in touch with many of the individuals standing here throughout the entire time. Bass was quickly met with criticism after she arrived back in the United States, as city officials slammed her for slashing the Los Angeles Fire Department budget by over $17 million in her latest budget. A litany of failures by LA city officials have also since been uncovered, as fire hydrants were found without any water and electricity to power cables was left on to fuel the flames. Embattled LA Mayor Karen Bass enjoyed a cocktail party at the US Embassy in Ghana when the devastating fires in her city began last week, it has been revealed Firefighters watch as water is dropped on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 Upon her return at the airport, Bass suffered a humiliating moment as she was left in stunned silence while being peppered with questions from a Sky News reporter. 'Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?' they asked. As the mayor remained stone-faced, the reporter continued: 'Do you regret cutting the fire department's budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?' Still without receiving any answer, the reporter asked once again: 'Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today? Elon Musk says that you're utterly incompetent. Are you reconsidering your position?' The question of Bass resigning has been fueled in recent days, with California Governor Gavin Newsom also facing calls to step aside for the state's apparent lack of preparedness. A Change.org petition demanding Bass's resignation has reached over 140,000 signatures, 'due to her gross mismanagement and failure to effectively respond to the devastating 2025 fires in and around the city of Los Angeles.' 'Despite the tireless efforts of our first responders, the city has been woefully unprepared to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Basic resources, such as water and emergency services, have been inadequate, and leadership has been nowhere to be found when it was needed most,' the fundraiser said. To recall Bass, proponents must gather signatures from at least 15% of the registered voters in the city. Newsom has previously survived a recall effort in 2021, however his handling of the crisis has also led to renewed efforts to boot him from office and a formal recall initiative was also launched this week against him. Rail union has planned industrial action for next two days Sydney commuters are enduring a second day of chaos as rail unions create more disruptions as part of their pay dispute. An estimated 40 per cent - about 1,500 rail services - were cancelled or significantly delayed during peak hour on Wednesday morning. More disruptions were experienced on Thursday, with reports that 130 services had been cancelled before 7am. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said two more days of industrial action has been planned, with disruptions set to worsen from Friday. Mr Longland explained disruptions on Thursday were caused by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) refusing to undertake critical maintenance at Bondi Junction and Homebush The lack of maintenance caused risks with the signal system, which prevented trains running on safety grounds. 'We're asking everyone to plan ahead, if you need to travel [on Thursday] keep up-to-date with the latest information,' Mr Longland said. While separate unions, the ETU and the Rail, Tram, and Bus and Union (RTBU) are working together as part of the Combined Rail Unions to negotiate terms with the government. An estimated 40 per cent - about 1,500 rail services - were cancelled or significantly delayed for up to six hours during peak hour on Wednesday morning The RTBU has also planned its own industrial action for the next two days, with Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink advising commuters to expect delays. 'Industrial action will include speed bans on train services, impacts to infrastructure maintenance and inspections, and bans impacting how incidents are managed in the Rail Operations Cetnre,' Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink advised. Drivers will deliberately slow down on the tracks - cutting speeds by 23km/h on lines where trains usually travel 80kmh/h. Union members said they would refuse to manually override the system that controls the network's traffic lights as part of its planned industrial action on Friday. Meanwhile, new work bans will also be introduced including a strike on 'hazardous waste' - adding to an already stressed rail network. Workers will stop cleaning waste, including bodily fluids such as urine and blood, from Thursday and every day next week. RTBU members will also drop their tools 'on the hour, every hour' for five minutes next Thursday and Friday. From next Wednesday, the union has planned an eight-day ban on 'absolute signal blocking' which is used to close sections of the tracks for maintenance. Frustrated commuters crammed into the few trains that were operating on Wednesday after about 1,500 services were cancelled or significantly delayed The ETU and RTBU have warned commuters industrial action is set to intensify, with more work bans planned for the rest of the week On January 28, trains will not be stopping at Kogarah and Summer Hill stations for a day, leaving commuters stranded. The ban is a direct message to Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen as it targets constituents in their own electorates. RTBU member's will also stop mopping trains and platforms on January 30 as part of the industrial action. The union has refused to lift its work bans unless the government resumes negotiations. The union has remained firm in its demands, calling for a significant pay increase, a 35-hour work week and a 1 per cent increase to superannuation. The NSW government offered the union a 15 per cent pay rise over four years, including a one per cent superannuation, on Tuesday. Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the industrial action had squeezed 'the life out of our rail network' and urged union members to accept the 'final offer'. However, the offer was less than half the Combined Rail Union's demands of a 32 per cent pay increase over four years. The ETU said it was 'disappointed' with the proposed offer, while the RTBU claims the state government has stopped negotiations entirely. 'It is clear that the government's strategy is to drag this dispute out for longer than necessary in order to sway public opinion against the unions,' the RTBU said in a statement on Wednesday. 'The ball is in the government's court. It can choose to take us down the legal avenue again and waste tens of thousands of dollars or they can meet with the union and finally put an end to this dispute.' The unions have threatened to not lift the work bans unless the government resumes negotiations Transport Minister Jo Haylen urged union member's to accept the government's 'final offer' of a 15 per cent pay rise - despite it being less than half the RTBU's demands By 6.30am on Wednesday, hundreds of train services had already been cancelled, with many more delayed, causing significant disruption as hundreds of thousands of workers tried to get to work. Commuters were urged to find alternative ways to work, as the train network was put on an 'emergency' footing. Trains on the T4 Eastern suburbs and Illawarra line had completely stopped from 4pm yesterday. Meanwhile, a one hour trip from Bondi Junction to Cronulla was taking up to six hours, with trains arriving at the last stop 392 minutes lates. The 10:15am Bondi Junction to Cronulla services was running 420minutes late by 5pm, with the service expected to depart at 5:15pm, according to transport planning app TripView. As at midday, the T1 and T9 Western and Northern lines were heavily impacted, running about seven hours late. T2 Leppington, T3 Liverpool and T8 Airport lines also faced significant delays of more than four hours, with major service gaps between Leppington and Strathfield. Commuters on the Blue Mountains and the South Coast faced up to three and a half hour delays. Only 50 additional buses were put on to alleviate the evening commute but were not enough to facilitate the hundreds of people affected by the cancellations and delays. A wild storm which swept through Sydney on Wednesday evening added to the commuter chaos, leaving a number of stations without power including Cabramatta, Flemington and Lidcombe. There was also flooding at Town Hall and several track failures at Shellharbour Junction. Scotland is famous the world over for its love of a wee dram every now and then, with drinkers savouring the delicious taste of a fine whisky. But one group will be waking up with more than a headache after working their way through an eye-watering 159,000 worth of the drink in one day. A receipt, posted online, shows the whisky lovers splurged on some of the worlds most sought after spirits at the five star Fife Arms in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, as they celebrated the New Year. The breathtaking bill shows the group drank their way through 40,000 worth of Laphroaig 1940s, 67,500 worth of 50-year-old Balvenie, and 12,750 worth of Glenlivet 1943. Coming in at an astonishing 158,914 had they chosen to spend their money on something else they could have snapped up a one-bedroom flat in Glasgows trendy Finnieston or bought a used Ferrari Portofino which boasts a top speed of 199 mph. But the 19th century hotel, which was also visited by celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick Stein over the Hogmanay period, was keeping tight lipped about the big spenders. Its spokesman said last night: We would never comment regarding our guests. Whisky expert Ann Miller, The Dram Queen, said: I wonder how much they could have appreciated the last few drams as most people find their palates become jaded after the first few. A guest ran up an extraordinary drinks bill at The Fife Arms in Aberdeenshire The hotel in Braemar serves a range of rare and very expensive single malts They certainly chose some interesting drams - and a total of around 100 between what appears to have been 15 people, so at least six or seven each. No doubt Rachel Reeves welcomes the contribution to the black hole in the nations tax income. The whiskies bought are some of the most luxurious money can buy. Among those bought are those dating back 50 years, well before the recent boom in distilleries saw the industry boom to one worth billions every year. Ms Miller added: Older whiskies are often thought to be more complex and richly flavoured than younger drams, and their relative scarcity means a higher price. The selection of drams listed are almost all of considerable age with plenty of complexity. Iwan and Manuela Wirth, owners of the Fife Arms Her Majesty The Queen Consort visiting The Fife Arms as part of the Braemar Literary Festival in 2022 Celebrity chef Rick Stein spent Hogmanay at the Fife Arms Had I been invited to join them, I would have recommended taking their time to savour each of them in order to really enjoy the experience. Rick Stein revealed to his social media followers on December 30 he was very excited to be back at the Royal Deeside hotel. It is unknown if he enjoyed a whisky during his stay. Mr Stein said: I must say its so nice to be back in the Fife Arms again, this time were in the Scottish poet Marion Angus room and tomorrow night were celebrating New Years Eve, my first Hogmanay in Scotland. Surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the Scottish Highlands, the Fife Arms is a short drive away from the Kings beloved Balmoral Castle. Inside it has 46 individual guestrooms and suites, and rates for a long weekend start at 2,145. The high-end hotel also boasts Berties Whisky Bar, named in honour of Queen Victorias eldest son King Edward VII who was also known as Bertie. Inside there are more than 500 whiskies to choose from, and online the hotel promises an experience like no other whisky bar with guests able to lose themselves in a labyrinth of whisky bottles, arranged like books on shelves, backlit in a lustrous amber liquid casting a seductive glow across the room. It added: Berties can be said to be a whisky library where guests are actively encourages to discover, wander and browse with bartenders as librarians to answer questions and make suggestions. An eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pair of put bulls that had been tormenting his neighborhood. Michael Millett and his friend were riding bikes near his central Florida home on Monday when they saw the killer dogs and went to pet them, per the Volusia County Sheriff's office. The dogs were initially friendly, but then viciously attacked little Michael, as reported by Action News Jax. 'Theres a little boy being attacked by two dogs,' a woman who witnessed the tragedy said in a horrifying 911 call. 'Theyre literally tugging on him. Please hurry. Hes not moving,' she added as she cried. Witnesses reportedly attempted CPR on the boy as police and animal control chased the dogs and put them in quarantine. One dog was described as a pit bull and the other as a mixed breed. Michael Millett, eight, was killed when he was attacked by pit bulls in his neighborhood The dogs were taken by animal control but nothing can be done until their owner signs them away, officials said The dogs are owned by a woman named Amanda Franco who has not been charged in the incident but has a lengthy criminal record Neighbors told local media the dogs are known to be aggressive and wander around. However, animal control said they had not received any complaints about them. The dogs are owned by a woman named Amanda Franco who has not been charged in the incident but has a lengthy criminal record. Sheriff Mike Chitwood said he will work to hold the owner accountable. 'We are going to do everything humanly possible to hold the owner of these dogs responsible, and we are going to do everything humanly possible to make sure these animals are destroyed,' he said. The dogs are currently in the custody of animal control but no action can be taken until the owner signs them over. If she doesn't, the case will move to court. The victim's family has set up a GoFundMe to support Michael's parents. 'My niece Tiffani and her husband, Michael, lost their son, Michael in a tragic accident,' the page reads. The victim's family has set up a GoFundMe to support Michael's parents '...Our family is devastated with the loss of Michael. He was incredibly smart, funny, caring, loving, and so adventurous. Michaels contagious laugh and light will be missed tremendously. We have set up this Go Fund Me to help with the funeral expenses, medical expenses and additional expenses with missed time off at work. Tiffani and Michael have two other children and need time to spend with them during this difficult time.' The sister of a child abuse survivor last night claimed a statutory inquiry was 100 per cent to blame for his suspected suicide after publishing his name online. Melanie Watson said her brother Kevin Sutherland gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) in 2022 but was later shocked to learn his name and case details were on the internet. He was told last month that he had failed in a bid to retrospectively remove his name from his harrowing account - which contained detailed and sensitive information about his private life and he later went missing. A search for Mr Sutherland, 33, last seen near the Forth bridges, was launched but has now been completed though inquiries continue. Last night Ms Watson claimed the SCAI was responsible for his suspected suicide after it rejected his request for anonymity. The inquiry has announced an independent review of its handling of the case and the name of the person conducting it is expected to be announced imminently. Ms Watson, 40, of West Lothian said she had never heard from the inquiry but it is understood contact has been made with another family member. She said: The SCAI is 100 per cent to blame for what happened to Kevin and sadly we are satisfied that he took his own life - and has to be held accountable for its decisions. Kevin Sutherland, 33, gave evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) in 2022. He was later told that he had failed in a bid to retrospectively remove his name from his harrowing testimony, which was published online. Melanie Watson with her brother Kevin Sutherland, who is missing presumed dead. Kevin signed a waiver allowing publication of his name but nowhere on it was it made clear that his name would appear prominently on a Google search. He told me that people wouldnt understand when his name came up in connection with abuse - and might think he was a child abuser. Kevin had borderline personality disorder and the inquiry knew that he was suicidal but they refused to take down his name and they stuck by that decision. The documents naming him were taken down from the internet only after he went missing Ive never heard anything from the inquiry, not even to pass on their condolences, or an apology which I wouldnt accept anyway. The review theyre ordering must be fully independent and needs to get to the bottom of what happened. The SCAI, chaired by retired judge Lady Smith, was launched in 2015 to look at allegations of historical child abuse in living memory and has cost 88.4million so far. The alarm over Mr Sutherland was raised at 1.50am on December 19 after he posted a lengthy final announcement on social media, after his request for anonymity was rejected for a second time. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, launched in 2015, is chaired by Lady Smith Writing in a scheduled post on X, he said: If you are reading this it means I have died. In a series of statements, which were also posted on Instagram, Mr Sutherland claimed that the ruling by Lady Smith had compounded his distress. He said: The SCAI failed me on an unprecedented level. Mr Sutherland had previously waived his right to anonymity in giving his testimony but became concerned that it was so freely available online. He twice asked the inquiry to restore his anonymity but his second request was refused. As a child and a teenager, Mr Sutherland spent time in care facilities in Edinburgh, Musselburgh and Paisley. In 2022 he outlined to the inquiry how his adult life was ruined by the sexual and physical abuse that he had experienced in residential and foster homes over that period. In June a member of the inquiry staff wrote to Mr Sutherland stating: Lady Smith has considered [your request for anonymity] carefully but is unable to agree to it. She has to take account of all the circumstances, including that you signed an anonymity waiver in October 2022, which clearly states that once anonymity is waived that you cannot ask to be anonymous at a later date. Mr Sutherland later received a further, final rejection, with an inquiry spokesman telling him: Lady Smith is not able to remove your statement from the inquiry website or anonymise you for the reasons previously outlined. A Police Scotland spokesman said: The missing person inquiry remains open and officers are providing updates to the family. An SCAI spokesman said: We have been made aware of a possible tragic incident involving an individual who has been engaging with the inquiry. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. In the interests of transparency, SCAI will commission an independent review as soon as possible to consider all aspects of its interactions with the individual. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a branch or go to www.samaritans.org MBABANE A 40-year-old man from Mahangeni has been arrested in connection with the theft of property valued at E395 008, during housebreakings in his home area and surrounding areas. Simphiwe Felix Dlamini was remanded in custody in the presence of the complainants at the Mbabane Police Station yesterday. Among the complainants is the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Princess Malinga, who had property valued at E43 600 stolen from her home at Mahangeni. During the remand hearing, the Crown applied for the release of the stolen items as some are fragile and household items used daily. The Crown informed the court that photographs of the items would be taken as evidence. The Crown also informed the court that it was not opposed to bail should Dlamini apply for it. However, the Crown implored the court to invoke Section 102 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1938 when granting bail. This section of the law provides that the bail amount should be set at half the value of the stolen property. Dlamini had no objection to the Crowns application, which resulted in the court releasing the property back to the owners, some of whom were present at the police station. He then applied for bail. Magistrate Vilakati granted Dlamini bail fixed at E20 000, in accordance with Section 103 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, 1938. Dlamini was warned against interfering with Crown witnesses. He was also warned against committing a similar offence while out on bail and to attend all court remands and hearings as ordered. Dlamini is due to appear in court again on January 24, 2025 for the setting of a trial date. Information gathered suggests that Dlamini broke into the houses while some of the owners were sleeping. The commission of these offences has left the public with many questions given the quantity of the stolen property. The stolen property includes tractor parts, a double-door fridge, washing machines, a double bed, 19kg gas cylinder, sound systems, bunk beds and cement bags, among other items. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has warned it could take ten years to rebuild Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires. The deadly blazes have already claimed the lives of at least 24 people and have been estimated to cause upwards of $40 billion of damage. LA's ritzy Pacific Palisades neighborhood is all but destroyed, while the neighboring coastal community of Malibu was badly hit by the blazes. Altadena, which sits northeast of Downtown LA, was also devastated. 'This is going to be one of the bigger issues we're going to have to be tackling over the next four years,' Fink told CNBC. 'When you have whole neighborhoods destroyed and you have infrastructure and schools and supermarkets destroyed this is not a one-year fix. This is going to be five, six, seven, maybe 10 years of fixing.' More than 12,000 structures have been burned by the fires, several of which are still raging. Fink added that the government will need to get involved with homeowners' insurance as consumers reckon with the devastation. 'Homeowners' insurance is becoming a larger and larger component of home ownership,' he said. His company handles $11.6 trillion on behalf of retail and institutional clients and oversaw $700 billion of insurance companies cash as of the end of the third quarter. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has warned it could take ten years to rebuild Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires The deadly blazes have already claimed the lives of at least 24 people and have been estimated to cause upwards of $40 billion of damage, especially in the Pacific Palisades (pictured before the blazes) BlackRock has also said that insurers are an increasingly important part of their client base. For Fink, a Los Angeles native, the fires have taken on a personal significance. He described the blazes as, 'horrible to watch'. 'I used to hike the Santa Monica mountains all the time; it was one of my pleasures growing up, looking for snakes and reptiles as a kid, walking through the chaparral,' he said. 'I was there during the great Bel Air fires, but we've never seen destruction like this.' The anger of homeowners in Los Angeles is growing as they face an insurance crisis as companies could struggle to cover the staggering costs of the wildfires. Tens of thousands of displaced LA residents have lost everything but the clothes they were wearing and a few select personal items, leaving insurance companies on the hook for colossal payouts. State Farm said in 2023 that it would stop accepting new homeowners-insurance applications in California and then added last year that it would stop covering 72,000 homes across the state due to the growing frequency and severity of wildfires. Several celebrities are among those who have lost their homes as entire neighborhoods have been flattened by the fires. An aerial view of homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire. More than 12,000 structures have been burned in all the blazes still ravaging LA Actor James Woods, whose Pacific Palisades home was engulfed by flames but miraculously survived, also confirmed in a post that 'one of the major insurance companies canceled all the policies in our neighborhood about four months ago', an apparent reference to State Farm. Even if residents are still covered by insurance, they could face a $115billion shortfall due to insurance companies likely only covering $20billion of the $135billion in estimated losses. 'The concern isn't whether insurance companies will pay out for damage but rather how much and how long it will take,' Amy Bach, the executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based nonprofit consumer group, told NBC. 'For the people who lose their homes in these wildfires, there will be fights over coverage.' Ghislaine Maxwell's luxury London townhouse where the infamous picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre was allegedly taken has gone up for sale. The convicted sex trafficker's property, located in the upmarket neighbourhood of Belgravia, has gone on the market for 3.25million. It is listed at almost double for what she sold it for four years ago, as property developer Stuart Robinson looks to cash in on his investment after paying 1.75million for the three bedroom mews in April 2021. Maxwell's home is also alleged to be the location where the Duke of York was snapped with his arm around Virginia Giuffre - formerly Roberts - who was one of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's victims. Ms Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with the prince in the property's bath tub by Epstein and Maxwell. Prince Andrew has always vehemently denied the claims. The house is listed with luxury estate agents Chestertons, who have unsurprisingly decided to not mention any of the building's gruesome past in its listing. They describe it as 'a charming, newly refurbished three bedroom house arranged over three floors', with a 'generous ground floor entertaining space and a wonderfully bright principal bedroom suite on the second floor'. The house, which is near the flagship Harvey Nichols store, has not been lived in since Maxwell sold it for 1.75million to pay her legal fees in 2021. The convicted sex trafficker's property, located in the upmarket neighbourhood of Belgravia, has gone on the market for 3.25million Maxwell's home is also alleged to be the location where the Duke of York was snapped with his arm around Virginia Giuffre - formerly Roberts - who was one of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein 's victims Maxwell (pictured with Epstein) sold the house in 2021 to fund legal fees for her own court battle in the States and it has been collecting dust ever since The new pictures of the home show that some of the original features remain, with the ill-famed bathroom appearing as it did when it was first pictured in January 2022, when Robinson unsuccessfully tried to flip the property. This room is where Prince Andrew allegedly had sex with Giuffre in 2021, who was 17 at the time, according to her court testimony. Andrew has always strongly denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he has never even met Ms Giuffre, now a mother-of-three living in Australia. Maxwell also denied the accusation, claiming under oath that the 'tub is too small for any type of activity whatsoever'. In an attempt to prove this statement, Ghislaine's brother Ian released a bizarre photo of two fully clothed people sitting in a bath with Prince Andrew and Virginia masks on. The move was slammed by royal experts, lawyers and members of the public alike, who said it was 'surreal', 'absurd' and 'proved nothing'. Ms Giuffre claims in court papers that she returned to the house with Maxwell and Andrew after visiting Tramp's nightclub. She said the prince was was 'sweating profusely' on her. In his now infamous Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew denied all the claims and said it was 'impossible' for him to sweat since he developed a condition while serving in the Falklands war. The house, which is near the flagship Harvey Nichols store, has not been lived in since Maxwell sold it for 1.75 million to pay her legal fees in 2021 The bathroom (pictured) of the property, where Virginia Roberts alleged she had sex with Prince Andrew in the bath one night in 2001 when she was a 17-year-old trafficking victim. He denied her claims It is also described as having 'generous ground floor entertaining space and a wonderfully bright principal bedroom suite on the second floor' He also claimed he was at home on the night in question, following a kids' party with daughter Beatrice at Pizza Express in Woking, and said the photo of him and Ms Giuffre had been doctored. The prince ended up paying on no admission of liability a financial settlement - reportedly as much as 12m - to Ms Giuffre, formally ending a civil case brought against him in the US. Maxwell sold the house in 2021 to fund legal fees for her own court battle in the States and it has been collecting dust ever since. The house is a taboo subject in the neighbourhood - as locals refuse to talk about the black spot on their street. One local, who did not want to be named, told MailOnline in 2023: 'They repainted it, took the window boxes off. People avoid it. 'It's a great house. I think it'd be pretty fun for a young couple actually, living across from a pub. 'If it's an American they don't really care, it's not like someone died there. But it's weird - I think most people wouldn't care.' Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 of finding young girls for Prince Andrew's paedophile pal Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. A rogue doctor who left children in 'gratuitous pain and suffering' after botched circumcisions has been jailed for more than five years. Mohammad Siddiqui, 58, from Birmingham, was a practising doctor when he started visiting homes by appointment to carry out procedures on youngsters. Some of these left the children 'screaming' in agony, Inner London Crown Court heard. Siddiqui had pleaded guilty to 25 offences, including 11 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, six counts of child cruelty, and eight counts of administering a prescription-only medicine to young and vulnerable patients while ignoring basic hygiene rules and performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions. He was suspended and later struck off the register however he continued to carry out circumcisions at family homes. During these he used unsterilised tools which led to a number of young children having to be taken to hospital following the procedure. This included one boy who 'almost died', a court heard. He was jailed for five years and seven months. Mohammad Siddiqui, 58, from Birmingham, was a practising doctor when he started visiting homes by appointment to carry out circumcisions on children Some of these left the children 'screaming' in agony, Inner London Crown Court, pictured, heard The charges relate to 21 boys and are dated between April 2014 and January 2019. In 2015, Siddiqui was struck off the GMC register after a panel of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service found him guilty of failures in performing non-therapeutic male circumcisions in the homes of four children, one of whom 'almost died' as a result of the procedure, prosecutor Ben Douglas-Jones KC told Judge Noel Lucas KC. The boy, only referred to in court as Patient A, was rushed to hospital after he received an injection of Bupivacaine, an anaesthetic used to numb an area of the body during surgery, to which he had an adverse reaction. Mr Douglas-Jones had told the court: 'That child almost died and had to be taken to A&E by ambulance. 'Death or near death is something this defendant (Siddiqui) should have anticipated given his experience. 'That caused unnecessary suffering and pain.' Despite having been struck off the GMC register following this incident, Siddiqui was able to continue his service until 2019, as non-therapeutic male circumcision is unregulated and is not required to be carried out by a registered medical practitioner. The judge also heard about a boy aged 15 when Siddiqui circumcised him in 2017. Siddiqui changed his plea to guilty two months into his jury trial at London's Southwark Crown Court, pictured, in which he represented himself Siddiqui was initially reluctant to perform the surgery on the boy, referred to as Child A in court due to his age, but carried it out after charging his parents 300. The court heard the teenager had to be rushed to hospital for surgery after his penis 'exploded with blood' due to a blood clot that developed shortly after the procedure. In hospital, doctors found that Child A's penis had been fitted with a Plastibell circumcision ring that was 'much too small'. Mr Douglas-Jones told the judge: 'That caused gratuitous pain and suffering and rendered the procedure dangerous. 'Clearly, this procedure should not have been done in a billion years, not in this way.' The prosecution told the judge Siddiqui also used unsterilised tools, including unpackaged pairs of scissors and tweezers, which he would put back into his bag after he completed the procedures. The former NHS doctor sometimes used a 'circumstraint board' to immobilise children during circumcisions, which is considered unacceptable in NHS practice. He would also ask parents of babies who cried during the surgery to put honey on their dummies to use as a soother, despite children under 12 months being at risk of developing botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning, when consuming honey. From June 2012, Siddiqui ran a private mobile circumcision service and sourced anaesthetic while working in paediatric surgery at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, pictured The court heard how one of his patients was a boy, only referred to in court as Patient A, who was rushed to hospital after he received an injection of Bupivacaine, an anaesthetic used to numb an area of the body during surgery, to which he had an adverse reaction and almost died. Picture: Southwark Crown Court From June 2012, Siddiqui ran a private mobile circumcision service and sourced anaesthetic while working in paediatric surgery at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. He travelled around the UK and by appointment performed non-therapeutic male circumcisions on patients aged between one-month-old and 15-years-old. The judge said he agreed with the concerns of relatives of Siddiqui's victims and stated that the regulation of circumcision was 'now long overdue'. He said: 'This case has shown that safeguards and protections must now be put in place and put in place as a matter of urgency, to ensure that babies and young children are protected.' The judge also told Siddiqui he had done 'everything you could to delay the wheels of justice to prevent the trial from taking place' since the legal case against him first came to the criminal courts in December 2020. Accusations of racism and bias, and unfounded complaints about the standard of the legal process were levelled by Siddiqui in a 'deliberate and cynical delay' to prevent the case from proceeding. Siddiqui's approach was 'more than persistent and caused the individuals who were subjected to your unjustified complaints real hardship', the judge said. The judge noted that Siddiqui had asked him to recuse himself on occasions from the case, had rejected his offer of help and alleged the hearing was unfair, 'anti-Muslim' and 'Zionist'. He told Siddiqui: 'In making these scattergun complaints, you appear to have entirely overlooked that your victims are Muslim boys and their families.' Siddiqui changed his plea to guilty two months into his jury trial at London's Southwark Crown Court in which he represented himself. A further 14 charges were ordered to lie on file. A five-year serious organised crime prevention order, which stops Siddiqui carrying out non-therapeutic circumcision once he is freed, will start on the day he is released from prison. After sentencing, Anja Hohmey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Siddiqui had left children with 'emotional and physical scars' and had shown 'a complete disregard' for the impact caused to his victims, their families and communities. She added: 'His actions throughout the court process have caused significant further disruption and distress to his victims and their families, alongside significant additional legal costs due to the length of the delays he has caused.' Detective Chief Superintendent Fiona Bitters, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said: 'I hope today's sentence, which is significant, helps to bring some comfort to his victims and their families who have had to wait many years to see justice served for his actions. The circumstances of this case are unusual and novel.' Joe Biden and Donald Trump both claimed credit for a ceasefire deal designed to end the war between Israel and Hamas. And President Biden was quick shut down any notion president-elect Trump might deserve any kudos on the matter. 'Is that a joke,' he said to a reporter who asked him if he or Trump deserved credit for the deal. When told no, Biden said 'oh' and walked out of the briefing. While Biden announced the ceasefire at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, Trump had already announced the deal two hours earlier on social media. The deal includes a 42-day ceasefire and the return of American hostages. It is scheduled to take affect on Sunday, the day before Trump takes the oath of office as president. Biden was racing against the clock to get the deal done before Trump is sworn in on January 20th. 'This is a cease-fire agreement I introduced last Spring. Today, Hamas and Israel have agreed to that cease-fire agreement. And a whole ending to the war,' the president said. President Joe Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaks about the ceasefire deal But Trump said it was all him. The incoming-president had threatened severe consequences unless Israel and Hamas reached an agreement before Inauguration Day. Some officials credit that threat with adding a sense of urgency to the talks. 'We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,' Trump noted. 'I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.' Trump added that his incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, would continue 'to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.' Biden's State Department thanked Trump for his role. 'When it comes to the involvement of President-elect Trump's team, it's been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line,' said department spokesman Matthew Miller at his briefing. Biden acknowledged in his remarks that the ceasefire will be implemented under Trump's tenure. 'This deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but the terms to be implemented for the most part by the next administration. These past few days, we have been speaking as one team,' he said. Witkoff has been in the Middle East working along side the Biden negotiators. Biden noted he told his team to work with the incoming-president's. He said he ordered them to 'coordinate closely' with Trump's advisers to ensure they're 'all speaking with the same voice. Because that's what American presidents do.' Donald Trump also claimed credit for the deal Palestinians gathered in the garden of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza to celebrate after the announcement of a ceasefire Biden said it was a tough sell but the expressed confidence the deal would hold. 'This is one of the toughest negotiations I've ever experienced,' he said. The deal will have three phases and American hostages will be released as part one. Five Americans Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Keith Siegel remain alive in captivity. Hamas will release 'a number' of hostages, including wounded, women, the elderly and Americans in phase one, Biden said. 'The vice president and I cannot wait to welcome them home,' Biden said. He was flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Tony Blinken as he spoke in the cross hall of the White House. Over the next six weeks, both sides will move toward phase two, which is a permanent end of the 15-month conflict. The final phase will include a 'major reconstruction plan for Gaza,' which includes allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to be able to return to their homes and have access to a humanitarian supplies. 'Too many innocent people have died, too many communities have been destroyed,' Biden said. 'In this deal, the people of Gaza can finally recover and rebuild.' The agreement needs to be formally ratified by the Israeli cabinet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a number of details in the agreement need to be resolved but was hopefully they would be by Wednesday night. Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio insisted there are serious concerns over control of the Panama Canal as President-elect Trump has called for the U.S. to take over the crucial waterway. The Florida senator appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing where he was asked about China's influence on the Panama Canal. Rubio warned it is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed. And while he was careful to state that he has not looked into the legal research regarding the control of the canal, he suggested the agreement under which the U.S. turned it over to Panama may have been violated. Im compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated,' Rubio said in response to a question by Utah Senator John Curtis. Rubio said Panama has not turned over sovereignty of the canal, but he raised concerns over the Chinese ports operating on either side of it. 'In reality, a foreign power today possesses through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict, Rubio said. Rubio warned it is a direct threat to the national interest and security of the U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said there are legitimate national security concerns over the Panama Canal and China's influence in the region as President-elect Trump has demanded the U.S. retake control of the crucial waterway The U.S. completed construction of the Panama Canal in the early 1900s. In 1979, a treaty signed during the Carter administration agreed for the U.S. to turn over control of the canal and full control was turned over to the Panamanians in 1999. But Trump recently demanded the U.S. retake control of the canal and that U.S. ships get preferential treatment. Panamanian leaders rejected his demands and have insisted it alone controls the canal, not China. They've said warned giving U.S. ships preferential treatment would lead to chaos. During Wednesday's hearing, Rubio said concern over China's influence in Panama is not new and agreed with doubts over whether the canal remains neutral because Chinese companies control port facilities on both ends of the canal. He said the worry among military and security officials is that the ports could be used for duel purposes to impede commerce and be weaponized against the U.S. 'This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted,' Rubio said. Trump's pick to lead the State Department would not go so far to say without further examination whether the China effectively already has control of the canal but suggested that argument could perhaps be made because China's government keeps a tight control on its companies. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio warned that Chinese ports on either side of the Panama Canal in Central America could be problematic for the U.S. in a time of conflict 'No one's claiming that the Chinese are shutting down the canal every day,' Rubio pointed out. 'What the claim is, the very legitimate concern is that if these companies control both ends of that canal in a time of conflict, and the Chineses tell them "shut it down and don't let the U.S. go through there," we got a big, big problem,' Rubio said. The Florida senator said it would be an economic, national security and defense problem. 'We shouldn't ignore it. It isn't a joke. It's a legitimate issue, and it needs to be solved,' Rubio said. While Rubio raised issues with the current situation regarding the important passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, he was also quick to praise Panama's leader. 'I want to be clear about something,' he said. 'The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue.' During the hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch also suggested a legal analysis should be done of the treaty over control of the Panama Canal. It may well be the loneliest job in Scotland. But a lighthouse keeper role is available for the first time in a generation as the previous keeper retires after 20 years. The role involves looking after lighthouses at Neist Point on the Isle of Skye, Ornsay, a small tidal island to the east of Skye, and Rubha Reidh, near Gairloch on the mainland. The opportunity comes as the incumbent caretaker, Christine Barrett, is to retire after being in post for 20 years. The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), which is advertising the role, said with most of its retained lighthouse keepers (RLK) serving at least a decade or two, some as long as 40 or 50 years, the posts do not come up very often. Whoever is to step into Ms Barretts shoes will be required to visit Neist Point and Rubha Reidh once a month and Ornsay every three months. The Lighthouse of Isle Ornsay off the coast of Skye Neist Point Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye Neist Point and its Lighthouse on the the most westerly point on the Duirinish peninsula on the Isle of Skye The trips take around eight hours for inspections and maintenance to ensure their equipment is working correctly, including lens cleaning, and to report any damage. Ms Barrett said: Its really just to check everything is in order, check the readings and keep things oiled. The job advert said RLKs are sometimes asked to accompany visitors to the sites. At Neist Point, Ms Barrett said she regularly met tourists visiting the dramatic location. She said: Its an incredible sight. I would say the attraction is similar to the number of people who go to the Fairy Pools. Ms Barrett said other visitors had included some lighthouse fanatics from around the globe. She added: You frequently meet people who have been to all sorts of different lighthouses and people who collect them. Theres also an Association of Lighthouse Keepers. They are definitely fanatics and go on a tour every year going round lighthouses, so Ive had them visit. The NLB said the position would suit someone who lives locally to the lighthouses, with about a 140-mile journey between the three locations. Contrary to what some might think, the job does not involve staying in the lighthouse or on site, but rather visiting for inspections. Asked how she went about getting the job two decades ago, Ms Barrett said: I happened to walk past the technician at Rubha Reidh one day who said why havent you applied for the job? And that was it. On who is best for the job, a spokesman from NLB said: There isnt a specific type and it really varies. We have people who are retired, employed, self-employed - former keepers, fishermen, outward-bound activity instructors, engineers, nurses, plasterers and former NLB technicians and contractors. Its useful if the person has a technical background, but not essential. RLKs are our eyes and ears and the first line of defence should there be an issue, which they will report/escalate as necessary. NLB employs 18 RLKs. Depending on the location, the board can receive 60 applications for jobs that come up, but it can vary. The job will be part-time, around 200 hours for the year, with a starting salary of 2,797. Applications close on January 20. A quadruple amputee appeared in court today after he assaulted a bus passenger and two police officers with the hook of his prosthetic arm. Thomas Proudfoot, 28, had knocked passenger Wayne Mysiuk to the ground at Perth Bus station in Scotland when two cops turned up to arrest him on December 9. The amputee bit one of the officers and tried to bite the other, and also spat at them. Fiscal depute Stephanie Paterson told Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday: 'The accused was on the bus and appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. 'The driver had cause to contact the police. Mr Mysiuk was awaiting a bus and approached the accused to defuse the situation. The accused spat at him, striking his face and shoulder.' 'The accused turned away and sat back down on the bus before exiting again. The accused was told to move away from the bus by Mr Mysiuk. 'The accused apologised and extended a prosthetic hook to shake. Mr Mysiuk accepted the apology but refused to shake the hook. 'The accused, without warning, struck Mr Mysiuk with the hook, knocking him to the ground. Police took hold of the accused and informed him he was under arrest. Thomas Proudfoot appeared in court today after he knocked a bus passenger to the ground with his prosthetic hook before assaulting two police officers during brawl The incident occurred at Perth Bus Station 'The accused spat at PC Matthew Thomson. The police placed the accused on the ground and the accused's hook got caught in PC Thomson's wedding ring, causing the skin to break. 'The accused thereafter tried to bite PC Thomson to the hand, but he was able to remove his hand before any pressure was placed on it. Further assistance was requested by police. 'The accused was taken control of by police officers. However, the accused managed to bite PC Cameron Sutherland to the left calf, but did not cause injury.' Proudfoot, from Methven, Perthshire, admitted assaulting and injuring Mr Mysiuk with his hook. He also admitted two charges of police assault and he was placed on a two year community payback order and under supervision by Sheriff Clair McLachlan. Proudfoot's solicitor said: 'He very much regrets what he did and appreciates the seriousness of his actions. He has taken the time and trouble to write a letter to Mr Mysiuk.' Proudfoot was jailed for six months last year after he admitted attacking one police officer with his hook and trying to bite two others. Proudfoot, who lost both arms and both legs in a horror train crash in 2012, admitted assaulting PC Mark Hogg in the station on 2 May 2023. He admitted swinging his prosthetic arm, containing a metal hook, at the officer's head when he was already the subject of a court bail order. Proudfoot, formerly of Glasgow, admitted attacking PC Christopher Brash by spitting on his body and trying to bite him during the same incident. He admitted assaulting PC Gary Cameron by trying to spit on him and bite him. Finally, he admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats to bite and spit at officers. Previously, Proudfoot was given a seven year sentence for a vile sex attack in 2014 and is still considered to pose a danger to the public. Despite his lack of arms and legs, Proudfoot carried out a vicious sex assault, kicking his victim on the head and body and leaving her so badly injured she was barely recognisable to friends and family. As well as being jailed, Proudfoot was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life because of the sickening brutality of the attack. Proudfoot was jailed for attacking his 17-year-old victim on waste ground near his former home in Clydebank - after committing a catalogue of violent offences in the preceding months. When he was 15, Proudfoot was hit by a train near Westerton Station in Bearsden, near Glasgow, and medics at first feared he would not survive. He was so badly hurt after being hit by the train he had to have all four limbs removed and now has four prosthetic limbs, including a false arm with a metal claw. Just months before the sex attack, Proudfoot used his metal arm to break another man's jaw and he used it to attack a police officer. He spat on another officer's face. One of Australia's worst paedophiles, Ashley Paul Griffith, is appealing his life sentence, claiming his punishment is 'excessive'. It's only been a month and a half since the former childcare worker was jailed for life, pleading guilty to more than 300 sex crimes against children. Griffith's offending spanned almost 20 years at daycares in Brisbane and Italy. It included 28 counts of rape, 190 counts of indecently treating a child, and 67 counts of creating child exploitation material. In total he abused 69 girls while working in childcare. He was taken into custody in August 2022 after police were able to identify a Brisbane childcare centre from bedsheets seen in videos he had uploaded to the dark web in 2014. Parents of kids at one childcare centre where he worked were furious and said they had raised concerns about him but were accused of sexism. One mother said she complained about Griffith the first week he started at the centre. Griffith's offending spanned more than 20 years and included 28 counts of rape, 190 counts of indecently treating a child,and 67 counts of creating child exploitation material 'He wasn't wearing a uniform, didn't introduce himself to parents and was just staring at the kids. I thought he must be one of the dads,' she said. But her complaint fell on deaf ears, with the owner allegedly accusing her of gender bias and asking if the centre was 'the right place for you and your family'. Griffith also boasted about his childcare experience and discussed how he helped children 'develop their identities' in a now-deleted online profile. 'I love engaging children in meaningful experiences that inspire their play and learning,' the paedophile wrote. 'I am particularly fascinated by how children use creative languages such as drawing, building, painting and music to express themselves and develop their identity.' At his sentencing in November last year, Judge Paul Smith imposed a life sentence with a non-parole period of 27 years and said Griffith was 'depraved and has a high risk of reoffending'. 'People expect their children will be protected in childcare centres and this will be a concern to every parent in this state,' he said. Judge Smith said Griffith had filmed most of the victims as he sexually assaulted them and there was a chance the videos he shared with others would 'live forever on the internet'. Griffith's offending spanned almost 20 years at daycares in Brisbane and Italy 'The children were awake or asleep ... he frequently gave them an iPad to distract them,' he said. The judge said Griffith could be heard mocking the children in the videos when they told him to stop. Griffith had uploaded videos of himself abusing children to the dark web in order to gain access to child exploitation material from other members of a website. He was made a 'VIP user' on the website and even wrote comments to other paedophiles advising them on how to sexually assault children. Griffith had initially denied committing any offence, but later made admissions during 13 police interviews while still downplaying the number of victims and seriousness of the sexual assaults, the judge said. 'There was co-operation in identifying victims and the location of offending ... the defendant did not identify any victims not captured on video.' The court also heard harrowing accounts from three victims and 20 parents about the impact of his abuse. '(You were the) one who was supposed to keep them safe in a childhood centre,' one parent said. 'I now look at every male teacher or carer with suspicion. Nowhere is safe.' A mother said knowing what Griffith had done to her daughter would haunt her forever. 'The only time she was away from me is when I placed her in your hands which is something I'll regret for the rest of my life,' she said. Griffith's appeal was filed on December 20 and there is not yet a court date. His lawyers have argued his sentence is manifestly excessive. He is also facing new charges in NSW, involving 23 alleged victims in Sydney. Caitlyn Jenner has blamed poor land management by California officials for the wildfire crisis still menacing the state. The Olympian accused the forestry service of 'hypocrisy' by insisting homeowners clear their properties of undergrowth, while leaving their own lands to grow wild. The comments came as millions of Southern Californians were on edge as winds began picking up during a final round of dangerous fire weather forecast for the region Wednesday where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes. Jenner shared a photo showing how her property backs on to overgrown public lands, which she branded 'a major liability'. 'My 13-acre property in Malibu backs up to CA state land (circled in red). Notice the difference between my grounds keeping and the states?' Jenner wrote on X. 'No under brush or forest management by the state on their lands- providing a plethora of fuel for wildfires. No underbrush on my land. 'The only reason my home survived the last round of fires was because of the ground clearance we are mandated to do.' She went on to claim having state lands on her boundary is 'dangerous and a major liability' as the forestry service 'don't follow any standards or provide ground clearance the way they force their over taxed citizens to'. Caitlyn Jenner blamed poor land management by California officials for the wildfire crisis still menacing the state She shared a photo showing how her property backs onto overgrown public lands, which she branded 'a major liability' 'We have extremely high property taxes and are held to high standards of ground clearance to prevent fires from spreading. CA=HYPOCRISY' Jenner fumed. However, the California State Parks Department told the DailyMail.com on Wednesday that they are 'unable to confirm from the picture whether that land belongs to California State Parks.' Yet, CALFire's website indicates that homeowners are required to keep 100 feet of 'defensible space' by removing potentially flammable growth. The first 30 feet must also be totally clear of dead or dry vegetation and space must be created between trees. However, it warns that in some counties the requirements are even stricter. For example, in San Diego homeowners must totally clear the first 50 feet. While many agreed with Jenner, some suggested that fire proofing in at-risk areas is a responsibility that should be born by homeowners who choose to live there. 'Should taxpayers be forced to foot the bill to keep homes safe for the wealthy elites who choose to live in these ultra fire prone hills in the most fire prone state?' One person wrote. 'Because you choose to live in these areas with gorgeous land and views we have to provide infrastructure like sewers, roads, water systems, emergency services, and now expensive fire prevention measuresall funded by taxpayers who may never set foot in your exclusive neighborhood. 'Why should the average citizen, struggling to make ends meet in a modest home, be responsible for subsidizing the luxurious lifestyles of those who knowingly choose to build in high-risk areas?' The Olympian accused the forestry service of 'hypocrisy' by insisting that homeowners clear their properties of undergrowth, while leaving their own lands to grow wild At least 24 people have been killed and more than 12,000 structures destroyed in an estimated $40 billion of damage as a result of the fires More than 120,000 customers lacked electricity Wednesday afternoon in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Pictured: Charred remains of a trailer park along the beach are pictured, following the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California Nearly 100,000 of those were customers of Southern California Edison energy company in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernadino and Riverside counties. Pictured: Debris from burned properties, as the Palisades Fire continues in the Los Angeles area But Jenner hit back stating that: 'the state should maintain its lands'. 'It's a basic service- forest management- all of the taxes paid by 'we the people' already pay for and must demand from our leaders,' she said. The Fox News contributor confirmed that her $3.5 million Malibu home is safe and unaffected by the fires. Thousands of other Californians have not been so lucky, including some celebrity neighbors. At least 25 people have been killed and more than 12,000 structures destroyed in an estimated $40 billion of damage as a result of the fires. Firefighters in the Golden State could could encounter fire tornadoes, a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather. A day after firefighters got a reprieve with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph [56 kph] on the coast and valleys and 55 mph [88 kph] in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said. More than 120,000 customers lacked electricity Wednesday afternoon in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Nearly 100,000 of those were customers of Southern California Edison energy company in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernadino and Riverside counties. 'Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the extreme weather event,' the utility said on its website. The company on Wednesday afternoon said on social media it had completed 100 percent of the damage assessments for non-fire areas where it was safe to do so. After the assessments, repairs are prioritized based on conditions, and the time needed will vary depending on the extent of the repair work required, the post said. Devastation from the Palisades Fire on beachfront homes Wednesday, January 15 A house, seemingly untouched by the Palisades Fire, stands on a hill amid the charred remains of other homes destroyed by the fire as National Guard soldiers guard a checkpoint below in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California 'Due to unsafe conditions, restoration may take longer than usual,' the company said. The Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning expired Wednesday afternoon, but dry conditions and locally gusty winds will linger into Thursday - especially in some mountain areas, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles said. Winds peaked before 3 p.m. Wednesday and will continue to lessen into the evening. Red Flag Warnings remain in effect due to locally strong northeast to east winds and low relative humidity in much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties until 6 pm Wednesday. In the Santa Susana Mountains, Western San Gabriel Mountains and Interstate 5 corridor, Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through 3 pm Thursday, the weather service said. An adorable toddler from Arkansas died after his mother's evil boyfriend allegedly threw him into a pool repeatedly to teach the child how to swim. Two-year-old Daxton Ray Bull died on June 17 in Arkansas, just days after he was hurled into the pool by Dakota Shawn Hays, 29, according to court records. Hays and the child's mother Annastacia Atkins, 24, were arrested on Monday and charged in connection to his death, which has been ruled a homicide. Deputies responded to Atkin's home on June 14 to reports of an unresponsive child after Hays spent the day swimming with Daxton and two other children, according to legal documents. While EMT's treated the child, officers interviewed Hays, who told cops that he was teaching Daxton how to swim when he started 'spitting up water.' Officers then interviewed the two other children, including a six-year-old girl who said Hays repeatedly tossed Daxton into the swimming pool, even though the little boy protested not to do so. The girl also said that Hays pushed him under to get items at the bottom, according to an affidavit. While the child was in the pool, Atkins said she was laying down inside the house. Hays soon ran in and told her what was wrong with Daxton, according to the filing. Two-year-old Daxton Ray Bull died on June 17 in Arkansas, just days after he was hurled into the pool by his mother's boyfriend, Dakota Shawn Hays, 29 Hays and the child's mother Annastacia Atkins, 24, were arrested on Monday and charged in connection to his death, which has been ruled a homicide While the child was in the pool, Atkins said she was laying down inside the house. Hays soon ran in and told her what was wrong with Daxton, according to the filing. (Pictured: Atkins and her son) By the time she stepped outside, Atkins said her child was shaking and that attempted to help him by giving Daxton chest compressions because she thought his heart stopped. She told officers that for most of the day, Hays and her son were swimming alone, the filing said. The other kids at the scene told officers this was not the first time Hays was 'particularly harsh' with Daxton, as he would often hit him, leaving him with marks. One of them detailed that both Hays and the boy's mother would physically punish him, striking him 'with a wooden stick on his head, knees, feet, and toes,' according to the affidavit. An autopsy released on October 14 revealed the extent of Daxton's injuries, with the medical examiner concluding that he died from lack of oxygen to his brain. The affidavit also stated that the examiner found that the child suffered severe injuries consistent with 'abusive trauma.' His autopsy further detailed that the toddler showed signs of 'extensive head and facial contusions,' scrapes and cuts on his torso and genital area, all in different stages of healing, and 'blunt force trauma inconsistent with accidental injury.' Atkins has been charged with permitting abuse of a minor and murder in the first-degree. She is being held on a $750,000 bond. The other kids at the scene told officers this was not the first time Hays was 'particularly harsh' with Daxton, as he would often hit him, leaving him with marks The affidavit also stated that the examiner found that the child suffered severe injuries consistent with 'abusive trauma.' (Pictured: Daxton and his biological father John Bull) Hays has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first-degree and murder in the first-degree. He is being held on a $1million bond. Just last week, on what would've been Daxton's third birthday, his mother commented on a post her grandmother made. 'Happy Heavenly Birthday Daxton. Nanna loves you and misses you,' Daxton's great-grandmother shared alongside photos of the late toddler. Atkins responded: 'I can't wait to be with him again. Mommy will see you soon. I miss you so much.' At the time of his tragic death, a GoFundMe page was created to help raise money for Daxton's funeral, legal fees related to the case and to 'pursue justice for him.' Mariah Konkle, a friend of the boy's biological father, John Bull, wrote: 'I am devastated to share the heartbreaking story of a 2-year-old who was brutally beaten and tragically killed by his own mother and her boyfriend. 'This innocent child, name Daxton suffered unimaginable abuse and ultimately lost his life at the hands of those who were supposed to protect him,' Konkle added. She said that 'despite multiple reports of abuse and neglect, the system failed to intervene and protect Daxton from his abusers.' Just last week, on what would've been Daxton's third birthday, his mother commented on a post her grandmother made. 'I can't wait to be with him again. Mommy will see you soon. I miss you so much,' she said This is not Atkin's first run-in with the law and she was seen in a previous mugshot taken in September 2023 According to multiple obituaries, a memorial service was held for Daxton on June 27 at the Jubilee Church in Van Buren. Since his death, Daxton's father John has repeatedly posted about getting justice for his child. 'I'm sorry this had to happen to you baby boy daddy misses and loves you so much and I will see that you get Justice I promise son,' he wrote a day after he died. In August, John said: 'I miss you so much son, and I absolutely love you with all my heart. My life just isn't the same without you.' This is not Atkin's first run-in with the law and she was seen in a previous mugshot taken in September 2023 for theft of property less than $1,000 and assisting an outside agency, records show. In January 2021, she was arrested and charged for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. MBABANE A graduate, who took to the streets in search of a job, has gained attention, with two major companies offering her interviews after a social media backlash. Simile Masuku, a 24-year-old Business Administration graduate from the Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU), made headlines yesterday after taking matters into her own hands to find employment. With youth unemployment in the country at an alarming 56 per cent, Masuku decided that submitting applications alone would not open the doors to a job. On Monday, she donned her graduation gown and took to the streets of Ezulwini, near the American Embassy, to search for work in person. The bold move attracted significant attention on social media, much of it critical. Many commentators ridiculed Masuku for going public with her job search, calling her actions embarrassing. Some suggested that instead of seeking employment, she should start her own business. One individual even wrote: But sisi wami shem, you have Business Administration training and qualification to handle business, you should be the one creating business ideas. Despite the harsh backlash, Masuku remained determined. One company invited me to an interview today (yesterday), and I hope everything will go well, she said, expressing optimism about the future. However, she also shared the personal toll of the experience. After her number was made public, she received numerous calls, many of them unsolicited. Some of the calls were harsh, with people telling me I was embarrassing myself by going public, she recalled. One person even suggested that I should start a business instead. Supportive In contrast to the negativity, several supportive messages flooded in. A message from a Facebook user read: You dont need a job. You were taught to create jobs. Find an idea to sell your skills, we will support you. Another comment offered encouragement: All the best young one. Please make sure you exercise patience with everything you need. Your time and your turn will come.Masukus story highlights the growing challenges facing graduates in the country, where job opportunities are scarce and many are questioning traditional career paths. However, her determination to take action has proven that sometimes, a bold move can turn the tide. An ice cream vendor has been banned from selling snacks and refreshments from their mobile truck on the beach halfway through summer. Redland City Council banned Hey Gelati Man from selling ice creams on North Stradbroke Island's Home Beach and Cylinder Beach in Queensland's south. Deb Bliss was ordered to confine her operations to the carparks behind the beaches despite the truck operating on the sand for the last two decades. Ms Bliss had bought the business from local resident Craig Frampton, after he worked the beaches for some 36 years. 'Hey Gelati Man is no longer allowed to operate on Home Beach and Cylinder Beach due to council regulations deeming it is not safe,' Ms Bliss wrote on Facebook. 'I have been trying to fight the decision but not getting anywhere. 'To all my beautiful children, parents, grandparents, I miss the happy faces when you hear the bell.' She said she would continue to sell ice creams in the carpark of Cylinder Beach until she can reach an agreement with the council. Redland City Council banned Hey Gelati Man from selling ice creams on North Stradbroke Island's Home Beach and Cylinder Beach in Queensland 's south A council spokesman was unable to explain to the Courier Mail why the truck had been allowed on the beach for 20 years, but was only deemed dangerous this year. Ms Bliss' operations came to council's attention after a tourist posted a selfie saying it was 'awesome' to be able to buy ice creams on the beach. Gelato supplier Delizia Gelato and Sorbet shared news of the new direction from council with a scathing message. 'Beachgoers on North Stradbroke Island can no longer buy gelato on the beach from our wonderful customer, Hey Gelati Man, but due to bureaucratic ridiculousness must now go to the carpark,' they said. 'Yes you read that right: it's safer to buy a gelato in a carpark with moving cars, than it is on a beach with no cars.' A council spokesman the operation violated laws prohibiting the driving of motor vehicles onto bathing reserves or foreshores. 'There are a number of locations on both the mainland and island where mobile vendors can operate under a Temporary Commercial Use of Open Space permit,' he said. The provisions include six locations on the island in townships and lookouts. But beachgoers said moving the truck would ruin the experience. They feared the council was pushing regulations on an otherwise relaxed community. 'Instead of worrying about the 20km/h the gelati truck does on the beach, they should police the idiots doing 80km/h down Main Beach while children run in and out of the surf,' one said. 'This is ridiculous as this has been a tradition for so many years,' said another frequent visitor. It follows a contentious summer of beach debate after the Prime Minister slammed a growing beach trend. Sydneysiders had been infuriated by the increasing use of beach cabanas to reserve bathers' places in the sand. When the Prime Minister weighed in he said 'everyone owns the beach' and that reserving large areas of foreshore with cabanas is simply 'unAustralian'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Bliss and Redland City Council for comment. A school janitor in New Jersey has admitted to sick claims of tampering with children's meals using bleach, urine, saliva, and even his own feces. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, was arrested on October 31, 2023, after police received multiple anonymous tips revealing video footage of him performing sexual acts with inanimate objects at the Elizabeth Moore School. On Tuesday, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office announced in a press release that Impellizzeri has finally admitted to his crimes. Impellizzeri pled guilty to second-degree official misconduct and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. A press release clarified that he did not make the material. He was initially charged with several counts of aggravated assault, tampering with food products, attempted endangering, and official misconduct, per the Cumberland County Prosecutor. A month after his arrest, police discovered that Impellizzeri was in possession of child sex abuse material and another charge was added to his rap sheet. Prosecutors brought up disturbing evidence in the case, including video footage and sick comments that Impellizzeri posted on an encrypted app called Telegram. He was seen spraying bleach onto a container of cucumbers that was served at the school before admitting that he wanted to make the kids sick. The disgraced janitor has admitted to his crimes of tampering with children's food Imellizzeri has pled guilty to multiple charges and faces a sentencing hearing in March 'Honestly. I put bleach in their food before. They were fine, just a little sick. Oh, well. Not my problem,' he wrote on the site along with the video. Prosecuting attorney Lindsey Seidel cited. 'He then looks at the camera and says, 'Oh. They smell just like f***ing bleach, dude. They're going to get so f***ing sick off this s***. They're going to get so f***ing sick, dude,'' Impellizzeri continued in the video. He also admitted on the app that he was 'sick in the head' and confessed that he mixed his feces with taco meat that was intended to be served to the children at the school. The disgraced janitor then wiped pieces of bread on his genitals and spit on the food before putting it back into a container. He also faced accusations of contaminating the children's utensils and kitchen bowls. In another disturbing video, Impellizzeri claimed he was doing the 'devil's work' and admitted to having a 'sexual fetish.' Impellizzeri began his employment with the Upper Deerfield Township Public School District in 2019. Investigators found evidence that the series of nauseating acts occurred around October 26-30 in 2023. The Upper Deerfield Township School District worked with the Cumberland County Department of Health to determine if Impellizzeri posed health risks to the community. The school worked with the department of health to determine if Impellizzeri posed any health risks to students Anonymous tips sent the disturbing footage of Impellizzeri to local police Parents expressed their concern to a local outlet after news broke of Impellizzeri's crimes The lab tests concluded that Impellizzeri was unlikely to pose any direct health risks and officials determined that there were no known illnesses reported as a result of his actions. Despite the tests, parents reported that their kids did experience symptoms around the time of the incident. Rachel Jenkins, a parent of a child at Elizabeth Moore, previously told local ABC affiliate, WABC-TV, 'Kids are getting sick, having diarrhea, vomiting, and we're blaming it on a belly bug when in reality it could be hepatitis, it could be food poisoning. Like, who knows what else he's putting in there?' The recommended sentence for a misconduct charge in New Jersey is five years in a state prison, while charges of possessing child sexual abuse material is three years. The prosecutor's office intends to sentence Impellizzeri to eight years in prison and Parole Supervision for Live. The ex-janitor is due back in court on March 28 for his sentencing. Peter Dutton has exploded after being asked a simple question about Australia Day, slamming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as 'unhinged' and 'weak'. When asked if he would be attending a national Australia Day event in Canberra, the furious Opposition Leader unequivocally ruled it out. 'No, I won't. No,' he said, appearing exasperated by the question. Asked why not, Mr Dutton explained: 'Well, it's not the tradition, firstly. And I know the Prime Minister carries on with this, but frankly I think the Prime Minister is pretty unhinged in some of his comments at the moment. 'And not much of it is based in fact. So I wouldn't look at the political stunts, I'd look at the values that he's presiding over, because he's seeking distractions. 'He divided the country with The Voice and spent $500million which was wasted. He has divided our country since then. 'The Australia Day episode and the way in which he's tried to walk both sides of the street is another example of it.' The annual debate over January 26 - which some Indigenous people call 'Invasion Day' - is once again reaching boiling point. Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) has exploded in anger when asked a question about Australia Day, slamming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as 'unhinged' and 'weak' The annual debate over the January 26 date of Australia Day - which some Indigenous people call 'Invasion Day' - is again reaching boiling point (pictured, Australia Day on the Gold Coast) Mr Dutton said if the Coalition wins the coming federal election, he would consider legislating to permanently recognise January 26 as Australia Day. 'I'm happy to look at the suggestion and happy to make sure that we continue to be proud of who we are as a country,' he said. 'If people don't want to celebrate Australia Day, that's entirely their choice. I'm comfortable with that and relaxed with it. That's their decision. 'But I don't want to be told by woke CEOs and a weak Prime Minister that I can't celebrate Australia Day.' Mr Dutton also wants to rescind the government's policy of allowing councils to opt out of holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. That policy was changed by the Albanese government in 2022, leading to 81 councils refusing to hold official ceremonies on Australia Day in 2024. Mr Albanese said his local council holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and confirmed he will attend National Australia Day commemorations this year. 'I hope that Peter Dutton this year makes the choice to join the National Australia Day celebrations in Canberra. That's what I did as the Opposition Leader,' he said. Mr Albanese (pictured) said his local council holds citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and confirmed he will attend National Australia Day commemorations this year But Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese panders to woke, urban voters over Australia Day. 'The Prime Minister has made decisions which he thinks will be popular with left inner-city Green voters because in his seat he's most at risk from the Greens,' he said. 'That's what seems to dominate the Prime Minister's every thought. 'But unfortunately for people in Ipswich and across Blair, across the Somerset region and in outer metropolitan areas across the country, this Prime Minister has forgotten them.' Mr Dutton also spoke about why he believes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags should be removed from press conferences held by Coalition MPs. 'I have a great deal of respect for the Indigenous flag and for the Torres Strait Islander flag, but they are not the national flags,' he said. The election - expected to be held in April or May - is on a knife-edge, with Labor and the Coalition tied at 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis in the latest polls. Los Angelinos who have lost everything in the deadly fires have blasted insurance companies for denying people's claims. Residents are scrambling to recoup costs after at least 12,300 structures were razed to the ground by the infernos, including thousands of homes and businesses. Now, they're being left in the lurch by insurance giants. Three of California's biggest companies declined nearly half their claims in 2023, according to the LA Times. A survey found the worst offender was LA-based Farmer Insurance, which denied around 50 percent of claims for payment. Close behind were two USAA affiliates, who denied 48 percent of claims, and Allstate Insurance, which denied 46 percent of claims. Peggy Holter, 83, lost the Pacific Palisades condo she had lived in since 1978 in the horrific fire which is continuing to raze through the ritzy enclave. She now faces further turmoil after her insurer, State Farm, refused to renew her individual condo insurance, citing the condition of the roof. Holter said she lost lots of personal items in the fire. 'I'm not a big keeper of things, but what I did have was a whole wall of pictures and albums of all the places I had been, family photos,' she told the LA Times. Los Angelinos who have lost everything in the deadly fires have blasted insurance companies for denying people's claims Peggy Holter, 83, lost the Pacific Palisades condo she had lived in since 1978 in the horrific fire which is continuing to raze through the ritzy enclave 'I had a picture of my mother on a camel when she was 52 in front of the Sphinx. 'The only thing I am concerned about is the future, because that is what you have to do.' Meanwhile, Pacific Palisades resident Francis Bischetti said the annual cost of the Farmers Insurance homeowners policy he subscribes to rocket from from $4,500 to $18,000. The 55-year-old personal assistant said he couldn't afford any of the insurance options, so when the home he lived in for almost his entire life burned ot the ground, he was left with nothing. 'It was surrealistic,' he told the LA Times. 'I've grown up and lived here off and on for 50 years. I've never in my entire time here experienced this.' State Farm said in 2023 that it would stop accepting new homeowners-insurance applications in California and then added last year that it would stop covering 72,000 homes across the state due to the growing frequency and severity of wildfires. Comedic actor Rob Schneider ranted against State Farm last week, saying they were 'a pile of crap for cancelling insurance policies'. Actor James Woods, whose Pacific Palisades home was engulfed by flames and destroyed, also confirmed in a post that 'one of the major insurance companies canceled all the policies in our neighborhood about four months ago', an apparent reference to State Farm. Even if residents are still covered by insurance, they could face a $115billion shortfall due to insurance companies likely only covering $20billion of the $135billion in estimated losses. A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows 'The concern isn't whether insurance companies will pay out for damage but rather how much and how long it will take,' Amy Bach, the executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based nonprofit consumer group, told NBC. 'For the people who lose their homes in these wildfires, there will be fights over coverage.' With losses surpassing $135 billion, according to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather, the aftermath of this inferno is set to burden federal programs, strain insurance markets, and reshape the lives of Americans nationwide. But only once the ashes settle will the true cost of the economic and social fallout become clear. Insurance is expected to cover just $20 billion of the estimated losses, according to JPMorgan Chase. That leaves $115 billion in uncovered costs, setting the stage for a patchwork of federal aid, personal savings, and charitable contributions to fill the gap. 'My concern is that the insurance companies won't be able to handle all the claims and file for bankruptcy and that's that. It's scary,' Los Angeles construction worker Ivan De La Torre, 32, whose uncle and sister both lost their houses in a fire that consumed half of Altadena, a suburb of some 40,000 people north of Los Angeles. As hundreds of Los Angeles residents return to find homes reduced to ashes due to a devastating wave of wildfires, many are fearful that their insurance policies may not cover the rebuild cost and that future premiums will be astronomical. The fire, which engulfed some of America's wealthiest neighborhoods, has already left thousands scrambling for answers - and funds - to rebuild their lives. A 63-year-old Coles worker who was allegedly stabbed on the job is improving in hospital, as grim details emerge about the 13-year-old boy charged with her attempted murder. Police allege the teenager took a knife from inside the supermarket in Ipswich's Yamanto Shopping Centre, southwest of Brisbane, and approached Coles duty manager Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, while she was stacking shelves. He then allegedly stabbed the mum-of-two in the back, so severely that the knife came through her abdomen. Ms Watt was rushed to Princess Alexander Hospital where her condition has improved overnight, and she remains in a stable condition, Daily Mail Australia understands. It also emerged on Thursday that the alleged offender was reportedly living in a care home, receives support from the NDIS and has 'complex needs'. Coles supermarkets across Australia took all knives off their shelves on Wednesday in response to the alleged attack. Say Sushi worker Dshering Dema was working across from the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screaming and saw people running out of the store. She went to see what the commotion was about and saw the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her. Ms Watt was rushed to Princess Alexander Hospital where her condition has improved overnight, and she remains in a stable condition 'It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,' she told AAP. The boy tried to flee but shoppers and security staff restrained him until police arrived. The teenager was charged overnight and his matter was mentioned in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday. The boy did not appear in person and duty lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment for a brief of evidence to be prepared. The teen was remanded in custody to face court again on February 25. Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack. 'This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent, 63-year-old woman who is going about her daily employment at that shopping centre and it shouldn't happen in society,' he said. Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and they believe the boy acted alone. It also emerged on Thursday that the alleged offender was reportedly living in a care home under the NDIS and has 'complex needs' Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, with recent legislation known as 'Jack's Law' restricting their sales in Queensland. Ms Dema said the incident has made her concerned about coming to work. 'I now feel very unsafe here,' she said. Police have assured the community there would be extra high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central. A Coles spokesperson expressed their support for the injured worker and praised those who intervened. 'Our thoughts are with our store team member and their family ... we are committed to providing them with support, as well as their colleagues who are being offered counselling during this difficult time,' the statement read. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also condemned the incident, calling it traumatic and reflective of a broader issue the state is grappling with. 'What has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see,' he said. Police allege the teenager took a knife from inside the supermarket in Ipswich's Yamanto Shopping Centre, southwest of Brisbane, and stabbed Ms Watt 'There's a sense of deja-vu for the state and is exactly the kinds of incidents that Queenslanders have had enough of.' The premier flagged further changes to youth justice legislation, following the 'adult crime, adult time' laws passed in December which did not include harsher sentences for attempted murder. 'I've already indicated that we are putting together an expert panel to do future changes,' he said. Opposition Leader Steven Miles sent his condolences to the family of the worker who was 'senselessly attacked'. The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teen boy in the carpark of a shopping centre. Ms White's daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt a sense of history repeating as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mum's death. 'It's absolutely awful. This is very surreal ... it's like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?' she told Nine Network's Today Show. The ex-wife of novelist Neil Gaiman has said she is 'profoundly disturbed' over allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple young women during their marriage. Amanda Palmer, 49, has been accused by a number of victims of being aware that her British writer husband was having abusive sexual relationships during the 11 years the pair spent together. Palmer, who was married to Gaiman from 2011 to 2022, has yet to publicly address the specific claims against her ex-husband. However, her representative issued a statement saying: 'While Ms Palmer is profoundly disturbed by the allegations that Mr Gaiman has abused several women, at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the wellbeing of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations.' Gaiman, 64, the award-winning writer behind Coraline and Stardust, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. In a statement on his website, he admitted to being 'careless with people's hearts and feelings' but insisted all sexual encounters were consensual. The allegations, however, have sparked outrage, with author JK Rowling criticising the literary community for its 'strangely muted' response. Some of the accusations involve disturbing claims of coercive sexual relationships, with Gaiman allegedly adopting the role of 'master' and his partners as 'slaves.' Rock star Amanda Palmer is facing questions over how much she knew about her ex-husband Neil Gaiman's alleged sexual abuse of women - he has vehemently denied the accusations Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palme, pictured at the world premiere of his Amazon series Good Omens in London in May 2019, announced their split in November 2022 One alleged victim, identified as Rachel, claimed she had been Palmer's lover before being 'passed like a toy' to Gaiman. Another woman, Scarlett Pavlovich, has accused Gaiman of rape and sexual abuse after being recruited by Palmer to work as their babysitter. Pavlovich, now a student at the University of St Andrews, alleged that when she disclosed the rape to Palmer and said she was still engaging in sexual relations with Gaiman, Palmer appeared unsurprised, allegedly responding: 'Fourteen women have come to me about this.' The former babysitter also claims to have filed a police report against Gaiman in 2023 but said Palmer declined to cooperate with investigators. Pavlovich has alleged Gaiman raped her in an outdoor bathtub while she was nannying the son he shares with Palmer, on February 4 2022. The student said the author encouraged her to take a bath after they finished dinner, despite her resistance. After she stripped down and got in, she claimed Gaiman got naked and joined. While he was in the tub, Pavlovich said he told her to stretch out. 'I said "no." I said, 'I'm not confident with my body,' Pavlovich recounted. '[Gaiman] said, "It's okay it's only me. Just relax. Just have a chat."' But Pavlovich said the situation escalated, and Gaiman sexually assaulted her. Gaiman has continued to deny any wrongdoing amid the allegations. Continuing in his website statement, he wrote: 'Over the past many months, I have watched the stories circulating the Internet about me with horror and dismay. 'I've stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation. Amanda Palmer, pictured here in March 2013, has yet to publicly address the specific claims against her ex-husband The author Neil Gaiman has vehemently denied all allegations of sexual abuse Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman married in 2011 before announcing plans to divorce in 2022 'I've always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters. 'I've now reached the point where I feel that I should say something,' Gaiman explained. He said he read through his accusers' accounts of their relationships with him and found 'there are moments I half recognize and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen. 'I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,' Gaiman claimed. The author also said he even went back and read through the messages he shared with the woman accusing him of sexual assault. 'These messages read now as they did when I received them - of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again,' he said. 'At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides. 'And I also realize, looking through them, years later, that I could have and should have done so much better,' the Coraline writer admitted. 'I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could have or should have been. 'I was obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings, and that's something that I really, deeply regret. It was selfish of me. 'I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people's.' He is now trying to improve himself, he said. Palmer, 48, formerly half of rock act the Dresden Dolls, is seen here arriving on the red carpet for the White Hiuse Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC in April 2019 Neil Gaiman, 64, is the writer of books including The Sandman, American Gods and the children's book Coraline, and co-wrote Good Omens with author Terry Pratchett 'I've spent some months now taking a long, hard look at who I have been and how I have made people feel,' Gaiman told his readers. 'Like most of us, I'm learning and I'm trying to do the work needed, and I know that that's not an overnight process. 'I hope that with the help of good people, I'll continue to grow. 'I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care what I say but I'll be doing the work anyway, for myself and the people I love. I will be doing my very best to deserve their trust, as well as the trust of my readers.' Still, he insisted, 'I don't accept there was any abuse. 'To repeat, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.' 'Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality,' he claimed. 'I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made,' Gaiman concluded. 'I'm not willing to turn my back on the truth and I can't accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn't do.' The author was first accused by five women in July of sexual assault, leading to the third season of Amazon's Good Omens being scrapped. Even more women have since revealed disturbing details about their encounters with the American Gods writer in a shocking report from New York Magazine. The Royal Society of Literature (RSL), which elected Gaiman as a fellow in 2018, has come under scrutiny for its silence. The organisation declined to confirm whether it would revoke his fellowship and said the allegations were not discussed at its recent annual meeting. A 73-year-old man has drowned during an evening swim at a popular beach. Emergency services rushed to Cabbage Tree Bay at Norah Head, on the New South Wales Central Coast, about 6.20pm on Tuesday. The man was pulled unconscious from the water, with beachgoers performing CPR until police arrived. Paramedics rushed the man to Wyong Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. NSW Police are investigating the incident and will prepare a report for the Coroner. The man's death marks the 55th drowning nationwide since December 1, according to the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll. Embattled utility firm Thames Water plans to hike executive pay if regulators limit how much it can hand out in bonuses. In a move that sparked a fierce backlash from unions and campaigners, Britains biggest water supplier reportedly wants to reward its top brass with bumper pay rises. That is despite a crisis that has engulfed the company, bringing it to the brink of collapse with just enough cash to survive until March. Thames Water is scrambling to avoid a taxpayer bailout amid mounting losses and a 17billion debt pile. And it comes as the utility plans to raise bills by at least a third for its 16million customers in London and the southeast. Thames Water and its peers are also under fire for dumping sewage into Britains lakes and rivers. Chris Weston, the groups chief executive, last month refused to rule out accepting a bonus for the year despite a 40 per cent spike in pollution incidents. Weston is on a total pay package of as much as 2.3million a year and pocketed a 195,000 bonus for just three months work after he joined in January last year. Thames Water is scrambling to avoid a taxpayer bailout amid mounting losses and a 17billion debt pile. Picture: Stock image Chris Weston, the groups chief executive, last month refused to rule out accepting a bonus for the year despite a 40 per cent spike in pollution incidents The Government is planning to bring in legislation this year that would allow the regulator Ofwat to ban performance-related bonuses if companies fall short of expectations. We have made it very clear to Ofwat that, if it proceeds with its proposals, it is highly likely that base pay will need to be increased to compensate for the loss of performance-related pay plans, Thames Water said in a report, seen by the Financial Times. It warned that the proposals will make it harder to attract and retain top talent. Unite national officer for energy and utilities Simon Coop said: This is a complete disgrace. Once again Thames focus is about paying its chief executive and senior managers even more, rather than addressing the companys failings. Andrew Speke, a spokesperson for the High Pay Centre, said the move would show Thames Water to be truly out of touch. It would also raise questions about whether the current levels of regulation or the governments planned levels of regulation are sufficient, he said. Actions such as this will only add to the sense that the privatisation of water has been a serious failure. Thames Water declined to comment. Ofwat did not respond to a request for comment. Thames Water is seeking a 3billion loan from its creditors which would allow the company to continue operating until May 2026, by which time it expects to have completed a separate search for a new owner. However, that plan is opposed by a group of smaller lenders. And the firm was dealt a further blow last year when Ofwat ruled it could raise customer bills by a third over the next five years - less than the 59 per cent hike Thames Water was seeking. A Georgia student has been left in a critical condition after she shot herself on a middle school campus. The terrifying incident unfolded at Lindley Middle School in Mableton on Wednesday. In an email sent to families of students and seen by DailyMail.com, school officials said: 'Earlier today, one of our students used a firearm to commit self harm.' The young girl remains in hospital 'surrounded by family,' the email said. A 'Code Red' was issued and a Cobb County District police officer responded to the scene, working with administrators to 'secure the weapon.' Max Oquendo, a 14-year-old student at Lindley, told DailyMail.com it was 'traumatizing' to hear the sirens ring out across campus placing them in lockdown. He was about 25 minutes into class when the alarm signaled, repeating 'this is a code red. This is not a drill.' Seconds later, the lights cut out and his teacher ushered his class to the back of the room and shut the door. A Georgia student has been left in a critical condition after shooting themselves on a middle school campus The terrifying incident unfolded at Lindley Middle School in Mableton on Wednesday Max Oquendo, a 14-year-old student at Lindley, told DailyMail.com it was 'traumatizing' to hear the sirens ring out across campus placing them in lockdown Several minutes later, Max heard a loud bang which 'sounded like a gun shot' followed immediately by screaming. 'There's just screaming and screaming coming from the hallway,' he said. 'Every single noise, we don't know if it's going to be a gunman walking into us and that would be it,' he said. Max said his class was in lockdown for more than 90 minutes, most of which they had no clue what was unfolding outside. A fellow student checked news reports on his phone, and they watched as helicopters hovered almost directly above their class. Eventually, a second alarm came on, modifying the warning to a 'code green', but warning the lockdown was still in place. 'Dont open the doors, don't let anyone come in the classroom,' the warning said. Eventually, police came and released Max's class. 'It was just chaos outside,' he said. 'Ambulance, police, news and press and people.' A Georgia student has been left in a critical condition after shooting themselves on a middle school campus Max said his class was in lockdown for more than 90 minutes, most of which they had no clue what was unfolding outside. A fellow student checked news reports on his phone, and they watched as helicopters hovered almost directly above their class Max and the other students were walked to the church, where he was reunited with his parents. 'It was traumatizing,' he said Max and the other students were walked to the church, where he was reunited with his parents. 'It was traumatizing,' he said. Officials lifted the lockdown and code red when it became clear there was no threat to other students. They're treating the incident as an isolated self harm event. 'We can confirm that the victim is a juvenile,' police added. 'Out of respect for their family and the ongoing investigation, we are unable to share further details about their condition or confirm any other specifics.' The middle school is attended by 905 students aged 11 to 14. Parents were being instructed to collect their kids from Leland Memorial United Methodist Church. Counseling services will be offered to students and staff, officials said. Mableton Mayor Michael Owens released a statement after the tragic incident offering 'prayers and respect' to the child's family, hoping for a 'full recovery.' 'The city is working with Cobb County police department and Cobb County board of education to ensure that this isolated event does not disrupt the element of safety and security we want to provide to students while learning.' It comes just months after Georgia's deadliest school shooting which left four people dead. Colt Gray, 14, has been charged in connection with the massacre at Apalachee High School in Winder. It comes just months after Georgia's deadliest school shooting which left four people dead. Colt Gray, 14, has been charged in connection with the massacre at Apalachee High School in Winder A fellow student checked news reports on his phone, and they watched as helicopters hovered almost directly above their class He is accused of shooting dead two students and two teachers during the rampage. Gray's father Colin Gray has also been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for allegedly providing his son with the weapon. Students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, and teachers Christina Irimie and Richard Aspinwall were all killed during the shooting. This week teachers at the school were preparing to walk through metal detectors for the first time after it emerged another student had brought a weapon to school. This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates... Democrat California governor Gavin Newsom, savagely criticised by Donald Trump, may be fearful of what the new president might do next week. But he remains on good terms with the Duchess of Sussex. However, not quite good enough to have fast-tracked Meghan to a seat on Capitol Hill. In 2023 the death of a senator allowed Newsom to nominate a successor and, having promised that he would select a woman of colour, he sparked intense speculation that his chum Meghan would make the grade. Alas, he chose union leader Laphonza Butler for the seat. American media suggested this would have been an ideal chance for Meg to make a political mark, especially as she could bypass the grubby process of an election royals rise above that sort of thing. Was her Plan B always jam making? California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference about public safety in 2025 with new laws and more enforcement, extends California Highway Patrol (CHP) Bay Area operations, in Oakland, California on December 27 Meghan Markle attends The Paley Center for Media Hosts Paley Honors Fall Gala Honoring Tyler Perry at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on December 04 Emma Vardy, pictured, who swapped five years in Belfast to be the BBCs Los Angeles correspondent, has impressed viewers with her dispatches from the smouldering city. But suddenly show pony Clive Myrie was diverted from preparing for the inauguration to front the coverage of the stricken metropolis. The mother-of-one found herself in a supporting role. At least she has worked with Myrie before, having appeared on Celebrity Mastermind in 2022. Her specialist subject? The History of Surfing. Emma Vardy is an award winning BBC Correspondent and Presenter. She is currently the BBCs Los Angeles Correspondent Fortuitously, the first female Chancellor Reeves has left the urinal in her private bathroom at the Treasury after discovering it would cost 8k to remove. In the event of lame duck Rachel having her sandwiches wrapped in a road map and being replaced by a man, her successor will at least be able to spend a penny at the office. ritish Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks during a press conference after the 11th China-UK Economic And Financial Dialogue on January 11, 2025 in Beijing, China Suspected by MI5 of being the victim of KGB gay entrapment, declassified files suggest late matinee idol Sir Dirk Bogarde stubbornly refused to come out of the closet. Awkwardly probed by Russell Harty in a 1986 interview, he snapped. All of you dig elephant traps or tiger traps and I know where they are... Ill get round them, he said. While discussing his autobiography, he added: Its all there if you want to read it, but if youre not very bright you wont get it. Declassified files suggest actor Sir Dirk Bogarde stubbornly refused to come out of the closet Even in the depths of his breakdown, Tony Slattery, who has died aged 65, retained his macabre sense of humour. After spending a night lying naked under a vehicle in the underground car park beneath his Wapping flat, he remarked: I got bitten on my feet by rats. I think I must be the only person in showbiz whos been tested for plague! Actor Tony Slattery died on Tuesday January 14, aged 65. Pictured on 'This Morning' in 2019 How does ex-Tory MP Matthew Parris feel about being distantly related to darts champ Luke Littler? Im keen to grab my share of darts glory a game for which I have neither talent, interest or understanding. My hunch that we must be related is confirmed when I see that Luke has inherited my stunning good looks. Having a giraffe, Matthew? Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre broke down in tears at Wednesday's White House press briefing even as she secretly blocked a rival from speaking at the last media availability of President Joe Biden's administration. She spent several minutes at the briefing thanking her colleagues, her family and the president, noting this was the administrations 537th press briefing and her 306th briefing. She said she hoped her visible, public role was an 'inspiration to many young girls out there.' She also gave a shout out to her daughter, Soleil, with her ex Suzanne Malveaux 'To my lovely, amazing daughter, you have gone too many nights without me being around and without me being there for school drop offs and without your mama around,' she said, tearing up. Noting she calls her daughter 'pudding,' she added: 'I can't wait to spend more time with you pudding.' She also thanked all her press staff - both past and present - who had crowded in the room to see the last briefing. That list included former press secretary Jen Psaki. However, there was one notable absence in the room: National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. White House press secretary delivered the last briefing of the Biden administration Kirby usually briefs reporters on foreign affairs but was not at the podium to answer questions about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Jean-Pierre blocked Kirby, her longtime rival for the podium, from attending, a source familiar told Dailymail.com, because she wanted to keep the attention on herself. Fox News was first to report the snub. Kirby and Jean-Pierre's rivalry goes back to her first days on the job, when some senior officials quietly expressed concern that she needed more experience before taking the role as the administration's public face. Her experience was as a spokeswoman for MoveOn.org and political analyst on MSNBC. In contrast, Psaki had briefed reporters on camera at the State Department and was familiar with the verbal sparing that comes with high-profile spokesperson role. So Biden promoted Kirby, then spokesman for the Pentagon, to the White House, giving him the job of speaking on international matters. Kirby, a retired Navy admiral, also had experience being spokesman for the State Department and was a respected voice on foreign affairs. But tensions between him and Jean-Pierre were visible from the start. The White House press secretary - the first black woman and openly gay person to hold the job - appeared uncomfortable when Kirby spoke. She hovered next to him when he took questions from the podium. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (center in white) attends White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's final press briefing of the Biden administration Karine Jean-Pierre blocked National Security Council spokesman John Kirby from speaking at the last briefing of the administration Reporters and former White House press staff crowded the last briefing The duo split time taking questions after the Israel-Hamas war began 15 months ago. Kirby quickly became a favorite of President Biden and was eventually promoted to assistant to the president - the same level as Jean-Pierre. Additionally, Kirby had privately said he'd like the press secretary job one day and he was frustrated that Jean-Pierre picked the reporters who questioned him at the briefing. She did not do that for National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Kirby's boss, when he was at the podium. Sullivan calls on his own reporters. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk Jean-Pierre was asked on Thursday why Kirby, the spokesman for foreign affairs, wasn't at the last press briefing of the administration to answer questions on the ceasefire deal, which is a major accomplishment for Biden. She punted, noting she had said White House envoy for the Middle East envoy Brett McGurk would hold a briefing call for reporters later on Thursday. 'I just mentioned that Brett McGurk is going to be holding and National Security Council is holding up a call. I think that's going to be really important. They will talk more about the implementation of this. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was just here two days ago, on Monday, and I think kind of laid out a really good framework for all of this,' she said. 'Brett McGurk, he is on the ground. He has all of the information,' she added. 'So he's going to have a lot more information than any of us here will have, because he's been on the ground.' The National Security Council held a phone briefing for reporters shortly after Jean-Pierre's on-air press briefing. Reporters were told to refer to the official on the call as a 'senior administration official.' Arson police are set to investigate a property in Melbourne's West after a woman was killed in a house fire overnight. Firefighters were called to Dover St in Truganina about 2.14am on Thursday, where they found a three-storey townhouse engulfed in flames. Crews attempted to conduct a search of the home but were limited by the intensity of the fire. Fire Rescue Victoria battled the blaze for more than two hours, bringing the fire under control at about 4.30am. The building still remained too hot for fire crews to enter in the hours after. A woman was found dead at the scene, but she is yet to be formally identified. Emergency services initially suspected the home contained two occupants but now believe just the one woman was present at the time of the fire. 'The incident is being treated as suspicious, and the scene was handed to Victoria Police,' A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said. Fire crews worked through the morning to contain a house fire that has left one woman dead Arson police have begun investigating the cause of the fire, and set up a crime scene at the town house The spokesperson said the blaze had caused a partial structural collapse in the building. Police established a crime scene at the property. Arson chemists are set to further investigate the cause of the fire. A Truganina man told Daily Mail Australia the situation he recalled hearing a loud noise after midnight. 'There was loud bang noise around 2.15am and within minutes whole house was on fire,' he said. A nearby resident told the Herald Sun she was in her backyard about 2am when she heard loud, consecutive bangs. 'It sounded like fireworks,' she said. The resident claimed she could see flames rising high above the town house's roof. Locals recalled hearing loud noises before the home was engulfed in flames One local said she heard loud bangs after 2am and saw the home engulfed in flames 'The roof was fully engulfed. It was ferocious.' 'It was quite distressing - knowing there might be people in there.' A community advice warning was issued for smoke in the immediate area. Police have appealed for anybody with information to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers. More to come. A woman accused of falsely telling a man he was the father of her child has appeared in court. It is alleged that Beth Fernley, 26, committed fraud by leading Ryan Hampson to believe he was a dad. The 26-year-old is accused of fraud by falsely representing as she knew, or might know, was untrue or misleading intending to make a financial gain and/or cause loss to another or expose him to such a financial risk. Fernley, of Wroxham Road, Great Sankey, Warrington, on Wednesday appeared in Liverpool Crown Court. She did not enter any plea to the offence. The alleged crime is said to have taken place between March 31, 2019, and May 1, 2021. Fernley's barrister Tom Worsfold told the court that there will be a defence application to dismiss the case. He added: 'It is a slightly unusual case.' Beth Fernley, 26, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after she allegedly told a man he was a father for financial gain Mr Worsfold asked that the Crown review the case including public interest. He said that one of the matters was the scope of the charge. Judge Andrew Menary, KC, the Recorder of Liverpool fixed a date for the application to dismiss hearing for March 18. A provisional date was fixed for a four-day trial to begin on October 29. Fernley, who had four supporters in the public gallery, was granted unconditional bail. A tech boss who was the victim of a 500,000 raid on his home has hit out after police dropped the case within weeks. Bebo founder Paul Birch and his wife Juliana were horrified when they came home after celebrating their daughters 17th birthday last month to find their house had been ransacked. Dramatic CCTV footage shows three thieves at least one armed with a crowbar smashing their way into the mansion, in a gated community in Surrey. They can be seen scavenging through rooms and stuffing duffel bags with luxury items including Rolex watches, diamond jewellery and Hermes handbags leaving piles of clothes and ripped boxes in their wake. Despite the burglars being caught on camera, police shelved the case after little more than a month. Mrs Birch, 54, alleges that it took Surrey Police more than 12 hours to turn up after the raid on December 11. Less than two weeks later, the officer in charge paused the investigation while he enjoyed a long Christmas break, telling the devastated family he would be back next year, they say. And last week, when they contacted officers to ask for an update, they say they were told the case had been closed because there was not enough evidence. Bebo founder Paul Birch and his wife Juliana, pictured, were horrified when they came home after celebrating their daughters 17th birthday last month to find their house had been ransacked Dramatic CCTV footage shows three thieves at least one armed with a crowbar smashing their way into the mansion, in a gated community in Surre Among the goods stolen was a 6,000 pink and silver Oyster Perpetual 36 Rolex watch, pictured Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mrs Birch, a mother of two, said: When they finally sent a policewoman more than 12 hours after we called, [she] didnt even bother to review the CCTV footage. Then we were told the officer in charge was going on holiday and would contact us in the new year. He never did. So my daughter called the police three or four days ago and found out the case had been closed. Speaking on the investigation, she added: It was very upsetting. The officer in charge kept asking for proof I really did own the items, and from the tone of his voice it was like he didnt believe me. That is why these awful crooks get away with so many things, because its like the police are more interested in protecting the criminals than us, the targets. During the burglary, which lasted some 30 minutes, around 200 one-of-a-kind items were stolen, according to Mrs Birch. She compiled a detailed list of many of the missing items for police. Among them was a 6,000 pink and silver Oyster Perpetual 36 Rolex watch, seven Chanel handbags, including a 6,000 black, medium-sized bag, and six Hermes Birkin bags each worth between 3,800 and 6,000. Also taken were seven Dior handbags, including a 8,600 white leather and gold butterfly Lady D-joy bag, three silver Tiffany necklaces and several pairs of Christian Louboutin heels. Despite the burglars being caught on camera, police shelved the case after little more than a month During the burglary, which lasted some 30 minutes, around 200 one-of-a-kind items were stolen, according to Mrs Birch They can be seen scavenging through rooms and stuffing duffel bags with luxury items including Rolex watches, diamond jewellery and Hermes handbags leaving piles of clothes and ripped boxes in their wake The thieves went through boxes and stole 500,000 worth of goods from the home Mrs Birch, 54, alleges that it took Surrey Police more than 12 hours to turn up after the raid on December 11. Pictiure: Christian Dior Bag White canvas "Lady dior" A Christian Louboutin Shoes White "Lata 110 nappa mica wedge heels" were stolen, top, as well as Christian Louboutin Bag Beige with crystals exterior, bottom Thieves also stole from the tycoon's house a Hermes Emerald Green Birkin bag, pictured A Rolex Watch Pink and Silver Oyster Perpetual 36 6000, pictured, was also stolen from the home Family keepsakes such as the couples engraved wedding bands and 12 Mexican gold coins they received for their wedding were also stolen Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Mrs Birch, a mother of two, pictured, said: When they finally sent a policewoman more than 12 hours after we called, [she] didnt even bother to review the CCTV footage' A Surrey Police spokesman said the investigation was filed yesterday because there were no further positive lines of inquiry Family keepsakes such as the couples engraved wedding bands and 12 Mexican gold coins they received for their wedding were also stolen. Mrs Birch added: For weeks I was terrified. I was shaking all the time, crying. I was so scared to the point I started walking around my own house with a knife just in case. Her husband Paul, 57, founded early social networking website Bebo in 2005 with his brother Michael. At the height of its popularity it overtook MySpace as the most used platform in the UK. But following Facebooks dominance of social media, the site was shut down in 2013. A Surrey Police spokesman said the investigation was filed yesterday because there were no further positive lines of inquiry. They added: Officers attended the scene to take DNA samples but there were no matches. They were unable to run the CCTV images through the national database due to them not being clear. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Karl Stefanovic has unleashed at the rail union boss after hundreds of Sydney trains were cancelled and more delayed sparking commuter chaos. Across Sydney, an estimated 1,500 rail services - about 40 per cent - were cancelled or significantly delayed during peak hour on Wednesday morning. Only 16 per cent of morning services were on-time or within five minutes of their scheduled departures, which wreaked havoc for morning commuters as more than 80 per cent of services were cancelled or running up to six hours late. The Electrical Trades Union and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union's 350 ongoing work bans were a result of their planned industrial action. Dozens of trains have yet again been cancelled and delayed on Thursday as the unions and the state government failed to reach an agreement in their long-standing pay dispute. The RTBU also launched 10 fresh actions and has remained firm in its demands for a 32 per cent pay rise over four years for its members. Stefanovic spoke to RTBU secretary Toby Warnes on Thursday morning and slammed the industrial action. The Today show host asked the union boss how he felt knowing he 'had lost the people' following Wednesday's work bans. Today host Carl Stefanovic has slammed RTBU secretary Toby Warnes for the union's industrial action after more than 1,500 train services were either cancelled or delayed causing commuter chaos across Sydney 'Yeah, look. Not great. Yesterday was a hard day. I think it was a hard day for everybody,' Mr Warnes said. 'The facts of what happened yesterday aren't as straightforward as what's been put out, unfortunately.' Mr Warnes explained the industrial action was more than 'just a union strike' and claimed majority of the cancellations and delays due to the Electrical Trades Union refusing to do critical maintenance work between Bondi Junction and Homebush. Stefanovic fired back claiming Mr Warnes had 'stuffed it up' and Sydneysiders suffered because of it. 'At the end of the day, people just want to go to work. They want to be able to go about their lives,' Stefanovic said. 'Now it's tipped over, now people are angry, now people want resolution and now you've lost the support of people out there. You've stuffed it up.' Mr Warnes said he did not 'accept that' and claimed the union had been requesting the state government to resume negotiations to figure out the 'magic number'. Stefanovic interjected and slammed the union boss, claiming the negotiations had lost the support of the people. had lost the support of the people. RTBU secretary Toby Warnes said the union was standing firm in its demands and claimed its members were 'in this fight for the long term' 'It's got to the point now where you've lost the people, you've lost the support, and they just want resolution and it's not happening,' Stefanovic said. 'They're now blaming you. There's no resolution in sight, and their lives are being badly affected and they've had enough. 'So you have to roll over, don't you?' Mr Warnes replied: 'I don't think so. We take instructions from our members. Members are still very much behind us.' Stefanovic interrupted the union boss and argued member's 'can't be' supporting the union especially after Wednesday's travel chaos. 'Absolutely they are,' Mr Warnes said. 'They are in this fight for the long term'. 'Unfortunately, it has gotten ugly when things like what happened yesterday happen. 'It is easy to use the union as a scapegoat. I understand that people are angry. We hope we can get things back on track. 'Our ban of driving the trains a little bit slower does not cause the sort of disruption we saw yesterday, and hopefully today runs a lot better than yesterday.' The industrial action caused chaos for commuters during Wednesday morning's peak hour as 1,500 services were cancelled or significantly delayed Stefanovic doubled-down claiming the union could not 'continue to hold the people of Sydney ransom'. Commuters were warned on Thursday to allow for extra travel time on Thursday as the RTBU continued its industrial action. Lengthy delays, service cancellations and very large service gaps on the rail network are expected to continue tomorrow due to ongoing protected industrial action,' Sydney Trains wrote on X. 'Please delay non-essential travel, allow extra travel time, and consider all your transport options.' The disruptions are expected to worsen from Friday, with rail workers refusing to override the system that controls the network's traffic lights. Meanwhile, new work bans will also be introduced including a strike on 'hazardous waste' and an eight-day ban on 'absolute signal blocking' - which is used to close sections of the tracks for maintenance. While separate unions, the ETU and the RTBU are working together as part of the Combined Rail Unions to negotiate terms with the government. The union has refused to lift its work bans unless the government resumes negotiations. The union has remained firm in its demands, calling for a significant pay increase, a 35-hour work week and a 1 per cent increase to superannuation. The NSW government offered the union a 15 per cent pay rise over four years, including a one per cent superannuation, on Tuesday. Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the industrial action had squeezed 'the life out of our rail network' and urged union members to accept the 'final offer'. However, the offer was less than half the Combined Rail Union's demands of a 32 per cent pay increase over four years. Do you have a story about Australia Day? Email: max.aitchison@mailonline.com A female truck driver has unleashed on critics of Australia Day, calling on her fellow Indigenous residents to 'celebrate being an Aussie' on January 26. The truckie, who lives in Beverley in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, took to TikTok to share her thoughts on the controversial public holiday. 'As an Indigenous Australian I think my five cents is justified,' she said in the video filmed in the cab of her truck. 'Firstly, I'm a proud Australian and I celebrate Australia Day. And I hate other Indigenous people who incite hatred and disrespect over the 26th of January. 'It's a date. It wouldn't matter if you changed it to the 6th of December or the 11th of July or the 29th of February - you c***s would still find something to whinge about! 'Why don't you just be thankful that one, you are alive, and two, you live here in Australia? And stop using it as a cop out.' The tattooed truckie revealed how she was 'extremely proud' that both of her grandfathers fought for Australia in the Second World War. 'I find it disrespectful from anybody, or any corporate company for that fact, who decides that they don't want to celebrate Australia Day,' she added. The unnamed truckie, who is believed to live in Beverley in WA's Wheatbelt region, took to social media last month to share her thoughts on the controversial public holiday (pictured) Last year, Woolworths and Aldi proclaimed they would not be stocking Australia Day merchandise. The move prompted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to call for a boycott of both businesses. The truck driver said she too wanted the public to boycott businesses who shun Australia Day. 'To anybody else out there who wants to spread hatred and division over a day, pull your head out of your arse you muppet,' she added. The woman's comments were flooded with support. 'When I was a Kid Australia Day was about celebrating our Indigenous as much as celebrating being an Aussie,' one said. 'We wouldn't be Aussies without our Indigenous. You're 100 per cent right on all points.' Another person who claimed to be a 'fellow truckie' said they supported her views. 'Firstly, I'm a proud Australian and I celebrate Australia Day. And I f***ing hate other Indigenous people who incite hatred and disrespect over the 26 of January,' she said (pictured: Australia Day revellers in 2021) '(I'm an) ex-soldier and of Indigenous heritage. Proud of you and a Proud Australian,' they added. Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour in 1788, when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove. But, for many First Nations people, it is regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning'. The growing polarisation around the national holiday is perhaps best summed up by the government-owned National Australia Day Council. 'For some, Australia Day is a day to celebrate all the opportunities provided by living in a free, multicultural society,' it wrote in its 2022 annual report. 'For others, it is a chance to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, 26 January represents a day of sadness, mourning and reminder of colonisation.' EXCLUSIVE The Australian government has been slammed for sticking an 'Acknowledgement of Autistic people' straight after an 'Acknowledgement of Country' in an official document. Federal social services minister Amanda Rishworth launched Australia's first-ever 'National Autism Strategy' on Tuesday, which is aimed at improving the lives of those with autism. The seven-year plan, for which the government has pledged more than $42million in funding, seeks to create a 'safe and inclusive society where all Autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive in all aspects of life'. But eagle-eyed readers of the 76-page document were left scratching their heads by an an unusual 'acknowledgment' inserted straight after the now familiar 'Acknowledgement to Country'. 'Acknowledgement of Autistic people and their families and carers and the autism community,' it states in the same font, followed by two sentences paying tribute to Australia's autism community. Cumberland City councillor and former mayor Steve Christou blasted the acknowledgment as 'over the top virtue signalling'. 'Where does this woke virtue signalling stop? I think it's quite rude and insulting to autistic people,' Cr Christou told Daily Mail Australia. 'These reports are are funded by taxpayers and it just needs to stop. We need to come back to common sense.' Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (pictured) launched Australia's first-ever 'National Autism Strategy' on Tuesday which is aimed at improving the lives of those with autism Eagle-eyed readers of the 76-page document were left scratching their heads by an unfamiliar 'acknowledgment' inserted straight after the usual 'Acknowledgement to Country' (pictured) John Delmenico, an autistic comedian and writer, said the 'acknowledgment' was 'inappropriate and unnecessary'. 'It's super inappropriate imo (in my opinion) to make it a follow up to an Acknowledgement of Country and format it the exact same way,' he wrote on social media. Another social media user slammed the new move, writing: 'Just no.' 'There is not a planet where this is a good idea and an acknowledgement of country is the absolute bare minimum we owe without it being treated like this,' they added. However, conservative commentator Prue MacSween took a more nuanced view. 'I do believe we are overdoing the acknowledgement to country now and it infuriates many of us (including me) to be welcomed to our own country,' she said. 'This is catering to the Indigenous industry and I find it offensive and tokenistic. A focus on actually doing something meaningful to close the gap is what I am interested in. 'But as this strategy you are basing the story on is focusing on Autism, I do not think this is a case of virtue signalling, merely an acknowledgement that those with autism are being valued and an important consideration and identified.' Others poked fun at the acknowledgement. An Acknowledgment to Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country. The latter can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place, whereas an acknowledgment can be performed by anyone (pictured: a Welcome to Country) 'Inappropriate not to acknowledge the autistic land on which we stand,' quipped comedian Rose Callaghan. Another said: 'I hope that the Autism acknowledgement is read before every government event or speech.' An Acknowledgment to Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country. The latter can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place, whereas an acknowledgment can be performed by anyone. Many civil servants and employees of big corporates have acknowledgements in their email signatures. Supporters claim it is a way to show respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land on which you live and work. However, critics argue to it is tokenistic and does nothing to actually improve the lives of Indigenous people. 'These reports are are funded by taxpayers and it just needs to stop,' Cumberland councillor Steve Christou told Daily Mail Australia The National Autism Strategy strategy outlines 22 commitments, and the plan earmarks $42.3 million for a number of measures, including almost $3 million for identifying the prevalence of autism in Australia. It seeks to improve a range of areas concerning autistic people, including social and economic inclusion, diagnosis and services, and health. Another $20million across four years will go to a peer support program to provide lived-experience advice for autistic people, under an initial two-year action plan to roll out practical measures. Employers also have a role to play and should create inclusive workplaces understanding the diversity and needs of autistic workers, the strategy says. Bosses should be supported in hiring and retaining autistic employees under commitments in the blueprint to improve economic inclusion. Sebastian Langdon-Macmillan, a young autistic person who helped develop the strategy, said he was very optimistic the plan would help a generation of youth moving into study and the workplace. 'Too often, there are these negative stereotypes which really harm autistic people,' he said. 'What it means for me is a future in which our society can really accept autistic people and really view autistic people as an asset.' Mr Langdon-Macmillan said he had already seen a positive shift in how government departments work with, and include autistic people. A Department of Social Services spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that the strategy was developed with the direct involvement of autistic community members, their families, researchers and other experts, and also involved extensive consultation and engagement with the wider Autistic and autism community. The strategy is their document too, he added. To undermine its contents as is being portrayed in the article, is undermining their important work and an important document that will improve inclusion for autistic people in Australia. Just last year, Princess Michael of Kent was hit with the sudden loss of her beloved son-in-law Thomas Kingston. He sadly took his own life on February 5 after suffering an adverse reaction to prescribed medication, an inquest heard. Princess Michael's daughter, Lady Gabriella, had married the financier some five years earlier in 2019 in a beautiful ceremony at St George's Chapel, attended by the late Queen Elizabeth and other royals. Just days after his death, Prince and Princess Michael displayed their continued sense of service and attended a ceremony for the late King Constantine of Greece. The loss of Mr Kingston is one of many twists and turns in the Princess's life, who celebrates her 80th birthday today. Last year she was also diagnosed with a heart problem and had surgery, and recently told Majesty Magazine's Ingrid Seward how she broke bones in both of her wrists after falling down the stairs in Kensington Palace. Born Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz on January 15, 1945, her entrance into the Royal Family as a divorcee when she married the Queen's first cousin, Prince Michael, in 1978 ruffled feathers - while her character earned her nicknames from both Princesses Anne and Diana. In more recent years, a shocking discovery was made about her father's Nazi history. And in 2017, she was forced to issue an apology after wearing a controversial brooch. Read on below as we take a look at the eventful life of Princess Michael of Kent on her birthday. Princess Michael of Kent, who turns 80 today, attending Royal Ascot in 2018 Prince and Princess Michael of Kent attending a service for King Constantine of Greece days after their son-in-law Thomas Kingston passed away in February The couple attending King Charles's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 2023 Born in 1945 to Baron Gunther von Reibnitz and Marianne, the princess started life in Bohemia, part of the Austrian empire. Her family fled to American-occupied Bavaria in 1945 as the Soviet army approached and in 1946, she moved to Australia with her mother and brother after her parents divorced. During her childhood, she spent time in Austria, Australia and Mozambique. Later she moved from Vienna to London to study the History of Fine and Decorative Art at the Victoria and Albert in the 1970s. Her first marriage was to Old Etonian banker Thomas Troubridge in 1971, however the pair divorced after six years together. Marie-Christine reportedly met Prince Michael soon after her wedding and they became close friends when her marriage broke down. She previously said: 'For a long time we [she and Michael] cried on each other's shoulders. I saw him, for a year, simply as a friend. 'Now I'm glad we had that time because friendship is something you never lose.' Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella's wedding at St George's Chapel as Marie-Christine stands nearby in 2019 The Princess wearing a flamboyant black and white dress to a charity dinner in the early 1980s Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Michael talking on the balcony of the Royal Box at Epsom Racecourse in 2015 However, despite falling in love with one another their route to marriage was not simple. According to the 1701 Act of Settlement a member of the Royal Family is unable to marry a Roman Catholic, while the Church of England bars the marriage of divorced persons in church. The couple made the front page of the Mail in June 1978 when the Pope refused to allow them to marry in a Roman Catholic church. Prince Michael's private secretary, Sir Peter Scott, said at the time: 'As you would expect they took the news with great dignity and calm. But they are very distressed and disappointed.' In the end, the Prince renounced his succession right in order to marry, in accordance with the Act of Settlement. He was 15th in line to the throne at the time. They wed in a civil ceremony in Vienna in 1978 and received Pope John Paul II's permission in 1983 to have a Roman Catholic ceremony at Archbishop's House near Westminster Cathedral. Their marriage ruffled feathers in the Royal Family, especially those of Princess Margaret, who had been prevented from marrying divorce Peter Townsend in 1953. She was reportedly 'furious' that the couple had been allowed to wed with the Queen's blessing, Channel 5's documentary The Controversial Princess claimed in 2021. The Royal Family laughing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1983. Princess Michael can be seen to the right of the Queen The prince and princess leaving hospital with their newborn son Frederick in 1979 The Daily Mail's front page detailing the pope's stance on Prince and Princess Michael's marriage in 1978 The couple have two children - Lady Gabriella Kingston and Lord Frederick Windsor. Prince Michael was not high enough in the line of succession to be entitled to a public subsidy, so the couple didn't receive any payment nor were they expected to make official appearances. Despite this, throughout their life they have continued to participate in royal and charitable engagements at their own expense. Marie-Christine and Michael paid just 69 a week in rent for their five-bedroom apartment at Kensington Palace, it was revealed in 2002. Queen Elizabeth had agreed to meet the balance of the full rent out of her private funds in recognition of the work the couple undertook. Though from 2010 they have reportedly paid the full market value rent. Earlier in their marriage the couple bought Nether Lypiatt Manor in Gloucestershire after turning down Highgrove - they deemed it to be too small - which was later purchased by King Charles. Marie-Christine built up a reputation for herself amongst the royals and was apparently dubbed 'Princess Pushy' by Princess Anne. And after the Daily Mirror revealed her father had been a member of the SS, she was nicknamed 'The Fuhrer' by Princess Diana, according to royal biographer Tina Brown. The story broke in 1985 and Princess Michael was reportedly 'deeply shocked' by the discovery, having not known herself. Princess Diana and Princess Michael chatting with their children on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1988 Marie-Christine holding her daughter, Lady Gabriella, at her christening in 1981 The royal pictured last month at Kate's Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey A statement released by the Queen's press secretary Michael Shea said at the time, 'Princess Michael this evening confirmed that her father had been a member of the SS.' Baron Gunther von Reibnitz joined the elite corps of the Nazi Party in the 1930s and became a major. It wasn't the only scandal the Princess has found herself caught up in in recent years. In 2017, she was criticised after she wore a 'blackamoor' brooch to the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. Those in attendance including newly-engaged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who was due to meet several members of the family for the first time. Blackamoors are figurines, small sculptures or pieces of jewellery which depict largely men, but sometimes women, with black skin wearing turbans. They usually date from the 18th century. Marie-Christine was condemned online with critics slamming her choice of jewellery and describing it as 'racist'. One wrote: 'Has no one noticed the blackamoor pin that Princess Michael of Kent is wearing? Really? Meghan Markle officially meets the family and is greeted by THIS?' The Prince and Princess wearing Georgian-style fancy dress at a ball in 1985 The princess with her two children, Lady Gabriella, left, and Lord Frederick at their home Nether Lypiatt Manor in 1984 The Princess issued an apology for the incident and her spokesman said that she was 'very sorry' for wearing the brooch. Her full statement read: 'The brooch was a gift and has been worn many times before. Princess Michael is very sorry and distressed that it has caused offence.' Despite the Princess's loyalty to the crown, these unfortunate incidents are perhaps the reason she has not yet been admitted to the Royal Victorian Order. As Ms Brown wrote in The Palace Papers: 'Neither Sarah Ferguson nor Princess Michael of Kent ever got a GCVO (Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order), which is not surprising given how the [late] Queen felt about their antics.' Princess Diana made her historic four-day trip to Angola 28 years ago today, where she famously walked through an active minefield. Wearing body armour, the royal calmly strode down a path surrounded by landmines from East Germany, Russia and China. She also remotely detonated a live landmine, declaring 'one down, 17 million to go' as she pushed the button on January 15, 1997. Her actions made headlines all over the world, and despite some criticism from politicians - who accused Diana of being 'uninformed' on the matter - marked the beginning of her mission to have the weapons banned around the world. The Mail described her landmine walk as an effort to 'focus worldwide attention on the menace of anti-personnel mines and the plight of their victims', while Diana pledged: 'All I am trying to do is help. I am trying to highlight a problem that is going on all around the world, that's all.' And it is a cause that, since Diana's tragic death later that year, her son Harry has continued to triumph. In August 2013, Harry made the same journey to Angola and followed in his mother's footsteps by walking through a minefield. Princess Diana walking in a landmine field in Angola in 1997, left, and Prince Harry reconnecting with her cause in 2019 at a different field in Angola, right The Prince working with the Halo Trust in Angola back in 2013 He worked with the Halo Trust during his visit, the charity that Diana had launched her momentous appeal with. Harry recalled in his 2023 memoir, Spare, how he replicated the experience, even detonating a landmine, and felt 'closer' to his mother after doing so. He wrote: 'Taking up her cause, detonating a landmine myself, made me feel closer to her and gave me strength and hope.' However, he revealed: 'I was deeply frustrated to learn from the charity's executives and fieldworkers that the job she'd spotlighted, indeed the entire global crusade my mother had helped launch, was now stalled.' The prince put it down to a 'lack of resources, lack of resolve'. He told of how the landmine issue had been Diana's 'most passionate cause at the end', as the princess died in Paris just eight months later in August 1997. But Harry also found the trip to be a 'psychological, emotional minefield' and struggled with his mental health as a result of the experience. When he returned home, he reached out to his father Charles and explained how he had been suffering from panic attacks and anxiety. The Princess of Wales's historic walk near the minefield back in 1997 Harry walking through a minefield in similar protective gear to his mother in 2019 Diana talking with minefield victims in Angola in 1997 The Mail's front page coverage of Diana's historic trip It was during Harry and Meghan's 2019 royal tour of Africa that the prince recreated the iconic photographs of his mother's 1997 landmine walk. It was a different scene to the one the Princess of Wales had visited - as the field she trekked through was by then a 'vibrant' community with businesses and schools. Harry sat beneath the Diana Tree, which is all that remains of the minefield and is a tribute to her efforts in the area. The prince praised the 'wonderful transformation' that had happened with the help of the Halo Trust. He walked in an area near the south-eastern town of Dirico that had been an artillery base for anti-government forces in 2000. He detonated an anti-personnel mine discovered earlier in the day in the partially cleared minefield. Back in 1997, Diana met with various victims of landmine explosions, including 16-year-old Sandra Thijika. The princess was brought to tears when she watched Sandra be measured for a prosthetic leg and later sat under a fig tree in an orthopaedic workshop in Luanda with the young girl, leading to the well-known photograph of their encounter. The princess speaking with minefield victim Sandra Thijika, 16, in 1997 Harry meeting Sandra during his trip in 2019, who now has a daughter named after Diana Harry met Sandra, now 38, during his trip to Angola in 2019 and she told the Prince of the lasting impact the interaction with his mother had on her. She told Harry she now had five children. The royal seemed taken aback and asked for their ages and she told him through an interpreter: 'I have a daughter I named after Diana.' Harry sounded a positive note, telling her: 'Your children will be growing up to your age and there won't be any landmines.' In response to Harry's pledge, Sandra said: 'I'm very happy to hear him say that, it feels like the work in Angola will continue and we will be landmine-free.' A little-known city in Illinois has been named the surprising hottest housing market in the country. Rockford, known for its charming streets and lush greenery, has leapt to the top of Realtor.com's monthly list of America's hottest markets. This is the city's first time claiming the top spot, beating out frequent winner Manchester, New Hampshire - which had dominated the list 31 times since 2017. Located just an hour and a half from Chicago, Rockford had a median home list price of $242,000 as of December - well below the national average of $356,000, according to Zillow. The city's housing market is considered 'hot' because homes are selling quickly, with an average of just 43 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. 'Rockford's hotness means that high demand is met with low inventory as buyers claim available homes,' Realtor.com senior economic analyst Hannah Jones said in the report, which covered December. 'This affordable area has seen sustained demand this year as mortgage rates and home prices deter buyers from searching in higher-priced areas,' she explained. For the 15th month in a row, every market on Realtor's hottest housing markets list came from the Northeast or Midwest. In December, the two regions evenly split the list, with each claiming 10 spots. Rockford leapt to the top of Realtor.com's Hottest Housing Market list at the end of last year Rockford saw three times more people viewing homes for sale than the national average, according to Realtor.com. The median list price in the city rose a stunning 21 percent in December compared to the same time a year earlier. In contrast, national average home prices fell 1.8 percent in the same period. The northern Illinois city also topped the Wall Street Journal's 'housing markets to watch list' last year, which reveals the strongest housing markets which still have good potential for future growth. The town is a draw for many families as it is equipped with multiple hospitals, as well as good employment prospects with several aerospace companies and manufacturing job employers. However, the area's unemployment rate is still almost double the national average, standing at 8.1 percent in November. Every market on the Hottest Housing Markets list is currently in the Northeast and Midwest. 'The Midwest and Northeast have reigned supreme as homes to most of the country's hottest markets since mid-2022 when mortgage rates picked up steam,' Jones explained. Rockford is known for the lush greenery of its surrounding area in northern Illinois Rockford, a one and a half hour drive from Chicago, had a median home list price of $242,000 Rockford is known for its charming streets and local community Zillow also revealed that its top five hottest housing markets for 2025 are all in the Midwest and Northeast. The listing site named Buffalo, New York as its hottest housing market of the year, followed by Indianapolis; Providence, Rhode Island; Hartford, Connecticut; and Philadelphia. Elevated mortgage rates have largely frozen the national housing market as those on cheaper mortgages have shelved plans to move. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.91 percent last week, according to Freddie Mac. The 'Oracle of Wall Street' Meredith Whitney previously told DailyMail.com that rates need to drop below 6 percent to kickstart the housing market. More zebrafish to swim in China's space station Xinhua) 10:37, January 15, 2025 Researcher Wang Gaohong prepares the backup version of the aquatic ecosystem at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) SHANGHAI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- In 2025, six zebrafish are set to journey to China's space station, assisting scientists in exploring how the space environment impacts the muscle and skeletal development of vertebrates. This research is expected to bolster long-term human survival in space and pave the way for interplanetary habitation. A "fishbowl" in China's Tiangong Space Station will house six zebrafish and six grams of Ceratophyllum this year, according to Wang Gaohong from the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who spoke to Xinhua on Monday. The study will focus on the impact of microgravity on the proteins in the zebrafish's bones and muscles. Once the experiment comes to a close, the fish will be frozen and brought back to Earth for further analysis. In April 2024, a container with four zebrafish and four grams of Ceratophyllum was sent to the space station by Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship, forming China's first space-based self-sustaining aquatic ecosystem. This space aquatic ecosystem ran smoothly for about 43 days, setting a global record for the longest operational duration of such a system. "The typical lifespan of zebrafish is two to three years. Therefore, their 43 days in space is equivalent to a human spending three to four years there," said Wang, who is in charge of the experiment. The "Tiangong fishbowl" currently in development has a volume of only 1.2 liters, equivalent to two bottles of drinking water. Conducting long-term breeding experiments for zebrafish in such a small space presents various challenges. To address these issues, researchers dedicated three to four years on Earth to preparation and planning. Just as astronauts face rigorous selection, so do the zebrafish bound for space. "The four zebrafish that entered the space station were selected from 200 candidates. They need to be adults in good health, and they also need to have a stable temperament and be compatible with one another," Wang said. When the first images from the "Tiangong fishbowl" were transmitted back to Earth, Wang was elated. "We left a bit of air in the container. In space, it mixed with the water and created beautiful bubbles, resembling a crystal palace." This photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows a backup version of the aquatic ecosystem. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) During the 43-day space experiment, Wang and fellow scientists monitored the "Tiangong fishbowl" around the clock from Earth. They observed that the Ceratophyllum and zebrafish initially showed instability in various metrics but gradually self-regulated and adapted to each other. The Ceratophyllum maintained robust photosynthetic activity throughout its stay in orbit. Initially, the zebrafish displayed abnormal spatial behaviors, such as upside-down swimming and circling. "Like humans, fish cannot discern up from down in microgravity, leading to disoriented movement," Wang explained. The water samples collected from this space aquatic ecosystem returned to Earth with the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft in November 2024, and scientists are now delving deeper into their analysis. Zebrafish share a high genomic similarity with humans. They are small, reproduce rapidly, and have a short development cycle, making them a prime model organism in life sciences. They're widely utilized in research spanning various fields, including hematopoiesis, cardiovascular health, kidney, skeletal systems, tumor and epilepsy. Microgravity in space can induce a range of pathophysiological phenomena in humans, such as cardiovascular issues, weakened immunity, bone loss, muscle atrophy, and hormona imbalances. Understanding these effects is a key scientific endeavor in space biology. This study will enhance our collective understanding of how the space environment impacts genes, cells, and overall life. This study has laid a strong foundation for research on astronaut health using zebrafish as a model, Wang said. "Looking ahead, as humans contemplate leaving Earth for other planets, sustainable life support is crucial. Aquatic creatures like fish and shrimp, with their high feed conversion rates, could be an ideal source of protein." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) READ MORE: World's first pothole ROBOT hits the roads in Hertfordshire For drivers who endure Britain's crumbling roads daily, there's no doubt we're stuck in an escalating 'pothole crisis'. These dangerous holes can injure and even kill cyclists and motorists, and are popping up quicker than they can be filled. Now, interactive graphics reveal the shocking extent of the problem - and scientists think climate change is to blame. Climate organisation Round our Way reveals 952,064 potholes were reported in Britain between January and November last year, marking a five-year high. MailOnline's interactive map, based on the new data, reveals the local authorities with the most pothole reports during the period. Edinburgh is the local authority with the most for the year (32 potholes per mile), followed by Kirklees in Yorkshire (26.1) and Newcastle upon Tyne (26). Also in the top 10 is Hillingdon in London (24), Cheshire East (19.8), Darlington (16.9), Bolton (16) and South Gloucestershire (16). So, how does your hometown stack up? Your browser does not support iframes. The new figures, uncovered through a Freedom of Information (FOI) requess by Round our Way, shed light on the crumbling state of British roads (file photo) Potholes are created when water seeps into the roads, freezes, expands and in turn forces cracks and weaknesses in the road surface. As traffic pass over these weak spots, the weakened road material is displaced or broken down from the weight, creating the pothole. Dr Benyi Cao, lecturer in environmental engineering at the University of Surrey, blames climate change for the surge in potholes. 'Climate change is having a significant impact on the state of our roads, with severe weather accelerating damage and increasing the prevalence of potholes,' he said. The scientist links climate change with more 'freeze-and-thaw cycles' where temperatures drop low enough to freeze water (32F), then increase enough for it to thaw again and in turn more potholes. 'This process where water enters small cracks, freezes, expands, and then thaws causes extensive weakening of road surfaces,' Dr Cao said. 'Combined with heavier rainfall and fluctuating temperatures, these effects are placing unprecedented stress on our road infrastructure.' The new figures, uncovered through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Round our Way, shed light on the crumbling state of British roads. Your browser does not support iframes. While potholes can be a very costly inconvenience for drivers, they can be tragically fatal for cyclists and motorcyclists. Pictured, a Hertfordshire resident last year Aerial shot reveals the shocking state of Westgate Road, Beckenham, South East London, where massive water-filled potholes are more akin to small pools What causes potholes? Potholes are created when water seeps into the roads, freezes, expands and in turn forces cracks and weaknesses in the road surface. As traffic pass over these weak spots, the weakened road material is displaced or broken down from the weight, creating the pothole. Scientists link climate change with more 'freeze-and-thaw cycles' - where temperatures drop low enough to freeze water (32F), then increase enough for it to thaw again - and in turn more potholes. Potholes get worse in the colder months - January to March - when water is more likely to freeze. Source: RAC/Summit County Engineer Advertisement Britain's local authorities received 952,064 reports of potholes between January 1 and November 1 last year the equivalent of 3,122 reports each day making 2024 the worse year for British potholes since 2019. Of the 2024 total, England had the vast majority of pothole reports (848,001) during the period, followed by Scotland (69,886) and in Wales (34,177). Between January 2020 and November 2024, the total potholes reported to British councils was a whopping 3,903,861 made up of 3,453,754 in England, 296,017 in Scotland and 154,090 in Wales. Looking specifically at regions, the East of England (including the likes of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) was the worst for this five-year period with 280,740 pothole reports. This was followed by East Midlands (341,103 reports), London (177,421), North East (264,038), North West (282,943), Scotland (296,017), South East (290,770) and South West (866,035). Rounding out the list was Wales (154,090), West Midlands (568,158) and Yorkshire and the Humber (382,546). In 2020, pothole reports fell to 642,137 largely due to Covid restrictions which reduced traffic but climbed back up to 749,790 in 2021. Reports again fell to 609,657 in 2022 before soaring to 950,213 in 2023 and 952,064 in 2024 (for the first 10 months of the year). While potholes can be a very costly inconvenience for drivers, they can be tragically fatal for cyclists and motorcyclists A robot can fill in cracks in the road before they become potholes, potentially saving local councils vast amounts of time and money 'The scale of the pothole problem on UK roads is becoming critical, meaning that getting from A to B is becoming more difficult for all of us,' said Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round our Way. 'The impact of extreme weather can only add to concerns that we are not prepared for the impact of climate change on this crucial part of our nations infrastructure.' While potholes can be a very costly inconvenience for drivers, they can be fatal for cyclists and motorcyclists. Poor road surfaces contributed to 517 accidents in 2018 including eight fatalities and 348 serious injuries the Department of Transport reported. In an attempt to solve the crisis, the world's first pothole robot, created by University of Liverpool spinout Robotiz3d, was rolled out to British roads last year. Called ARRES (Autonomous Road Repair System) PREVENT uses AI to automatically detect, categorise, and fill in cracks. Should the test be successful, the robot could catch and repair cracks before they become too big to fix more quickly than human workers. He is best known for being CEO of one of the world's largest companies. But before Tim Cook took the reins at Apple, he started his career in a very surprising place. Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Mr Cook revealed that he started working when he was just 11 years old. He says: 'A lot of [his upbringing] was centred on work and the belief that hard work was essential for everybody, regardless of your age. 'And so I started working when I was probably 11 or 12 on the paper route.' After years spent 'throwing papers', Mr Cook says he 'graduated' to his next job flipping burgers for a local restaurant at the age of 14. 'I worked at a place called Tastee Freez. It was the only fast-food place in town, and so everybody congregated there,' he explained to Jessie and Lennie Ware. 'I wore a little hat, and I wore an apron, and I was making $1.10 an hour at the time, it was sub-minimum wage, which was legal at that point in time.' While he is now known for being the leader of one of the world's biggest companies, Apple CEO Tim Cook (pictured) started his career in a more humble position Tim Cook grew up in the rural area of Robertsdale, Alabama, which had a population of just 2,000 people at the time. Tim says his first ever job was delivering papers, a job he started aged just 11. Pictured: Tim Cook in his high school yearbook Tim Cook was born in 1960 to Geraldine and Don Cook in the city of Mobile, Alabama. However, the family later settled in Robertsdale, which, although technically a city, had a population of just over 2,000 at the time. Mr Cook says: 'I came from an extremely modest background in a rural town with two, three thousand people in it, so it was a blink and you'll miss it kind of place. 'But it was terrific. The house was filled with love and everybody knew everybody in town and what everybody was doing. And so it was a very different upbringing.' It was in Robertsdale that Mr Cook got his first jobs delivering papers and flipping burgers while attending the local high school. Later, according to the Mobile Press-Register, he worked at Robertsdales Lee Drug Store with his mother. While the Tastee Freez where Mr Cook got his first taste of gainful employment is no longer open, the Lee Drugstore is still the city's only independent pharmacy. At high school, Mr Cook reportedly played trombone in the band and served on the yearbook staff. After spending a few years 'throwing papers', Mr Cook says he 'graduated' to flipping burgers at a local restaurant called Tastee Freez, a chain of burger and ice cream stores which still has a few locations in the US During this time, Mr Cook also worked on the high school yearbook as the business manager in his senior year. Pictured: Mr Cook in his high school yearbook, class of 1978 Who is Tim Cook? Tim Cook is the current CEO of Apple. He was born in Mobile, Alabama and grew up in the rural area of Robertsdale with his two brothers. After attending the local high school, Cook went to Auburn University where he majored in industrial engineering. After graduating in 1982, he worked at a number of tech firms including IBM. In 1998, Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs invited him to join the company as senior vice president for worldwide operations. When Steve Jobs died in 2011, Mr Cook took over as CEO and has remained in the position since then. Advertisement In a hint of his future business success, the young Mr Cook even served as the yearbook's business manager during his senior year and was responsible for selling adverts to local businesses. It was those years growing up in rural Alabama which Mr Cook says taught him the value of hard work. 'They [his parents] instilled hard work. And that has stayed with me for a lifetime, the value of it, the fact that work can be a part of your purpose,' says Mr Cook. 'I think before Apple, I think I loved to work. I didn't love the work, and now I love both. And there's a big difference that you feel when you do that.' After graduating from Auburn University, where he saw his first personal computer, Mr Cook worked at a number of tech companies including IBM before Steve Jobs invited him to join Apple in 1998. He says: 'I worked with Steve for 13 years before he passed in 2011. That was a very, very sad time. I thought he would always be there, and that's not how things worked out.' Now, as CEO of Apple, Mr Cook says that he still employs those hardworking values he learned as a child - including one habit that would have been useful on his early-morning paper route. The tech leader says the one thing he has always stuck with is to start the day at 5 am. Since graduating from Auburn University, Mr Cook has gone on to become one of the world's most well-known businessmen and has even met King Charles III (pictured). However, he attributes his hardworking attitude to his parents and 'extremely modest' upbringing In previous interviews, he has said that he uses the time to answer some of the 500-600 emails he gets each day. Those include emails sent in by the many happy, or extremely unhappy, Apple customers who reach out to him on a daily basis. He says: 'It's the part of the day that I can control the most. As the day starts to unfold, it becomes less predictable, and by the end of the day, all these things can commandeer your time and intention and energy. 'And so I love the part of the day that I can kind of block out the world and focus on a few critical things and just be silent for a while.' Reaching the summit of Mount Everest was once considered mountaineering's most daring feat. But now, a group of climbers plan to completely conquer the world's tallest mountain in less time than you might spend on a trip to the seaside. Using controversial xenon gas therapy, these busy mountaineers should be able to get from Heathrow to the summit and back in just one week. If the technique proves successful, time-poor workaholics could pay 124,000 ($150,000) to achieve their climbing dreams without needing to miss Monday's meetings. At almost 8,850 metres, altitude sickness can lead to fatal consequences for climbers who don't take proper precautions. These usually involve weeks or even months of rest and short climbs up and down stretches of the mountain called rotations. However, Austrian mountain guide Lukas Furtenbach believes that xenon therapy - a controversial treatment banned in professional sport - could let expeditions skip that process entirely. Just 30 minutes spent breathing a low dose of the noble gas can boost the body's red blood cell production enough to cut a 10-week expedition to a seven-day trip. Austrian mountain guide Lukas Furtenbach (pictured) has developed a controversial strategy which could allow climbers to conquer Mount Everest in just one week Reaching the summit of Mount Everest was once considered mountaineering's most daring feat. But now, a group of climbers plan to completely conquer the world's tallest mountain in less time than you might spend on a trip to the seaside One of the biggest obstacles mountaineers face when climbing mountains like Everest is the extreme effects of altitude sickness. As the atmosphere gets thinner, the climber's body is starved of oxygen, leading to altitude sickness which causes symptoms including headaches and nausea, and even death in some cases. Of the 335 people who have died on the slopes of Everest, around 15 per cent were killed by altitude sickness. But Mr Furtenbach believes that inhaling small amounts of xenon gas could dodge these complications by letting climbers 'pre-acclimatise'. Xenon is an extremely expensive gas normally used as a rocket propellant or an anaesthetic. But, in addition to its more common applications, lower doses of the gas have a potentially critical side effect. Breathing the gas triggers the body's response to 'hypoxia', low levels of oxygen, which is to secrete a protein called erythropoietin, or EPO. EPO is what tells your bone marrow to make more red blood cells which, in turn, increase the body's oxygen capacity and help to mitigate the effects of altitude. The extreme altitude of Everest (pictured) requires mountaineers to allow their bodies to acclimatise to the low oxygen levels. But by breathing a low dose of xenon gas, climbers might be able to radically reduce the time needed Typically, a climber might spend up to 10 weeks climbing Everest including a lengthy stay at base camp (pictured) to give their bodies time to adapt. By breathing xenon for 30 minutes, mountaineers might be able to start their assent immediately upon arrival How could xenon help climb Mount Everest? Xenon is a noble gas used in medicine as an anaesthetic. In low doses, exposure to xenon gas triggers the body's hypoxia, low oxygen, response. This tells the kidneys to produce erythropoietin (EPO) - a protein which triggers the bone marrow to make more red blood cells, allowing the blood to hold more oxygen. This process could let climbers adapt to altitude after just 30 minutes of breathing the gas, rather than spending weeks acclimatising. Advertisement Traditionally, climbers spend up to 10 weeks slowly introducing their bodies to altitude in order to build up their EPO levels. But xenon gas therapy could replicate the entire process in just 30 minutes. On the advice of Michael Fries, an anaesthetist at a hospital in Limburg an der Lahn in western Germany, Mr Furtenbach has already put this bold theory to the test. In 2020, Mr Furtenbach summited the 6,961-metre peak of Aconcagua in Argentina after pre-acclimatising with a dose of xenon. 'I climbed a difficult route eight days from leaving Innsbruck, and had no problems on the summit,' Mr Furtenbach told the Financial Times. 'I was standing there, thinking, 'OK, this really works.' I was totally convinced.' For the ultimate test, Mr Furtenbach has now organised a four-person expedition that will use xenon therapy to 'flash' Everest in a week. In total, the team will spend just three days climbing from base camp to the summit before descending on the fourth day. Later this year, a team led by British pilot Garth Miller will attempt to climb Mount Everest in a seven-day round trip. The team will ascend from base camp to the summit in just three days and return on the fourth The team includes pilot Garth Miller, 51, businessmen Kevin Godlington, 49, and Anthony Stazicker, as well as the UK veterans minister Alistair Carns, 44. Mr Miller says: 'I'm super-excited to see if we can leave home on a Monday morning, be on the summit of Everest on Thursday night, and make it home for Sunday lunch.' The crew are all experienced climbers in robust health, but this trip will be like nothing ever before attempted on the world's tallest mountain. Since it was first summited by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, the time taken to reach Everest's summit has been getting progressively shorter. According to data collected by the Himalayan Database, the average time from arrival at base camp to the summit has fallen from 60 days in the 1980s to just 25 in 2024. Some guides, like Mr Furtenbach, already require their customers to pre-acclimatise for weeks prior to the actual trip. Would-be climbers sleep in hypoxic tents - sealed chambers which suck out the oxygen to simulate oxygen or work out in air-restricting masks. Mr Furtenbach's company, Furtenbach Adventures, already offers 'flash' trips for 168,000 (199,000) to summit the mountain in three weeks. Likewise, Roxanne Vogel used these techniques to break the record for the fastest ascent by climbing Everest in only 14 days. Xenon gas could reduce those times even further - but the technique is not without controversy. In 2014, the World Anti-Doping Agency added xenon to the list of banned substances after reports that the gas had been used during the Sochi Winter Olympics. Yet this would hardly be the first time in the history of mountaineering that climbers have turned to chemical enhancements to gain an edge on the highest peaks. For example, when Herman Buhl made the first ascent Nanga Parabat in 1953, he did so while taking large quantities of methamphetamine. Mr Furtenbach maintains that mountaineering is not an organised sport so doping is not an issue. However, there are serious concerns over the safety of using a relatively untested medical treatment in one of the world's most extreme environments. Excessive doses of xenon can lead to dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. While the use of xenon gas will be controversial since it is listed as a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency, almost all climbers use pure oxygen for sections of the assent (pictured). Mr Furtenbach maintains that the use of xenon in mountaineering is not doping Critically, xenon poisoning also leads to confusion and errors of judgement which could be fatal during the ascent. At low oxygen levels, unconsciousness and death can occur within seconds and without warning. But xenon is regularly used in medicine as an anaesthetic due to its sedative properties and rarely leads to dangerous side effects when applied carefully. Likewise, the doses taken by the climbers will be very low compared to those used in medicine. However, Dr Fries, who recommended the treatment, does admit that any untested medical procedure is risky when used in such a dangerous situation. Additionally, xenon gas has become prohibitively expensive in recent years. Prices have risen especially high since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which was the world's largest producer of noble gases. Mr Furtenbach predicts that it will cost 4,000 ($5,000) to provide xenon for a single climber to pre-acclimatise. With many already complaining that Mount Everest has become a playground for the rich, Mr Furtenbach says he is prepared for pushback over the use of this controversial gas. However, whatever other climbers may think, the real test for xenon gas therapy will come when the four climbers embark on their record-breaking expedition later this year. Mr Miller concludes: 'You don't have to suffer to show respect for the mountain, and doing it faster doesn't make it easier. 'I would argue that the endeavour is greater. You can't go higher, so going faster brings new and exciting challenges.' Claudia Winkleman hit the headlines last week, after making a disturbing confession about her one-year-old King Spaniel, Skip. The Traitors host, 52, revealed that she not only kisses her dog - but opens his mouth and 'inserts' her tongue. While many dog owners will likely relate to Winkleman's antics, vets have now issued an urgent warning about locking lips with pooches. A team of Penn State researchers have warned that household dogs are 'overlooked spreaders' for zoonotic pathogens. Worrying, this includes antibiotic-resistant Salmonella, which can cause diarrhoea, fever, abdominal cramps, and even death in some extreme cases. 'Especially with Salmonella, we think about the role of agriculture and transmission - we think about eggs, we think about beef,' said Sophia Kenney, an author of the study. 'But the thing is, we don't let cows sleep in our beds or lick our faces, but we do dogs. 'We have this close bond with companion animals in general, and we have a really close interface with dogs.' A team of Penn State researchers have warned that houshold dogs are 'overlooked spreaders' for zoonotic pathogens. Pictured: Emily Ratajkowski kissing her dog, Colombo Vets have now issued an urgent warning about locking lips with pooches. Pictured: David Beckham kisses his dog Salmonella is a nasty bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Symptoms of infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, while on some occassions it can prove fatal. The most common way for the bacteria to spread is by eating contaminated food or drinks - especially poultry. However, unbeknownst to many people is the fact that you can also catch the bacteria from your pets. 'Most pet reptiles or amphibians can carry salmonella. Dogs, cats and rodents can occasionally become infected,' the NHS explains. In their new study, the team set out to understand the true potential for Salmonella to be transmitted to humans via their pet dogs. Using the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, they firstly identified all Salmonella strains isolated from domestic dogs between May 2017 and March 2023. Then they matched the timing and location of those 87 cases to strains isolated from humans. Based on the findings, the researchers are urging dog owners to avoid kissing their pets, and to make sure they regularly wash their hands after contact Their analysis uncovered 77 suspected zoonotic cases - meaning the bacteria moved from a pet dog to a human - comprising 164 strains. 'Salmonella infections in dogs are not common but we're aware of foodborne outbreaks related to pet treats or from contact with contaminated pet food and improper food handling,' Ms Kenney said. Based on the findings, the researchers are urging dog owners to avoid kissing their pets, and to make sure they regularly wash their hands after contact. 'Simple hygiene practices such as hand washing are needed to protect both our furry friends and ourselves - our dogs are family but even the healthiest pup can carry Salmonella,' said Nkuchia M'ikanatha, co-author of the study. 'We must respect the enduring threat of Salmonella and remain vigilant in preventing its spread within our families.' Anyone who has watched Sex and The City will know that best friends Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda couldn't be more different. Now, a study shows that opposites really do attract when it comes to women forming friendships. Researchers found that men are likelier to become friends with people who think and act like them, while women often form friendships with those who behave differently. The study was carried out by researchers at Tulane University in Louisiana. They asked 684 first-year college students to complete tasks which measured their risk-taking and social preferences, and who also reported who their closest friends were. Analysis revealed that men prefer friends who behave similarly when it comes to risk-taking and cooperation. Women, meanwhile, were more likely to choose friends with different approaches valuing variety in their social circles. This difference may be explained by how men and women prioritize friendships, the researchers said. Anyone who has watched Sex and The City will know that best friends Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda couldn't be more different. Now, a new study shows that opposites really do attract when it comes to women forming friendships Researchers found that men are likelier to become friends with people who think and act like them. Pictured: The Hangover While men tend to bond over shared activities and strategies, women usually focus more on emotional support and diverse perspectives. These findings challenge the idea that 'like attracts like', showing it applies more to men than women, they added. The study's lead author, James Alm, said: 'Our study reveals that while men often form friendships based on shared behaviours, women seek out connections with people who bring different perspectives. 'This challenges the traditional idea that similarity always drives friendships and highlights the importance of diversity in social relationships, particularly among women.' The findings were published in the journal China Economic Review. In the hit series Sex and The City, which first aired in 1998, the main characters differ significantly in their personalities, attitudes towards relationships and overall life outlook. Carrie is the romantic writer obsessed with finding 'the one', Samantha is the confident and sexually liberated PR executive, Charlotte searches for a traditional, 'perfect' partner and family life while Miranda is a cynical career-focused lawyer. Despite their differences and some fallings-out - they remain firm friends throughout the show's six seasons while they navigate their careers, love lives and children. Women are more likely to choose friends with different approaches valuing variety in their social circles. Pictured: Girls A previous study has found that men with dissimilar tastes in women are more likely to become friends. Researchers discovered that during a 'speed-friending' session, men were more likely to say they had a better connection with another man if they had different 'types'. However, this was not the case for women in the group. This could be because, from an evolutionary standpoint, men have more to lose from having a friend with similar mate preferences due to parental uncertainty, the researchers explained. 'Men need to be sure any resulting child from their relationship is their own otherwise they risk investing lot of time and resources toward raising someone else's kid,' Professor Kelly Campbell, from California State University, said. 'Therefore, they would prefer keeping male friends around them who do not find their wife or girlfriend appealing.' If you're already regretting your New Year's resolution to get fit, here's your perfect excuse to avoid the gym. A scientist has issued an urgent warning to fitness fanatics about the germs lurking in gyms. Dr Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, warns that dumbbells, barbells, and workout machines can act as resevoirs for a range of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. This includes bugs that can cause everything from diarrhoea to athlete's foot. However, the microbiologist warns that the grimiest areas are actually beyond the gym floor. In an article for The Conversation, she explained: 'By far, the most germ-rich areas in any gym are places that are warm and wet such as saunas, showers, swimming pools or hot tubs. 'But many other parts of the gym are also riddled with germs including on the equipment you might use every time you go. 'Basically anywhere there's sweat, there are probably germs.' If you're already regretting your New Year's resolution to get fit, here's your perfect excuse to avoid the gym Dr Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, warns that dumbbells, barbells, and workout machines can act as resevoirs for a range of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens While sweat is a key sign that you're working hard, it is also an excellent nutrient source for bacteria and fungi - even after it dries. 'This means any sweat that drips off of you (or other gymgoers) can be used by bacteria and germs to help them grow,' Dr Freestone explained. Warm and wet areas tend to contain the most germs, although the expert warns that they have been found 'everywhere'. 'Disease-causing bacteria, fungi and viruses have been found everywhere from gym floors and door handles, weights and barbells, cardio machines, bicycle and treadmill handlebars, benches, chairs and exercise mats,' she said. The most common germ in gyms is Staphylococcus aureus - a bacteria that can cause skin infections. However, previous studies have uncovered traces of viral infections including rhinovirus, influenza, Covid-19, and syncytial virus. '[These] can all persist in the air of an enclosed gym for hours,' Dr Freestone warned. 'They can also remain on hard surfaces for up to several days.' In an article for The Conversation, she explained: 'By far, the most germ-rich areas in any gym are places that are warm and wet such as saunas, showers, swimming pools or hot tubs What's more, several common gym germs can spark skin infections including ringworm and athlete's foot, Human papillomavirus (which causes Plantar warts), as well as impetigo and other skin rashes caused by Staphylococcus. Before you throw the towel in, thankfully there are several things you can do to protect yourself from infections. While your gym manager should regularly clean exercise equipment, there's no harm in using antiseptic wipes to disinfect any equipment yourself - both before and after you use it. Menwhile, washing your hands with soap and water is a 'must', according to Dr Freestone. 'Hands are a vector for acquiring germs. If [washing with soap and water] isn't possible, you can use a hand sanitiser containing at least 70% alcohol before and during your work out and after leaving the gym,' she said. As bacteria thrive on damp towels and changing room and shower floors, the expert advises always wearing shoes, and avoiding sharing towels, combs, or razors. Meanwhile, to prevent skin infections, always cover any cuts or scratches. 'Showering after your workout and putting on clean clothes is both refreshing and an effective way of removing any skin germs picked up during exercising,' Dr Freestone added. Finally, as arduous as it might sound, the expert claims that your gym kit bag needs to be sanitised 'every use or two'. They might be some of the foulest-smelling things imaginable. But scientists say that stinking fatbergs could form the basis of some beautiful perfumes. Fatbergs are vast blobs of wet wipes, used condoms, plastic bags, and sanitary products all held together by a congealed mass of fat and grease. Now, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found a way to transform these nightmares from the sewers into a fragrant oil with the scent of pine needles. Chunks of the fatberg are fed to specially engineered bacteria that have been genetically programmed to eat sewer waste. Over time, these bacteria break down the fatberg into a valuable chemical used in the perfume industry. In the future, bacteria like this could even be released into sewage plants to break down fatbergs and leave the sewers smelling better than ever. Professor Stephen Wallace, lead researcher on the project, told MailOnline: 'Imagine these new bacteria living in the sewers breaking down fatbergs and turning them into sweet-smelling chemicals.' Fatbergs are solid chunks formed when waste like wet wipes, condoms, plastic bags and sanitary products mix with oils and fats. However, scientists say they could form the basis of some beautiful perfumes Researchers have found a way to convert fatbergs into perfume by feeding them to bacteria which have been genetically engineered to eat fats and produce nice-smelling chemicals (file photo) Fatbergs form as solid waste flushed down the toilet combines with oils like cooking fat or conditioner to create a solid mass of dense material. At their largest, they can grow to be several tonnes in weight and cause serious problems for the sewer system as blockages lead to backed-up drains and even flooding. One of the largest ever recorded was the so-called Whitechapel Fatberg, which weighed 130 tonnes and was as long as London Bridge. Thames Water says it spends 18 million every year clearing these monstrosities from the sewers, with the Whitechapel Fatberg alone costing 220,000 to remove. But in Professor Wallace's bioengineering lab, researchers are working hard to find a way of turning this trash into treasure. He says: 'Fatbergs are currently a huge problem facing our sewer systems in the UK, and when these are removed, they are currently incinerated or sent to landfill. 'They are also made of fats, and we know that bacteria love fats, and so we thought maybe we can reprogram bacteria to eat the fats and transform them into something useful?' Professor Wallace buys chunks of fatberg from a company which specialises in removing them from the pipes beneath cities. At their biggest, fatbergs can weigh more than 100 tonnes and cause blockages that lead to backed-up drains and flooding. Thames Water spends around 18 million each year removing these blockages from the sewer system Professor Stephen Wallace (pictured) uses bacteria to convert fatbergs into a chemical called pinene which is used in the cosmetics industry to create perfumes with the scent of pine How to turn a fatberg into perfume Although fatbergs are disgusting to us, for bacteria they are a delicious meal. Scientists have found a way to exploit some bacteria's voracious appetite by engineering them to produce certain chemicals. Each bacteria contains a section of DNA taken from a plant which allows them to create the chemical pinene. As they feed on the fatberg, the bacteria multiply and produce this fresh-smelling chemical. Eventually, all of the fat is broken down and you are left with an oil which smells strongly of pine needles. Advertisement These chunks are then steamed to kill any harmful pathogens before being fed to a colony of genetically engineered bacteria. Professor Wallace says: 'We use a new field of science called "engineering biology" where we can take DNA from throughout nature, in this instance from plants, and insert it into bacteria to program biological systems to do new things.' In this case, that genetic code allows them to feed on the sewer waste and produce a chemical called pinene which is normally found in pine needles. That chemical is extremely valuable throughout the cosmetic industry and is used in everything from perfumes to shower gels. Professor Wallace says that his team can't yet produce enough of the fragrance to make this commercially viable. However, he adds that the lab is 'currently working with UK industry partners' to see whether this could be a possibility. Normally, when fatbergs are removed from the sewers, they are either thrown into landfill or burned - leaking chemicals into the ground or producing greenhouse gases. But bioengineering innovations like this open up more ways of turning this waste into something useful. Professor Wallace says that bacteria could even be used in waste treatment plants to clean up fats and leave sewage smelling sweet (stock image) Similar techniques have been used to convert fatbergs into biofuels like methane by letting bacteria feed on the fats and oils inside. However, Professor Wallace says that his innovations could one day stop fatbergs from forming in the first place. Although he says that the bacteria couldn't be released into the sewer due to the 'important ethical concerns' of releasing new species, they could be put to work in sewage treatment. Bacteria in the water could eat the fats and oils which bind fatbergs together before they reach the point that specialist clearing crews are needed. And, as an added bonus, bacteria engineered to produce pinene would leave sewer water smelling fantastic. Professor Wallace concludes: 'One could imagine sewage treatment facilities using this new technology to reduce the smells associated with them. 'This genuinely has the potential to be a transformative solution to the climate crisis and to creating a more sustainable future for future generations.' Travel warnings have been issued for 15 states as multiple winter storms are set to unleash ice and snow from central US to the East Coast. Snow and a wintery mix is heading for the coastal Northeast to the interior Southeast, and potentially as far west as the Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley and the Appalachians starting Sunday into Monday, which may create slick roads and travel delays. States along the path include western North Carolina and Virginia, eastern Kentucky and Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. But prior to this storm, two others will hit eastern states, with the first spreading snow from the Midwest to the central Appalachians starting Wednesday evening into Thursday night. The second storm will spread rain, snow and a wintery mix from the the northwest Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes starting Friday. Slippery road conditions will begin to take shape as this storm coincides with cold ground temperatures, causing spotty ice to form in parts of the Appalachians and Piedmont regions from Friday to Saturday. As colder air moves into the East on the back side of the first storm, a freeze-up could occur in parts of the Ohio and Tennessee Valley to the Central Appalachians, and even the Northeast coast Saturday night. Multiple winter storms are brewing from the central US to the East Coast, prompting meteorologists to issue travel warnings in 12 states 'At this time, most likely snow will have departed Washington, DC in time for the Presidential inauguration on Monday, but there may be slippery conditions for those traveling to the nation's capital from Sunday to early Monday morning,' AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty warned. Flights in and out of impacted areas could be delayed over the weekend and into early next week. These back to back storms are a continuation of a severe winter weather pattern that has been battering the eastern US since the start of the year, including Arctic blasts delivering record-low temperatures and two named storms: Blair and Cora. The first of this week's winter storms will have the weakest impact, bringing only one to three inches of snow as it moves swiftly across the Midwest and central Appalachians from Wednesday evening to Thursday night. Locally higher amounts of up to six inches could accumulate around the Great Lakes and the higher elevations of West Virginia to southwestern Pennsylvania. Intermittent snowfall may amount to a light coating east of the Appalachians to parts of Interstate 95 in the mid-Atlantic and New England from Thursday afternoon to Thursday night. After a short break in the wintery weather, the second storm will take shape on Friday. Rain will fall as far north as the Ohio Valley and along the mid-Atlantic coast to southeastern New England on Saturday, with cold temperatures allowing patches of ice to form in the Appalachians and Piedmont regions. The third winter storm will create more widespread travel trouble as it spreads snow and a wintery mix across 12 states Sunday through Monday The first of this week's winter storms will bring one to three inches of snow as it moves swiftly across the Midwest and central Appalachians from Wednesday evening to Thursday night The second storm could bring a wintery mix to the area along Interstate 70 in the Midwest, and intermittent snow could stretch farther north to the Great Lakes from Friday night to Saturday, and from the central Appalachians to northern New England Saturday to Saturday night The area along Interstate 70 in the Midwest could see a wintery mix. Intermittent snow could stretch farther north to the Great Lakes from Friday night to Saturday, and from the central Appalachians to northern New England Saturday to Saturday night. The Southeast will get soaked with rain from Friday night to Saturday evening, with the potential for a couple of heavy thunderstorms as well. All of that moisture could lead to slick roads in parts of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, the central Appalachians and the coastal Northeast as cold air moves into these regions Saturday night. By Sunday, the third storm will arrive, with enough cold air already in place to create snow and a wintery mix from the coastal Northeast to the interior Southeast through Monday. There are two possibilities for this storm. If it gains strength, snow could stretch as far west as the Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley and the Appalachians. If it remains weaker, the storm's impact will be spottier and less widespread. The Southeast will get soaked with rain from Friday night to Saturday evening, with the potential for a couple of heavy thunderstorms as well Next week, feels-like temperatures 10 to 20 F below average will linger across the US for the third consecutive week Enough snow and ice to create slippery roads and travel delays is expected to accumulate from the Piedmont areas of the Southeast to coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic Sunday into Sunday night. New England could see hazardous travel conditions from Sunday night into Monday. Next week, feels-like temperatures 10 to 20 F below average will linger across the US for the third consecutive week. That means any snow and ice that accumulates this week will be here to stay, particularly from the Midwest to the coastal Northeast and higher elevations of the interior Southeast. In Washington DC, for example, highs are forecast to be in the 20s F Tuesday and Wednesday. And in Chicago, highs are expected to be in the upper single digits to the low teens. The Spice Girls need to move aside, as a new study has revealed that girl power may have started 2,400 years ago. Researchers from Trinity College Dublin say that Britain's Iron Age society centred on women. According to the experts, women inherited land and made their husbands move to live with them. These Iron Age settlements, including sites in Cornwall, Dorset and Yorkshire, are among just eight per cent of known pre-industrial societies where women controlled the land and their husbands had to leave their own families to live with them, experts believe. Women likely took control because, in the violent Iron Age we know about from hill forts and weapon stashes, men were often away and engaged in warfare. However researchers caution that this is not known for sure, and just a reasonable assumption based on DNA analysis, A team of geneticists from Trinity College Dublin, working with archaeologists from Bournemouth University, looked at evidence from 157 archaeological sites in use before and after the Roman invasion of 43AD. This included their own in-depth analysis of DNA from 55 prehistoric people whose remains were in burial grounds in Winterborne Kingston, Dorset. Researchers from Trinity College Dublin say that Britain's Iron Age society centred on women. Pictured: Durotrigian burial of a young woman from Langton Herring sampled for DNA. She was buried with a mirror (right) and jewellery, including a Roman coin amulet showing a female charioteer representing Victory A team of geneticists looked at evidence from 157 archaeological sites in use before and after the Roman invasion of 43AD. This included their own in-depth analysis of DNA from 55 prehistoric people whose remains were in burial grounds in Winterborne Kingston, Dorset The Dorset remains, including 40 Iron Age people, revealed six men who did not fit into the family tree and eight who did not belong to the female line of the family tree. This suggests they moved in from outside the community - with women staying where they were born. In most communities where this is the case, women have relatively higher status and land is passed down through the female line. Dr Lara Cassidy, lead author of the study from Trinity, said: 'These days most couples both leave their families entirely and set up home somewhere else, but traditionally, women have usually gone to live with their husbands. 'This finding that husbands moved to join their wives' communities upon marriage is rare. 'It suggests female empowerment and influence, which may not fit with how some people have imagined the Iron Age. 'This comes from our reconstruction of a family tree where most members traced their maternal lineage back to a single woman, who would have lived centuries before.' The Iron Age people analysed in the study lived at around the time of warrior queen Boudicca, who famously led an uprising against the Roman invasion, destroying three Roman towns. The Dorset remains, including 40 Iron Age people, revealed six men who did not fit into the family tree and eight who did not belong to the female line of the family tree. Pictured: excavating a Late Iron Age Durotriges burial at Winterborne Kingston They lived in agricultural settlements, where it is more common for women to stay put and control the land, with men moving into the area. In this kind of community, where children inherit land through their mothers' families, and not their father's, it tends to be less important for men to make sure their wife is faithful, as they will not be passing land down to any illegitimate children by mistake. This could be evidence for Julius Caesar's claims that women in Iron Age Britain had multiple husbands, the researchers tentatively suggest. But they warn that this may have been Caesar telling a colourful story to suggest to Romans that their women were more loyal and faithful than those in Britain. The study, published in the journal Nature, discusses 'matrilocal' societies, where men move to be with women's families when they marry. The evidence from the 157 archaeological sites suggests this kind of community existed in six English Iron Age sites - Worlebury in Somerset, Bottle Snap in Dorset, Gravelly Guy in Oxfordshire, Trethellan Farm and Tregunnel in Cornwall, and Pocklington in Yorkshire. President-elect Donald Trump may issue an executive order that would suspend the TikTok ban scheduled to go into effect on Sunday. The move would prevent US officials from enforcing the law for 60 to 90 days, two anonymous sources familiar with the deliberations told the Washington Post. Trump's inauguration is this Monday, one day after the nationwide ban is expected to be made official. Sunday is the deadline for the TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, to sell its US assets or be pulled from US app stores due to concerns over the app's links to the communist Chinese government. Under that ban, Americans would still be able to use the app but new downloads would be blocked and its software would slowly degrade over time due to a lack of updates. This is not the first time Trump has expressed his interest in overturning the ban, which President Joe Biden signed into law last April. The law requires TikTok's parent company, the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, to sell its US assets by January 19, 2025 or face a nationwide ban. The Supreme Court heard TikTok's appeal to the ban last week, but is expected to allow the law to proceed as planned on Sunday. President-elect Donald Trump may issue an executive order that would suspend the TikTok ban scheduled to go into effect on Sunday Trump has repeatedly told the more than 14million followers of his own TikTok account that he plans to 'save' the app once he takes office. But experts have said that an executive order may not be an effective way to reverse the ban, as it cannot entirely overcome a law Congressed passed by a large margin, garnering support from both sides of the aisle. Executive orders 'are not magical documents. They're just press releases with nicer stationary,' former Department of Justice national security adviser Alan Rozenshtein told the Washington Post. 'TikTok will still be banned, and it will still be illegal for Apple and Google to do business with them. But it will make the presidents intention not to enforce the law that much more official,' he added. There are other avenues the President-elect might take to overturn the ban. The most direct way for Trump to try and reverse the policy would be to repeal the law that enacted the ban. But a repeal would have to pass in both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it could be signed into effect by Trump. Thus, he would still face the challenge of gaining congressional support. Trump could also try to prevent the Department of Justice from actually enforcing the law, which requires distributors like Apple and Google to stop offering TikTok in their app stores, and requires service providers like Oracle to withhold the infrastructure that the app runs on. Companies that violate these terms could be subject to a fine of $5,000 per each user who accesses TikTok. But if Trump's Department of Justice refrains from doling out these fines, then tech companies can continue to provide access to TikTok without fear of penalty. However, companies may opt to comply with the ban anyway to avoid any legal repercussions should the Trump administration reverse its approach. Sources revealed Wednesday that TikTok is threatening to shut down its app for US users this Sunday if a federal ban goes into effect. Under the shutdown, people attempting to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, sources told Reuters. The company also plans to give users an option to download all their data so that they can take a record of their personal information, they said. Shutting down such services does not require longer planning, one source said, noting that most operations have been continuing as usual as of this week. If the ban gets reversed later, TikTok would be able to restore service for US users in a relatively short time, the source said. Madrid/New Delhi, Jan 14 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is in Madrid, called on President Pedro Sanchez and conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also called on King Felipe VI. In posts on X, the EAM said: Called on President @sanchezcastejon of Spain today in Madrid. Conveyed greetings of PM @narendramodi. Recalled his successful visit to India which reaffirmed our long standing partnership. Briefed him on my discussions in Madrid and apprised him of progress on our bilateral agenda. The Spanish President, in a post, said: I just had a meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister, @DrSJaishankar . Our countries will continue to strengthen their ties with the celebration in 2026 of the Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and India. The EAM on his meeting with the King, posted: Honored to call on His Majesty King Felipe VI today in Madrid. Conveyed the warm wishes of President Droupadi Murmu and PM @narendramodi. Value his guidance for the further advancement of India-Spain ties. Earlier in the day, EAM held talks with Spains Defense Minister Margarita Robles during which they discussed boosting bilateral cooperation in the defence sector. In a post on X, the EAM said: A productive exchange of views with Defense Minister Margarita Robles today in Madrid. Discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, as also regional and global issues. He also joined his Spanish counterpart Manuel Albares to address the Spanish-India Council Foundation. Good to join FM @jmalbares at the Spain-India Council Foundation @Spain_India session on Strategic Alliances for a Changing World: Spain and India in the 21st Century. India-Spain collaboration is relevant in a turbulent world, strengthening the global economy and ensuring training and mobility of talent. Spain is also a partner to deepen our relations with the EU, Mediterranean and Latin America. Our governments, businesses and institutions need to work in tandem to realize this potential and prepare for the next phase of India-Spain ties. The visit of EAM to Spain follows the India visit by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in October last year, during which the latter along with PM Modii jointly inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL)-Airbus facility in Vadodara to manufacture C-295 military aircraft in India. The Tata-Airbus facility is the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India. Also last year India opened its new consulate in Barcelona, Spain announced its decision to open a new consulate in Bengaluru. UNI RN Cape Town is the best city in the world right now, according to Time Out. The renowned guide's 50 Best Cities in the World for 2025 index says that it earned the coveted top spot thanks to its 'beauty, historic sites and cultural hubs'. The top five in the ranking is completed by Bangkok (second), New York (third), Melbourne (fourth) and London (fifth). The ranking was produced by a survey of more than 18,500 city-dwellers who 'shared their thoughts on their city', with questions covering 'everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall vibe'. A panel of more than 100 city experts, drawn from Time Out's global network, was also asked to name the most exciting cities in the world 'right now'. Time Out then combined all the data across 44 different criteria to rank the best cities in the world for 2025. Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, says: 'Our annual list of Time Out's Best Cities in the World right now proves that if you want to know what makes a city truly great, ask a local. Thousands of city-dwellers worldwide responded to our survey this year. 'This list not only showcases the world's most exciting cities to visit in 2025, where world-class culture, great food and exciting nightlife can be found on every corner, but also reflects the places where locals feel most at home.' Scroll down to discover more about the top 10 and for the full ranking 1. CAPE TOWN Cape Town has been declared the best city in the world for 2025 by Time Out The overall winner 'scored highly across the board', reveals Time Out, with 82 per cent of Capetonians describing their city as 'beautiful' and 97 per cent saying it 'makes them happy'. Time Out adds: 'Where else can you visit a colony of African penguins, taste world-class wines, stroll Blue Flag beaches, enjoy views from one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, and experience vibrant nightlife all in a day? 'Cape Town offers this and more, from historic sites to cultural hubs: whether that's Kalk Bay's fishing heritage, East City's food scene, Time Out Market Cape Town, or Cape Point's natural beauty.' 2. BANGKOK Yum's the word: Second-place Bangkok has a 'world-renowned food scene' 'Bangkok checks every box for a great city.' So declares Time Out of the Thailand capital, which it says is 'famously friendly, culturally rich, and packed with iconic sites like Wat Arun and the Grand Palace'. The guide adds: 'The Thai capital's world-renowned food scene ranging from Chatuchak Market street eats to Yaowarat's bold flavours ranked highly, with 86 per cent of locals declaring food in Bangkok "good" or "amazing", and 84 per cent saying eating out is affordable. With the expanded BTS Skytrain and MRT, exploring Bangkok has never been easier.' 3. NEW YORK New York takes bronze. It's a city where FOMO is real, says Time Out, explaining: 'Blink, and you might miss incredible public art, Michelin-starred pop-ups, or surprise concerts' 'New York is an ever-evolving capital of hustle and bustle, creating a constant buzz that keeps locals and visitors on their toes,' says Time Out. It continues: 'FOMO is real here blink, and you might miss incredible public art, Michelin-starred pop-ups, or surprise concerts. Seventy-eight per cent of New Yorkers described the city as exciting, the highest percentage of all cities surveyed and an impressive 92 per cent approved of its world-class arts and culture scene. 'From iconic attractions like Edge, the northern hemisphere's highest observation deck, to vibrant neighbourhoods like Riverdale and Coney Island, the city truly has it all.' 4. MELBOURNE Melbourne's food and culture scenes helped it secure fourth place on the index Fourth-place Melbourne ranks highly in large part thanks to its red-hot eating-out scene, and its cultural pedigree. Time Out says: 'Melbourne's reputation as Australia's culinary and cultural capital speaks for itself: the city is home to top dining spots, blockbuster shows, and Time Out's World's Coolest Street in 2024.' The guide notes that Melbourne comes second in the 'restaurants and eating out' category and fourth in 'culture'. 5. LONDON London comes fifth but was voted the most-loved city by Time Out experts The UK capital 'remains one of the world's best cities', declares Time Out, thanks to 'its vibrant cuisine, iconic pubs, unparalleled shopping, and diverse communities'. The guide continues: 'London was voted the most-loved city by Time Out experts, and locals recognised it as the most diverse and inclusive. 'London's nightlife scene is booming once again, thanks to exciting venues like Hoxton's pub-turned-club Lion and Lamb, Outernet's Here, and Hackney Wick's Colour Factory, plus new queer bars like La Camionera and The Divine. 'London is anything but a sleepy city - it's buzzing with life and culture.' 6. NEW ORLEANS In New Orleans (sixth), 'there's always something to love, celebrate, and savour' 'New Orleans captivates for many reasons, not least its resilience,' says Time Out. 'It's been almost two decades since Hurricane Katrina and the city is springing back again following the recent New Year's attack. 'Its rich history, stunning architecture, legendary restaurants, unique music scene and diverse culture African-American, Caribbean, French, Vietnamese, and more has shaped the city, influencing venues such as the Backstreet Cultural Museum as well as NoLA's many annual festivals. 'New Orleans ranked as the third most affordable city on the list, with 72 per cent of locals claiming that seeing live music is budget-friendly and 83 per cent saying it doesn't cost a lot to grab a drink at a bar. In New Orleans, there's always something to love, celebrate, and savour.' 7. MEXICO CITY Mexico City comes seventh, with 96 per cent of locals saying their city makes them happy In Mexico City, 'every neighbourhood feels like home'. That's the conclusion from the Time Out 2025 city index, which reveals that 'locals gather at spots like Parque Mexico or Chapultepec Forest and enjoy open-air events such as Cineteca screenings'. The guide adds: 'Free cultural highlights like Design Week and Jazz Festival Polanco keep the city vibrant, especially during "Museum Month" in May, featuring icons like Munal and Palacio de Bellas Artes. 'From Day of the Dead parades to Formula 1, CDMX offers year-round festivities and endless things to do it's only fitting that 96 per cent of locals say their city makes them happy, and the same percentage agree that they find joy in the everyday experiences their city offers.' 8. PORTO, PORTUGAL Eighth-place Porto has 'welcoming locals, charming galleries, iconic cafes, and well-kept parks' Porto 'dazzles locals and visitors alike', says Time Out, with 80 per cent of Porto-dwellers saying they're happier in Porto than anywhere else. The guide adds: 'It's not just Time Out who rates Portugal's "second city": Porto was recently named Europe's best beach city and emerging culinary city. It boasts stunning urban beaches, Michelin-starred dining, a newly opened Time Out Market and vibrant food events like the Portuguese Michelin Gala. 'The city's welcoming locals, charming galleries, iconic cafes, and well-kept parks make it a gem of hospitality and beauty, consistently living up to its celebrated reputation.' 9. SHANGHAI, CHINA 'Shanghai [ninth] knows how to have a good time - its nightlife scene received the highest overall rating from locals,' says Time Out Time Out says: 'There's never a dull moment in Shanghai, a vibrant city where everyone feels like the main character. 'Shanghai knows how to have a good time - its nightlife scene received the highest overall rating from locals, and 80 per cent of respondents said it's easy to meet people and make friends. 'Whether you're watching a group of locals seamlessly transitioning from tai chi to hip-hop in a beautiful park, or meeting Fumin Lu's famous alpaca, there's always something to see. 'The city also excels in convenience and cleanliness according to locals, making Shanghai a joy to explore.' 10. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Copenhagen (10th) is a city 'many visitors dream of calling home' Pay a visit to Copenhagen and you'll discover a 'relaxed pace and community-focused culture'. And you may want to stay forever. Time Out says: 'It's a place many visitors dream of calling home (in fact, it was the fourth-favourite city amongst Time Out editors and city experts). 'Initiatives like CopenPay, rewarding respectful tourism, and the extended metro (connecting more of the city like new green space Operaparken and recently-opened cultural centre/communal dining spot Nordhus) support a balanced, sustainable lifestyle. 'Copenhagen's ethos is clear: enjoy a slower pace that values well-being and connection, a vision that inspires cities worldwide.' For more visit www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world. Bravo's Real Housewives of New York is clearly ending its 15th season (the second with its brand new cast) with a bang, with an explosive fight between Ubah Hassan and Brynn Whitfield. The RHONY ladies were in the midst of a cast trip to newcomer Racquel Chevremont's homeland of Puerto Rico on Tuesday's new episode. Things got ugly, though towards the end of the episode, with Ubah Hassan lashing out at Brynn Whitfield. After Brynn tried to interject in a spat between Ubah, 41, and Erin Lichy, 37, Ubah told her, 'We're not speaking to you, go take a nap.' When admitted pot-stirrer Brynn asked if she should go,' suck a d**k' after comments she made in last week's episode, Ubah insisted that Brynn is 'fake.' When Brynn made a weird clap-back by saying she flew private, Ubah said, 'With who? Somebody else's husband?' insinuating that Brynn is an adulterer, which only exacerbated the fight further and had plenty of fans talking on social media. Bravo's Real Housewives of New York is clearly ending its 15th season (the second with its brand new cast) with a bang, with an explosive fight between Ubah Hassan and Brynn Whitfield When admitted pot-stirrer Brynn asked if she should go,' suck a d**k' after comments she made in last week's episode, Ubah insisted that Brynn is 'fake' Ubah told Brynn, 'You are not who you say you are. You are fun Brynn. You're sweet to everything. Nobody knows how they are with you.' Brynn tried to clap back that Ubah is 'literally a Talbots model,' while Ubah said, 'Darling, go Google my name.' Brynn fired back with, 'You're not Naomi! You're not Naomi,' referring to supermodel Naomi Campbell, but Ubah insisted, 'Naomi wish! Gisele wish!' Brynn insisted, 'No they don't, dude,' as Ubah got up and walked away, telling Brynn, 'Go f**k yourself. You're a piece of s**t. Get the f**k out of here.' That lead to everyone going inside and Brynn yelling at Erin for walking away when Ubah started yelling. Brynn insisted she would have stayed and had her back and that started a rift between Brynn and Erin, and another with Sai and Erin, and another with Jessel and Erin and finally another with Erin and Ubah as the episode came to an end. The teaser for next week's season finale teased even more drama, while executive producer Andy Cohen said on Watch What Happens Live the finale is quite 'dark.' Many fans blasted Ubah's behavior like @Smile_Its_Tai, who said, 'Ubah was wrong! Stop the nonsense. She wasnt just rude she was disrespectful. I like her but give me a break.' Ubah told Brynn, 'You are not who you say you are. You are fun Brynn. You're sweet to everything. Nobody knows how they are with you' Brynn tried to clap back that Ubah is 'literally a Talbots model,' while Ubah said, 'Darling, go Google my name' Brynn fired back with, 'You're not Naomi! You're not Naomi,' referring to supermodel Naomi Campbell, but Ubah insisted, 'Naomi wish! Gisele wish!' That lead to everyone going inside and Brynn yelling at Erin for walking away when Ubah started yelling Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) said, 'Ubah is being out of pocket on this episode...,' whlie @EchoDoesRadio said, 'Now, Ubah Naomi wish? Gizelle wish? Lets not get carried away.' @himbopottomus said, 'ubah tripling down on her rude comments is just lacking self awareness.' Tommy Ecker (@Tommy_Ecker) added, 'Ubah thinks that her being rude on this trip is acceptable because she knows that shes been here more times than Raquel has? More than the cast member who is ACTUALLY Puerto Rican???' Still, others backed Ubah like @bravoandyalt, who said, 'Brynn isnt flying private unless shes flying with someone elses husband. Ubah did not lie.' @noTORAious31 added, 'Brynns main objective this entire season has been to pit the women against each other. People may not like Ubah but she is the only one that will not let Brynns antics stand.' @BMFluellen1 joked, 'Brynn opened the mailbox and Ubah delivered. Can't get mad when you asked for it.' @EchoDoesRadio said, 'The way they invalidate Ubahs feelings at EVERY turn FRUSTRATES THE SHIT OUTTA ME!! Yes sometimes shes wrong but, to them, shes NEVER right! And on the rare occasion theyre on her side, they never have the balls to say it in the moment.' The episode also featured a light-hearted prank after Jenna Lyons showed the women her unique pubic hair. Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) said, 'Ubah is being out of pocket on this episode...,' whlie @EchoDoesRadio said, 'Now, Ubah Naomi wish? Gizelle wish? Lets not get carried away.' @himbopottomus said, 'ubah tripling down on her rude comments is just lacking self awareness.' Tommy Ecker (@Tommy_Ecker) added, 'Ubah thinks that her being rude on this trip is acceptable because she knows that shes been here more times than Raquel has? More than the cast member who is ACTUALLY Puerto Rican???' Still, others backed Ubah like @bravoandyalt, who said, 'Brynn isnt flying private unless shes flying with someone elses husband. Ubah did not lie' @noTORAious31 added, 'Brynns main objective this entire season has been to pit the women against each other. People may not like Ubah but she is the only one that will not let Brynns antics stand' @BMFluellen1 joked, 'Brynn opened the mailbox and Ubah delivered. Can't get mad when you asked for it.' @EchoDoesRadio said, 'The way they invalidate Ubahs feelings at EVERY turn FRUSTRATES THE SHIT OUTTA ME!! Yes sometimes shes wrong but, to them, shes NEVER right! And on the rare occasion theyre on her side, they never have the balls to say it in the moment.' The ladies were stunned, comparing it to a wig of some sort, as Brynn explained, 'I know it's been a few days, but I'm still thinking about Jenna's bush.' Brynn ordered strands of hair for the ladies to put in their swimsuits, before Jenna arrived to teach them synchronized swimming. They all showed them off as Jenna started laughing hysterically, adding 'You guys are nuts,' though Jenna refused to say more about her nether regions in confession. Real Housewives of New York returns with its Season 15 finale on Tuesday, January 21 at 9 PM ET on Bravo, followed by the reunion special in the coming weeks. She last starred in the 2014 movie Annie before taking a step back from acting to focus on her family and business ventures. But Cameron Diaz, 52, is returning to screens to star in Netflix's new movie Back In Action as part of an allstar cast alongside Glenn Close, 77, and Jamie Foxx, 57, with a thrilling trailer released on Wednesday. The Netflix movie, which is set for release on January 17, follows Emily (Cameron) and Matt (Jamie), two former CIA agents who have given up their life of espionage and action in order to settle down, start a family, and live a normal life. However, things don't go so smoothly for them as their identities become compromised and they are forced to fight and run in order to protect those closest to them. The trailer kicks off with Emily and Matt driving towards a restaurant with their children, however, they make a quick pit stop at a petrol station. As Jamie exits his car, a group of strangers surround him and his wife Emily and begin to attack them out of nowhere. Cameron Diaz is returning to screens to star in Netflix 's new movie Back In Action as part of an allstar cast alongside Glenn Close and Jamie Foxx with a trailer released on Wednesday The Netflix movie, which is set for release on January 17, follows Emily (Cameron) and Matt (Jamie), two former CIA agents who have given up their life of espionage and action in order to settle down, create a family, and live a normal life While they're able to defend themselves, their secret identities are revealed to their children and now they must figure out what threat there is to their family. The new action comedy, directed by Seth Gordon, 48, serves as a comeback for both Jamie and Cameron as Jamie suffered a stroke in 2023 and Cameron quit acting for family reasons in 2014. Previously Cameron told Empire she returned to acting purely to work with Jamie again following Any Given Sunday and Annie. She said: 'I thought that if I was going to come back and do a movie, the only person Id come back and do it with would be this guy (Foxx).' 'Seriously. I had other opportunities along the way and I was always saying "No. Im not doing it, Ive told you... What? Jamie asked? Jamie? Oh, I can do a movie with Jamie!"' The cast list for the film also includes Kyle Chandler, Glenn, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, Jamie Demetriou, and Rylan Jackson. The 52-year-old officially retired from her Hollywood career in 2018, before being lured back by her close friend Jamie to star alongside him in the action comedy. But her comeback project was thrown into turmoil in 2023 when it was reported that Jamie 'had an absolute meltdown' on the UK set of the movie, which led to the firing of three people. However, things don't go so smoothly for them as their identities become compromised and they are forced to fight and run in order to protect those closest to them The trailer kicks off with Emily and Matt driving towards a restaurant with their children, however, they make a quick pit stop at a petrol station As Jamie exits his car, a group of strangers surround him and his wife Emily and begin to assault them out of nowhere While they're able to defend themselves, their secret identities are revealed to their children and now they must figure out what threatens their family 101 Dalmations star Glenn Close also stars in the movie as Emily's mother Ginny after starring in The Deliverance in 2024 The new action comedy, directed by Seth Gordon, 48, serves as a comeback for both Jamie and Cameron as Jamie suffered a stroke in 2023 and Cameron quit acting for family reasons in 2014 Previously Cameron told Empire she returned to acting purely to work with Jamie again following Any Given Sunday and Annie (both pictured in 2014) She said: 'I thought that if I was going to come back and do a movie, the only person Id come back and do it with would be this guy (Foxx)' And in March 2023, a source close to the star revealed that - while Cameron didn't have any issues with Jamie - she likely won't return to the world of film after this movie, because she's had a hard time being away from her family and hates the 'drama and confrontation' that so often erupts on movie sets. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com the source said: 'These back-to-back 10-hour workdays have been a lot on her and she hates being away from Raddix.' They added: 'Cameron loves being a mom more than anything in the world.' 'She hates drama and confrontation. This is why she retired from the business in the first place,' 'She has already proven herself in the industry and has nothing left to prove to anyone.' Cameron famously walked away from Hollywood in 2018 to spend more time with her rocker husband Benji, Madden 45. The two welcomed their daughter in December 2019 and have been incredibly private about their lives as parents to their three-year-old. One Day star Leo Woodall has opened up about the brutal auditioning process to be part of the Netflix drama - and how he managed to secure the role after a huge blunder. The actor, 28, took on the role of Dexter Mayhew in the popular romantic drama based on David Nicholls' novel of the same name last year. One Day became a huge hit with fans when it landed on the streaming service in February 2024. During Wednesday's instalment of This Morning, hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard mentioned that he had to do a whopping FIVE auditions, and that he awkwardly still had a fake tattoo on his neck from his White Lotus role. Leo told the hosts: 'Yeah about five auditions.' One Day star Leo Woodall revealed all about his auditioning process for the popular drama - and what he had to do to save himself after a huge blunder The actor claimed he nearly missed out on his part in the drama because of the fake tattoo he was still sporting from playing Jack in White Lotus He said: 'When they saw the tattoo they thought "ok this will be a problem". But luckily while I was acting I was doing some of this and it started to come off!' Leo played Dexter Mayhew in the Netflix hit One Day He added: 'The first time I walked into the room, I forgot I had it on! I secretly liked it. I'd walked in and decided that they liked me... 'But when they saw the tattoo they thought "ok this will be a problem". But luckily while I was acting I was doing some of this and it started to come off!' Leo played Jack in the second series of White Lotus in 2022. Cat asked: 'But five auditions?! They put you through the ringer.' Leo replied: 'The last one was the worst, I didnt realise I'd walk into this room with the director, four of the producers, the casting director and the show runner. 'I had to do all the worst bits in that room... So it was very stressful.' One Day follows the love story of Leo's character Dexter and Ambika Mod's alter-ego Emma Morley. The pair met at university in Edinburgh and throughout the series it's very much a 'will they, won't they?' type of thing on if they will ever get together. The drama follows the highs and lows of their friendship which turns into a relationship in their older years. One Day also stars the likes of Eleanor Tomlinson, Essie Davis, Tim McInnerny, Toby Stephens and Joely Richardson. Leo previously opened up about the tattoo blunder on Lorraine last year. The star told host Lorraine Kelly: 'I was filming White Lotus and I flew back to London to do my first in person meeting and I had forgotten to take off my neck tattoo. 'The producers liked me but thought it wasn't going to work because of the tattoo, then it started coming off.' Leo is starring in the new drama Prime Target as mathematician Edward Brook. Speaking about his new alter-ego, Leo told Cat and Ben: 'Yeah he is different. I knew that going in. 'That's one of the reasons I wanted to do it. I wanted a challenge. 'I've so far played characters that are very chatty, very sociable and he's the complete opposite. Leo appeared on This Morning to talk about his new role 'He's just so driven that he can reject people and can come off as very unfriendly and awkward. He loves numbers.' The Holby City star did have a few extra math lessons to get into Edward's head a bit more, but realised he may have to just put the book down. Leo explained: 'We had a math's genius as a consultant and he came up with all the stuff you see in the show, I tried to understand it but I was a lost cause. 'I just memorised it.' Leo has had an extremely successful career since his first role on Holby City in 2019. That isn't the only programme he's been in. The star has also landed roles in Vampire Academy, Citadel and film Cherry. Leo will also play Roxster in the new Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy film. This Morning airs on ITV from 10am. With the LA wildfires still raging, this is not a time to be finger pointing, but it is the time to be learning from our mistakes. And mistakes have been made. While I can't be certain that anyone could have stopped these fires in its tracks, something could have been done to mitigate the damage. The first place to start are the misplaced priorities of our politicians. They have decreased funding for the fire and police departments - Mayor Karen Bass cut nearly $18 million from LAFD's budget last year - all while lavishing money on ridiculous projects. Take the $100 billion set to be poured into the absurd bullet train from Bakersfield to Merced. That is not set to be finished until 2033 at the earliest and it will be completely outdated by the time it's done because we'll have autonomous vehicles. Jason Oppenheim has slammed Californian politicians who failed residents amid the wildfires At least 24 people have died across the Los Angeles area and approximately 180,000 people have been forced from their homes No one's going to want to drive to a train station to take some dumb ass train for four hours when they could just have driven there watching their television and reclining in their safe self-driving car. Politicians are so focused on doing the sexy things that get them re-elected, instead of doing the hard dirty work to protect us and keep us safe. Forestry is not sexy. Water pressure, retention and availability is not sexy. Spending millions of dollars on helicopters and fire suppressant just in case of something happens, is not sexy. But politicians need to set aside their egos and focus on the things that actually help save us in times of need. Over the weekend, I called out landlords attempting to capitalize on the wildfires by illegally increasing rental prices. Mayor Karen Bass cut nearly $18 million from LAFD's budget last year Jason has called out politicians for being too 'focused on doing the sexy things that get them re-elected' They are taking advantage of the fires and its victims by raising their prices online. Sure, landlords have had it difficult the last couple of years. Often they can't even cover their costs. But now is not the time to be trying to take advantage of a situation and profiting off the 92,000 people who are displaced and enduring the worst. So many people have been affected, and have lost not just their family homes, but decades worth of memories. Now should be about giving back: at the very least to be offering your property at no more than the market value before these fires. There might be some who are unknowingly breaking the law, but at this point they need to know: We are under an emergency order right now that restricts the increase of rents above 10% from pre-disaster market value. A number of celebrities have lost their homes, including Paris Hilton whose Malibu house burned down last week Candy Spelling's $24million home on Malibu's Pacific Coast Highway was lost in the wildfires I think that agents have a responsibility not to enable landlords to act in this manner and I've sent an email directive to all my agents just to clarify our responsibilities. I also sent a letter to the governor's office and the mayor's office, explicating some things we can do to help the victims of these fires. In addition to cracking down on price gouging, the state can list lease properties online and make them available to everyone. That will eliminate the ability of brokers to hide properties from the public, known in the industry as 'pocket listings.' Finally, some of the people who lost their homes will choose to rebuild, but many will end up selling to developers. My hope is that they receive fair prices for their land, perhaps the government can have a role in that as well. These people have suffered enough, and we need to do what we can to ensure as real estate agents, and as a community, that they're receiving appropriate value for their land. Jason urges politicians to set aside their egos and focus on the things that actually help save us in times of need There are things that we can do to expedite development, to make things easier on those that do opt to rebuild. We owe it to them. I'll conclude with this - despite all this tragedy and heartbreak - I'm hopeful for the future. Houses will be re-built better. Fire-suppression technology and awareness will improve. Los Angeles will emerge from the ashes reborn, but I'm not oblivious to the challenge. It's going to take five to seven years to rebuild the Palisades. There will be tremendous hard work ahead - and the real estate community must be a part of it. Jason recently donated $100,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department, largely in an effort to bring some attention to the need to fund them more. Whenever Sharon Gaffka sees a mother pushing her baby in a pram or a toddler playing in the park, she starts to think of her own child who would be celebrating their third birthday this summer. 'What would they look like? Who would they become? What would their name be?' the former Love Island contestant asks as she begins to sob. For the 29-year-old will never know the answers to these questions. Three years ago she suffered a devastating miscarriage that left her grieving, in pain and fearful of having children in the future. It took Sharon 18 months to speak about her experience publicly revealing it to her 334,000 Instagram followers in August 2023. But it is only now that she has chosen to share the full, candid details of her story with the Mail as she campaigns for a change in the law to offer statutory miscarriage leave from work. Sharon found out she was pregnant in January 2022 six months after appearing on the seventh series of Love Island. The former civil servant won a legion of fans on the ITV reality show for her brains, eloquence and career ambitions leading one male contestant to controversially complain she didn't want to be a 'housewife'. Sharon Gaffka found out she was pregnant in January 2022 six months after appearing on the seventh series of Love Island Sharon with fellow Love Island contestant Georgia Harrison as they campaign for better online protections for women and girls Indeed, since appearing on the dating competition, Sharon has shown she is far from your standard influencer. She has led a campaign to boost awareness of drink spiking, become an ambassador for the domestic abuse charity Refuge, and has ambitions to become an MP. Yet, for the past three years, she has struggled with the grief and pain of experiencing a miscarriage. In February 2022 just one month after finding out she was pregnant Sharon was walking her dog in a park near her parents' home in Oxfordshire when she suddenly felt 'shooting pains' in her abdomen and started bleeding. Struggling to manage the pain and the bouts of intense sickness, she called her GP who told her to go to hospital. 'I knew it wasn't normal to feel that level of pain,' she recalls. 'I felt incredibly unwell and immediately felt huge fear about what might be happening.' At the gynaecology department, she was initially placed in the same waiting room as new mothers some of whom were holding their 'freshly born' babies. Sitting with them, she said, only 'added to the trauma'. The bleeding was so heavy by that point that nurses gave her a nappy to wear to stem it. Having gone freelance as a consultant and content creator, Sharon had decided to take her laptop to the hospital so she could continue working. 'I remember how horrible it was to sit there and go through one of the worst things that somebody could ever go through while trying to make a spreadsheet,' she recalls. A blood test that afternoon confirmed she was no longer pregnant. She had miscarried during her first trimester. But any further support was lacking. 'I was told to take painkillers, to take it easy on myself and just see how I go,' she says. 'I felt very mixed emotions. In a way, I felt a bit of a relief because I hadn't planned to be pregnant. But I also felt such sadness, shame and guilt. Society says a woman's purpose is to be able to reproduce and I thought, "Am I a failure as a woman, because I can't do this one thing?"' She recalls the rest of the day as being a blur. She drove herself home, refusing to tell anyone even her family out of fear that she would be judged. Sharon has led a campaign to boost awareness of drink spiking, become an ambassador for the domestic abuse charity Refuge, and has ambitions to become an MP Since appearing on the dating competition, Sharon has shown she is far from your standard influencer, instead working on a variety of campaigns 'I'd only left the Love Island villa a few months prior. I wasn't in a stable relationship with anyone. I thought people would judge me. 'I was so paranoid about public opinion. I was so afraid of people finding out that I had "failed".' As the pregnancy was unplanned, she adds: 'I felt as though I didn't deserve to feel grief. I didn't deserve to feel sad about it. Am I allowed to feel sad?' Starting to cry again, she adds: 'I was so confused about motherhood. But, at the same time, I didn't want what was happening to me. 'It left me with so many questions. Would I want to run the risk of putting myself through this again? Would I be strong enough if I did?' Like many in the public eye, Sharon suffered social media 'trolling' after appearing on Love Island and was nervous to share anything personal online. But struggling with the feelings of grief and isolation, a few weeks after the miscarriage, Sharon told a group of friends on WhatsApp. Some of them, it turned out, had similar stories. 'I had known these women for years and it was the first time I was hearing about their miscarriages,' she recalls. 'We just don't talk about these things.' She didn't speak about her experience publicly until August a year later on what would have marked her baby's first birthday. Writing on Instagram, she said the grief had hit her 'like a train' and that she was finding it 'incredibly tough to function as I normally would'. She added: 'Breaking the silence surrounding miscarriage is crucial... Opening up these conversations can lead to validation, understanding and a sense of community.' By the end of the day her post had received hundreds of comments, with many fans and well-wishers sharing their own stories. It was also the first time Sharon's parents, Robert and Linda, had found out about her loss. 'I have very conservative parents. We don't talk about these things. Dad was like, "Oh, well, as long as you're OK". They tried to make it into a positive thing "It's for the best and if you want children your time will come."' Linda, who had bowel cancer when Sharon was a teenager, was more emotional. 'I feel very protective over my mum,' Sharon says. 'I would put her in bubble wrap if I could.' Her brother Adam, 26, is a nurse and was also very supportive when he found out. Her post prompted the Miscarriage Association charity to get in touch, asking if Sharon would like to collaborate on their Leave For Every Loss campaign, which was launched last month. Under current legislation, there is no statutory bereavement leave for miscarriages which the NHS defines as the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. Instead, women affected must rely on sick leave or the goodwill of their employer. It is thought around one in eight known pregnancies will end in miscarriage, according to the NHS, although the real figure could be higher as Sharon points out. 'There's a narrative that's been given to women for far too long on many different things about life. Like, periods are meant to be painful deal with it. Pregnancy is meant to be challenging deal with it. Childbirth is difficult deal with it. You're constantly told to deal with it.' Partners also have no legal entitlement to bereavement leave during pregnancy loss, which Sharon says further adds to the taboo. It took Sharon 18 months to speak about her miscarriage experience publicly revealing it to her 334,000 Instagram followers in August 2023 'It's one thing for women not to feel supported but the other person gets even less support,' she says. 'A miscarriage affects two people. It's an incredibly hard thing to deal with when you don't have a partner. Having your partner to legally get leave as well is incredibly important.' The parliamentary women and equalities committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, is examining the workplace impacts of miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Ms Owen, MP for Luton North, has spoken in the House of Commons about her own experience of having to take sick leave after miscarrying and has backed calls for a change in the law. Initial steps were taken in February last year with the introduction of baby loss certificates, which parents can request from the Government website in memory of the child they've miscarried. But a more radical change in the workplace, says Sharon, will further help grieving parents. 'People already don't feel supported in many workplaces in the first place, so why do we need to make it any harder?' she asks. 'It's about changing how we view and support women in the workplace. Stop telling us that this is just part of life and we've got to deal with it. We don't need to live like that any more.' Young Aussie moviegoers were left traumatised this week after a scary trailer for Mel Gibson's latest film played before a kids' movie. The film faux pas occurred during a screening of Sonic The Hedgehog 3 at Event Cinemas in Edmondson Park, located in Sydney's South West. Father of three David Campbell told News Corp that he and his wife took their three children - aged nine, 11 and 14 - to see the latest instalment in the popular video game franchise. However, the youngsters were in for a rude shock before the film even began, due to the trailer for Mel Gibson's upcoming movie, Monster Summer. While the film has the same PG rating as Sonic The Hedgehog, Monster Summer tackles much darker themes. The film follows a group of young friends who team up with a retired police detective to unravel the mystery of a strange force threatening to disrupt their summer fun. Young Aussie moviegoers were left traumatised this week after a scary trailer for Mel Gibson's latest film played during Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (pictured) The trailer begins innocently, with the group of children enjoying their summer vacation. But things take a sinister turn when the children are seen sneaking into Mel Gibson's character's backyard. The Mad Max star then bursts into frame scaring the children who run off screaming. In another scene, the children are swimming in a lake at night when a menacing creature can be heard lurking beneath the surface. One boy disappears underwater, only to reemerge with sunken eyes, having undergone a terrifying transformation after his encounter. From there, it's a montage of monstrosity, with light bulbs exploding, a typewriter working by itself, and children screaming. Mr Campbell told the publication that the scary scenes caused quite the commotion, with traumatised children screaming and crying as the trailer played out. 'I just remember my wife and I locking eyes over the kids between us and mouthing "WTF" as the preview played,' he said. But the youngsters in the cinema were in for a rude shock before the film had even begun, thanks to a trailer for Mel Gibson's latest flick Monster Summer. Pictured: Mel Gibson attending the Los Angeles Special Preview Screening of Monster Summer The trailer begins innocently, with the group of children enjoying their summer vacation. But things take a sinister turn when the children are seen sneaking into Mel Gibson's character's backyard. Pictured: Mel Gibson in the trailer for Monster Summer 'The whole thing was nuts because you are sitting in a dark theatre with your kids waiting for a wholesome film about the importance of team work and friendship and the next thing you know there are kids watching through their fingers and hugging their parents.' Mr Campbell added that he had heard similar stories from parents who had taken their children to see the film over the summer holidays. A spokesperson for Event Cinemas told News Corp that despite its PG rating, the cinema chain would be reviewing the placement of the Monster Summer trailer. 'Coming to Event Cinemas should be a positive and memorable experience for all guests, and in light of this customer feedback, we are currently reviewing our trailer schedule for Monster Summer,' the spokesperson said. It comes after the Lethal Weapon actor discovered his Malibu mansion had been consumed by fire while recording an episode on Joe Rogan's podcast. 'I was kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought, "I wonder if my place is still there,"' he told NewsNation. The film follows a group of young friends who team up with a retired police detective to unravel the mystery of a strange force threatening to disrupt their summer fun. Pictured: Mel Gibson in the trailer for Monster Summer Mr Campbell said the scary scenes caused quite the commotion, with traumatised children screaming and crying as the trailer played out Adding: 'But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there.' On Friday, his publicist Alan Nierob confirmed that Mel's home of 14 years in Malibu was 'completely gone'. Adding that in one sense, he's 'been relieved from the burden of my stuff because it's all in cinders,' he said with a laugh. 'I went home and I said to myself, "Well at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore",' Mel said to the outlet. Sydney cocktail bar Bondi Hardware has announced it is closing its doors after 12 years of business. The venue was purchased in 2010 by Applejack Hospitality founders Ben Carroll and Hamish Watts, who converted the old hardware shop into a rustic-chic restaurant. They sold the business in 2018 and it continued to trade as normal under the new ownership. However, the venue has now confirmed it will be shutting its doors, as the hospitality sector struggles at at time when many are cutting back on eating out due to cost-of-living pressures, plus soaring wholesale prices and rents. 'After 12+ incredible years of serving good timesbottomless brunches, cocktails, Sunday roasts, live music, first dates (and even weddings)it's time to say goodbye,' they announced via Instagram on Tuesday. 'Like many in hospitality, we've faced our share of challengesnavigating the impact of COVID, rising costs of living, and increasing prices of food, alcohol, utilities and rent.' Bondi Hardware has announced the sad news that it will be closing its doors after 12 years 'After 12+ incredible years of serving good timesbottomless brunches, cocktails, Sunday roasts, live music, first dates (and even weddings)it's time to say goodbye,' they wrote on Instagram 'Combined with a demolition clause in our lease affecting long-term viability, we've made the difficult and devastating decision to close our doors.' 'Those who know the realities of running a small business (especially hospitality in this climate) will understand the mental toll and heartbreak of this decision, hence why we have been quiet for the past few weeks, processing this huge loss.' 'It's certainly not how we wanted it to end.' They also thanked the 'incredible community' and 'amazing staff' for their support over the years. 'Signing off with endless gratitude for the amazing ride that we've had,' the post ended. Many locals and influencers flocked to the comments section to express their shock and sadness over the restaurant's closure. Laura Csortan wrote: 'So sorry to see it go, 1000's of amazing memories. Thank you for creating a wonderful space for us all to come to over the years. The venue and everyone associated will all be missed terribly.' Many locals and influencers flocked to the comments section to express their shock over the restaurant's closure. Pictured a diner at Bondi Hardware 'Bondi Hardware has been to home to some of my most treasured memories (and a few blurry ones!) thanks for a brilliant run,' Jana Hocking said. 'Noooo! End of an era. So many incredible nights and memories,' another person commented. 'Bondi hardware was my favourite local when I first moved to Sydney 10 years ago. This is such sad news, the community will miss you,' one added. Another commented: 'So many memories and what an incredible 12years!! thank you for all the fun time xx sending the biggest hug.' The Bachelor star Cass Wood has announced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved family member. The reality TV star, 30, revealed her cat Coco died at the age of 18 in a tear-jerking post on Instagram. She posted a collage that paid tribute to her late pet, and captured some of the precious moments Cass had spent with Coco over the years. 'RIP to my beautiful cat Coco. My best friend for 18 years, we had the most special bond,' Cass wrote. 'We even shared the same birthday, she was the most loyal cat to me. Love you forever.' Cass also shared a short clip of her high-fiving her feline companion, and wrote alongside it: 'Glad I got to spend New Years Eve giving her lots of cuddles. The Bachelor star Cass Wood has announced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved family member 'She was the absolute best.' In August, Cass announced she was expecting to welcome her first child with husband Tyson Davis. The TV star, who starred on Nick 'Honey Badgers' Cummins' season in 2018, shared the exciting news on Instagram. 'SURPRISE. Baby Davis incoming,' she captioned a sweet carousel of photos taken with Tyson on the beach. In one image, the couple shared a kiss as Cass held an ultrasound image towards the camera. In another photo taken at the couple's home, Cass and Tyson held up a baby onesie, which had 'Baby Davis coming February 2025' printed on the front. Their dog also got in on the celebration action, meriting her own custom bandana labelled: 'Soon to be, big sister.' Cass' celebrity friends inundated the post with well wishes, with Bachelorette Brooke Blurton writing: 'Congrats,' alongside heart emojis and clinking champagne glasses. The reality TV star, 30, revealed her cat Coco died at the age of 18 in a tear-jerking post on Instagram Cass paid tribute to her late pet on social media Tenille Favios, who also starred on Nick Cummins' 2018 season of The Bachelor, also commented her congratulations with three hearts. Meanwhile, radio host and podcaster Brittany Hockley said: 'Congrats guys, this is so cute.' Cass rose to fame after starring on Honey Badgers' season of The Bachelor and made her second attempt at finding love on reality TV on Bachelor in Paradise in 2019. She married her longtime fiance, rugby player Tyson in a stunning semi-regional ceremony in Gerringong in September 2023. Cass and Tyson briefly dating in 2017 but broke up shortly before Cass appeared on Bachelor In Paradise. While on the show she fell for ex-Bachelor Richie Strahan, but their romance was short-lived. Cass and Tyson reconnected in 2019 after she returned from filming in Fiji. She previously revealed she was the happiest she had ever been after welcoming Tyson back into her life. Steve Guttenberg is continuing to help his Pacific Palisades neighbors following his evacuation last week amid the Los Angeles fires. The Police Academy star has been actively trying to lend a helping hand wherever he can since the devastating Palisades Fire has engulfed his city, which has mostly been reduced to rubble. 'At this time I have the choice of sitting down and walking or standing up and doing what I can. I choose to stand and fight. And help,' the actor told People. A source also told the outlet that Guttenberg, whose house narrowly survived the initial blazes that have destroyed thousands of other structures, has 'banded together with several neighbors whose homes also made it' to do good. 'They are having meals together, working on getting brush out of the way, trying to put out smoldering fires, and fighting embers in the air,' the insider revealed. 'They have been getting food and necessities, portable heaters, water, through rapid relief groups and sharing everything, and basically are taking care of each other.' Additionally, the source stated that he and his neighbors are apprehensive about the rising winds, which are said to be kicking up.' Steve Guttenberg is continuing to help his Pacific Palisades neighbors following his evacuation last week amid the Los Angeles fires; seen earlier this month at the Golden Globes This has prompted Guttenberg to 'clear and clean up as much as possible in the neighborhood.' The star's $5 million Pacific Palisades home narrowly avoided igniting this week as the initial Los Angeles wildfire tore through his neighborhood. The still-burning inferno leveled many celebrity mansions in the area, including properties belonging to Anna Faris, Heidi Montag, Paris Hilton, and Ricki Lake. Guttenberg's home is still standing despite the singed wreckage surrounding it. 'Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy,' the 66-year-old actor told the Associated Press on Friday. 'It's like when someone dies suddenly,' he described of the shock. 'It's like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That's how shocking it was.' 'There's really a lot of pain going on right now. I'm doing whatever I can to help alleviate it,' the star said of how he's showing up for his community. Steve was among the first to provide assistance last week as he helped move abandoned cars out of fire trucks' pathway. The Police Academy star has been actively trying to lend a helping hand wherever he can since the devastating Palisades Fire has engulfed his city, which has mostly been reduced to rubble 'At this time I have the choice of sitting down and walking or standing up and doing what I can. I choose to stand and fight. And help,' the actor told People (Palisades Fire pictured earlier this week) A source revealed that Guttenberg, whose house has survived the initial blazes that have destroyed thousands of other structures, has 'banded together with several neighbors whose homes also made it' to do good; a California Conservation Corps fire crew seen clearing brush in Santa Monica He told KTLA 5's Gene Kang: 'What's happening is people take their keys with them as if they're in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars. 'If you leave your car behind, leave the key in there so a guy like me can move your car so that these fire trucks can get up there.' Guttenberg explained that he had friends who were struggling to evacuate due to the traffic jam on Palisades Drive as he stressed: 'It's really, really important. 'There are people stuck up there. So we're trying to clear Palisades Dr. and I'm walking up there as far as I can moving cars.' Tom Hanks' multimillion-dollar cliffside home also evaded the flames caused by strong winds. Bill Hader's home also remarkably survived the devastating Los Angeles fires while his neighbors were not as fortunate. Steve was among the first to provide assistance last week as he helped move abandoned cars out of fire trucks' pathway He told KTLA 5's Gene Kang: 'What's happening is people take their keys with them as if they're in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars' The devastation in Southern California began unfolding last Tuesday when a combination of heavy wind and lack of rain created the perfect condition for a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades. It is the largest of at least six fires that have devastated the Los Angeles area to become the most destructive in modern California history. At least 24 people losing their lives and over 12,000 buildings burning to the ground. At least eight of the 24 people killed by the wildfires died in the Palisades blaze. The devastation in Southern California began unfolding last Tuesday when a combination of heavy wind and lack of rain created the perfect condition for a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades; the damage from the Palisades Fire seen above It comes as Los Angeles was placed under an unprecedented wind warning amid fears 70mph gusts could trigger a new inferno. The National Weather Service issued a fourth 'particularly dangerous situation' warning to take effect 4am Tuesday, cautioning that winds of up to 70mph will last through noon Wednesday. Huge swaths of the bone-dry city are under the new warning from Ventura across much of the San Fernando Valley, while areas from San Diego to San Bernardino remain under conventional red flag warnings. The fourth warning comes after the previous three this fire season brought havoc to the densely populated area, including the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires that have become among the deadliest in California history. The last significant rainfall in downtown Los Angeles came in May 2024, and since October 1 just 0.16 inches of rain has fallen - compared to a historical average of 5.34 inches by this time, reports the LA Times. Climatologist Bill Patzert told the outlet that 'the past nine months has been one of the driest in the historical record going back to 1900. During my career, Ive never seen punishing Santa Ana events so overwhelm the normal winter rain season.' Pakistani military kills 4 terrorists in northwest Islamabad, Jan 15 (UNI) Pakistani security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the North Waziristan district of northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. The ISPR, the media wing of Pakistan Army, said that the operation was launched late Tuesday night following credible intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists in the Spinwam area of the district. "During the conduct of the operation, our troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location. After an intense exchange of fire, four terrorists were killed," said the ISPR. Tammy Hembrow has shocked her fans by breaking an unspoken rule of flight etiquette while on a plane with her Love Island Australia star husband Matt Zukowski. The fitness entrepreneur, 30, appeared in a short clip shared to social media on Wednesday by her beau, where she was seen eating a boiled egg during the flight. The blonde bombshell looked to be in good spirits as she peeled away the shell and prepared to take a bite out of her hard-boiled snack. Sitting together, Matt looked at his wife in shock as she committed this social faux pas. He captioned the footage, 'Boiled eggs on a plane, she reckons,' along with a laughing emoji. It is generally considered poor manners to eat a hard-boiled egg on a crowded flight due to the strong smell, which can be unpleasant for others in close quarters. Tammy Hembrow has shocked her fans by breaking an unspoken flight etiquette rule while on a plane with her Love Island Australia star husband Matt Zukowski. Both pictured The shock clip comes after Matt shared very intimate details about his sex life with wife Tammy. The former reality TV star, 29, revealed on his Where's Your Head At? podcast that he had sex with the fitness influencer under the Northern Lights during their honeymoon in Lapland. 'We were asleep and two hours later there was a bang on the door to see the aurora. I sleep naked so I quickly had to put my clothes on,' he explained. 'Went to a massive lake and stood in the middle of it and followed the lights. Then we came back to the resort and when into the spa at 2am. 'Watched the lights dancing above us and made love under the Northern Lights in the spa.' Tammy and Matt were living it up at the stunning Aurora Collection Lapland Resort in Saariselka which is famed for views of the Northern Lights. Clocking in at up to $1100 per night, the resort offers 'arctic scenery from the comfort of your own cabin', according to the website. In November, Tammy and Matt exchanged vows in a gorgeous ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay, NSW. The fitness entrepreneur, 30, appeared in a short clip shared to social media on Wednesday by her husband, in which she was seen eating a boiled egg on a flight Tammy looked stunning in a Vera Wang strapless ivory and blush pink gown that featured an elaborate tulle train and a corset bodice, highlighting her ample cleavage. The beauty completed her look with a long ivory veil and her hair was styled with long hair extensions in a half ponytail with a middle part. As the couple held hands, Tammy became emotional and broke down in tears while they exchanged vows and said, 'I do.' Tammy and Zukowski got engaged in December 2023 following just three months of dating. The jet-setting pair were engaged in the Maldives, before heading off to Greece and Bali for luxury holidays. Tammy has been engaged twice before, the first time to influencer Reece Hawkins, who she shares her son Wolf and daughter Saskia with. Hugh Jackman has been slammed by fans after sharing a seemingly innocuous post on social media. The Deadpool & Wolverine star, 56, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of photos and clips showing the actor deep in rehearsal. Hugh was brushing up for his anticipated performances at Radio City Music Hall for his show New York, With Love. One of the videos featured Hugh belting out the tune The Greatest Show from his 2017 big screen musical The Greatest Showman. However, not all fans were impressed with his evident talent, taking to the comments to slam the star over his new romance with Sutton Foster, 49. The newly minted-couple were spotted passionately kissing for the first time this week, after their secret relationship was exposed. Hugh Jackman has been slammed by fans after sharing a seemingly innocuous post The Wolverine actor and Broadway icon Sutton looked deeply in love and couldn't keep their hands off each other as they repeatedly kissed while in the car at burger chain In-And-Out in San Fernando. Prior to this, the couple were swarmed by rumours of conducting an affair before exiting their marriages. In the comments of Hugh's rehearsal post, fans couldn't help but weigh in on his newfound love. 'I respect Hugh's work, but I no longer respect him after the allegations of him having an affair with Sutton Foster were confirmed as true,' one crestfallen fan said. Another replied with a long-winded post explaining why they thought Hugh's new relationship was so triggering to fans. 'What people aren't getting/understanding is WHY his fans are upset at him. Hugh literally built his brand/image being the respectful, supportive husband/family man,' they began. 'People believed he was real n separated him from the normal Hollywood BS behaviour. He showed ppl that he was DIFFERENT. So hearing that he possibly had an affair is heartbreaking.' The Deadpool & Wolverine star, 56, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of photos and clips showing the actor deep in rehearsal. However, not all fans were impressed with his evident talent, taking to the comments to slam the star over his new romance with Sutton Foster , 49 The newly minted-couple were spotted passionately kissing for the first time this week, after their secret relationship was exposed One churlish commenter went a step further, branding Hugh's post as 'pathetic' and his relationship with Sutton a 'fake.' 'Bro...you look pathetic. 56 years old and doing this nonsense. The worst fake relationship I've seen in all of Hollywood,' they chided. It wasn't all negativity though, with many fans offering their support to Hugh and telling the critics to 'mind their own business.' 'No one knows the details of his and Debs relationship, maybe people need to just stop judging and keep their nose out of other peoples lives, one fan offered. referring to Hugh's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness. 'As long as they are consenting adults who cares what they do in their private life! Its called private for a reason!' Another agreed with the sentiment, adding: 'Every person should take care of their personal life. and not get into someone else's life. 'If you don't like Hugh, then you don't need to shout about it under his posts, you can just pass by, unfollow the person.' A third offered a simple: 'Jackman, you have the right to be happy.' Hugh and Deborra-Lee Furness (pictured) announced that they were dissolving their 27-year marriage in September 2023 Sutton filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband Ted Griffin in October of last year. Pictured together in 2018 It was a similar story over on the pop culture account Deuxmoi after they shared images of Hugh kissing Sutton in the In-And-Out carpark. Fans flooded the comments deriding the relationship as 'fake.' 'Staged,' one fan concluded. 'Not buying it at all,' while another offered a similar: 'I normally do not care but this just seems icky for some reason. Like the chemistry is off. Yet another fan jumped in with: 'Kissing in car like that is so performative.' Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Hugh and Sutton were engaging in a relationship while still married to their respective partners. Hugh and Sutton's outing comes after the Logan star attended a performance of Sutton's production of Once Upon A Mattress in Los Angeles, and after the pair were seen holding hands on a date in Santa Monica. The two stars had previously shared the stage on Broadway when the played the leads in an acclaimed production of the classic musical The Music Man. Sutton filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband Ted Griffin in October of last year. Hugh and Sutton were the couple swarmed by rumours of conducting an affair before exiting their marriages She had been married to the 53-year-old Ocean's screenwriter for 10 years. Hugh and Deborra-Lee announced that they were dissolving their 27-year marriage in September 2023. 'We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,' the couple said in a statement obtained by People. Ben Affleck was seen having an intense conversation with law enforcement officers as he pulled out of his driveway in Brentwood on Tuesday - just two days after his home received a shock visit from the FBI. FBI agents and deputies from the LA County Sheriff's Department were spotted arriving at Affleck's home on Sunday. Agents waited outside the gate to his property for several minutes before leaving. They were allegedly investigating an incident in which a private drone collided with a firefighting aircraft, damaging it, TMZ reports. Affleck's home is not located in an evacuation zone, but he lives near the Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood that has been devastated by one of the fires. On Tuesday, he was spotted in his car exiting his Brentwood home, where a law enforcement vehicle was seen just outside his gate. The Argo director appeared stern, gesturing emphatically out his car window as he spoke to the authorities in front of his house. DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for Affleck for comment. Ben Affleck was seen having an intense conversation with law enforcement officers as he pulled out of his driveway in Brentwood on Tuesday The Argo director appeared stern, gesturing emphatically out his car window as he spoke to the authorities in front of his house Two days earlier, the FBI and sheriff's department were seen outside Affleck's home, investigating a collision between a private drone and an aircraft that had been helping LAFD battle the fires that have raged throughout the county since last Tuesday, killing 24 people and destroying thousands of homes. DailyMail.com has reached out to Affleck's representative for comment. It's unclear if the Armageddon star was home when the visit occurred. His $20.5 million home has so far escaped unscathed from the LA fires, even though the Brentwood estate is on the border of Pacific Palisades, which has been devastated by the blaze. As of Tuesday afternoon, 24 people have died in the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire, which originated in Altadena, near Pasadena, according to a release from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The FBI agents and Sheriff's deputies appear to have used the call box next to Affleck's driveway gate, but the gate was never opened. One FBI agent was seen wearing a short-sleeve shirt bearing the bureau's logo on the back, while another person wore body armor bearing the same logo on the back. At one point they walked up to the gate, possibly to call over it. Affleck is pictured in Los Angeles last May Two other law enforcement officers were seen leaving the property, one of whom had an Sheriff's Departmentbranded windbreaker, while the other wore a utility vest. The safety of Ben's home has seemingly been up in the air in the past week, as it is located so close to the Palisades fire, which was only 13 percent contained as of Sunday evening. Last week, the actor-turned-director was pictured looking shocked as he returned home in the evening as flames were visible nearby. Ben quickly evacuated and then rushed over to his ex-wife Jennifer Garner's nearby home in Brentwood to help her and their children get to safety. He seemed to be particularly focused on family over the weekend when he was seen giving his oldest daughter Violet a loving hug. Although with the 19-year-old Yale student, Ben also shares Fin, 16, and Sam, 12, with Garner, whom he married in 2005 and split from in 2015. A plane is seen droppin fire retardant into Mandeville Canyon, one of the neighborhoods threatened by the Palisades Fire on Saturday The actor has been lucky, as his home, which borders Pacific Palisades, has so far escaped unscathed from the deadly fires engulfing parts of Los Angeles; seen in September in LA He was seen helping his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their kids evacuate last week. She revealed on NBC that she lost a friend to the fire after they 'did not get out on time' Ben was previously seen returning home from his office, despite his house apparently being under a mandatory evacuation order. He and his family have so far been lucky, but Garner revealed that the losses from the fire had hit close to home. 'I did lose a friend who did not get out on time,' she revealed, her voice beginning to crack with emotion, as she spoke with chef Jose Andres and Katy Tur for MSNBC. So far, more than 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate in the face of the massive fires throughout Los Angeles. Although many celebrities have been devastated by the fires, countless more people who are not wealthy or famous have been displaced by the deadly blazes. Last week, DailyMail.com learned that Affleck has 'no plans' to attend the upcoming Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where his ex Jennifer Lopez's remake of Kiss Of The Spider Woman will be premiering. Ben was a producer on the project, just like he was on her recent film Unstoppable, but he has opted to sit out their publicity campaigns to let his ex shine. Sandra Lee revealed that her Malibu home has miraculously survived the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in an emotional Instagram post on Monday. The Food Network star, 58 - who recently broke down crying believing she had lost her house in the blazes - took a selfie as she stood outside of her residence and admitted that she was in 'total disbelief.' The catastrophic infernos - including the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires - began last week on Tuesday amid strong Santa Winds, with the death toll rising to 24. The Emmy winner penned in the caption that she was 'able to go to Malibu late yesterday.' 'It is with a heavy heart for my local community, yet the most shocked and grateful heart I share my home, Avalon- still stands.' Lee added, 'I could not believe my eyes to be one of 10 in my neighbor of homes still there. I do not know how. I can only assume it was the quick action of our firefighters.' Sandra Lee, 58, revealed that her Malibu home has miraculously survived the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in an emotional Instagram post on Monday The TV personality continued, 'I'm in total disbelief. I feel guilty for being a part of a bubble of these homes spared. I have such sadness for the people who have lost their lives, and I grieve for the families who have lost their loved ones.' 'There are no words to express my emotion as these fires still burn out of control,' she expressed. 'My heart remains with everyone in Los Angeles, my numerous neighbors, and my two most wonderful girlfriends who's homes are gone.' The author also wrote, 'I want to take a moment and give thanks to the brave firefighters, police and national guard.' 'My endless gratitude to the selfless first responders, numerous volunteers and all the other community support teams who continue to work tirelessly.' In conclusion, Sandra expressed, 'I hope you join me today to say a prayer for LA and our communities. Thank you for keeping all of us in your thoughts. For me, I will thank God every day.' Her positive update comes not long after she uploaded a video of herself breaking down in tears after believing that her home had been burned down in the Palisades fire. Last week on Wednesday, Lee filmed herself inside a hotel room after being evacuated from her Malibu home which she bought in 2019 for around $3.3 million. Lee added, 'I could not believe my eyes to be one of 10 in my neighbor of homes still there. I do not know how. I can only assume it was the quick action of our firefighters' Her positive update comes not long after she uploaded a video of herself breaking down in tears after believing that her home had been burned down in the Palisades fire Last week on Wednesday, Lee filmed herself inside a hotel room after being evacuated from her Malibu home which she bought in 2019 for around $3.3 million 'Thank you for all your well wishes,' the star began the somber video. 'I'm in a hotel. I don't have a home anymore. My house is gone. It's literally gone. I've been crying all night. Thank God everybody is safe.' She added, 'I don't know what to say, I don't know how to compartmentalize this, I don't know what to do.' 'All my stuff, all the last five years of my life,' the former First Lady of New York stated, and then added, 'The only thing I can do is go to work, and I'm going to go to work today.' 'I'm going to rebuild it, I think. I don't know how...,' Lee told her followers at the end of the clip before it abruptly ended. Shortly after, Sandra gave another update to reveal that she was being given mixed statuses on whether her house was still standing or not. 'I have no idea what is going on. This is the most stressful thing and I'm just trying to stay calm, but I FEEL AT SUCH A LOSS,' she heartbrokenly admitted. 'I can't see my house, I don't know if my friends and family's homes or my own home stands. I'm completely anxiety ridden, I'm totally emotional and I feel incredibly overwhelmed, but the most important thing is that everybody is OK.' The author told her followers that she is 'praying for our homes, memories, and our community.' Shortly after, Sandra gave another update to reveal that she was being given mixed statuses on whether her house was still standing or not She also uploaded an additional clip that showed dark smoke filling the sky as the fire began to steadily grow 'My heart breaks for the neighbors I know who have lost their homes. Thank you to everyone who has reached out. I just don't know. But this time reminds me of my grandmothers favorite "footprints in the Sand. It's in gods hands."' On the day she was evacuated, Lee had shared a shocking video to her main Instagram page as flames engulfed a hill near the side of a highway. She also uploaded an additional clip that showed dark smoke filling the sky as the fire began to steadily grow. Lee expressed that the Malibu home has helped her through 'some of the darkest moments in my life' while also labeling the blazes in L.A. as 'terrifying.' As of Tuesday, the catastrophic blazes have destroyed over 12,000 structures with the death toll rising to 24. A number of residents and celebrities have lost their homes including Miles Teller, Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal and Anthony Hopkins. The fires throughout Southern California have since destroyed around 12,000 structures - which include houses, schools and churches. The Palisades Fire which began early last week amid strong Santa Ana winds has burned around 23,700 acres and is now 17% contained as of Tuesday, per NBC News. Lee expressed that the Malibu home has helped her through 'some of the darkest moments in my life' while also labeling the blazes in L.A. as 'terrifying'; seen in September 2024 in NYC As of Tuesday, the catastrophic blazes have destroyed over 12,000 structures with the death toll rising to 24; taken on January 7 in Pacific Palisades The Eaton Fire in the Altadena and Pasadena area has destroyed 14,100 acres and is 35% contained. According to CalFire, the Eaton Fire has become the second-most destructive wildfire on record in the state of California. 88,000 people are still under evacuation orders throughout L.A. Country and mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order on Monday to help rebuild homes at a quick pace, NBC reported. Bass - who has faced severe criticism amid the fires - said in a statement: 'This order is the first step in clearing away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion.' Jamie Oliver has opened up about his 'struggles' with dyslexia in a new hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary. The world-famous chef, 49, who left school with only two GCSEs before finding fame, will explore the UK's broken education system. Throughout the hour-long programme, Jamie will explore dyslexia and its impact on 1.3 million kids in the UK. This will also be a personal passion project for the TV star, who has lived with the condition since primary school. Speaking of the new gig, Jamie said: 'It's no secret I struggled at school but I was one of the lucky ones. 'I knew I wanted to be a chef so had somewhere to go, catering school, where I could thrive. Jamie Oliver has opened up about his 'struggle' with dyslexia in a new hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary The world-famous chef, 49, who left school with only two GCSEs before finding fame, will explore the UK's broken education system (pictured Jamie during his younger days) 'The kitchen saved me.' According to The Sun, he added: 'But not everyone is as lucky. What happens to those who don't know where to go? 'We can't leave kids' futures up to luck. We need the education system to update, so everyone has the best possible chance in life.' Jamie aims to challenge the Government to reform the 'archaic' education system, which he believes fails to engage children with dyslexia. His upcoming documentary, set to air later this year, explores how schools can celebrate diverse ways of thinking and redefine success in today's world. The TV star added: 'I just want to look 13-year-old kids, who are struggling with reading, in the eye and say to them, 'You are NOT worthless.' Tim Hancock, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: 'There's no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he's turning his expertise to a subject close to his heart. 'I'm thrilled Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail.' His upcoming documentary, set to air later this year, explores how schools can celebrate diverse ways of thinking and redefine success in today's world (pictured on This Morning 2020) The TV star added: 'I just want to look 13-year-old kids, who are struggling with reading, in the eye and say to them, 'You are NOT worthless' (pictured on January 10) Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It can affect individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised. It comes after Jamie took to Instagram to discuss his 'frustrating' struggle with dyslexia in a lengthy post in October 2022. The chef has been battling the learning condition alongside ADHD since he was in primary school - often speaking out about his way of coping. And talking to his followers, the chef explained that he has 'come to terms' with not learning the same way as others - putting his resent towards school behind him. Posting a carousel of lengthy text panels, Jamie detailed his battle, beginning: 'Something i don't really talk about much is the constant battle i have with words and reading...without question it is a love hate relationship. 'In the old days at school it made me very frustrated and resentful about school as an institution and over the years i've come to terms with not learning the same way as most people not as a failure but an opportunity. 'An opportunity to look at things very differently, i'm older enough now to have a little wisdom on my shoulders only gained by the way mainly through failures and learning from them and evolving and staying authentic o the original dream and trying again and again and I realise my grammar here is s**t. The chef is known for his cookbooks, having released over 20 books of different styles of cooking and cuisines 'I'm also using autocorrect which can get me in a lot of trouble sometimes but that's my point... if you understand what i'm saying i've done my job' Jamie continued to detail his struggle during school, admitting that getting info on paper was 'almost impossible' as he recalled 'hating words and reading with a passion'. The chef is known for his cookbooks, having released over 20 books of different styles of cooking and cuisines. But admitting he has 'never written a word' of any of them, the TV personality wrote: 'Here I am 46 years old, written 26 books apparently one of the most published authors on the planet ? No i'm not showing off i'm in as much shock as you are...but ive never ever physically written a word !! 'I used to write my books on a dictaphone then when I was eventually able to afford to employ an editor I would then dictate to them and that's how I work it's more complicated than that because i'm easily distracted and my working day has to be structured in a way that i'm kept invigorated and not allowed to get bored = fall asleep.' 'But that's within our gift to try and manage our time best for us to thrive and find what ever balance we are looking for right ?! when I show people around my office they often say what do all these people do? and I say they are really good at things i'm really bad at! and i'm bad at a lot of things...and this is all true.' In a lengthy Instagram post, Jamie explained that 'many of us are not brought up to embrace the currency of failure enough' What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling It can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised Children and adults of all intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia People with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, including creative thinking and problem solving Info from NHS.org Advertisement Jamie ended the long post by explaining his reasoning for opening up on the matter, explaining that 'many of us are not brought up toembrace the currency of failure enough'. 'I believe that if our relationship around failure is managed properly, it is the key to a much happier, healthier future.If you personally struggle with anything, maybe look at it differently and take a different approach. 'Everyone struggles, everyone has a story that can be used to propel them forward or pull them back and i believe it's how you choose to look at it that defines which path you take you just need to find a way around it, do your thing and problem solve and please dream.' Jamie has now healed his previously resenful relationship with his school days, concluding: ' Iwill sign off by saying I no longer am resentful about school - quite the opposite, I think that our teachers and our schools are our secret weapon!! 'I think it's more than time for an education revolution especially in times like this! We need to propagate and take real care of the seedlings ~ of the future and that will fruit all that we dream and crave for our diminishing economy The Office star Melora Hardin fondly recalled her time with the late Michael Landon on the set of Little House on the Prairie. Landon, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1991 at the age of 54, not only starred in the iconic 1974-1983 series but also worked as a writer and director. Hardin landed a role in season 5 as Belinda, a classmate of Albert Ingalls (Matthew Labyorteaux), the son of Landons character, Charles Ingalls. He was just so warm, Hardin said on the Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko podcast. He was so sweet. He made all the kids and adults, everybody, feel like he had really chosen you. And he just let you do your thing.' Hardin returned for the 1983 TV movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday as Michele. And when he ever gave you direction, you never felt admonished by him. He just was lovely, she continued, adding that Landon knew how to talk to kids. The Office star Melora Hardin fondly recalled her time with the late Michael Landon on the set of Little House on the Prairie; (seen in 2023) Landon, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1991 at the age of 54, not only starred in the iconic 1974-1983 series but also worked as a writer and director; (Pictured: (back row l-r) Melisssa Sue Anderson as Mary Ingalls Kendall, Michael Landon as Charles Philip Ingalls, Melissa Gilbert as Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder, Linwood Boomer as Adam Kendall (front row l-r) Matthew Laborteaux as Albert Quinn Ingalls, Karen Grassle as Caroline Quiner Holbrook Ingalls, Lindsay or Sydney Greenbush as Carrie Ingalls) She also praised the Highway to Heaven star for creating a community feeling on set. Looking back on her role as Belinda, Hardin remembered how her character was tormented by Nancy, the troublemaking adopted sister of Little House on the Prairies infamous Nellie Oleson 'My character was Belinda, and she got locked in the ice house by the new Nellie [a.k.a. Nancy], who was just as mean as the old Nellie,' Hardin said on the podcast. As for her role as Michele, she shared a memorable milestone: her first onscreen kiss with co-star Matthew Labyorteaux. I played his love interest and, actually, Matthew and I had our first screen kiss together, Hardin revealed. And hes still a very good friend of mine and the godfather of my second daughter. Hardin is best known for playing Jan Levinson on The Office, where she brought her unique mix of ambition and awkwardness to the role of Michael Scotts on-again, off-again love interest. She also played Trudy Monk, Adrian Monks wife, on the hit show Monk, adding a sweet and quirky touch to the character. He was just so warm, Hardin said on the Still Here Hollywood with Steve Kmetko podcast. He was so sweet. He made all the kids and adults, everybody, feel like he had really chosen you. And he just let you do your thing;' (Landon in 1976) Hardin returned for the 1983 TV movie Little House: Look Back to Yesterday as Michele; (seen in 1980) And when he ever gave you direction, you never felt admonished by him. He just was lovely, she continued, adding that Landon knew how to talk to kids' Hardin is best known for playing Jan Levinson on The Office, where she brought her unique mix of ambition and awkwardness to the role of Michael Scotts on-again, off-again love interest Over the years, shes appeared in a ton of different projects, including 24, The Bold Type, and Hannah Montana: The Movie. The podcast comes after she revealed there is potential for the US Office to 'return as a film' as she gave an update on the series this week. The Steve Carell-fronted show, which ran for nine series from 2005 to 2013, is said to be returning to screens after writers Matthew Belloni and Jonathan Handel previously claimed creator Greg Daniels is working on a comeback. Now, Melora, who starred on the series as Jan Levinson, has admitted that she has 'ran some ideas past Greg.' Speaking in an interview with The U.S. Sun, she explained: 'That is up to Greg, because he is the maestro. I would certainly show up. I think a lot of us would. 'I would love to make a film because then it would just be quick and we would do it. I think we could bring everybody back for that.' She added: 'I actually have talked to Greg about some ideas. I thought this would be funny if Jan was like a self-help guru because she was so kind of flawed.' Sarah Levy is mourning the loss of her home to the Palisades fire. The actress, 38, who is the daughter of Eugene Levy and had a recurring role on his hit series Schitt's Creek, posted a message grieving the heartwrenching loss as she assured followers she and her family were 'safe.' Levy, who has two-year-old son James Eugene Outerbridge with husband Graham Outerbridge, listed numerous memories she had at her 'sweet home', from raising her boy to her 'little kitchen' where she planned for the future. The post was accompanied by an image of what appeared to be the Pacific Palisades hillside. 'Oh, my sweet home. My heart so deeply aches. What I would give to hear the key slide in the front door one more time or the baby gate click behind me as I bring the laundry upstairs,' she began in the caption. 'To hear the garbage truck outside every Tuesday and watch James run to the window to watch. To smell the eucalyptus and the roses and the rosemary. To see the fog roll in in the early morning or the hawks soaring above the yard or the twinkling of lights from the houses across the canyon at night. Sarah Levy is mourning the loss of her home to the Palisades fire; pictured 2019 The actress, 38, who is the daughter of Eugene Levy and had a recurring role on his hit series Schitt's Creek, posted a message grieving the heartwrenching loss, along with an image of what appeared to be the Pacific Palisades 'To run into friends daily because it was that small a town. To search for baby strawberries next door. How blessed we were to raise our son in such an idyllic, magical place away from the hustle and bustle of LA. 'Our whole future ahead, planned in our little kitchen. Luckily we are all safe and if this has taught me nothing else, its to appreciate every last detail of your life. I know well be back and the Palisades will be more vibrant and lush and full of life than ever. Well wait until then.' 'To run into friends daily because it was that small a town. To search for baby strawberries next door. How blessed we were to raise our son in such an idyllic, magical place away from the hustle and bustle of LA. 'Our whole future ahead, planned in our little kitchen. Luckily we are all safe and if this has taught me nothing else, its to appreciate every last detail of your life. I know well be back and the Palisades will be more vibrant and lush and full of life than ever. Well wait until then.' Numerous fans sent their love to Levy in the comments. Her brother, Dan Levy, also commented on the heartbreaking post: 'Love you,' he wrote simply. Levy had reportedly purchased his property back in 2006 for a relatively modest $3.9 million, according to Urban Splatter. The two-story home featured three bedrooms and three baths and was spread out over 2,081 square feet. Sarah's home is among many destroyed in the LA fires; pictured the Palisades fire on January 7 Sarah is the daughter of Eugene Levy and Deborah Divine. She shares son James with her husband Graham Outbridge; the family pictured last March Sarah's brother is also a famous actor - Dan Levy It reportedly dated back to 1950 and featured an attached garage, as well as an elegant set of curving steps leading up from the driveway to the front door. He had earlier discussed trying to flee and being trapped in the gridlocked traffic along with thousands of other residents who were following evacuation orders. 'The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon,' he told The Los Angeles Times. Sarah had a recurring role in Schitt's Creek, the show that also starred her father 'I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark.' His son Dan Levy later wrote on social media: 'Heartbroken for my family, my friends and the people of LA affected by the catastrophic fires.' Eugene has a special connection to Pacific Palisades, as he was named the neighborhood's honorary mayor in 2021. The position only makes non-binding declarations for the neighborhood, as it is governed by LA's government as part of the city, but Levy would have made appearances at community events as part of his position. Jessika Power has gone Instagram official with a hunky new man, just four months after she called time on her relationship with British DJ Brent Anthony. The Married At First Sight bride, 31, shared several photos to social media which captured her rocking a skimpy red bikini as she had fun in the pool with her new boyfriend Ryan. The blonde bombshell and her Gold Coast-based business owner partner looked as loved-up as ever in the photos as Jessika confirmed they were together. One photo captured her muscular and heavily tattooed boyfriend tenderly wrapping his arm around Jessika as they had dinner together. Another captured Jessika in the pool as she stood next to her shirtless partner, who confidently flaunted his Dwayne Johnson-like heavily tattooed physique to the camera. Jessika confirmed they were an item in the caption: 'This wasn't on my 2025 bonus card BUT can't deny good luck and chemistry. Jessika Power has gone Instagram Official with a hunky new man Ryan, just four months after she called time on her relationship with British DJ Brent Anthony Her new partner runs his own labouring company in the Gold Coast, specialising in painting and decorating, pressure cleaning and bricklaying. Many of Jessika's followers quickly took to the comment section to congratulate her on the amazing news. 'Love this for you girly,' one person gushed. 'You guys are so hot,' a second user added. In September, Jessika confirmed her split with British DJ Brent Anthony. The serial reality star made the confession in the comments of an Instagram post. A fan wrote under an image of the blonde in skimpy pink underwear: 'I'm sad you and Brent broke up, you looked so happy with him'. Jessika replied to the fan, writing, 'I really wasn't and I hid a lot of my emotions and embarrassment from the internet.' The Married At First Sight bride, 31, shared a gallery of photos to social media confirming she was off the market The blonde bombshell and her Gold Coast-based business owner partner looked as loved-up as ever as they went out to dinner The former Married At First Sight star had hinted the romance was over just days prior. She explained to fans her beloved sausage dog Sushi was living with her ex-boyfriend in France. 'Sushi is with my ex because I had to leave in a rush for my father's funeral,' the Aussie MAFS star said in a Q&A. One of Jessika's 344,000 followers had asked who is looking after her dog now. 'I'm trying to get Sushi on a flight ASAP from France to the UK,' she wrote. Her new partner runs his own labouring company in the Gold Coast , specialising in painting and decorating, pressure cleaning and bricklaying 'If anyone knows of any airlines that can help let me know because it's a little unfair he's having to watch my dog as we aren't together anymore.' Jessika has appeared on a string of reality shows around the world since she found fame on MAFS Australia in 2019. She unveiled plans to move home to Australia in 2024 after calling time on her two-year relationship with fellow British DJ Connor Thompson in June 2023. The upbeat star told fans last December she was 'saving money' to relocate back to Australia. and appears to have since done so as she is now with Gold Coast-based Ryan. A new trailer for the upcoming Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar has dropped, with viewers saying they are 'intrigued' with the concept, but with a caveat. The mini-series tells the story of notorious Australian cancer fraudster Belle Gibson, with US actress Kaitlyn Dever taking on the main role. The sneak peek, which the streamer released on Wednesday, generated a large amount of chatter from fans, but not everyone was sold on the idea of a series. 'Interesting,' one fan simply offered after viewing the two-and-a-half-minute trailer. Others were of a similar mindset, but added the story is better suited to a punchier movie length rather than a protracted series. 'You had me until it said "series",' one viewer said. A new trailer for the upcoming Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar has dropped, with viewers saying they are 'intrigued' with the concept, but with a caveat 'I'm all for a good 2 hour movie, but these days they have to stretch everything out into a series, and I just lose all interest.' Another echoed the sentiment, adding they did not have the time to devote to a six-episode story arc. 'This might be an interesting movie,' they wrote. 'Oh wait, a series? Im out. Aint nobody got time for that.' One viewer said the concept grew tired even before the trailer ended, writing: 'Who else stopped watching the trailer less than a minute in?' Another however appeared all in, commenting: 'This looks creepy.' Fans were also divided over US actor Kaitlyn Dever's attempts at an Australian accent for the upcoming series. After Netflix dropped the first teaser trailer for the series in November, the actor's attempt at a convincing Australian accent sparked controversy, with many taking to social media to debate the merits of Kaitlyn's Antipodean cadence. 'It's not bad, but the way she delivered the lines in that trailer make it sound a bit like she was having to think about it too hard, the cadence isn't natural,' one fan wrote on X at the time. The mini-series tells the story of notorious Australian cancer fraudster Belle Gibson (pictured in 2016), with US actress Kaitlyn Dever taking on the main role The trailer, which the streamer released on Wednesday generated a large amount of chatter from fans, but not everyone was sold on the idea of a series Another chimed in with a similar: 'Nothing dramatised can measure up to the freakiness of the actual interview she did with 60 [Minutes] argh,' referring to Gibson's infamous TV appearance. 'Also I feel like our accents are so class-coded & she has this specific private school accent that she herself is faking as a Launceston born, public high school kid.' Another jumped in claiming that there have only ever been three actors in the history of television and cinema that have successfully pulled off an Australian accent. 'Dev Patel in Lion, Sean Harris in The Stranger and Tom Burke in Furiosa are the only three times I've seen a non Australian pull off a convincing Oz accent,' they claimed. Apple Cider Vinegar follows two young women who set out to cure their allegedly life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online communities along the way. The real Belle Gibson, now 33, once claimed she had terminal brain cancer which was cured by simply eating healthy food - but it was later discovered she never had the disease. Her shameless lie became a cause celebre in Australia, and the story of 'Healing Belle' will soon be told around the world. In 2013, Belle Gibson launched the @healing_belle Instagram account where she gained a large following through sharing so-called 'healing' food recipes. 'You had me until it said "series",' one viewer said. 'I'm all for a good 2 hour movie, but these days they have to stretch everything out into a series, and I just lose all interest' 'This might be an interesting movie,' another offered. 'Oh wait, a series? Im out. Aint nobody got time for that' The real Belle Gibson (pictured), now 33, once claimed she had terminal brain cancer which was cured by simply eating healthy food - but it was later discovered she never had the disease She claimed her lifestyle and healthy eating plan had 'cured' her inoperable brain cancer, which she had supposedly been diagnosed with at the age of 20 and given just months to live. Belle claimed she had undergone conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, before abandoning modern medicine to follow a program of clean-eating instead. Before long the deals began to roll in, with Gibson launching an app full of recipes as well as a book deal, reportedly worth $420,000. However, in 2014, the Melbourne-based personality claimed that despite her new wellness-focused lifestyle, her cancer had returned, and this time it had spread. Following an investigation by Fairfax Media, now Nine Newspapers, it was discovered none of the charities Belle had named had received a cent from her. The influencer's story quickly began to unravel, and in April 2015 she was forced to admit she had lied. She also appeared in a trainwreck interview on 60 Minutes, where she was grilled about her many falsehoods by reporter Tara Brown. Two years after her admission, Belle was fined around $410,000 after being found guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct. Kanye West has been slammed after the rapper shared and quickly deleted an extremely risque photo of his wife Bianca Censori on Instagram on Monday. In the shocking snap, the Australian architect, 30, was wearing the world's tiniest bikini, posing for a highly provocative image which was shown to West's 20.3 million followers. Fans are fuming at West, 47, for having 'no respect' and putting his wife 'on public display'. 'What normal man would want to do that?' one person wrote. 'I can't imagine putting anyone truly loved, on public display like that,' said another, while a third added: 'Sorry but a man who does this to his wife does not love his wife.' 'He has no respect for her, she has no respect for herself. I think they deserve each other,' someone else commented. Kanye West has been slammed after the rapper shared and quickly deleted an extremely risque photo of his wife Bianca Censori on Instagram on Monday 'This is a man who has NO respect for his wife whatsoever! And it's shameful,' one message read. Another irate person said it was 'quite painful' to see such a scandalous photo of Censori shared with the public by her husband. 'Just goes to show his utter lack of respect for his wife. No decent man would expose the woman he presumes to love in such a way,' they added. 'Any decent man would protect his wife from lurid sexual pictures and keep them for themselves!' said another. The rapper shared the highly provocative image of his wife leaving nearly nothing to the imagination with his 20.3 million followers on Monday. Censori face was cut out of the image, but her curves were on display as she spilled out of the tiny string frock she slipped on. The shot, which appeared on West's Instagram Stories, was quickly deleted shortly after. It's not the first time West and Censori sparked controversy after an Italian boat rental company banned them for life following their indecent exposure scandal in Italy last summer. In the shocking snap, the Australian architect, 30, was wearing the world's tiniest bikini, posing for a highly provocative image which was shown to West's 20.3 million followers Many are fuming at West, 47, for having 'no respect' and putting his wife 'on public display' The couple sparked controversy when they were spotted enjoying an amorous moment on a water taxi in Venice, with West exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking tourists. Images of the couple showed the American rapper seated at the back of the river taxi while his Australian wife placed her head in his lap. Venezia Turismo Motoscafi, the company that rented the boat to West and Censori, told Daily Mail Australia at the time the couple are 'no longer welcome' aboard their boats. Meanwhile, online critics argued that West's flesh-baring display constituted 'public indecency,' a charge which comes with a fine of up to 309 (AU$520), according to the Italian Constitutional Court. 'How are these two not arrested for lewd behaviour?' one commenter complained, as another agreed: 'Public indecency! Keep it for the privacy of your own home.' Someone else added: 'Italian authorities need to arrest them for indecency doing that lewd and disgusting behaviour in public. There are clearly crowds, kids probably saw.' West and Censori sparked fury among locals over that month for their odd wardrobe choices while holidaying in Italy, with critics especially taking aim at Censori for 'going around virtually naked' in the conservative Catholic country. The brunette had stepped out on several occasions with her bare breasts clearly visible beneath see-through mesh outfits. Sanaa, Jan 15 (UNI) Yemen's Houthi group said in a statement on Tuesday that it targeted a power plant in the southern Israeli port city of Eilat, using a "winged missile." "The attack achieved its goal successfully," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in the statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Also, Sarea said his group carried out another attack against Israel, targeting vital targets in Tel Aviv city with several bomb-laden drones. He vowed that his group's attacks against Israel "will not stop until Israel stops war in Gaza and lifts its siege." The attacks against the power station in Eilat and targets in Tel Aviv came a few hours after the Houthi group took responsibility for launching a ballistic rocket attack against the Israeli Defence Ministry. Earlier in the day, Israeli media said the Houthi rocket attack was intercepted by the Israeli air defence system. Since November 2023, the Houthis group has been carrying out rocket and drone attacks on Israel and disrupting "Israeli-linked" shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid their ongoing conflict with Israelis. UNI XINHUA ARN Alessandra Ambrosio enjoyed a romantic date night with her boyfriend Buck Palmer in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday evening. On her last day visiting her native Brazil, the 43-year-old supermodel stepped out for a dinner date at Spicy Fish with her new beau, a jewelry designer hailing from Australia. The couple who were all smiles as they stepped out in laid-back looks while strolling through the city a day ago coordinated in all-black outfits. Looking equal parts chic and sexy, Ambrosio modeled a one-shoulder, midi dress with a scalloped trim at the top, an open back and a drop-hem, pleated skirt featuring a leg-baring slit. She paired the slinky dress with metallic gold heels with double straps and a raffia clutch with matching hardware. The Victoria's Secret Angel was also carrying a black-and-white, paisley-printed shawl in one hand while she hooked her arm with her boyfriend's while entering and exiting the restaurant. Alessandra Ambrosio enjoyed a romantic date night with her boyfriend Buck Palmer in Rio de Janeiro. On her last day visiting her native Brazil , the 43-year-old supermodel stepped out for a dinner date at Spicy Fish with her new beau, a jewelry designer hailing from Australia The Brazilian bombshell looked stunning with her hair styled in messy, tousled beach waves. She looked perfectly sun-kissed and flushed in a light, bronzed makeup look paired with a rosy pink lip. At her side, her boyfriend who Ambrosio was dating for some time before going Instagram official with him late last year donned an outfit that perfectly complemented hers. He sported a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the top four buttons undone to highlight his long, beaded necklace. He also wore matching beaded bracelets and silver rings to further accessorize his monochromatic outfit. The designer sported black jeans and high-top sneakers with contrasting white laces during their dinner date. The couple put on an affectionate display at the restaurant and seemingly couldn't keep their hands off of each other as they wrapped their arms around each other. At one point, the model also appeared to be going in to lean her head on his shoulder too as she looked out the window at the evening sky. The couple put on an affectionate display at the restaurant and seemingly couldn't keep their hands off of each other as they wrapped their arms around each other. At one point, the model also appeared to be going in to lean her head on his shoulder too as she looked out the window at the evening sky Looking equal parts chic and sexy, Ambrosio modeled a one-shoulder, midi dress with a scalloped trim at the top, an open back and a drop-hem, pleated skirt featuring a leg-baring slit. He also wore a monochromatic black outfit to complement her outfit Their vacation comes about a month after they went Instagram official when Ambrosio declared her love for her new boyfriend in a gushing birthday tribute in December The supermodel and the jewelry designer were first romantically linked and went public with their romance late last year at a party in Art Basel in Miami The couple has been spending time basking in the sun and soaking up the vibrant energy of the city after Ambrosio brought her beau to her native Brazil for a romantic getaway. During their trip, they enjoyed a stroll through the scenic city and put on a rare display of affection. Their vacation comes about a month after they went Instagram official when Ambrosio declared her love for her new boyfriend in a gushing birthday tribute in December. The supermodel and the jewelry designer were first romantically linked and went public with their romance late last year at a party in Art Basel in Miami. Previously, Palmer was married to Australian model Ashley Hart for two years before they called it quits in 2017. Ambrosio was previously engaged to American businessman Jamie Mazur from 2008 to 2018. They share daughter Anja, 16, and son Noah, 12. Between her relationships with ex-fiance Mazur and current boyfriend Palmer, she dated to Nicolo Oddi from 2018 to 2020 and model Richard Lee from 2021 to 2023. Christina Haack's fans think her estranged husband Josh Hall's new girlfriend looks just like her. Hall went Instagram official with model Stephanie Gabrys, 35, on Monday, sharing a loved-up snap of them to his Stories. It came after Haack, 41, said she and her ex are 'not even close' to resolving their separation after they each filed for divorce in July, and will be heading to court. However Hall, 44, brushed off their divorce drama in his latest snap, flashing a bright smile as he wished the Nahville-based bikini model a happy birthday. Sharing a snap of the influencer sitting on his lap in front of a fire pit, he wrote, 'Happy 35th to this real life [angel emoji].' Haack's fans were quick to point out that the runway beauty looked very similar to the Flip or Flop star, even calling her a 'clone.' Christina Haack's, 41, (L) fans think her estranged husband Josh Hall's new girlfriend Stephanie Gabrys, 35 (R) looks just like her 'Wow he certainly has a type,' a number of fans wrote. 'Hes got a type, another on concurred. Other fans noted both ladies are blondes. 'Soooo he is with the new one based on her looks and blonde hair..that will last!' Another fan asked, 'Why do all her ex's go to clones of her?' Others congratulated Josh on his newfound love, calling Gabrys a 'babe.' A source recently told Us Weekly of Hall's new romance: 'Josh met someone wonderful in Nashville, and they have been happily dating for some time.' 'Josh wasn't trying to date, but he met someone, and it was a perfect match.' 'He hasn't made a show of the relationship, but it's not a secret,' the insider dished. 'Josh is just low-key. He is very happy with his life and looking forward to 2025 and what's on the horizon.' 'This is the happiest he's been in some time,' the source claimed. Haack's fans were quick to point out that the bikini model looked very similar to the Flip or Flop star, after Hall debuted their romance online Stephanie has modeled on the runway for events such as Miami Swim Week and other projects over the years The beauty also splits her time between cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Nashville Hall went Instagram official with Gabrys on Monday, sharing a loved-up snap of them to his Stories Some of Haack's fans called the model a 'clone' of the reality TV star 'Wow he certainly has a type,' a number of fans wrote Some fans noted both ladies are blondes. 'Soooo he is with the new one based on her looks and blonde hair..that will last!' Others congratulated Josh on his newfound love, calling Gabrys a 'babe' Not much is known about Hall's new romance but he and Gabrys have been having flirty exchanges on Instagram for weeks. According to Us Weekly, the couple both posted from Big Sur, California during Hall's birthday in September. The outlet also reported that Gabrys once tagged Hall in an Instagram Story of a bouquet of flowers. She included the caption, 'You don't have to ask him if he loves you.' In October, Hall called Gabrys a 'smoke show' as he reacted to a sexy Instagram Reel of the model posing up on a beach. More recently, Gabrys showed public affection for Hall when she left a comment on his reflective New Year's post on Instagram. She called him a 'kind hearted man' and gushed over how 'proud' she is of him. 'Proud of you and the strong, patient, hard working, generous and kind hearted man you are! 2025 is going to be the best year yet!' the runway maven wrote. Stephanie has modeled on the runway for events such as Miami Swim Week and other projects over the years. On a recent episode of Jeff Lewis Live, Christina said she and her ex are 'not even close' to resolving their separation after they each filed for divorce in July The blonde beauty has secretly been dating a new man 'for months,' a source recently told DailyMail.com; she is seen January 10 Christina was formerly married to Ant Anstead, whom she said is now 'back on track' with; they are seen in 2019 The beauty also splits her time between cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Nashville. According to her LinkedIn page, Gabrys was born in Franklin, Tennessee and began her professional career as a commercial model in 2021. Beforehand, she was a visual merchandiser for luxury brand, Louis Vuitton, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbia College in Chicago. Haack and Hall filed for divorce one day apart last summer after celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary in April. Haack recently said on the Radio Andy show, 'Were going to be going to trial, I hear.' The HGTV star added sarcastically, 'Its going to be fun. Cant wait,' and revealed that Hall 'doesnt want to do mediation.' On last Thursday's Jeff Lewis Live episode Christina bitterly dished, '[The court hasnt] ordered me yet but hes been asking me [for money]. Ive already had to give a little something but then he bought a Bentley. I gave him money to live and he bought a Bentley, but he also doesnt have a job, so.' The mother-of-three, who has already been divorced twice, asked that neither party receive spousal support and requested that Hall pay her lawyer fees. Hall is also seeking spousal support and asked for his ex to pay his attorney fees. Christina is mom to daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, nine, whom she shares with ex-husband Tarek El Moussa. She also shares five-year-old son Hudson with her other ex-husband, Ant Anstead. HGTV's The Flip Off stars Christina, her ex Tarek El Moussa and his wife Heather El Moussa. The show premieres on January 29 at 8/7c on HGTV The blonde beauty has secretly been dating a new man 'for months,' a source recently told DailyMail.com. Following Christina's chat with Jeff Lewis, a spokesperson for her soon-to-be ex-husband shared with Us Weekly, 'Hall is not available for comment, as hes continuing to live his life in the present and celebrating his beautiful new girlfriends birthday. 'With that said, its sad Christina must resort to low blows about her ex Josh to promote her new show. She should focus on her new boyfriend and stop talking about Josh. As the great Mariah Carey once sang, Why you so obsessed with me? We wish Christina the best.' It was added, 'Christina knows nothing about Joshs life, and its sad she keeps speculating. Her accusations are baseless.' Liz Hurley turned heads in a pink sequined figure-hugging gown as she attended the press night of Oliver! with her son Damian. The actress, 59, was among the stars who stepped out for the press night performance and after party at The Prince of Wales Theatre on London's West End on Tuesday. Liz looked typically glamorous for the outing as she arrived in a pink figure-hugging midi-dress, which was completely adorned in sequins. The dress was complete with long sleek sleeves and a high neckline and she paired it with silver barely-there heels. Liz accessorised for the evening with a dark red patent clutch bag and pink sequin hoop earrings to match her gown. She was joined on the red carpet by her son Damian, 22, as the pair posed alongside broadcaster Angela Rippon, 80. Liz Hurley turned heads in a pink sequined figure-hugging gown as she attended the press night of Oliver! with her son Damian The actress, 59, was among the stars who stepped out for the press night performance and after party at The Prince of Wales Theatre on London's West End on Tuesday Damian oozed style as he sported a pair of striking tiger print low-rise jeans and a longline leather coat. He paired the look with pointed leather boots, a sheer black t-shirt and a silver chain necklace with a cross pendant. Liz has been helping her son Damian - her only child from a former relationship with American businessman Steve Bing - forge his own path as a budding film director. Debut feature Strictly Confidential - both written and directed by the 22-year old - was released to lukewarm reviews in 2023. Much of the criticism revolved around Hurley herself, whose starring role in the film includes a raunchy lesbian sex scene with a woman 30-years her junior - filmed by her son. 'It's quite interesting because I'm a single mother and he's a single child, so we, by default, spend a huge amount of time together,' she explained last month. 'When he was really young, he became fascinated with my business. He started doing stills and making mini movie when he was nine or ten. I gave him a camcorder, and he made me star in all his films. 'I was always playing the Evil Queen. My mum was in them, Hugh was in them, my ex-husband, everybody had to be in his movies, as he progressed through baby movies into more grown up features. Liz looked typically glamorous for the outing as she arrived in a pink figure-hugging midi-dress, which was completely adorned in sequins The dress was complete with long sleek sleeves and a high neckline and she paired it with silver barely-there heels She was joined on the red carpet by her son Damian, 22, as the pair posed alongside broadcaster Angela Rippon, 80 Damian oozed style as he sported a pair of striking tiger print low-rise jeans and a longline leather coat He paired the look with pointed leather boots, a sheer black t-shirt and a silver chain necklace with a cross pendant Liz has been helping her son Damian - her only child from a former relationship with American businessman Steve Bing - forge his own path as a budding film director 'Hes actually been directing me for ten years anyway, so nothing really changed. I was just used to it' Liz became a household name overnight when she arrived arm-in-arm with Hugh Grant in a Versace gown to the Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere. And she credits their relationship for helping her navigate a pivotal time in her life. However the star recently admitted they no longer see each other - despite remaining firm friends following their amicable separation in 2000. Appearing at the Bazaar At Work summit in London last month, she said: 'I was with my ex, Hugh Grant, so it happened to both of us at the same time. Like me, he'd also worked a lot, and thought he was doing pretty well, until Four Weddings and a Funeral came out and suddenly it was completely different he was a phenomenon. 'The film was a massive success, and everything changed. But there was two of us and I think that massively helped. When youre suddenly thrust into the spotlight, your lives arent set up for it.' She added: 'You dont have any protection. It was alarming. The press was much ruder back in the 90s and 2000s than it is now. I truly believe that people aren't allowed to be as rude as they were then. Liz became a household name overnight when she arrived arm-in-arm with Hugh Grant in a Versace gown to the Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere However the star recently admitted they no longer see each other - despite remaining firm friends following their amicable separation in 2000 '[I] think it gives you a bond when you sort of go to the trenches with someone. I mean, he's married with five children. I hardly ever see him, but he's still very close to my heart.' Reflecting on her iconic dress - borrowed as a last minute favour from Dean Aslett, then Head of Womenswear and Atelier at Versace - Hurley admits she was stunned by the attention it received. 'It was very strange,' she recalled. 'Id been working for a few years, and in my mind, I thought I was quite famous I had been in a few things. 'To my family, I was a success; but I had no idea what it actually meant to really be in the public eye. That was a real shock to one's psyche.' Kevin Spacey was spotted at JFK International Airport after landing in New York City on Tuesday. The 65-year-old actor was all smiles while pushing a cart piled up with his suitcases after picking up his belongings at baggage claim. For his day of travel, he layered a bright orange shirt with an olive green, zip-up jacket. The House of Cards star donned black joggers and accessorized with a pair of tortoiseshell, wayfarer-style specs and a fedora. He was wheeling three check-ins and one carry-on suitcase as he headed outside to wait for his ride. This comes three months after revealed he was back to filming on an unknown project in Phoenix for the first time since his sexual assault trial acquittal in the UK over a year ago. Kevin Spacey was spotted at JFK International Airport after landing in New York City on Tuesday. The 65-year-old actor was all smiles while pushing a cart piled up with his suitcases after picking up his belongings at baggage claim The controversial actor appeared to be in high spirits since he returned to filming and his psychological thriller movie premiered late last year. In November, Spacey's Italian indie thriller The Contract, in which he stars as a character named 'The Devil,' premiered at the Cairo Film Festival. And about a year and a half ago, a London jury found him not guilty of all nine charges against him related to sexual assault. He faced accusations from four men spanning more than a decade during his tenure as the artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. Out of nine, Spacey was charged with seven counts of sexual assault. He was also charged with one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. Beginning in 2017, a series of startling allegations started mounting and his fall from public grace was set in motion when more than 30 men accused Spacey of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior. The two-time Oscar winner and once beloved actor denied all allegations, insisting the claims were 'madness' and accused the claimants of 'lying for money. Just several months before his trip to New York City, he shared a post revealing he returned to filming in Phoenix via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter. Last October, he posted a photo of him in Western-inspired attire and posing on a horse alongside the caption: 'A little beaten up but honored to be back on the horse. On location in Phoenix.' He was wheeling three check-ins and one carry-on suitcase as he headed outside to wait for his ride The controversial actor appeared to be in high spirits since he returned to filming and his psychological thriller movie premiered late last year. Just several months before his trip to New York City, he shared a post revealing he returned to filming in Phoenix He also tagged Piers Morgan in his tweet just shortly after he appeared on his show. During his past appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he broke down in tears while revealing he was near bankruptcy and was being forced to sell his home due to high legal fees He also tagged Piers Morgan in his tweet just shortly after he appeared on his show. During his past appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, he broke down in tears while revealing he was near bankruptcy and was being forced to sell his home due to high legal fees. He also revealed that his home in Baltimore had been put up for auction. The house was later sold for a discount at the foreclosure auction. Kevin explained that he owes 'many millions' and stated, 'Well I mean, you have some sense of legal bills. I still owe a lot of legal bills that I have not been able to pay.' However, in his October social media post, he said he was 'humbled' over a year after being cleared of sexually assaulting four men following a high-profile trial in which Sir Elton John gave evidence in his defense. He was overcome with emotion when the jury at London's Southwark Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. Paris Hilton shared some positive news about her work aiding LA fire victims, following the heartbreaking loss of her own Malibu home. The 43-year-old hotel heiress posted an update via Instagram on Tuesday about the emergency fund she and her nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact set up to help displaced families and their pets. In just 72 hours, weve raised $800K for the displaced families of the Los Angeles fires. Lets push to $1 million! Thank you to everyone who has shown your support for our city! she wrote. Hilton also mentioned shes already donated $150,000 into GoFundMes Wildfire Relief Fund to provide immediate cash help to 150 families in Altadena who lost their homes 'Cash assistance provides dignity and choice,' Hilton explained. 'Families know best what they need right nowwhether its clothes, shelter, or medicine. Together, were helping families rebuild on their own terms and gain stability during this devastating time.' Along with her financial support, Paris also pitched in to help the Pasadena Humane Society reunite a cat separated from its family by the Eaton Fire, which destroyed their home. Paris Hilton shared some positive news about her work aiding LA fire victims , following the heartbreaking loss of her own Malibu home The 43-year-old hotel heiress posted an update via Instagram on Tuesday about the emergency fund she and her nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact set up to help displaced families and their pets The cat was found after the fire tore through neighborhoods in Altadena, and Paris visited the shelter to check on the kitty, asking her fans to help find its owner. Along with her major donation, Hilton revealed that she will match 'additional dollars raised up to $100,000 more' and plans to volunteer in person. The mother-of-two wrote: 'My heart is with everyone impacted by the devastating fires here in LA. While I've lost my Malibu home, my thoughts are with the countless families who have lost so much more their homes, cherished keepsakes, the communities they loved, and their sense of stability. 'As a mom, I can't imagine the pain and fear of not having a safe place for your babies so I'm launching an emergency fund through my nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact to support displaced families with young children. 'I'm starting with a personal contribution of $100,000, and will be matching additional dollars raised up to $100,000 more. I am looking for others to donate and match alongside me to do our part!' Over 130,000 people have been forced to evacuate as wildfires continue to devastate Southern California, with at least 24 lives lost so far. For some A-listers, the destruction has hit way too close to home, as their multi-million dollar mansions have been wiped out by the flames. Celebrities like Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Miles Teller, Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, and Jen Atkin are among those whove tragically lost their homes in the fires. Hilton also mentioned shes already put $150,000 into GoFundMes Wildfire Relief Fund to provide immediate cash help to 150 families in Altadena who lost their homes Along with her financial support, Paris also pitched in to help the Pasadena Humane Society reunite a cat separated from its family by the Eaton Fire, which destroyed their home Paris' emergency fund for wildfire victims comes after she reacted to her waterfront Malibu home burning to the ground on live television; Paris and Carter seen Along with her major donation, Hilton revealed that she will match 'additional dollars raised up to $100,000 more' and plans to volunteer in person; (seen in October) Paris' wildfire relief fund was set up following the loss of her own Malibu property, which burned down live on TV. She and her husband, Carter Reum, had lived in the 3,000-square-foot beachfront house for nearly four years before it was destroyed by the Palisades fire on Wednesday. The couple bought the home for $8.4 million in June 2021, according to Realtor.com. Hilton, who has two one-year-old kids with Reum, shared her heartbreak on Instagram, calling the loss 'heartbreaking beyond words.' This home was where we built so many precious memories, Paris wrote. It's where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London. She went on to say, While the loss is overwhelming, I'm holding onto gratitude that my family is safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires. 'To all the people who have lost their homes, their memories, and their beloved pets, my heart aches for those still in harm's way or mourning greater losses. Sofia Vergara has set off a swirl of romance rumors with Formula One megastar Lewis Hamilton, as the pair were spotted having lunch in New York. The 52-year-old Modern Family star and the 40-year-old racing driver were seated next to each other at a restaurant table where they were joined by friends. Observers claimed that Sofia hardly ate any of the food in front of her, as she was so engrossed in the table talk, according to TMZ. Outside the restaurant, she and Lewis could be spotted grinning broadly and chatting with one another before she slipped into an SUV and left. Both of the celebrities appeared to be in bright spirits as they spoke to one another on the sidewalk after the lunch, which is said to have lasted two hours. Over the years, Sofia has romanced a number of younger men, including her second husband Joe Manganiello, 48, and ex-fiance Nick Loeb, 49. Sofia Vergara has set off a swirl of romance rumors with Formula One megastar Lewis Hamilton, as the pair were seen having lunch in New York Meanwhile Lewis famously carried on an on-off relationship with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger from 2007 until their final split in 2015. In the decade since, he has been linked to supermodels Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, and found himself denying romance rumors with Rihanna. There has also been unconfirmed speculation connecting him to such names as Rita Ora, Winnie Harlow, Barbara Palvin and Nicki Minaj. Sofia is last known to have dated orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, but this past October she revealed that she was single again. She was first spotted out with Justin in October 2023, and the pair were seen on several dates since before she divulged she was back on the market. Sofia was asked about dating in New York versus Los Angeles and said she 'was talking yesterday about it because now Im single sokind of single,' via Us Weekly. At the Golden Globes this month, she said her goals for the new year were 'health,' 'money,' and 'a boyfriend - or a lover maybe,' to Access Hollywood. Justin was the first boyfriend Sofia was known to have had since the collapse of her marriage to Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello in 2023. She is last known to have dated orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman, but this past October she revealed that she was single again Justin is the first boyfriend Sofia is known to have had since the collapse of her marriage to Magic Mike beefcake Joe Manganiello in 2023; Sofia and Joe seen in 2015 Between marriages, she dated actor Nick Loeb for two years before getting engaged to him in 2012, only for them to break up in 2014; pictured in 2014 Sofia and Joe tied the knot in 2015 when she was at the height of her international stardom as Gloria Pritchett on Modern Family. She was previously married in the early 1990s to her high school sweetheart Joe Gonzalez, with whom she welcomed her 33-year-old son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara. Between marriages, she dated actor Nick Loeb for two years before getting engaged to him in 2012, only for them to break up in 2014. After their split, Sofia and Nick plunged into a legal battle over two fertilized embryos that they produced through in vitro fertilization and kept cryogenically frozen. Nick first sued Sofia in 2015 in order to obtain custody of the embryos and bring them to term, triggering a years long feud in the courts. He began their legal fight in California but then shifted it to Louisiana, where the law regards embryos as separate human beings with their own rights. Sofia scored a victory against Nick in 2021 when a Los Angeles judge granted a permanent injunction against his using the embryos without her consent. The ruling accused Nick's lawyers of 'blatantly engaging in forum shopping,' attempting to get the case into a court that would lean in his favor. Meanwhile Lewis famously carried on an on-off relationship with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger from 2007 until their final split in 2015; the pair are seen in 2009 At the beginning of last year, Sofia claimed she and Joe split up because he wanted to have children whereas she 'didnt want to be an old mom,' via El Pais. Joe, however, staunchly disputed her version of events, saying that he and Sofia 'did try to have a family for the first year and a half' but that he 'swore to her that I would never leave if it didnt work out. And I didnt.' He maintained that the subject of children 'wasnt inevitably why everything ended,' saying the divorce took place 'because two people grew apart, and sometimes that happens,' in an interview with Men's Journal. 'To be painted as if I had some sort of midlife crisis, and after nine years, turned to somebody and gave them an ultimatum of: "Do this potentially unhealthy thing to your body, or else Im gone?" Thats never who I was,' he insisted. Angelina Jolie's son Knox towered over his mother during a family grocery run on Tuesday. The 16-year-old, whose father is Brad Pitt, was a good head taller than his mother while shopping at Lazy Acres with Jolie and his twin sister Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 16. The trio were seen arriving to the health food store before emerging carrying bags of groceries. Knox clutched a watermelon in addition to a grocery bag. As usual, Angelina, 49, exuded sophistication in a tan coat paired with ankle-length black dress and matching flats. The Tomb Raider star worked her usual pair of large sunglasses and let her blonde hair cascaded down in a straight style. Her essentials were fashionably toted about in a quilted black clutch. It comes after just weeks after Angelina and Brad finalized their divorce at the end of last year. Angelina Jolie 's son Knox towered over his mother during a family grocery run on Tuesday Now Angelina is set to walk away $80 million richer after dragging Brad 'through the ringer' in their eight-year divorce battle. The A-list stars, who met while filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004, finalized their divorce this week despite their bitter court battle over Chateau Miraval - the French chateau and vineyard they once jointly owned - still ongoing. A source told DailyMail.com that Brad, 61, is 'relieved that this weight is finally lifted from him. He is no longer bound in any way to his marriage with Angelina. She has really put him through the ringer and he is just glad this portion is done.' Brad - who makes $20 to $30 million per movie, has several multi-million business ventures and sponsorship deals, a vast real estate portfolio, and other lucrative investments - has a net worth of $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Angelina, 49, is still one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, earning between $20 million and $35 million per film, Cosmopolitan reported. She also launched her own arts and fashion collective, Atelier Jolie, last year, but little is known about the company's finances. The former spouses signed a prenuptial agreement prior to their 2014 marriage that stated in the event of a divorce, they agreed to keep the individual assets that they each had prior to their marriage and split their joint capital. As usual, Angelina exuded sophistication in a tan coat paired with ankle-length black dress and matching flats The family emerged with multiple bags of groceries However, it appears that the divorce itself has proved to be quite lucrative for the Maria actress. Two years after their split, in 2018, Brad loaned Angelina $8 million to buy the Los Angeles mansion that she currently lives in. At the time he had paid over $1.3 million in bills for her and their six kids - Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16. A source has since told DailyMail.com: 'Jolie will be repaying the $8 million house loan by January 31.' In 2021, Angelina sold a Winston Churchill painting for $11.5 million at an auction for Christie's. The painting, titled Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque, was a gift to Angelina by Brad and is believed to be Churchill's only World War II-era landscape. The bulk of her post-divorce earnings came in 2021, when she sold 50 percent of the Chateau Miraval estate to Tenute del Mondo, the wine division the Stoli Group, for $64 million. It comes after just weeks after Angelina and Brad finalized their divorce at the end of last year; pictured 2015 'They purchased Miraval with the intent of keeping it 100 percent in the family,' a source close to Brad said. 'They were going to hand this down for their children so that one day they could run the business, and it would provide all of them a lucrative and stable future.' Angelina's attorney told DailyMail.com of the divorce: 'More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. 'She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. 'This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.' The former couple, best known as 'Brangelina', share three biological children - Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16 - as well as their adopted children Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, and Zahara, 19; pictured 2015 Brad and Angelina did purchase a home together in the New Orleans French quarter in 2007 for $3.5 million, but according to velvetropers.com sold it after their divorce for $4.9 million. The couple also reportedly shared a superyacht, which they purchased for $323 million in 2014, the Mirror reported at the time. The name of the vessel was not released publicly and it is unclear if the pair ever sold it. The former couple, best known as 'Brangelina', share three biological children - Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne - as well as their adopted children Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, and Zahara, 19. Since their parents' bitter split, Zahara, Shiloh and Vivienne has all dropped Pitt from their last name. It has been reported that Maddox and Pax do not talk to their father - while it is believed that Knox and Vivienne still speak with the Fight Club star, though they have not been pictured with him in several years. Their bitter custody battle over their six children ended with Angelina retaining primary physical custody of their brood. Brad was granted visitation rights. The actor had originally sought a 50/50 arrangement relating to their six kids, but an insider told DailyMail.com in March this year that he was no longer contesting the matter. Court documents filed in 2018 showed that Brad has paid Angelina at least $9 million in child support. The children have reportedly not had any contact with Brad's wider family either, including his parents - William, 84, and Jane Pitt, 83. 'Brad Pitt's parents have not been able to see their beloved grandchildren for around eight years amid the ongoing divorce and legal battle between Brad and Angelina,' an insider previously told DailyMail.com. Jolie pictured at the 2025 Golden Globes The doting grandparents had been a very present fixture in the children's lives before Brad's marriage broke down, with the duo often pictured enjoying quality time with them. 'Prior to the separation, they were a part of the kids' lives and they all spent a lot of time together,' the source continued. 'It is just heartbreaking to see that this is no longer the case.' Brad and Angelina's fairytale marriage came to an end in 2016. It has since been alleged that the couple and their six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox, had taken a private plane days prior to her filing in which Pitt had become physically abusive. Jolie claimed in court filings that Pitt's 'history of physical abuse' started 'well before' the plane incident. The Maleficent actress also said her ex tried to force her to sign a $8.5 million NDA to cover up his 'years of abuse'. Pitt has always denied the claims of abuse and was cleared by law enforcement following an investigation. According to a source, 'Brad has come clean about what happened on the plane and he has worked hard on himself, getting sober and becoming a better man.' Brad has since got into a serious relationship with Ines de Ramon who he has been romantically linked to since 2022. Married at First Sight star Heidi Latcham has resurfaced on social media for the first time three years to share some life-changing news. The fan favourite bride from the reality TV juggernaut's sixth season revealed she is a mum. The 44-year-old returned to Instagram to share a carousel of photos of her growing baby girl. 'Look what we made!' she excitedly captioned the major life update. The collection of photos appear to have been taken from the time Heidi's daughter, whose name she has not shared, was born, until more recently. In one of the pictures, a handsome man who is presumably Heidi's partner, cradles her as a newborn. Married at First Sight star Heidi Latcham has resurfaced on social media for the first time three years to share some life-changing news - she is a mother The 44-year-old returned to Instagram to share a carousel of photos of her growing baby girl. In one of the pictures, a handsome man who is presumably Heidi's partner, cradles her as a newborn In the main photo, a bronzed Heidi is seen cuddling up to her baby girl in an outdoor chair. The former radio presenter retired from her post at 91.9 Sea FM in 2021 and has kept a very low-profile since her time on national television. In the comment section there was an outpouring of warm congratulations from friends, fans and fellow MAFS stars. 'Worlds biggest secret. Congratulations legend,' season six MAFS star Nic Jovanovic wrote. MAFS couple Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant also sent their love and well wishes, with Cam writing: 'So beautiful to see your smiling face & your gorgeous little one Congratulations hun x' 'Omg congratulations guys,' Martha Kalifatidis commented. Meanwhile, other Australian media personalities were more honest about their shock at the announcement. 'Wait what?! Wow!' comedian Nikki Osborne commented, while Lizzie Sobinoff thanked Heidi 'for sharing'. 'Look what we made!' Heidi excitedly captioned the major life update The collection of photos appear to have been taken from the time Heidi's daughter, whose name she has not shared, was born, until more recently The former radio presenter declined to share the name of her daughter, or her age, on social media, but said her girl is 'happy and healthy' Several of Heidi's friends commented that her daughter has gotten 'so big' now and her hair has grown 'so much' since they last saw her, indicating she may be one or even two-years-old. However, when one fan asked Heidi how old her child is in the comments, she politely dodged the question. 'She's all happy and healthy, thank you,' she wrote back with a heart emoji. Heidi was 'married' to Mike Gunner in the show's explosive 2019 season. Mike and Heidi's passionate yet chequered romance saw the couple lock horns on a number of occasions, with Heidi frequently left hurt by his words. Back to reality: Heidi shot to fame by 'marrying' Mike Gunner (pictured) on Married At First Sight's sixth season in 2019 A prevalent accusation from Australian and UK MAFS fans was that Mike 'gaslit' Heidi with his words. This started very early on during their honeymoon, when Heidi gave a heartbreaking insight into her difficult childhood, to which Mike said: 'I'm not your therapist'. After facing many roadblocks during their relationship due to communication, or lack thereof, the pair decided to go their separate ways. Despite receiving a general warm and positive reaction, the former electrician was criticised for failing to listen to Heidi and for allegedly shutting her down when she tried to broach emotional topics of discussion. Mike said after the show: ''I have done a lot of interviews and I have received a lot of criticism. I received comments like, I am 'gaslighting', I am a 'narcissist'... 'Other people's insecurities don't concern me... If they want to cast labels like that on me then that is a reflection of their own poor judgement, not mine.' MAFS will soon return to Australian TV screens for its 12th season, after it was revealed a staggering six cast members quit after the first two weeks of filming. An ABC news reporter spent just one night in her 'dream home' before it burned down in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Over the weekend, Zohreen Shah, a Los Angeles-based correspondent, opened up about her story of loss after the Palisades Fire burned down her newly-purchased house. In a joint Instagram post with her husband Rishi Shah, she reflected on how they just closed on the coastal property less than a month ago and had just started moving in. She explained that they spent only one night in their house, which they spent six years looking for until they finally found the 'perfect' one, before it burned down. Alongside photos of their 'sanctuary' and the ruins that remains, the reporter described the heartbreaking loss as she made note of how much she sacrificed just to save up for the down payment. She pointed out how much hard work she put into achieving her 'dream of having what my parents didn't have' because her mother and father never owned a home. An ABC news reporter spent just one night in her 'dream home' before it burned down in the devastating Los Angeles fires . Over the weekend, Zohreen Shah, a Los Angeles-based correspondent, opened up about her story of loss after the Palisades Fire burned down her newly-purchased house 'I lost my home in the fires. It's a total loss,' she wrote in the caption of a joint Instagram post with her husband Rishi Shah as she shared photos of the ruins of what used to be their 'dream home.' She explained that she and her husband finally found the coastal property in November and closed on it over the holiday season on Christmas Eve. They had just moved in before the fire burned down their new home in the Pacific Palisades. 'We started moving in last week. Over and over, I told Rishi I couldn't believe this sanctuary was ours. We spent one night there. Just one.' She continued: 'It was magical. We dreamed of retiring in that same home. Just five minutes from PCH, yet it felt like another planet. 'Deer walked up to the home, the birds sounded like a tropical island, and the ocean view was the California dream,' she wrote. 'We had peach, nectarine, lemon, and avocado trees and a small enclosure for lettuce and strawberries, safe from wildlife. 'But it was more than all that,' she added. 'It was the culmination of Rishi's six-year search for the perfect coastal home. He found it in November and we closed on Xmas Eve. Alongside photos of their 'sanctuary' and the ruins that remains, the reporter described the heartbreaking loss as she made note of how much she sacrificed just to save up for the down payment In a joint Instagram post with her husband Rishi Shah, she reflected on how they just closed on the coastal property less than a month ago and had just started moving in She explained that they spent only one night in their house, which they spent six years looking for until they finally found the 'perfect' one, before it burned down She explained that she and her husband finally found the coastal property in November and closed on it over the holiday season on Christmas Eve They had just moved in before the fire burned down their new home in the Pacific Palisades. She said she was 'so proud' that she saved enough for the down payment after sacrificing traveling and having children She said that her friends have told them that they can now rebuild 'the way we want' but the house was 'already perfect' to her. Shah acknowledged that they are 'very lucky' they are safe but admitted that they are still 'so d*** sad' She said she was 'so proud' that she saved enough for the down payment after sacrificing traveling and having children. She reflected on how she worked really hard because her mother and father never owned a home and she worked hard 'with the dream of having what my parents didn't have.' 'I cook most meals at home, I haven't had kids yet, and I don't travel for fun. Because of this, over years, I saved enough for 20% of our down payment,' she wrote. 'I was so proud. And then just like that after years of working and saving, it was gone.' She said that her friends have told them that they can now rebuild 'the way we want' but the house was 'already perfect' to her. Shah acknowledged that they are 'very lucky' they are safe but admitted that they are still 'so d*** sad.' 'I ping-pong between feeling like a stronger, wiser version of myself and curling up into a scared, 4-year-old version,' she wrote. 'I'm also scared because this isn't even over.' Then, she said she has 'questions and demands' as she called out insurance companies and politicians. 'I'm determined to find answers. This journey is personal. I hope when people see me on TV or TikTok, they know they're watching someone who saw her dream home turn to rubble and is fighting to build it back again.' Last Tuesday, wildfires erupted in the Pacific Palisades and quickly grew into many catastrophic blazes across the greater Los Angeles area due to dangerous winds and severe drought conditions; Pacific Palisades pictured January 7 Exactly a week later, the fires have ravaged more than 37,000 acres and burned down over 12,000 structures as thousands of heroic firefighters continue battling the dangerous wildfires. At least 25 people have died in the devastating fires; Pacific Palisades pictured January 14 Last Tuesday, wildfires erupted in the Pacific Palisades and quickly grew into many catastrophic blazes across the greater Los Angeles area due to dangerous winds and severe drought conditions. Exactly a week later, the fires have ravaged more than 37,000 acres and burned down over 12,000 structures as thousands of heroic firefighters continue battling the dangerous wildfires. About 88,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders and another 84,000 are under evacuation warnings. At least 25 people have died in the devastating fires. At the time of this reporting, the Palisades Fire is at 18 percent containment while the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena is at 35 percent containment. Bozoma Saint John revealed she underwent surgery to remove a 'grapefruit-sized' fibroid and various other smaller uterine fibroids, on Tuesday. During an appearance on the After Show, the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star shared she scheduled the serious procedure in hopes to welcome a child with her boyfriend Keely Watson in the future. 'Fibroid surgery was so, it was a scary thing, because who wants to have surgery?' she told her RHOBH co-star costar Dorit Kemsley. Though she admitted it was not an emergency surgery, the businesswoman claimed she went through with it to regain control of her reproductive health and as a precaution. She added: 'Honestly, you know, when I had been discussing my fibroids with my doctor, anyway, it wasn't a life threatening situation where it's like, "Okay, look, if you don't have it, this is going to happen to you." 'I know that there are a lot of women who have very severe symptoms of their fibroids. I wasn't one of those people. However, they were large, they were growing. And I just felt like, why wait until some other point where I don't have a choice in order to do it?' Bozoma Saint John revealed she underwent surgery to remove a 'grapefruit-sized' fibroid and various other smaller uterine fibroids, on Tuesday 'Fibroid surgery was so, it was a scary thing, because who wants to have surgery?' she told her RHOBH co-star costar Dorit Kemsley Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus. Symptoms include painful menstrual bleeding, lower back pain, constipation, frequent urination and pain during intercourse. Per the Mayo Clinic, the number, size, and location of the fibroids can impact fertility and may affect can affect pregnancy outcomes. Uterine fibroids typically occur in women between 30 and 50-years-old. Later in the sit down, the 47-year-old former chief marketing officer of Netflix admitted that she is committed to growing her family because she is 'not getting any younger.' The raven-haired beauty already shares a 15-year-old daughter, Lael Saint John, with her late husband Peter Saint John. 'Then on top of it, it's like, again, I'm not getting any younger. If I'm having these conversations with Keely,' she explained. 'And I truly believe that we have the opportunity to create a bigger family, then why not do it right now? 'With the fibroids, I have zero chance [at conceiving]. Also, I want a shot. I want a shot at it. So then I gotta choose to do it.' When asked how many fibroids she had, the star confirmed 12 were removed from her uterus, saying that one 'was the size of a grapefruit.' Her shocking revelation comes mere days after Bozoma revealed her Malibu home was devoured by the Pacific Palisades fire amid the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. She scheduled the serious procedure in hopes to welcome a child with her boyfriend Keely Watson in the future; seen October 2024 Though she admitted it was not an emergency surgery, the businesswoman claimed she went through with it to regain control of her reproductive health and as a precaution; seen November 2023 The raven-haired beauty already shares a 15-year-old daughter, Lael Saint John, with her late husband Peter Saint John; seen in a throwback snap The executive-turned-reality star reportedly purchased the 2,501 square foot house for $5.2 million in 2021, according to Redfin and Traded. She lived in the home with her daughter Lael before it was lost in the flames. 'This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for,' she wrote in a heartbroken Instagram post Thursday. 'The house that I put a key pad instead of a key hole in the front door because I wanted all my family and friends to have a code and use the house whenever they wanted,' she added. 'This is the house where I found peace after battling with racist neighbors and a community that made me have to buy it in a trust within a trust so no one would know that widowed, single Black woman with a teenager was buying on the exclusively-held beach,' the star alleged. 'This was my EFF YOU Im here house.' Bozoma revealed her Malibu home was devoured by the Pacific Palisades fire amid the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles; she shared this image of surrounding damage More than 100,000 residents of the City of Angels were forced to flee their homes and 24 have been confirmed dead as scattered blazes have continued to pop up in Southern California; Palisades Fire seen January 8, 2025 She concluded her message: 'It is gone. This is an unimaginable loss. I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns and even though Ive found even words to write here, theres nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling. I ask for your prayer for Lael and I. God bless you.' More than 100,000 residents of the City of Angels were forced to flee their homes and 24 have been confirmed dead as scattered blazes have continued to pop up in Southern California. Among those impacted were several A-listers who lost their million-dollar mansion though most of the people affected by the fires are neither famous nor wealthy. Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Miles Teller, Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Jen Atkin are among those whose homes have been destroyed by the rapidly advancing inferno. A college in Belfast will make sure students will focus and interact socially in the campus. To make this happen, Victoria College provided magnetic phone pouches for its 900 pupils. The pouches will safely store mobile phones, among other "distracting" gadgets, such as smartwatches, and earbuds in school. School Principal, Karen Quinn, shared that this would encourage responsible use of phones so that the students become "good communicators." According to BBC, students will carry their devices into school and store them in a pouch. This pouch is locked magnetically so when phones are needed for activities during the school day, the teacher unlocks it. By the end of the school day, the student may unlock their pouch with magnets stationed around the school. In this manner, students are allowed to carry their phones to school, yet minimize its usage time during school hours. Why Should Cellphones Be Banned in School? Principal Quinn emphasized that unsupervised and unlimited access to phones during school time brings negative effects to students' engagement in learning, social interactions, and mental health. Limiting phone access is a response to these challenges, showing them the responsible use of technology, rather than provide a blanket ban on it. Students were introduced to the plan at an assembly. Though some feel nervous about the policy, others are interested and even share suggestions with staff. The school has invited pupils to be open-minded and take part in how the policy will be implemented. Last year, The Guardian reported that a Parliament member urged schools to place a statutory ban on smartphones in campuses, but Victoria College decided to adopt the pouch system even before the government recommended the same. The school has funded the initiative from its budget, with each pouch costing less than a typical textbook. Principal Quinn admitted that the choice is a financial strain on school budgets but this is a priority investment. With this policy, the Belfast-based college hopes its approach will create better learning environments, improve the well-being of students, and promote positive social engagement among its pupils. Married at First Sight bride Belinda Vickers stunned onlookers when she hit a Queensland beach on Monday. The 31-year-old beauty left little to the imagination as she flaunted her lithe figure in an eye-watering G-string bikini with fiance Hayden Burbank on Noosa's Main Beach. The racy blue swimwear featured a modest bikini top paired with head-turning bottoms that featured tie-up detailing at the waist. Belinda, who has been engaged to Burbank for 11 months, wore her long frizzy hair tied up for her outing, and opted to go make up free. Meanwhile, Belinda's beau opted to cover up in a pair of striped boardshorts. The red-haired beauty and her millionaire lover took full advantage of the stunning weather and hit the surf for a refreshing dup. Married at First Sight star Belinda Vickers stunned onlookers when she hit a Queensland beach on Monday. Pictured The 31-year-old beauty left little to the imagination as she flaunted her lithe figure in an eye-watering G-string bikini with fiance Hayden Burbank (pictured) on Noosa's Main Beach The racy blue swimwear featured a modest bikini top paired with head-turning bottoms that featured tie-up detailing at the waist Once in the drink, they passionately embraced and locked lips, putting on a spirited pash-fest for onlookers. After their passionate paddle, the couple enjoyed a leisurely stroll on the beach before drying off with a spot of sun baking. Belinda and Hayden announced their engagement in 2024. 'She's been phenomenal for me, the most beautiful, kind soul I've ever met,' Hayden told the Herald Sun at the time. 'I had tears rolling down my face as I got down on one knee.' Hayden added his public proposal caught the attention of the public, who burst into applause after Belinda said yes and accepted his dazzling engagement ring. 'It was always yes. It was 12 months after MAFS that we met and it really led me to him and opened up new people for me meet,' Belinda said. The pair met in Melbourne through mutual friends in 2022. Belinda, who has been engaged to Burbank for 11 months, wore her long frizzy hair tied up for her outing, and opted to go make up free Meanwhile, Belinda's beau opted to cover up in a pair of striped boardshorts Once in the drink, they passionately embraced and locked lips, putting on a spirited pash-fest for onlookers In 2021, Mr Burbank was jailed for three months after breaking Covid rules during the height of the pandemic. He hopped the border into the Northern Territory before travelling to Western Australia to watch Melbourne Demons win at Perth Stadium. To dodge WA's strict border rules at the time, he falsified a rental agreement at a Darwin address while also fraudulently obtaining NT drivers' licences. Hayden owns the trendy Morris Jones bar in Melbourne, which is a hotspot for reality stars and glamorous influencers. Their relationship blossomed after the bar owner spent 90 days behind bars at WA's maximum security Hakea prison, which earned him the jailhouse nickname of 'border breacher'. Mr Burbank described his experience at one of Australia's toughest jails as 'the ultimate game of Survivor'. After their passionate paddle, the couple enjoyed a leisurely stroll on the beach before drying off with a spot of sun baking Belinda shielded her pale skin from the sun while laying on the beach The bar owner met Belinda in Melbourne through mutual friends in 2022 'You have to form alliances and not do anything stupid and get through each day by day,' he told the Saturday Herald Sun in March 2022. 'They are the longest days of your life. I'm not built for jail. Nobody is built for jail.' The Chapel St bar owner shared a cell with one of the prison's top dogs, a bikie, who would wake him up each morning and taunt: 'Border breacher, border breacher'. Belinda found fame on season eight of Married At First Sight. She and her on-screen husband Patrick Dwyer were deemed the 'golden couple' of the series but split up after nine months. Bill Hader was one of the many Pacific Palisades residents whose home was affected by the massive LA fires, though his home is thankfully still standing. The 46-year-old actor plunked down $4.2 million for the home in 2019, and while most of the homes around him are in rubble, his managed to survive. 'I'm like in shock, but I'm glad my family got out. You know, I feel this is such a great community and I really am at a loss for words,' Hader told KTLA. He added that, 'this happened so insanely fast. It's kind of mind-boggling how fast it happens, so I just hope everybody is safe. That's all you can hope right now.' The Palisades fire is still burning with nearly 24,000 acres burned and it's only at 18% containment. With a new wind warning in affect for many Southern California areas, Hader issued a warning to fellow Angelenos if more evacuation orders are issued. Bill Hader was one of the many Pacific Palisades residents whose home was affected by the massive LA fires , though his home is thankfully still standing The 46-year-old actor plunked down $4.2 million for the home in 2019, and while most of the homes around him are in rubble, his managed to survive The Palisades fire is still burning with nearly 24,000 acres burned and it's only at 18% containment 'If you get an evacuation notice, just leave. I do know people who were like "Well, wait and see" and things like, "Im in the yellow zone" or whatever,' Hader said. He added, 'This thing, once it went red, you couldnt get out. Dont listen to your friends who are like "Ah, youre being a little freaked out." Just get out.' The actor said he wasn't at home when the fire first started spreading on January 7, but he tried to rush home as soon as he learned. 'I got a video showing the fire and rushed back, but by the time I got back it was gridlocked (traffic),' Hader said. 'I'm like in shock but I'm just glad my family got out. I feel this is such a great community and it's just... I really am like at a loss for words,' Hader said. 'I mean, this happened so insanely fast. It's kind of mind-boggling how fast it happens, so I just hope everybody is safe,' Hader said, adding, 'That's all you can hope right now, that everybody's safe.' 'People keep saying "unreal," it does. It doesnt seem real. Im sorry Im in shock. Its just gone. Everything,' Hader said. 'Alphabet streets, which is, to me, kind of the heart of the Palisades, this beautiful beautiful area is gone. The whole thing is gone,' Hader said. 'If you get an evacuation notice, just leave. I do know people who were like "Well, wait and see" and things like, "Im in the yellow zone" or whatever,' Hader said He added, 'This thing, once it went red, you couldnt get out. Dont listen to your friends who are like "Ah, youre being a little freaked out." Just get out' He added, 'This thing, once it went red, you couldnt get out. Dont listen to your friends who are like "Ah, youre being a little freaked out." Just get out' The actor and writer purchased the home in 2019, a year after his split with his ex-wife, film director Maggie Carey, who he shares three daughters with. The two-story home features five bedrooms along with an office, four full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. The 4,300-square-foot home also features a a wood-floored formal sitting room along with a small fireplace and huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Outdoor amenities include a built-in grilling station along with an above-ground pool and spa. Georgia Harrison has taken a cruel swipe at ex Casey O'Gorman as he made his return for the third time into the Love Island All Stars villa on Tuesday night. ITV shared the exciting news on social media as Casey made his controversial return to the South African series and his ex Georgia couldn't resist commenting. She wrote: 'Grandad said good luck.' Georgia's hilarious swipe is in reference to the time she claimed to Casey that she had seen his late grandfather's presence while at a spiritual retreat, which Casey took offence to and 'ghosted' her. However Georgia's latest comment has left All Star winner Tom Clare bitter as he swooped in to defend his friend. Hitting back, Tom penned: 'Very insensitive thing to say? He was so close with his grandad.' Georgia Harrison has taken a cruel swipe at ex Casey O'Gorman as he made his return for the third time into the Love Island All Stars villa on Tuesday night ITV shared the exciting news on social media as Casey made his controversial return to the South African series and his ex Georgia couldn't resist commenting She wrote: 'Grandad said good luck' Later, Georgia's best pal Kaz Crossley had a very fiery row with new bombshell Casey just minutes after his arrival into the villa. Casey entered the show minutes after Ekin-Su Culculoglu stole Curtis Pritchard from Kaz - with him surprising everyone by sneaking onto the villa's balcony. Soon they all gathered around to welcome him and chat but Kaz immediately seemed aggravated as Casey began to explain what his type of girl was like. She pointed out that she is friends with Georgia Harrison, who he had fling with in the past before they then came face to face again in All Stars series one. Kaz said to Casey in front of all the other Islanders: 'I've heard you've have been with a lot of girls. That puts me off.' While he described his ideal woman Kaz savagely remarked: 'Love Island girls outside the Villa, too.' Casey didn't take it well and the pair began to argue with Kaz declaring: 'Georgia is one of my friends and you didn't treat her well.' But Casey challenged her, saying it was just something 'you heard' - but Kaz doubled down saying he had 'f**ked over' her friend. Georgia's hilarious swipe is in reference to the time she told Casey that she had seen his late grandfather in a sweet gesture, which Casey took pretty badly and 'ghosted' her However Georgia's latest comment has left All Star winner Tom Clare (L) bitter as he swooped in to defend his friend, he penned: 'Very insensitive thing to say? He was so close with his grandad' It comes hours after her best friend Kaz Crossley had a very fiery row with new bombshell Casey just minutes after his arrival into the villa Kaz immediately seemed aggravated as Casey began to explain what his type of girl was like and she pointed out that she is friends with Georgia Harrison, who he had fling with in the past Last year, Casey and Georgia addressed the viral 'dead grandad' moment during the first All Stars series leaving ITV viewers in hysterics. She claimed to see the ghost of his dead grandad in a bizarre chat as he told her that it was 'a bit too much' that she made the comments about his late relative when she rang him from a spiritual retreat. She defended herself saying: 'I just was on the retreat and I thought I felt a presence that was still around!' Georgia later broke her silence on the conversation she had with Casey on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It's Right podcast, and slammed him for bringing it up on TV. She said: 'I need to speak on that situation - there's so much around the entire thing that I don't think is being conveyed and this is actually what happened. 'I'd done a week at a meditation retreat and it's really intense and I felt that I was getting a sense from people who have passed over in my family, in my life, that there is another world. 'It might be a bit far-fetched, and it might not be for everyone, but I genuinely believe, having lost my ex and my best friend over the last couple of years, that I do, at times, have signs that they're there.' She added: 'When I was dating Casey we'd spoken multiple times about how it was really hard for him having just lost his nan and granddad, so what I was trying to say was I really think that they're still with you. Last year, Georgia claimed to see the ghost of his dead grandad in a bizarre chat as he told her that it was 'a bit too much' that she made the comments when she rang him from a spiritual retreat She defended herself saying: 'I just was on the retreat and I thought I felt a presence that was still around!' 'I think they're still on your journey. I wasn't saying, just bumped into your dead granddad in Tesco's. He's looking fly! 'I think in my head I thought we'd get back together and we'd end up seeing each other on the show because the way he left things was like, look, this is killing me. 'I'm really going to miss you. But instead of just explaining to me how he felt about the granddad stuff, why did he wait a month and a half to do that and then drop that bomb on national television when all he had to do was be honest?' Love Island returns Wednesday night at 9pm on ITV and ITVX Before he made his sensational return to the Love Island villa, Curtis Pritchard was no stranger to ITV viewers, having formed an unlikely romance with Maura Higgins. The pair stunned viewers when they shared their mutual attraction on the show back in 2019, and went onto date for eight months before splitting in March 2020. While Maura has since moved on with a string of other relationships, Curtis has brought their romantic history firmly to the front of viewers' minds during his appearance on Love Island: All Stars. The dancer has taken a string of swipes at his ex, and admitted on the show that she 'totally blanked him' when they crossed paths. In the villa, Curtis has also been pursuing bombshell Ekin-Su Culculoglu, and she was quick to reveal that she and Maura live in the same building. So as it seems that Curtis can't escape the presence of Maura, five years after their relationship ended, MailOnline takes a look at their romance... Surprise attraction Maura initially confessed to the other girls that she had a crush on Curtis, but it took a string of setbacks before the pair were finally able to be in a couple together While at times Maura struggling to pin down Curtis on his feelings, they eventually made it to the final, finishing in fourth place When Maura entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell, Curtis expressed no initial interest in her, instead focusing his attention on 'half-girlfriend' Amy Hart. However, when their romance crumbled due to his behaviour in Casa Amor, Maura suddenly confessed that she was starting to fall for Curtis' charms. She told Lucie Donlan: 'I'd always look at him and think he's obviously gorgeous, his smile is like f****** hell, he's very manly and he's funny, he's almost the whole package for me.' While at times Maura struggling to pin down Curtis on his feelings, they eventually made it to the final, finishing in fourth place. Upon returning to the UK, Curtis shared that he quickly travelled to Ireland to meet Maura's family, writing on Instagram: 'Still can't believe we are out of the villa! Loving this journey with @maurahiggins and being in Ireland to meet her family and friends!' Shock split Curtis and Maura's relationship came to a shock end in March 2020, after just eight months together (pictured in September 2019) It was feared their relationship could be in trouble at the point of the National Television Awards when it was reported that the ex-couple had a heated argument behind-the-scenes Curtis and Maura's relationship came to a shock end in March 2020, after just eight months together. The split came as a surprise to some fans, thought it was later reported that the pair had a series of rows over her 'closeness' with her professional skating partner Alexander Demetriou while competing on Dancing On Ice. A source told The Sun: 'Maura spent hours and hours with Alex in rehearsals for weeks and they have got really close. 'They have grown very friendly and it's not gone unnoticed with the rest of the cast and crew or Carlotta. 'She is furious about their increasingly cosy relationship which has continued despite Maura being knocked out of the competition.' It was also reported that Maura felt pressured to stay in her relationship with Curties in a bid to boost their profile - claims that he strongly denied. It was feared their relationship could be in trouble at the point of the National Television Awards when it was reported that the ex-couple had a heated argument behind-the-scenes. Insiders said the dancer claimed him and Maura only secured the red carpet presenting gig at the ceremony because of his fame, despite the pair both rising to prominence on last year's Love Island. The Irish star is said to have told friends she felt 'used' and 'like a d*** for trusting him,' before leaving the party in tears. Awkward reunion Curtis and his ex-girlfriend Maura were forced to endure an awkward reunion as they crossed paths for the first time since their split in 2020 The former Love Island stars came face to face again when Curtis appeared on Love Island Games, which Maura co-hosted alongside Maya Jama While Maura and Curtis certainly cut ties after their romance ended, the pair were forced to come face-to-face in 2023. Curtis was a contestant on Love Island Games, which Maura, 34, co-hosted alongside Maya Jama. Maura was tasked with grilling axed Islanders about their time in the villa and among them was none other than Curtis. Before the cameras rolled, the former couple exchanged a brief and polite hello, asking about each other's families in a noticeably tense moment. 'Long time no see, Curtis,' Maura said before Curtis crumbled into a sheepish laugh. After the brief pleasantries, Maura wasted no time diving into the details of her ex's time on Love Island Games. 'It's a bit weird to be out,' Curtis told her, before revealing he's 'gutted' to have left so early in the contest. She then challenged him on his flirtatious behaviour with the other women in the villa, despite being matched with Lisa Celander. Brutal swipes In a recent interview, Maura described Curtis as a 'why not' man, explaining she only dated him due to there being limited options in the villa During his debut on Love Island: All Stars on Monday, Curtis revealed that Maura blanked him when they crossed paths Since their toe-curling reunion, Maura hasn't shied away from sharing her true thoughts on their romance. During a recent appearance on Paul Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast, Maura described Curtis as a 'why not' man, explaining she only dated him due to there being limited options in the villa. She said: 'When you're locked in a house, I say locked but you're in a house and you're in there for X amount of time. You're going to start liking people that you wouldn't normally like. 'Not to be mean but you are, you're in there. I'm pretty sure it would probably be the same on Big Brother. You're locked in a house; you're not seeing any other men. You're going to be like ''why not''.' During his debut on Love Island: All Stars on Monday, Curtis revealed that Maura blanked him when they crossed paths. Sharing his experience, Curtis said: 'We saw each other a couple of times, I said 'hello' and she just completely blanked me.' 'So I would say perhaps not best friends... Or friends, at all,' the dancer added with a cheeky grin. Last month it was revealed that Maura is said to be 'worried' that her ex Curtis might spill secrets about their past relationship when he appears on the upcoming series of Love Island: All-Stars. A source told The Sun: 'Curtis signing for All Stars is more than awkward for Maura just as she's fallen for Pete and they've finally gone public with their love. 'Her break-up with Curtis wasn't the best and Maura always worried he'd be the ex that could blab. It's also less than ideal when she's hoping to build on her I'm A Celebrity profile and advance her career. 'Love Island bosses are in the process of confirming the Islanders who will launch January's show and Curtis might not make that line-up but he is in the cast of bombshells to land later in the series.' Surprise link Since entering the villa, Curtis has been centre stage after being chosen by bombshell Ekin-Su to couple up with her During a candid chat in Tuesday's show, Ekin-Su then confessed that she lived in the same building as Curtis' ex Maura, leaving him squirming However, it seems that this close link won't stop Curtis from pursuing Ekin-Su, as a preview for Wednesday's episode showed the pair sharing a passionate kiss Ahead of his arrival in the villa, Curtis said he was looking to settle down and was hoping to find the love of his life in South Africa. 'I feel like I'm in a different stage in my life. The idea of settling down is a serious idea in my life right now. 'I haven't found my true love that sounds so cheesy doesn't it. So, I thought, let's give it another go. It was great fun last time; a lot of emotions. 'I feel excited to go back. I'm going to have a great fun time and hopefully leave with someone. It's exciting.' Since entering the villa, Curtis has been centre stage after being chosen by bombshell Ekin-Su to couple up with her. During a candid chat in Tuesday's show, Ekin-Su then confessed that she lived in the same building as Curtis' ex Maura, leaving him squirming. However, it seems that this close link won't stop Curtis from pursuing Ekin-Su, as a preview for Wednesday's episode showed the pair sharing a passionate kiss. Love Island star Maura Higgins says discussing her mental health struggles in public for the first time felt like a 'weight had been lifted.' The TV personality previously admitted she struggled with 'dark thoughts' after leaving her native Ireland and relocating to London, where she soon established a career in the media. During an emotional interview with Paul C. Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast in October, Higgins, 34, said she was thrust into the public eye with 'no-one she could trust' after her first appearance on Love Island in 2019. But she believes the decision to discuss her mental health battle so openly has been beneficial, despite her initial fears about opening up. She told Heart radio: 'I was absolutely petrified to open up about my mental health. I can be quite a closed book with like stuff like that, but Im glad I did it. 'I was very, very nervous to do it, but now Im like oh my God I should have done that a long time ago. Its like a weight lifted. Love Island star Maura Higgins says discussing her mental health struggles in public for the first time felt like a 'weight had been lifted' During an emotional interview with the We Need To Talk podcast in October, Higgins admitted she struggled with 'dark thoughts' after leaving her native Ireland and relocating to London 'I feel like its good to talk like everyone says this, but it actually does really, really help. You know, about any little thing in your life, its just good to open up.' Higgins also credited her mother Sharon for giving her an opportunity to offload whenever she's feeling low. She said: 'Mammys just always been an amazing support, like bless her, that woman is like my therapist. She has to hear it all. 'But its good, its good to have that close relationship, so you can just talk about whatever you want and let everything out.' Speaking in October, Higgins admitted she 'didn't want to be here anymore' after struggling to adjust to life outside the Love Island villa. 'I was chased by the paps everywhere I went. I had no clothes. I had a suitcase with just Love Island bikinis that were probably crusty,' she said. 'I had nothing, absolutely nothing. I was living out of a hotel in London because thats where all my work was and it was way overloaded. There was no break. 'It was going from one thing to the next, like, to radio to this photo shoot to you've signed with brands.' But she believes the decision to discuss her mental health battle so openly has been beneficial, despite her initial fears about opening up Love Island's duty of care protocols The full duty of care process is outlined below: Pre Filming and Filming - Registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series - from pre-filming to aftercare. - Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and reports from each Islanders own GP to check medical history. - Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the productions ability to provide a suitable environment for them. - Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear. - Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them. - Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid. - A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after. Aftercare - Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home. - A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home. - Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable. - We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities. - Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home. - A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home. - Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable. - We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities. Advertisement Appearing on Paul C. Brunson's podcast in October, Higgins broke down in tears and admitted she 'didn't want to be here' after her sudden Love Island fame She added: 'I had a breakdown. I had dark thoughts, very dark thoughts. And it got to a stage where I don't even think I told my mam. I tell my mum everything. I didn't tell her how bad it was. 'I didn't want to be here anymore. I thought that was going to be the best thing. 'There was so much expected from me. And because I was there on my own, I was like, "I've just nobody to help."' Higgins joins a growing number of former Love Island contestants to publicly admit to mental health issues following the show. Ex islander Mike Thalassitis hanged himself in 2019 after an alcohol and cocaine binge. Ex islander Mike Thalassitis hanged himself in 2019 after an alcohol and cocaine binge Toxicology results showed there was cocaine, ethanol and paracetamol in Mike's system at the time of his death. Pictured, his photos for series three of Love Island Model Sophie Gradon appeared on the second series of the reboot and was found dead in June 2018 He had left harrowing notes to his family in a book next to his body, which 'clearly set out his intention that his life should come to an end', an inquest heard. His death was ruled a suicide after toxicology results showed he took a lethal cocktail of cocaine, alcohol and paracetamol before he hanged himself. Two months earlier, an inquest into the death of fellow Love Island star Sophie Gradon found she also hanged herself following a cocaine and alcohol binge. Model Sophie appeared on the second series of the reboot and was found dead in June 2018. Mike's death helped to spark national discussion over the welfare of reality star and the aftercare provided to those who are suddenly thrown into the spotlight. In 2020, the show's original presenter Caroline Flack also died by hanging hours after she was told she would face a trial for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend. Higgins, who finished in fourth place on the fifth series of the UK show in 2019, is now the social media ambassador for Love Island USA. She has since appeared on Dancing on Ice, This Morning and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 'I had nothing, absolutely nothing. I was living out of a hotel in London because thats where all my work was and it was way overloaded. There was no break' Higgins became a household name after appearing on ITV2 show Love Island in 2019 (pictured) Gino D'Acampo celebrated his wife Jessica's birthday with a romantic evening out at members' club, Soho House in London on Tuesday. The celebrity chef, 48, and his partner looked in good spirits as they posed for a photo with the band SOL & The Gang who performed at the venue. Gino's wife Jessica cut a glamorous figure for her night out as she donned a sparkly jumpsuit along with a pair of diamond earrings. Gino opted for a black zip-up jumper which he paired with a white shirt and dark trousers. SOL & The Gang shared a photo of the couple to their Instagram and wrote: 'What an incredible way to start the year, celebrating Jessie's D'Acampo's birthday at @sohohouse msurrounded by her friends, family, and husband, @iamginodacampo.' Gino and Jessica have turned celebrating her birthday into a week-long event as they went for a ski-trip together a few days ago. Gino D'Acampo celebrated his wife Jessica's birthday with a romantic evening out at the Soho House in London on Tuesday The celebrity chef, who has been accused of making lewd gestures and remarks, said he was still smiling like he did on their first date as he gushed over his partner of 31 years. Gino previously caused a stir when he revealed the secret to their happy marriage was spending time alone and having their own 'single lives'. He revealed that when he is away he will speak to Jessica one a week for around 20 minutes and 'doesn't understand' why his friends talk to their wives for hours. However, the arrangement clearly works for the couple, who flashed beaming smiles while on the top of a mountain in the sweet social media snap. Jessica leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek as they cosied up for the selfies, which Gino posted alongside a gushing caption. The Gino's Italian Escape star wrote: '31 years together and still smiling like our first date... happy birthday amore mio... GDx'. Their sweet display comes Gino admitted he and Jessica have their own lives and often spend prolonged periods of time apart during their free time. He divides his time between homes in the United Kingdom and his native Italy with Jessica and their three children, Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12. Gino and Jessica have turned celebrating her birthday into a week-long event as they went for a ski-trip together a few days ago. The Gino's Italian Escape star wrote: '31 years together and still smiling like our first date... happy birthday amore mio... GDx' Jessica leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek as they cosied up for the selfies, which Gino posted alongside a gushing caption But Gino said his time away from work is carefully balanced so he can be alone - something he claims helps strengthen his marriage. He told heat: 'I think it's not only important to spend quality time with my family, but I also strongly believe in spending time alone. You discover new things about yourself and you have time to think, which is something that people don't do often enough. 'Everybody's always so busy and alone time is super-important for my marriage.' He added: 'Jessica and I have been together for 31 years, we have three children, and we never have problems, because we have our own lives away from one another.' Gino met his wife as a teenage, while working at Sylvester Stallone's Mambo King restaurant in Marbella - where he served as Head Chef. The celebrity chef, who is accused of making lewd gestures and remarks, said he is still smiling like he did on their first date as he gushed over his partner of 31 years Gino said he and wife Jessica have their own lives and often spend prolonged periods of time apart during their free time They married in 2002 and renewed their vows in 2021, but the Italian star refutes the idea that time spent apart could lead to affairs. Speaking to OK! Magazine, he explained: 'You need to balance your married life with your 'single life''. 'I can be away for a month and I will talk to my wife once a week for about 20 minutes. Then, when I come back, we can talk about it all.' The TV chef confessed he doesn't understand what some of his friends talk to their wives about when they are chatting on the phone for over an hour as he chooses to keep his phone calls with Jessica short and sweet. Gino also admitted he will go out for dinner and drinks with other women while he is on one of his solo holidays. He said: 'Do you think that if I wanted to be unfaithful to my wife, I'd need to organise a holiday? I can do it anytime and anywhere. So once you get that out of your head, going on holiday alone doesn't matter.' Gino previously opened up about how he met his wife in an interview on Good Morning Britain in 2022. He revealed: 'When I met my wife, I never had any experience with any other women because I was only 17. She had amazing blonde hair and huge personality. And after a few weeks she showed me something I had never had before. He divides his time between homes in the United Kingdom and his native Italy with Jessica and their three children, Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12 Gino met his wife as a teenage, while working at Sylvester Stallone's Mambo King restaurant in Marbella - where he served as Head Chef 'So I got there and basically all I was thinking was 'Am I going to get laid?' 'Am I allowed to say that? Or I'll say make love, is that better? But anyway, yeah she invited me over and cooked for me.' Gino was recently at the centre of fresh harassment claims last night after former colleagues accused him of making lewd gestures and suggestive remarks while filming for ITV. Sources on his foodie travel show Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip allege he quizzed a producer about her sex life and thrust his crotch at another female staffer. Insiders at Gordon Ramsay's company Studio Ramsay, which made the show, also claim the flamboyant Italian was 'super difficult' to work with and upset staff by 'jokingly flashing' them. His alleged behaviour led several staff to complain to ITV, prompting channel chiefs to summon Gino's then-manager to a meeting in 2021. Despite this Gino was allowed to appear in a further series of the show with fellow chefs Gordon and Fred Siriex. According to sources on the programme, 'several complaints' were lodged about Gino, who continued to work on the show until quietly dropped last year. Sources on Gino's foodie travel show Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip allege he quizzed a producer about her sex life and thrust his crotch at another female staffer Despite complaints, Gino was allowed to appear in a further series of the show with fellow chefs Gordon and Fred Sirieix (pictured with Gino) One source said: 'It looks more and more as if there has been a cover-up by ITV and the production company. 'ITV did step in and they had a meeting with Gino's former manager where allegations of inappropriate behaviour were discussed.' Despite a raft of lurid allegations The Mail on Sunday revealed ITV still intends to screen a series of Family Fortunes which Gino recorded earlier this year. Meanwhile, another employee told this newspaper how they had witnessed staff struggle with Gino's allegedly troubling behind-the-scenes manner. 'Endless crews, contributors and TV executives see how he behaves, grit their teeth and try to move on,' the staffer said. 'He is very touchy-feely, not in an appropriate way, and people did not like it. He's rude and difficult.' The source said he would sometimes expose himself as a joke. 'He thinks it's funny so you have to wonder whether he doesn't understand how wrong this is. He has that old-school Italian attitude where he thinks he's being funny, maybe even sexy? But he makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable.' The Mail on Sunday revealed last year how Gino's alleged behaviour left production staff feeling uncomfortable when he suddenly left Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip in March 2023. He claimed he quit because he did not want 'stressful' contract talks to ruin his friendship with his co-stars. It emerged however, that he was edged out after allegedly refusing to sign a morality clause in his contract. Separately, it has emerged that a woman lodged a complaint with ITV bosses earlier this month claiming she was a victim of Gino's inappropriate behaviour over a five-year period. The woman worked with him between 2006 and 2011 on the channel's daytime show This Morning, where he was resident chef, and on Saturday Cooks! Gino (right) promoted his latest show with Fred (left) amid claims he is being 'eased out' by ITV Gino was seen playing the guitar naked in the new Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible trailer Gino bared all in a recent visit to Texas with his friends Gordon and Fred for their travel series Also, ITV are believed to have ordered Gino to complete a language and behavioural course after complaints about the way he treated female colleagues on his new show Emission Impossible. Sources said filming was halted after crew complained he made inappropriate jokes behind the scenes. Some were allegedly offered counselling after filming of the show was complete. Gino said at the time: 'I have been completely shocked by, and deny utterly, these awful accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct against me, which are alleged to have taken place years ago during the shooting of Gordon, Gino & Fred. 'Let me be clear: This did not happen. I take such matters extremely seriously and in particular the suggestion that I have deliberately acted in this improper way against any female employees is deeply upsetting.' Ralph Fiennes has beaten box-office juggernauts Gladiator 2 and Wicked to win 12 BAFTA nominations including best actor and best film for his movie Conclave. The British actor, 62, won his first and only BAFTA 32 years ago for his hit holocaust film, Schindlers List, and is tipped to win again for his role in the thriller about finding a new Pope based in the Vatican City. Back on home soil, Conclave has been nominated for twice as many gongs at the BAFTAs than it was earlier this month at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles. The hit thriller starring Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini is about a secretive and high-stakes election of a new Pope, where power, ambition, and personal secrets collide among the warring cardinals. It has beaten the Golden Globes big winner, the Spanish drama Emilia Perez, which has come in second in the number of nominations with 11 BAFTA nods after sweeping up 10 gongs in the US award ceremony. Gladiator 2 has yet again been snubbed by Award judges after it was shunned for Best Film and its leading man, the Irish star Paul Mescal, 28, failed to make the BAFTA longlist for Best Actor. Ralph Fiennes has beaten box-office juggernauts Gladiator 2 and Wicked to win 12 BAFTA nominations including best actor and best film for his movie Conclave Emilia Perez has come in second in the number of nominations with 11 BAFTA nods after sweeping up 10 gongs in the US award ceremony Gladiator 2 has yet again been snubbed by Award judges after it was shunned for Best Film and its leading man, the Irish star Paul Mescal, failed to make the BAFTA longlist for Best Actor It comes after Ridley Scotts epic was snubbed at the Golden Globes in the US earlier this month after it was nominated for just two awards and failed to take any home. Denzel Washington, 70, who played Macrinus, was long-listed as a supporting actor but has been bumped off the nominations list by BAFTA judges. British actress, Kate Winslet, 49, has similarly dropped out of the running for a BAFTA for her role as Lee Miller in the war photographers biopic after being included in the longlist last month. Demi Moore, 62, who picked up her first acting accolade ever at the Globes for her role in Substance has been nominated for Leading Actress along with Wickeds Cynthia Erivo, 38, and Saoirse Ronan, 30, for the Outrun. Film industry insiders believe the Ghost stars admission into the BAFTA shortlist will raise her hopes of securing her first Oscar. During her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, the mother of four said: Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress and that I could do movies that were successful but I couldnt be acknowledged. But tonight I learned, I do belong. Elsewhere in the BAFTA nominations, the Succession brothers, Jeremy Strong and Keiran Culkin will battle it out for Supporting Actor for their performances in A Real Pain and the Trump biopic, The Apprentice. Strong, 46, is known for being difficult to work with on set for his F***ing annoying acting methods - according to Brian Cox who he starred opposite alongside the younger Culkin brother, 42, in the HBO hit series. Conclave has been nominated for twice as many gongs at the BAFTAs than it was earlier this month at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles Emilia Perez, starring Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez in its female-led ensemble cast, is making significant headway this awards season Chair of BAFTA Sara Putt (left) and BAFTA Chair of Film Anna Higgs (right) attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 nominations on Wednesday Hosts Will Sharpe and Mia McKenna-Bruce speak onstage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025 Nominations Announcement at BAFTA on Wednesday British actress, Kate Winslet has dropped out of the running for a BAFTA for her role as Lee Miller in the war photographers biopic after being included in the longlist last month Meanwhile, Adrien Brody's film The Brutalist has received nine BAFTA nominations, followed by Dune 2 and Wicked - both getting seven nominations Pamela Andersons latest film, The Last Showgirl, tipped as her glorious return to the silver screen has only managed to secure one nomination American singer and actress Ariana Grande (right) wins a Best Suppor5ting Actress nomination for her starring role in Wicked Meanwhile, Adrien Brody's film The Brutalist has received nine BAFTA nominations, followed by Dune 2 and Wicked - both getting seven nominations. Pamela Andersons latest film, The Last Showgirl, tipped as her glorious return to the silver screen has only managed to secure one nomination for Jamie Lee Curtis in the category for Best Supporting Actress. In the same category, The Brutalist star Felicity Jones is the only British actress nominated this year as American actresses Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez are both nominated for Emilia Perez. Also getting nominated for this prize is US singer and actress Ariana Grande for Wicked and Italian-born US star Isabella Rossellini. American stars lead the supporting actor category with Kieran Culkin up for the prize for A Real Pain, Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown and Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice. The other nominees in this section are Russian actor Yuriy Borisov for Anora, US star Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing, and American actor Guy Pearce for The Brutalist. American stars lead the Best Supporting Actor category, with Kieran Culkin (left) up for the prize for A Real Pain Timothee Chalamet is up for leading actor for his role as Bob Dylan in the biopic, A Complete Unknown, which celebrated its London premiere on Tuesday night Timothee Chalamet, 29, is up for leading actor for his role as Bob Dylan in the biopic, A Complete Unknown, which celebrated its London premiere on Tuesday night. A firm fixture by his side at award ceremonies, his girlfriend the beauty mogul Kylie Jenner is expected to make the Transatlantic flight to London in February to support her new boyfriend. Other nominees for leading actor include British stars Hugh Grant for Heretic, Ralph Fiennes for Conclave, as well as US actor Adrien Brody for The Brutalist. Hollywood stars Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice and Colman Domingo for Sing Sing are also among the nominated stars in the category. The Leading Actress category includes British star Cynthia Erivo for Wicked and Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths among those nominated with American actress Demi Moore for The Substance. Also getting a nod in this category is US-born Irish actress Saoirse Ronan for The Outrun, American actress Mikey Madison for Anora, and Spanish actress Karla Sofia Gascon for Emilia Perez. Other nominees for leading actor include British stars Hugh Grant for Heretic (pictured) Wicked star Cynthia Erivo (left) has been nominated in the category for Best Leading Actress Jeremy Strong (left) and Sebastian Stan (right) have both received nominations for their respective roles in Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice (pictured) BAFTA chairwoman Sara Putt told the PA news agency the nominations list was "just such a brilliant variety". She added: 'But then also, when you look at the 10 films in best film, I think you've got six different genres in there. 'You've got sci-fi, you've got comedy, you've got horror... you've got straight drama, you've got musicals, and to see horror, with Nosferatu and The Substance and Heretic, all getting nominated. 'You know, films with music in them that you can go from Wicked through to Kneecap. It's an amazing list with real breadth and depth, which is very exciting.' Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said: 'The 42 films nominated today span a fantastically broad spectrum of genres with enormous breadth in creative expression; from the most intimate character pieces to epic societal commentaries via genre-bending dramas, musicals and comedies. 'The film industry has delivered in spades once again. We look forward to acknowledging this amazing body of work at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards. 'With just over a month to go, we encourage film fans everywhere to watch as many films as possible there really is something for everyone. 'And, depending where in the world you live, please tune in on 16 February to BBC One, iPlayer, BritBox, and many other platforms worldwide.' The One Show host Roman Kemp has been axed from hosting the BRIT Awards despite viewers hailing him a huge success last year. Friends of the star say that he will not return for this year's ceremony which is due to take place on Saturday March 1 at London's O2 Arena after stepping in at the last minute for the 2024 show. Roman was previously called as a stand in to replace Idris Elba, 52, who pulled out at short notice. Now BRITs sources are expecting a huge name to replace him, and you never know, it might be Idris. 'Roman has been told he isn't hosting this year,' said BRITs insider. 'He loved it but accepts that these things change. 'He was flattered to be chosen to do it last year but he's a pro and gets it.' One Show host Roman Kemp has been axed from hosting the BRIT Awards despite viewers hailing him a huge success when he presented it last year Last year, Roman was called as a stand in to replace Idris Elba , 52, who pulled out with short notice Viewers hailed his performance a success, presenting besides Maya Jama, 30, and Clara Amfo, 40, who had also presented the awards in 2022 Viewers last year hailed his performance a success, presenting besides Maya Jama, 30, and Clara Amfo, 40, who had also presented the awards in 2022. Explaining last year that it was his dream job, he revealed whilst live on Capital radio that he 'burst into tears' when he was asked to do present the BRITs. 'When they told me, I cried,' said Roman. 'The BRITs has always been on this pedestal for me, because in terms of excitement in the UK, there is nothing like it.' After the awards, Kemp posted on Instagram: 'And just like that, the Brits was hosted. Dream come true had so much fun on what was a very special night.' The son of Spandau Ballet musician Martin Kemp, 63, was praised for his job last year. In a viral moment he even convinced Kylie Minogue, who won the BRITs' Global Icon award, to drink her signature rose wine from her high heels during an interview with the pop star at her table, saying it would be 'amiss' for the pair to not 'go with an Aussie tradition'. Roman replaced Jay Blades as host of The Repair Shop for the BBC show's Christmas special. He has been a regular presenter on The One Show since 2022, previously presenting the Capital radio breakfast show from 2017 until last year. During the festive period in 2024 he revealed he has stopped taking antidepressants for the first time in 16 years. Explaining last year that it was his dream job, he revealed whilst live on Capital radio that he 'burst into tears' when he was asked to do present the BRITs During the festive period in 2024 Roman revealed he has stopped taking antidepressants for the first time in 16 years He said since taking the medication since the age of 15, he had finally stopped taking antidepressants four months prior and now that they were out of his system, he was looking forward to understanding his true emotions. The presenter, who has had depression since the age of 15, took to Instagram at the end of November to share an update on his mental health with fans. 'Now while I'm still learning about why I suddenly want to cry more and may get snappier at my friends, I'm excited at understanding what the emotional side of me is really like,' he said. Roman has been candid about his struggle with his mental health and has campaigned tirelessly following the sudden death of his friend, radio producer Joe Lyons, who took his own life. Sharing a selfie, Roman wrote: 'It's now been four months since I stopped taking anti-depressants and it's safe to say they're out of my system. 'Something I have taken since I was 15 years old.' He added: 'I'm neither for or against taking anti-depressants, I'm about what is right for YOU and if it helps you then go for it. 'They helped me through a long period of mental struggle in my life but I'm now ready to move on. Only posting in case anyone was ever worried about starting/stopping .' The presenter, who has had depression since the age of 15, took to Instagram at the end of November to share an update on his mental health with fans He added: 'I'm neither for or against taking anti-depressants, I'm about what is right for YOU and if it helps you then go for it' Back in March, Roman thanked his listeners for 'saving his life' during his battle with depression as he hosted his final show on Capital Breakfast. He credited the show and its listeners for getting him through some of his darkest days - ahead of his departure from the channel. During his last show, Roman delivered a touching speech as he said how grateful he was to them for bringing 'light and laughter into his life' during his slot on the radio. Roman took over from comedian Mo Gilligan, 36, who hosted the show in 2022 and 2023. MailOnline has approached BRIT Awards for comment. Kate Cassidy has paid tribute to her late boyfriend Liam Payne by getting two tattoos in memory of him. Returning to social media after a three-month hiatus, the influencer posted a TikTok video showing a day in her life. Filming herself doing her makeup and getting ready, Kate has now got an 'LP' tattoo on her wrist as well as '444' on her hands. In the video she also lit a '444' candle - a number which has special significance for Kate and Liam as it was their 'angel number'. It's an ideology that arguably roots back to the sixth century in Ancient Greece with the Pythagoreans, who believed that numbers had mystic, spiritual properties to create positivity and guidance. Kate had previously shared a snap of a note where Liam had written the numbers as well as revealed he had planned to marry Kate. Kate Cassidy has paid tribute to her late boyfriend Liam Payne by getting two tattoos in memory of him (pictured together in March 2023) Filming herself doing her makeup and getting ready, Kate has now got an 'LP' tattoo on her wrist as well as '444' on her hands Kate also has angel wings on her on her left index and middle finger, which she first revealed last month. In the video the influencer can be seen getting ready, going to a Pilates class, baking cookies, and spending time with the couple's dog Nala, who they adopted together just a month before Liam's death. One of Kate's good friends Tiffany Henriques also posted a video of the pair giggling and making dinner. It comes after Kate took to her Instagram Stories last week and shared a snap of herself posing in beige tracksuit bottoms with a '444' print on them. Liam was staying at the Casa Sur hotel in south America when he fell to his death after a drink-drug binge on October 16. Fans across the world were stunned by his sudden death and an outpouring of grief culminated in a touching funeral attended by musical royalty and all of Payne's former bandmates. The medical cause of death was announced to be 'polytrauma', a term which means a person has multiple traumatic injuries to their body. A hearing, which Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court said was held on December 17, was told it may take 'some time' to ascertain exactly how the 31-year-old died. Five people have been charged over Payne's death in Argentina after he fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel. In the video the influencer can be seen getting ready, going to a Pilates class, baking cookies, and spending time with the couple's dog Nala Kate also has angel wings on her on her left index and middle finger, which she first revealed last month It comes after Kate took to her Instagram Stories last week and shared a snap of herself posing in beige tracksuit bottoms with a '444' print on them Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend returned to social media on Wednesday, hours after the One Direction star's cause of death was revealed at a UK inquest. In the video she also lit a '444' candle - a number which has special significance for Kate and Liam as it was their 'angel number' Kate Cassidy has paid tribute to her late ex-boyfriend Liam Payne by getting two tattoos in memory of him Fans across the world were stunned by his sudden death and an outpouring of grief culminated in a touching funeral attended by musical royalty and all of Liam's former bandmates The hotel's manager, a receptionist and a friend of Payne have been charged with manslaughter, Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office previously said in a statement. They are reported to be hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi and Liam's friend Roger Nores. Two other people have been charged over the supply of drugs. Nearly three weeks after laying him to rest in Amersham, near his hometown in England, Miss Cassidy compiled the tribute video and wrote in her caption: 'I love you.' In a minute-and-a-half TikTok post, she compiled clips of them to the song Fade Into You by Mazzy Star. They were seen laughing, hugging and kissing on adventures all over the world at a theme park, at scenic locations and in the cozy home they shared together in Miami. The couple first started dating in October 2022 and made their red carpet debut at the Fashion Awards later that year. Before his tragic passing, they had travelled to Argentina together to support his former bandmate Niall Horan at his concert. Kate returned to their Miami home days before Liam's passing in Buenos Aires. Demi Moore is set to continue her awards season success after she received her first BAFTA nomination on Wednesday. The actress, 62, who picked up her first acting accolade ever at the Golden Globes for her role in The Substance has been nominated for Leading Actress at the prestigious awards. During her acceptance speech at the Globes, the mother of four said: Thirty years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress and that I could do movies that were successful but I couldnt be acknowledged. But tonight I learned, I do belong.' And as Demi finally begins to receive the recognition she deserves, the star appears to be leading the way in a resurgence of older actresses who have also made the nominations list. Jamie Lee Curtis is up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Last Showgirl, while Isabella Rossellini has also made it into the same category for her role in Conclave. While Pamela Anderson failed to be recognised in her glorious return to the silver screen, Jamie, 66, is up for the award after playing cocktail waitress Annette in the drama. Demi Moore is set to continue her awards season success after receiving a BAFTA nomination on Wednesday as she leads a resurgence of older female actresses receiving recognition Jamie Lee Curtis is up for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Last Showgirl (L), while Isabella Rossellini has also made it into the same category for her role in Conclave (R) Meanwhile Isabella, 72, stars as Sister Agnes in the adaptation of the Robert Harris novel of the same name, which focuses on the hypothetical behind-the-scenes story of what happens at the Vatican after the Pope dies. Elsewhere in the Leading Actress category, Demi will go head to head with Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The Spanish drama has received 11 BAFTA nods after sweeping up 10 gongs at the Golden Globes earlier this month. Karla, 52, plays the film's titular character, a cartel leader who pretends to die in order to undergo a gender transition into a woman. Marianne, 57, has also been nominated for her role as Pansy Deacon in Hard Truths. Demi seemed to have an incredible comeback year in 2024, however the Ghost star has always been a Hollywood icon after she made magazine history in 1991. The star posed naked on the front of Vanity Fair while pregnant with her second daughter Scout. The image would inspire countless imitators and helped to destigmatize pregnant bodies. The actress , 62, who picked up her first acting accolade ever at the Golden Globes for her role in The Substance (pictured) has been nominated for Leading Actress at the prestigious awards Jamie, 66, is up for the award after playing cocktail waitress Annette in the drama, while Pamela Anderson hasn't received a nod for the film Isabella, 72, stars as Sister Agnes in the adaptation of the Robert Harris novel of the same name, which focuses on the hypothetical behind-the-scenes story of what happens at the Vatican after the Pope dies Elsewhere in the Leading Actress category, Demi will go head to head with Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon (L) and Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste (R) Karla, 52, plays the film's titular character, a cartel leader who pretends to die in order to undergo a gender transition into a woman Marianne, 57, has also been nominated for her role as Pansy Deacon in Hard Truths The star revealed in her teary acceptance speech at the Golden Globes that she was called a 'popcorn actress' 30 years ago - a comment she said 'corroded' her Later, after appearing in the hit supernatural romance Ghost in 1990, she went on to appear in A Few Good Men (1992), Disclosure (1994) and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996). She made a repeat appearance a year later in 1992 for her Vanity Fair Birthday Suit cover, in which she appeared totally nude but decorated with a body paint suit. Demi became a global star after starring in Ghost, with her androgynous look - from the dungarees to the short hairstyle - helping to define 1990s style. She also proved her acting chops in meatier 1990s films such as blockbuster courtroom drama A Few Good Men opposite Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. The star revealed in her teary acceptance speech at the Golden Globes that she was called a 'popcorn actress' 30 years ago - a comment she said 'corroded' her. Demi became a global star after starring in Ghost, with her androgynous look - from the dungarees to the short hairstyle - helping to define 1990s style (pictured with Patrick Swayze) She said on stage: '30 years ago, I had a producer tell me that I was a popcorn actress. 'At that time I made that mean that this wasn't something that I was allowed to have, that I could do movies that were successful, that made a lot of money, but that I couldn't be acknowledged. 'I bought in, and I believed that, and that corroded me over time, to the point where I thought a few years ago that maybe this was it - maybe I was complete, maybe I've done what I was supposed to do.' It was at that 'low point,' Demi said, that she received the script for The Substance which she called 'magical, bold, courageous, out of the box [and] absolutely bonkers.' 'The universe told me that you're not done,' she added. Paris Hilton and Alix Earle are among the growing list of celebrities rallying behind Heidi Montag following the heartbreaking loss of her Malibu home in the Los Angeles wildfires. After her husband, Spencer Pratt, encouraged fans to stream her 2010 track, I'll Do It, to help financially support them and their family after their $2.5 million estate burnt to the ground, Hilton, 43, and Earle, 24, stepped up to incorporate the song in their recent social media posts. 'Send love & support @heidimontag & @spencerpratt [heart hand emoji],' Hilton captioned a video of her at home dancing while holding her daughter London Marilyn, one. Her post has been viewed more than 2.3 times on Instagram, where she explained that she was streaming the song to send love and support to the couple. Hilton, who has raised $800,000 for the displaced families of the Los Angeles fires, proceeded to encourage her followers to 'all support them' and stream I'll Do It as much as they could. The comment section was full of positive reactions, including one TikTok user, who wrote: 'ICONS supporting ICONS! We love to see it.' Paris Hilton and Alix Earle are among the growing list of celebrities rallying behind Heidi Montag following the heartbreaking loss of her Malibu home in the Los Angeles wildfires Another wrote: 'I KNEW YOUD PULL UP!! Even with your own tragedy your heart and kindness shine through fpr others my fave!' Meanwhile, Earle shared a video of herself in a hotel room with three of her pals in the background. Earlier this week, Montag thanked fans for pushing her debut album back to the top of the charts in the wake of her and Pratt's tragedy. The couple were forced to flee their Pacific Palisades property with only the clothes on their backs as the devastating inferno razed more than 37,000 acres of residential areas to the ground. Fans have since rallied round by purchasing and streaming Heidi's one and only album, Superficial, originally released in 2010. Overwhelming demand for the album, which initially flopped with just 1,000 copies sold during its first week of release, has resulted in it topping the iTunes chart - giving the couple some much needed income as they pick up the pieces. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, a grateful Heidi, 38, said: 'Thank you for the overwhelming love and support of my music, and really rallying behind us in this devastating time, and making it such a blessing. 'Thank you for helping support us, helping build us back up, helping to encourage us, give us hope and faith and excitement in such a dark, dark time, so thank you so much. After her husband, Spencer Pratt, encouraged fans to stream her 2010 track, I'll Do It, to help financially support them and their family after their $2.5 million estate burnt to the ground, Hilton, 43, and Earle, 24, stepped up to incorporate the song in their recent social media posts Meanwhile, Earle shared a video of herself in a hotel room with three of her pals in the background Acknowledging the album's original January 11 release date, she added: 'It's the 15 year anniversary of Superficial, so the timing is crazy, it's just so crazy. Thank you.' Heidi also shared a viral clip of Emily Ratajkowski listening to the album in her living room. Sharing the video with her followers, Emily wrote: 'Didn't expect this Heidi Montag song to be the soundtrack to the 2025 apocalypse but you know what f*** yeah.' Heidi previously admitted she she only has 'two pairs of jeans and two shirts' left after she and husband Spencer were forced to flee their Pacific Palisades home. The couple evacuated the property with their two sons after huge fires began to spread through the exclusive celebrity enclave, and images have since shown that their property has been destroyed. In a recent video posted on her Instagram Stories, Heidi admitted she was 'overwhelmed' while she attempted to grab some basic essentials for her family after being ordered to evacuate. Fighting back tears, she added that anything she was able to grab was 'a blessing,' and while she's 'thankful' that her family are safe from the fire, she's still struggling to come to terms with the loss of her home. She said: 'Craziest thing when you're packing for a fire is that your brain just freaks out, like ''What do I need? What do I not need?'' and it's so overwhelming. Earlier this week, Montag thanked fans for pushing her debut album back to the top of the charts in the wake of her and Pratt's tragedy 'Packing up the house, I mean I only have two pairs of jeans, two shirts, I've got so much more clothes for the kids, but why didn't I grab more? 'Thankfully I grabbed anything, which is a blessing, and the main thing is that we're safe and got out, but oh my gosh it's really like panic and then a part of you wants to leave stuff, and like 'I'm coming back! Of course I'm coming back!' 'So just praying for everyone else who's going through this, and all my friends and loved ones, and just thank god we have our health and our children. 'I know that and that's just trying to focus on the gratitude. It just kind of comes in waves, it's a lot.' Images obtained by DailyMail.com have showed that Heidi and Spencer's home has already been destroyed by the devastating Palisades fires. Fans have since rallied round by purchasing and streaming Heidi's one and only album, Superficial, originally released in 2010 The only parts of the home still standing are the charred entry gate and the front portion of the home's stucco perimeter wall. Large piles of debris are seen throughout the property as well as burnt foliage that once decorated the home's front yard. Not only was the couple's residence afflicted, but Spencer's parents also lost their home to the fire. Spencer shared a photo of the little that remained of his parent's house to his Instagram Stories. 'My parents house gone,' he wrote along with a string of crying emojis. The couple, who rose to fame on The Hills, were in state of disbelief and devastation as they opened up about the loss on TikTok. In a recent video posted on her Instagram Stories, Heidi admitted she was 'overwhelmed' while she attempted to grab some basic essentials for her family after being ordered to evacuate Spencer's parents' home (pictured) has also been destroyed in the horrifying blaze In various TikTok videos, Heidi grew emotional about the blaze as she processed the loss of her home. While sitting on the couch with one of her children, she sobbed: 'Sad our house is gone' she cried, later saying, 'Everything you worked so hard for...' In another video, Heidi assured everyone she and her family were safe while confirming the loss of their home. 'While we ended up losing our house in the fire and thank God we are safe, so thank you to everyone who's checking, thank you for all your prayers, thank you for your thoughts. It's,' she said, emotion growing on her face. 'No words.' In various TikTok videos, Heidi broke down in tears while reflecting on the blaze as she processed the loss of her home Spencer attempted to cheer himself up on Wednesday with some bagels. The TV personality, who was seen Tuesday watching the flames move towards his home, admitted he was in a state of shock and conceded his video was quite 'unhinged.' 'When your house burns down and you have nothing and your parents house burns down and they have nothing. There's only one thing that can maybe make you feel better - a bag of bagels!' 'Obviously I'm in shock and my brain's not functioning, so think is the most unhinged post you've seen.' More than 30,000 residents evacuated their homes as a massive wildfire ripped through the celeb enclave of Pacific Palisades, burning nearly 3,000 acres and reducing dozens of homes to rubble. Dozens of celebrities have been forced to flee their ritzy mega-mansions in coastal Los Angeles as three raging infernos threaten to raze the city to the ground. Hugh Grant has admitted he's poisoned his children twice following multiple BBQ disasters, admitting he isn't the best cook out there. In a new interview with British Vogue, Hugh, 64, also revealed the very casual first date he went on with his wife Anna Eberstein, 41. Hugh sat down and interviewed his co-star Renee Zellweger in Vogue's February issue ahead of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. In it, Hugh aka Daniel Cleaver shared a rare insight into his family life as he caught up with his onscreen colleague turned lover, Renee, who plays Bridget Jones. As he shocked Renee with the news that he has finally started cooking for the first time in 64 years, Hugh quickly made clear he wasn't made to be in the kitchen as he revealed he gave his family worms twice. He said: 'Ive poisoned my family twice, given them worms. Undercooked chicken. Twice. It was dark, you see. Hugh Grant, 64, has admitted he's poisoned his children twice following multiple BBQ disasters, admitting he isn't the best cook out there In a new interview with British Vogue, Hugh also revealed the very casual date he went on with his wife Anna Eberstein, 41 (pictured together earlier this month) 'It was on the barbecue and I stuck my Heston Blumenthal prod into it. I couldnt quite read it. So I served it out worms all round. And the children now beg me not to cook.' Quickly moving past the nightmare, the British star revealed that his first date with Anna, whom he wed in 2018, was in a local wine bar. Hugh sat down and interviewed his co-star Renee Zellweger in Vogue's February issue ahead of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Hugh also recalled the traumatic moment of nearly choking during a dinner with Sarah Jessica Parker in Claridge's as he waited for Renee to join him. He said: 'Claridges has complicated memories for me. Many years ago while dining there with Sarah Jessica Parker she told me something so riveting that I inhaled a piece of chicken and had to stumble to the loos to die alone. 'Luckily a passing doctor from Texas saw me, followed me down there and saved my life by putting me over his shoulder and burping me like a baby.' Father-of-five Hugh, who shares three children with Anna, revealed the names and genders of his youngest children for the first time in an interview with chat show host Jimmy Kimmel last year. The actor has never announced the names of two of his children or the gender of his youngest offspring. But Hugh finally shared the information during an appearance on the American chat show - and they are certainly very unique. Renee and Hugh are back as Bridget and Daniel Cleaver in for the fourth time in the upcoming Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy As he shocked Renee with the news that he has finally started cooking for the first time in 64 years, Hugh quickly made clear he wasn't made to be in the kitchen as he revealed he gave his family worms twice During a conversation about his own usual middle name - Mungo - Hugh divulged that his youngest child was a girl and shared her name with viewers. Hugh recalled: 'I was in a bit of a panic with my wife on the day we named [our daughter].' Sharing the hilarious inspiration behind the name, he said: 'We thought it might be nice for her when she was older if she could say in bars that her middle name is Danger. So, her name is Lulu Danger Grant. Austin Powers, you know?' Hugh, who also has a son named John Mungo, went on to reveal that his youngest isn't the only child in the family with a fun name. The Notting Hill star said that his eldest daughter with Anna also caused them some panic when it came to naming her after her birth. Deciding to ask his son for advice, he said: 'We asked her elder brother when she was on the way, 'there's a new baby coming along, what shall we call her?', Hugh explained. 'And he said 'Kevin', because that was his favourite Minion. 'And we did think about calling her Kevin, but then we said, 'you'd better think of something else', and he said 'Blue', because that was his favourite colour.' The announcement was out of character for Hugh, who despite being a huge Hollywood name, tends to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. Hugh's eldest child, a daughter named Tabitha, 13, was born in September 2013 following a 'fleeting affair' with her mother Tinglan Hong. Father-of-five Hugh, who shares three children with Anna, revealed the names and genders of his youngest children for the first time in an interview with chat show host Jimmy Kimmel last year The birth of Hugh's youngest daughter Lulu was revealed by his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley (pictured together in 1994) The father of five missed Tabitha's birth and later explained: 'I have had too many experiences of hospital staff being paid to leak information to the press. 'Naturally, I was very keen to see my daughter as soon as possible, even if it could only be for a short time, so in the end I took a risk and visited the day after the birth.' Tabitha's first name was chosen by Hugh, while her middle name Xiao Xi which translates as happy surprise, was picked by her mother. Hugh's first son, John, was born on September 3, 2013. However Hugh's paternity wasn't confirmed until the following year when John's birth certificate was changed to name him as the father and Anna as his mother. His second son, Felix, was born just months after John. Tinglan gave birth to Felix in December 2012 and at the time of his birth, Hugh tweeted: 'Am thrilled my daughter now has a brother. Adore them both to an uncool degree. They have a fab mum.' Hugh and Anna's second child, Blue, was welcomed on December 15, 2015 and their third, Lulu, arrived in March 2018. Her birth was announced by Hugh's ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley. Appearing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the star revealed: 'Well, he had another last week. He has five. 'He's an enchanting dad. Really, really sweet. Having these kids has transformed him from a very miserable person into a fairly miserable person. It's improved him. He's gone up the scale.' Hugh confirmed the news himself after marrying Anna, saying: 'I'm just lucky. I've got a great wife. I love her. We've got three kids together, we live together.' See the full feature in the February issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 21st January. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is released on Peacock in the US on February 13, 2025 and in cinemas in the UK on February 14. Julia Stiles has not often spoken on her late 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger, who died in 2008. But this week the veteran movie star shared what she really felt about the talented Australian actor. And even though they had intense chemistry on the teen film from 1999, they were nothing more than friends, she cleared up. Stiles remembered Ledger as being 'very kind and generous' towards her. The 43-year-old actress recalled how 'comfortable' he made her feel in those early days of her Hollywood career. She told E! News: 'He was amazing. He was such a bright light. He just walked into a room and lit it up.' Julia Stiles has not often spoken on her late 10 Things I Hate About You costar Heath Ledger, who died in 2008. But this week the veteran movie star shared what she really felt about the talented Australian actor. Seen in NYC on January 13 And even though they had intense chemistry on the teen film from 1999, they were nothing more than friends, she cleared up. Stiles remembered Ledger as being 'very kind and generous' towards her, she told E! News Julia added, 'He was very kind and generous to me, which you know, when you're an actress in your first leading role in a big studio movie, you need to feel comfortable with the other person.' She then said that Heath 'was very generous that way.' The Hustlers actress then added: 'The scene where I read the poem, I did not expect to start crying or tearing up or choking up, whatever. 'It just happened because it was the movie was coming to an end, the production was coming to an end. And I think I was just so moved by the whole experience.' The film - which also starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik and Andrew Keegan - is a modernization of William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew'. Julia previously noted that she was just 'happy and thrilled' that the movie had lived on more than 20 years later. The 43-year-old actress recalled how 'comfortable' he made her feel in those early days of her Hollywood career. She told E! News: 'He was amazing. He was such a bright light. He just walked into a room and lit it up.' Seen in the film Julia added, 'He was very kind and generous to me, which you know, when you're an actress in your first leading role in a big studio movie, you need to feel comfortable with the other person' From left, Susan May Pratt, David Krumholtz, Gabrielle Union, Andrew Keegan, Stiles, Ledger, Larisa Oleynik, Joseph Gordon-Levitt She said: 'I'm so happy and thrilled that people are still talking about that movie. 'It was really important to me as my first big role as an actress. It was a part that really spoke to me. 'And so, to know that audiences are still talking about it 25 years later is what you dream of as a performer.' Heath died in a New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, after accidentally overdosing following months of physical and mental exhaustion. The Dark Knight actor died aged 28 after taking a fatal cocktail of drugs, leaving behind his daughter, who was two years old at the time. Michelle Williams, who was in a relationship with Heath from 2004 to 2007 after meeting on set of Brokeback Mountain, decided to raise Matilda away from the spotlight. The Blue Valentine star took a hiatus from acting and moved to upstate New York with Matilda after Heath's death. She previously said the move stemmed from her desire to provide 'a sane home environment' for her daughter. 'We moved - we left Brooklyn and lived in the country for six years because it was an intolerable state of existence,' she told the New York Post in June 2016. Years later, Michelle made the decision to return to the Big Apple and bought a property in Brooklyn, where she had lived before the move. Before their break-up, Michelle and Heath had shared a $3.6million townhouse in Boerum Hill, a small neighborhood in the northwestern portion of the borough. Michelle, who is now married to theatre director Thomas Kail, previously spoke about wanting to give Matilda siblings in an interview with GQ in 2012. Eva Longoria stepped out in New York City this week after pledging $1million to victims of the ongoing LA fires. The Desperate Housewives star, 49, cut a casual chic figure in a black hoodie, tailored jacket, leggings and sneakers as she headed to the airport. Her brunette locks were styled in soft waves and she sported a radiant palette of make-up. The star was heading out after increasing her initial $50,000 donation for Los Angeles fire relief and recovery to $1 million. The actress and entrepreneur who has evacuated her SoCal home will support the Latino Community Foundation and the California Community Foundation with the generous contribution. The organizations have pledged to assist in the immediate and long-term recuperation of the communities impacted by the weeklong wildfires that have ravaged the city. Eva Longoria stepped out in New York City this week after pledging $1million to victims of the ongoing LA fires Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to vacate their homes since the infernos sparked last Tuesday. The death toll is currently at 25, and more than 40,000 acres have been scorched by the unprecedented flames. Longoria's new $1 million donation is from the Courage and Civility Award presented to her by Jeff Bezos last March. Bezos' annual monetary prize of $50 million is given to those who make substantial contributions to society. Longoria has a decade to name a charity to which she'll donate the money, and now she's chosen LA's fire recovery as the first recipient, per The Hollywood Reporter. She will say more about her donation when she appears as co-host alongside Jenna Bush Hager on Jenna & Friends this Tuesday. Following the co-hosting gig Eva will return to Los Angeles, where she will volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission and pay a visit to World Central Kitchens Eaton Fire operations. The mother-of-one, who is married to movie producer Jose Baston, fought back tears in an emotional video shared to Instagram in the wake of the fire devastation. The Desperate Housewives star, 49, cut a casual chic figure in a black hoodie, tailored jacket, leggings and sneakers as she headed to the airport The actress and entrepreneur who has evacuated her SoCal home will support the Latino Community Foundation and the California Community Foundation with the generous contribution - pictured the Eaton fire burning a home in Altadena on January 8 L-R Bezos, his fiancee Lauren Sanchez, Cris Abrego, and Eva pictured at the 2024 Bezos Courage and Civility Awards on March 14, 2024 The death toll of the LA fires is currently at 24, and more than 40,000 acres have been scorched by the unprecedented flames; the Palisades Fire photographed on January 9 The former Desperate Housewives star revealed she has evacuated her home after receiving a warning while hosting friends who had already fled the threatening fires. 'It's been a crazy week. Devastating for so many people. So many friends who've lost a lot. It's memories, things that people have worked really hard for,' she said while getting choked up. 'Anyways, we decided to evacuate because we were under a warning, and then we kept getting an alarm,' she explained. 'I know a lot of people weren't so lucky. We've donated clothes, we literally emptied out my pantry to take down to all of the places that are accepting donations,' she said to online viewers. Eva also vowed to match up to $50,000 of donations made to the organization This is About Humanity. The funds will go to essential workers and families impacted by the fires. 'My heart breaks for the City of LA and the devastating fires that have affected so many lives. Im personally matching $50k to @thisisabouthumanitys efforts to support frontline essential workers, farm workers, day laborers and families impacted by these wildfires,' she captioned the video. She added, 'I hope we can come together and support these resilient members of our community. Share, repost or donate if you can. Link in bio.' Jerry Hall has given fans an update on her living situation as the devastating wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Los Angeles. The former supermodel, 68, revealed on social media on Wednesday that she's staying with Dave Stewart, 72, the legendary musician who formed Eurythmics alongside Annie Lennox. Sharing a heartfelt snap with her old friend, Jerry wrote: 'With pal Dave Stewart, my house Ive been renting last couple of years in LA is still under evacuation orders.' Despite the uncertainty, Jerry expressed gratitude that her loved ones are safe. She continued: 'Thankfully my children, grandchildren and friends are out. 'Praying for LA Thank you brave firefighters and law enforcement officers.' The fires broke out last Tuesday (07.01.25) and at least 24 people have been confirmed dead with thousands more having lost their homes. Jerry Hall has given fans an update on her living situation as the devastating wildfires continue to wreak havoc in Los Angeles on Wednesday The former supermodel, 68, revealed on social media that she's staying with Dave Stewart , 72, the legendary musician who formed Eurythmics alongside Annie Lennox Dozens of celebrities have been forced to flee their ritzy mega-mansions in coastal LA as three raging infernos threaten to raze the city to the ground. More than 30,000 residents evacuated their homes as a massive wildfire ripped through the celeb enclave of Pacific Palisades, burning nearly 3,000 acres and reducing dozens of homes to rubble. A second blaze, dubbed the Eaton Fire, broke out some 30 miles inland in Altadena, near Pasadena, and increased in size to 1,000 acres from 200 acres in a few hours, according to Cal Fire. A third blaze named the Hurst Fire had also broken out in Sylmar, in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, prompting evacuations of some nearby residents. Firefighters are continuing to battle the ferocious wildfires in Los Angeles suburbs, which have devoured buildings and sparked panicked evacuations as hurricane-force winds fueled rapid blaze growth. Jerry shares children Georgia May Jagger, 33, Elizabeth Jagger, 40, James Jagger, 39, and Gabriel Jagger, 27, with the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Her social media update comes after her father Sir Mick. 80, hinted that his share of the Rolling Stones' back catalogue will be given to charity instead of his children. Rocker Mick said his eight children 'don't need $500million (400m) to live on', so he has seemingly come up with another way to donate his fortune. Jerry expressed gratitude that her loved ones are safe. She continued: 'Thankfully my children, grandchildren and friends are out Dozens of celebrities have been forced to flee their ritzy mega-mansions in coastal Los Angeles as three raging infernos threaten to raze the city to the ground (pictured Hospital' Star Cameron Mathison home in Pasadena) Actor James Woods shared footage of a home two blocks from his property that was completely set alight Jerry shares children Georgia May Jagger, 33, Elizabeth Jagger, 40, James Jagger, 39, and Gabriel Jagger, 27, with the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said leaving the money to charity might 'do some good in the world'. The Stones were forced to learn how to handle themselves financially after facing serious problems with ownership rights. They still don't own the rights to their catalogue before 1971 which includes many of their biggest singles such as Satisfaction, Paint it Black and Jumpin Jack Flash. The band hired accountant Allen Klein to stabilise their finances in the 1960s. Allen had worked with The Beatles and the Kinks and negotiated a lucrative deal for the Stones with Decca but when the partnership ended managed to retain ownership of their catalogue for the years in which he managed them from 1965 to 1970. The Stones received millions of pounds in royalties but not as much as if they'd owned the music outright. Other music stars have sold the rights to their work in recent years, including Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Sting. No decisions have been taken on the Stones' catalogue. Christina Haack said she 'threw up in her mouth' over estranged husband Josh Hall claiming she is 'obsessed' with him amid their acrimonious divorce. The HGTV diva and realtor Hall's heart wrenching split shocked fans in July 2024 when he filed for divorce after nearly three years of marriage and the exes have been embroiled in a public war of words since. After Christina, 41, went on Jeff Lewis' podcast to discuss the divorce, Josh's spokesman released a statement which read: 'Its sad Christina must resort to low blows about her ex Josh to promote her new show. She should focus on her new boyfriend and stop talking about Josh. 'As the great Mariah Carey once sang, Why are you so obsessed with me? We wish Christina the best.' Sharing a screenshot of Josh's statement, Christina wrote on Instagram stories: 'I just threw up in my mouth. Quoting a Mariah Carey song is a new low even for you. 'Trust me idgaf about Joshs life. I do however care about his bts tactics. Narcissism at its finest.' Christina Haack said she 'threw up in her mouth' over estranged husband Josh Hall claiming she is 'obsessed' with him amid their acrimonious divorce; seen July 2023 Prior to their split, Christina and Josh were slated to appear alongside her ex Tarek and his wife Heather Rae in The Flip Off. Now, she is facing off against the couple in the home-flipping competition special, solo. The Flip Off is slated to hit TV screens on January 29 at 8 p.m. EST. Just hours prior to revealing her plans to move on in the new year, Christina took to her Instagram Story to share a disturbing image of herself sobbing in her car as she slammed her ex. 'This was taken June 21, 2024. After one of my shoots with Josh. This is "real" and a reminder to myself that I deserve better,' she penned above the soul-baring selfie. Josh fired-back at HGTV for creating 'manufactured drama', reposting a Fox News story claiming to have a video of a 'tense fight' between the exes. 'TFW you can't get enough rating with celebrity [house] designers, so you rely on manufactured drama with me, a nobody @hgtv, you've changed,' he penned above the article. According to legal paperwork obtained by TMZ, Christina and Josh filed for a dissolution of marriage citing 'irreconcilable differences' on July 15, 2024. At the time, an insider close to the exes told People Magazine they 'had issues in the marriage for quite some time.' In Joshs divorce filings, the realtor sought alimony and asked the courts to 'eliminate' the mother-of-three's 'ability to collect from him.' Sharing a screenshot of Josh's statement, Christina wrote on Instagram stories: 'I just threw up in my mouth. Quoting a Mariah Carey song is a new low even for you' Hall has a 'wonderful' new girlfriend amid his bitter divorce from ex-wife Christina; the exes seen in March 2024 According to Us Weekly, Hall is reportedly 'happily dating' Nashville-based bikini model Stephanie Gabrys; seen in 2023 A source revealed Christina's new man Christopher Larocca, who is President and CEO of Network Connex and lives in Newport Coast, California The former couple have both moved on. According to Us Weekly, Hall is reportedly 'happily dating' Nashville-based bikini model Stephanie Gabrys. 'Josh met someone wonderful in Nashville, and they have been happily dating for some time,' a source told the outlet Friday. 'Josh wasn't trying to date, but he met someone, and it was a perfect match.' Being that Hall has 'no desire to be a celebrity' and is 'trying to live a more private life,' he's yet to go public with his and Gabrys' romance. 'He hasn't made a show of the relationship, but it's not a secret,' the insider dished. 'Josh is just low-key. He is very happy with his life and looking forward to 2025 and what's on the horizon. 'This is the happiest he's been in some time,' the source claimed. While Christina has been dating a man named Christopher Larocca for quite some time, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed. 'Christina has been dating Chris Larocca for a few months now. They're always together and out and about around Newport,' a source spilled. 'They even have traveled abroad and visited other countries together.' The insider went on to say that they are 'surprised' that news hasn't come out about their relationship since 'they certainly don't hide that they're together.' Noel Fielding's comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin has reportedly been axed mid-production. The Great British Bake Off star, 51, played the lead role of the legendary highwayman in the multi-million show which had its first series on Apple TV last spring. But when filming was set to resume for the second series after the Christmas holidays, cast and crew received the devastating news that it would not be happening. A TV insider told The Sun: 'They were understandably bewildered and infuriated by the bombshell because millions of pounds, months of planning and hours of work. 'It now effectively means that they are all out of work and looking for new jobs, but they still haven't had a full explanation.' The source also told the publication that Noel didn't return after the festive break. MailOnline has contacted Noel's representatives for comment. Noel Fielding 's comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin has reportedly been axed mid-production The Great British Bake Off star, 51, played the lead role of the legendary highwayman in the multi-million show which had its first series on Apple TV last spring The comedy series sees Noel play the infamous highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739, in a fictional take on his life. Along with his gang of loveable rogues, Dick experiences the highs and lows of celebrity, and does what he can to escape the clutches of the Thief Taker General. It's written and created by Claire Downes, Stuart Lane, Ian Jarvis of The Outlaws and The Job Lot, with Noel and Jeremy Dyson of League Of Gentleman as script consultants. The cast also includes Tamsin Greig, Hugh Bonneville and Greg Davies, and will begin streaming on the service March 1. Noel is due to start filming series 16 of the Great British Bake Off for Channel 4 this spring, which he co-hosts with Alison Hammond. It comes after Noel admitted what makes him 'absolutely livid' on The Great British Bake Off set - and it includes Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith . The presenter, his co-star Alison Hammond, 49, and the judges will return to screens this week with a whole host of fresh new contestants for series 15. Noel has revealed that he's just as passionate about the programme as ever, and he feels particularly 'protective' over this year's bakers. Noel is due to start filming series 16 of the Great British Bake Off for Channel 4 this spring, which he co-hosts with Alison Hammond Recalling how he was reduced to tears when he was tasked with sending one of them home, the TV personality made an admission. In an interview with The Guardian he said: 'There are some very special bakers in the tent this year. Somehow the standard keeps getting higher.' Noel continued: 'These unbelievable young bakers are way better than they should be for their age. Its a vintage year. One of the best yet. 'Im fascinated by the people. I feel protective of them. If Paul and Prue are hard on them, Im absolutely livid. Its devastating when they leave. This year I was particularly fond of one baker. When I had to send them home, I cried.' Jessica Alba has been seen for the first since TMZ reported she will divorce her husband Cash Warren. The brunette beauty was ring-free, which she has been for several months, in a new post to Instagram. The 43-year-old actress was helping make fire relief hygiene kits for children who are suffering after of the horrendous Los Angeles fires. The Dark Angel star had on a Baby2Baby black sweatshirt with oversized blue jeans and her hair down as she glowed for the camera. In her post, she was seen at the Los Angeles headquarters for Baby2Baby as she packed Honest Company wipes and essentials into a plastic bag with a handwritten note that said 'I love you.' The bags are meant to aid the now homeless kids who lost their houses and all their belongings in the wildfires which are still raging. Also helping her out were pals Demi Lovato, Vanessa Bryant, Allison Statter, Anastasia Soare, Kelly Sawyer and Norah Weinstein. Jessica Alba has been seen for the first since TMZ reported she will divorce her husband Cash Warren. The brunette beauty was ring-free, which she has been for several months, in a new post to Instagram The 43-year-old actress was helping make fire relief hygiene kits for children who are suffering after of the horrendous Los Angeles fires 'Yesterday, I had the privilege of spending the afternoon at @baby2baby with so many beautiful souls, packing fire relief hygiene kits for children This Friday, 750 kits will be distributed to kids who have either been evacuated or lost their homes in the Altadena fire. 'Baby2Baby an organization thats always been close to my heart as a founding board member and ambassador works tirelessly to ensure families receive the essentials they truly need - especially children, who are always hit the hardest. 'Thanks to overwhelming support from the community, friends, donors, and corporations both local and nationwide Baby2Baby has already distributed 2+ million items since the fires began last Tuesday! 'Please consider joining us in giving back, whether by volunteering, donating, helping a neighbor, or sending prayers. 'Our community needs us, and each of us has the power to help in some way. Everything counts, and together, we can make a difference. Los Angeles is truly the city of angels, and seeing the angels on the ground, serving our community, is incredibly moving.' TMZ reported last week that the red carpet fixture recently separated from the 45-year-old film producer. A source for the publication said that the couple have recently separated and are moving forward with divorce. DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for both Alba and Warren and have yet to hear back. It has been claimed that it remains unclear what brought the longtime couple to the decision to separate but there have been recent public signs of marital trouble. Over the weekend, Jessica was seen without her wedding ring again on Saturday night as she partied it up with fellow A-listers at a pre-Golden Globes bash alongside Derek Blasberg. This comes a week after TMZ claimed she and Cash are heading toward divorce after 15 years of marriage; they are seen together at an event in Los Angeles in November Jessica and Cash with their three children: Honor, Haven and Hayes The Fantastic Four star attended W Magazine's annual shindig at the iconic Chateau Marmont with close pal and social While inside the party, Alba mingled with Awkwafina, Christian Louboutin and director Taika Waititi. While Alba enjoyed a night out with friends on Saturday night, she spent Friday afternoon with her three kids and husband Warren. The entire family headed to Universal Studios Hollywood theme park to celebrate Alba and Warren's son Hayes' seventh birthday. Despite fueling split rumors on a number of recent wedding ring-free outings and a cryptic post on New Year's Eve, the couple, who have been married since 2008, came together for a fun-filled afternoon with their little boy and daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13. 'The best day at #UniversalStudios celebrating our 7 year old, Hayes!' Alba captioned a slideshow, featuring cute snaps taken throughout the amusement park. 'Thank you for having us, @unistudios.' There seemed to be no tension between Alba and Warren as they posed for several with each other, alongside their little ones. In one snap, the pair looked every inch the supportive parents while smiling with the birthday boy in the middle of Super Nintendo World. Other pictures featured Alba with Honor and Haven walking through The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and sweet moments of their family enjoying quality time. Also helping her out were pals Demi Lovato , Vanessa Bryant , Allison Statter, Anastasia Soare, Kelly Sawyer and Norah Weinstein Seen here with Beverly Hills eyebrow guru Anastasia, whom Kim Kardashian uses Alba's left hand was naked as she wrote her cute notes for the kids She seemed to have a glow to her Alba reminisced about her baby boy turning seven on Sunday by sharing a sweet Instagram reel that included another photo of herself and Warren posing for a warm family snap. Specifically, the parents stood close to one another as they smiled with Hayes. The reel also featured some of Alba's favorite clips and photos of the adorable seven-year-old. 'Still in my feels about the fact that my baby boy turned 7 this week #ThisIs7 #Hayes,' penned Alba. The family's trip to Universal Studios came just days after Alba raised eyebrows by sharing a quote from Mary Oliver, to her Instagram Story, that read, 'Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.' Alba seemed to be hinting that the 'unimaginable' is a change in her love life. For weeks, fans have been expressing fears that she and Warren have called it quits. Last Tuesday, the Honest Company founder shared an Instagram post about new beginnings. As she wished her followers a happy 2025, Jessica said she was moving on from the past. Warren met the Dark Angel actress on the set of the Fantastic Four in 2004 and got married in May 2008; they are seen together in May 2006 The Into The Blue star seen with husband Cash at the Toronto Raptors vs Lakers game in November in Los Angeles Warren met the Dark Angel actress on the set of the Fantastic Four in 2004 and got married in May 2008. In a large carousel of photos, not one included Cash. Most of the photos were of herself alone, her with her daughters Honor and Haven, or her with her pack of female friends. She also posted a note about moving on from bad vibes: '2024 cleared the path, 2025 claims the magic.' She also included this quote: 'My mantra for 2025: If it messes with my peace, it's too damn pricey. If it dims my shine, it's got to go. If it makes me question my worth, it's getting left in 2024. I'm entering 2025 focused and fully in my power.' In her caption she wrote: 'Gratitude Heres to a colorful past year that was filled with connection, growth, adventures, laughter, peace, sisterhood, transformation, rebirth, joy and so much love. 'Sending hugs to everyone going through it- cheers to 2025 and even more love to come! Lets goooo! #2025 #YearOfTheSnake #HappyNewYear.' Felicity Jones oozed sophistication in a black and white corset gown as she attended a special screening for The Brutalist. The actress, 41, attended a special screening of the award-winning drama at Picturehouse Central Cinema, London, on Wednesday. Felicity, who stars as Erzsebet Toth in historical drama, looked effortlessly chic for the event as she donned a fitted black and white halterneck Valentino gown. Her dress featured a huge ruffled bow attached to a thin halterneck strap as well as a a wrap-style skirt complete with a leg split. She paired the dress with dainty black closed-toe pointed heels and a pair of delicate hoop drop earrings. Felicity's chocolate brown locks were blow-dried straight and she sported a full fringe. Felicity Jones oozed sophistication in a black and white corset gown as she attended a special screening for The Brutalist in London on Wednesday The actress, 41, attended a special screening of the award-winning drama at Picturehouse Central Cinema It comes days after Felicity commanded attention in a dazzling silver Prada gown as she walked the star-studded red carpet at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards earlier this month. She looked sensational in the Prada sleeveless figure hugging number, which boasted an eye catching floral embellished detailing. Felicity showed off her amazing figure as she posed for photos ahead of the awards ceremony, which was held at the Beverly Hilton. Styling her long brunette tresses in an up do, the Chalet Girl star accessorised with a simple pair of stud earrings. She wore a glamorous palette of makeup for the night after using the LYMA laser to prep her skin for the star-studded event. Felicity was joined during the evening by her husband Charles Guard, who cut a dapper figure in a black tuxedo. During the evening, Felicity missed out on Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in The Brutalist with Zoe Saldana taking home the gong for Emilia Perez. Felicity recently discussed 'pushing back on expectations' and gender imbalance in the film industry as she graced the cover on Marie Claire in December. Felicity, who stars as Erzsebet Toth in historical drama, looked effortlessly chic for the event as she donned a fitted black and white halterneck gown She paired the dress with dainty black closed-toe pointed heels and a pair of delicate hoop drop earrings Her dress featured a huge ruffled bow attached to a thin halterneck strap as well as a a wrap-style skirt complete with a leg split Felicity's chocolate brown locks were blow-dried straight and she sported a full fringe In the accompanying interview with the magazine, Felicity, who recently started her own production company said: 'There are always expectations about how one should be and its about pushing back on those.' After rising to fame in 2011's Like Crazy, she recalled the 'profound gender imbalance' during her early career likening it to 'walking onto a building site.' Felicity added: 'Young actresses could get easily pigeonholed. There would often be descriptions relating to appearance rather than character in scripts, but I have noticed people are more conscious of that.' She continued: 'Female directors need to have the funds to make films. But its been an extraordinary shift.' Felicity stars as Erzsebet Toth in historical drama, The Brutalist, a post-war epic about a Holocaust survivor attempting to rebuild a life in America. Inspired by the Jean-Louis Cohen's book Architecture in Uniform, the film stars Adrien Brody as a Hungarian architect with Felicity playing his wife. It comes days after Felicity commanded attention in a dazzling silver Prada gown as she walked the star-studded red carpet at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards earlier this month Felicity looked sensational in the sleeveless figure hugging number which boasted an eye catching floral embellished detailing She showed off her amazing figure as she posed for photos ahead of the awards held at the Beverly Hilton Spanning decades, The Brutalist tells the story of Laszlo Toth and his attempts to pursue his art after the war in America. Adrien plays Toth. He lives in near-poverty until a wealthy industrialist, Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), gives him an important contract. Joe and Alessandro Nivola also star. The actor said it was a character and a story he felt an 'immediate kinship and understanding for.' His mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, was a Hungarian immigrant who fled in 1956 during the anti-Soviet revolution to restart and attempt to build a life as an artist. Sir David Jason attended the Cirque du Soleil Corteo Premiere at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday with his supportive wife Gill Hinchcliffe and daughter Sophie. It comes just hours after it was announced his Only Fools And Horses co-star Diane Langton died aged 77. David, 84, who dressed smart in a grey trench coat and flat cap, flashed a thumbs up for the cameras on the red carpet. The actor's wife Gill stood out in black and white patterned trousers and a satin top, while daughter Sophie wore a butterfly patterned dress. David's outing comes after Diane, whose career in TV and film spanned more than six decades, passed away shortly after returning to Hollyoaks for a third time. A cause of is yet to be confirmed. Issuing a statement on Wednesday afternoon, her agent said:' I am sad to say that Diane Langton passed away this morning. Sir David Jason attended the Cirque du Soleil Corteo Premiere at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday with his supportive wife Gill Hinchcliffe and daughter Sophie David, 84, who dressed smart in a grey trench coat and flat cap, flashed a thumbs up for the cameras on the red carpet It comes just hours after it was announced his Only Fools And Horses co-star Diane Langton died aged 77 (David and Diane pictured together) 'Diane had a rich and remarkable career appearing on Stage, in Films, and on television, including playing the iconic Nana McQueen in Hollyoaks from 2007 to the present day. He added: 'Diane trained at the Corona Academy and started her professional career as a dancer, touring with ballet companies throughout Europe, followed by appearances on That Was the Week That Was and The London Palladium.' Langton enjoyed a prolific career before endearing herself to a younger generation of fans as Nana in Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks. The actress made her first appearance as the brash, pink-rinsed matriarch in 2007, enjoying a two year spell on the show before leaving in 2009. She eventually reprised her role in 2012, before leaving for a second time in 2023, only to return in 2024. Langton famously played Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter's love interest June Snell in two episodes of iconic BBC sitcom Only Fools And Horses in 1985 and '86. Born in Somerset, the actress began her career as a dancer before cutting her teeth as an actress on stage and screen. She won her film debut alongside British acting greats Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Williams in 1959 classic Carry On Teacher, with an uncredited role as a schoolgirl. David wore a burgundy knitted jumper and matching trousers The actor's wife Gill stood out in black and white patterned trousers and a satin top, while daughter Sophie wore a butterfly patterned dress David's outing comes after Diane, whose career in TV and film spanned more than six decades, passed away shortly after returning to Hollyoaks for a third time Issuing a statement on Wednesday afternoon, her agent said:' I am sad to say that Diane Langton passed away this morning (pictured as Marlena 'Nana' McQueen in Hollyoaks) More prominent roles would come in British comedy Percy's Progress, popular sitcom The Rag Trade and sex-farce Confessions Of A Pop Performer as she established herself throughout the 1970s. Elsewhere at the Cirque du Soleil Corteo, stars such as Nicola Roberts, Louise Thompson, Arabella Chi and Georgia Toffolo brought the glam to the red carpet. Nicola looked effortlessly chic in a black midi dressc, while Georgia wrapped up in a long trench coat. Pregnant Arabella put on a busty display in a plunging black mini dress, teamed with sheer tights and heels. Myleene Klass turned heads in a burgundy velvet blazer and trouser co-ord, teamed with a sheer lace bodysuit. Elsewhere at the Cirque du Soleil Corteo, stars such as Nicola Roberts, Louise Thompson, Arabella Chi and Georgia Toffolo brought the glam to the red carpet Pregnant Arabella put on a busty display in a plunging black mini dress, teamed with sheer tights and heels Louise Thompson looked sophisticated in a green cropped blazer Love Island stars Samira Mighty (L) and Faye Winter (R) were also in attendance at the event Oti Mabuse wowed in a brown figure-hugging dress and trench coat Myleene Klass turned heads in a burgundy velvet blazer and trouser co-ord, teamed with a sheer lace bodysuit Georgia Toffolo bundled up in a long black trench coat Nick Knowles and fiance Katie Dadzie put on a loved-up display for cosy snaps at the event Demi Jones (L) and Victoria Brown (R) posed for photos on the red carpet at the event Victoria was joined by close friend and fellow influencer Chris Kowalski on Wednesday night Model Lara Stone (R) and TV dating expert Anna Williamson (R) were also present at the event Denise Van Outen looked typically stylish in a Burberry mini skirt and faux fur coat Denise was joined by Antony Costa and Duncan James Nadiya Bychkova and her former Strictly partner Tom Dean were both in attendance Anthea Turner flashed her dazzling white smile for the cameras Sir Lenny Henry and Lisa Makin appeared in high spirits Victoria Brown put on a glamorous display in a black lace figure-hugging gown, while Chris Kowalski looked typically stylish in a dazzling tweed co-ord Vanessa Bauer looked incredible in a black thigh-split dress Cirque du Soleil has returned to London for its Corteo show, running from January 9 to March 2 at the Royal Albert Hall (Laura Hamilton pictured) TV's Larissa Eddie commanded attention in flowing Grecian Gown According to the website, the show blends grandeur with intimacy, humor with sorrow, and celebrates the clown's strength, vulnerability, wisdom, and humanity, all set to whimsical, poetic music (Ashley James pictured) Myleene Klass (centre) with daughter Ava (left) and fiance Simon Motson (right) SInger Natalie Rushdie looked lovely in a sparkling Jenny Packham gown Nick Knowles and fiance Katie Dadzie put on a loved-up display for cosy snaps at the event. Cirque du Soleil has returned to London for its Corteo show, running from January 9 to March 2 at the Royal Albert Hall. Mauro, a dreamer clown, imagines his funeral as a festive carnival with angels. 'Corteo' is a celebration of life. According to the website, the show blends grandeur with intimacy, humor with sorrow, and celebrates the clown's strength, vulnerability, wisdom, and humanity, all set to whimsical, poetic music. Julie Bishop appeared to be making herself known in the world of modelling on Wednesday as she was rubbed shoulders with US supermodel Tyra Banks. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, 68, who has earned the title of 'Minister of Fashion' since retiring from politics, shared photos of their outing on Instagram. In the snapshots, Julie cozied up to the American star, 51, and both showcased stylish outfits while enjoying a meal together at Nobu in Sydney. 'The fabulous Tyra Banks,' the ex-politician captioned her reel of photos, in which Julie slipped into a Zimmermann wrap dress for the occasion. The chiffon frock flowed down her body in a muted black colour with white polka dots and long sheer sleeves. Julie paired the piece with a basic set of black kitten heels and dangling gold earrings as she styled her short blonde locks into their usual coif. Julie Bishop, 68, (left) appeared to be making herself known in the world of modelling on Wednesday as she was seen rubbing shoulders with supermodel Tyra Banks, 51, (right) Meanwhile, model Tyra opted for a more casual look, slipping into a pair of blue jeans layered with a cuffed black blazer. She covered up her long brunette tresses with a stylish, floral-patterned bandanna as she rocked a bright smile while wrapping her arm around Julie. The former America's Next Top Model host has been living the Aussie life for the last 18 months as she jumps between her home in Los Angeles and Sydney. For over a year now, Tyra has been preparing to launch her new ice cream store chain Smize & Dream. Her outing with Julie came just hours after the retired politician poured her slender frame into several designer pieces for an upmarket photoshoot on Wednesday. She looked to be completely in her element as she stepped out in a floor-length Zimmermann gown and posed beside a tree. The one-time deputy leader of the Liberal Party wore a full face of dramatic makeup for the assignment to make the most of her striking facial features. Julie looked at ease as she stood hand on hip, posing up a storm, while crew looked on in amazement as her inner model came to life. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, 68, who has earned the moniker Minister of Fashion since her retirement from politics, shared snaps of their outing to Instagram Posing up a storm as she cuddled close to the American star the new friends donned very fashionable looks as they enjoyed a meal together at Nobu in Sydney Later in the day, Julie worked her best angles yet again in a beige leather-look mini trench that showcased her trim pins. The statement piece featured voluminous sleeves cuffed for dramatic effect and was belted at the waist. Between takes, Julie was seen enjoying a takeaway beverage in the sweltering Sydney heat. In her final look, the home-grown fashionista looked radiant in red in a chic suit. The bold design appeared to be by designer Camilla Franks and featured a relaxed shirt that featured a tie detail paired with matching pants. Julie appeared in her element on the day, and she had every reason to smile. She is currently dating Stephen Gray, who she 'soft-launched' on her social media account in July 2023. Little is known about Stephen, whose Instagram account is private with only 60 followers. Jen Shahs fans were buzzing after news broke that the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum would be released earlier than expected, thanks to her prison sentence being slashed for the third time. The 51-year-old former reality star, currently serving time at Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas where shes apparently bonding with Theranos fraud queen Elizabeth Holmes is now set to be released on November 3, 2026, per Page Six. Back in February 2023, Jenmom of two began serving her 78 months behind bars for 'running a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme,' which primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable people. But despite the seriousness of her crime, her fans wasted no time in celebrating the news of her sentence reduction. One tweeted, Free Jen Shah means youre upholding the United States Constitution, while another wrote, The only thing the Justice System can get right. Yet another joked, Oh, so the judges reducing Jen Shahs sentence are REALLY big fans of #RHOSLC.' Jen Shah s fans were buzzing after news broke that the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum would be getting out of prison early, thanks to her sentence being slashed for the third time The 51-year-old former reality star, currently serving time at Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas where shes apparently bonding with Theranos fraud queen Elizabeth Holmes is now set to be released on November 3, 2026, per Page Six And one more follower simply said, Just let her out at this point. As for a possible RHOSLC return, fans are already weighing in. One predicted, Oh, shes def coming back to RHOSLC, while another wasnt so keen, writing, Honestly, we dont want her back. Her reality isnt compelling, and it feels like weve closed that chapter and moved on. Case closed. In March 2021, Jen was hit with charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud for her role in a telemarketing scheme that defrauded elderly and vulnerable individuals. She maintained her innocence throughout 2022 and during the RHOSLC Season 2 reunion. Her former assistant and co-conspirator, Stuart Smith, pled guilty in November 2021, and Shah followed suit, changing her plea to guilty in July 2022. In February 2023, she began serving her prison sentence and was also ordered to pay a hefty $6.5 million in restitution. Just two months later, in March 2023, her release date was moved up by a full year, now set for August 30, 2028. But despite the seriousness of her crime , her fans wasted no time in celebrating the news of her sentence reduction Back in February 2023, Jenmom of two began serving her 78 months behind bars for 'running a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme,' which primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable people But in October, it got bumped up again, this time by more than eight months, to December 19, 2027. Jens arrest was famously captured on camera during the filming of RHOSLCs second season, with her entire journey to prison documented for the show. Since then, shes kept fans in the loop through updates posted on her website, Dear Jen Shah, which acts as a digital diary. In December, her team shared a fresh update, reassuring fans that Jen is doing very well and focused on personal self work while at FPC Bryan. They also mentioned shes working hard on her journey towards positive rehabilitation. Her team confirmed that she recently spoke with co-star Meredith Marks on the phone, a conversation Meredith had revealed during an episode of Watch What Happens Live. 'Jen has indeed spoken with Meredith Marks (co-star), and the conversation was extremely positive,' her team wrote. 'She loves Meredith and appreciates her friendship and support during this time.' While serving time, Jen has stayed busy. Shah is locked up in the same facility as Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, and have been pictured together on the premises 'Jen is currently focused on her next holiday beauty showcase within FPC Bryan Prison and continues to send love to her family, fans, and friends who continuously message her in support,' her team shared. 'She is thankful for everyone who continues to pray and uphold her in a positive light.' In an interesting twist, Jen happens to share a prison camp with Holmes, the infamous Theranos founder. Holmes is serving an 11-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy related to false claims about her blood-testing technology, which promised to revolutionize medical testing using just a tiny drop of blood from a finger prick. The late Lisa Marie Presley had an interesting reaction when her eldest child, daughter Riley Keough, got arrested for breaking and entering around the tender age of 15. The 35-year-old granddaughter of Elvis Presley was in the midst of a 'rebellious' stage when she snuck out to attend a party at what she believed was a friend's house in Los Angeles. 'It was [actually] a house for sale,' Riley (born Danielle) admitted on the Call Her Daddy podcast Wednesday. 'The police came and most people got away. And then about 10 of us got arrested. My mom was pi**ed. She was like, "This is on you, girl!"' When Keough asked Presley - who was in Las Vegas - to pick her up from jail, she replied: '"I can't get there!" So she sent my aunt to come get me.' Luckily, the Emmy nominee's arrest did not make any headlines and it was her only brush with the law, but Lisa Marie did ground her for three months around her birthday. The late Lisa Marie Presley had an interesting reaction when her eldest child, daughter Riley Keough, got arrested for breaking and entering around the tender age of 15 (pictured in 2004) The 35-year-old granddaughter of Elvis Presley was in the midst of a 'rebellious' stage when she snuck out to attend a party at what she believed was a friend's house in Los Angeles Sunday marked the second anniversary of Presley's tragic death, at age 54 from 'small bowel obstruction' as a result of bariatric surgery she underwent several years prior. Lisa Marie never got over the death of her and ex-husband #1 Danny Keough's son Benjamin Keough, at age 27, in 2020 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound inside her former $1.8M Calabasas mansion. On October 8, Random House published Presley's 272-page posthumous memoir From Here to the Great Unknown (which Riley co-wrote), and it reached the No. 2 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. On February 4, Keough and SAG Award-winning stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, and they're trying to give their two-year-old daughter Tupelo a relatively normal childhood upbringing. 'I think [Lisa Marie] was such an amazing parent and she wanted us to have, I think like her father [Elvis Presley] did, these amazing experiences all the time,' the Chanel SS/25 performer explained. 'For me personally, I think that the problem there could be for some that when you're used to so much, it's hard to find joy in simple things. 'And so I really want my children to be able to find joy playing in the backyard and doing normal kids stuff and not need elephants and circus and all these things all the time.' Riley originally met the Australian 33-year-old in 2012 on the sandy set of Mad Max: Fury Road, and he reprised his role as Ace Warboy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga last year. Keough has three upcoming films - Noah Baumbach's coming-of-age Netflix movie Jay Kelly, The Zellner brothers' alien invasion comedy Alpha Gang, and Karim Ainouz's drama thriller Rosebush Pruning. In 2023, the Cannes Camera D'Or winner paid a $1M settlement and $400K in legal fees to her grandmother Priscilla Presley so she could legally became the sole trustee of Lisa Marie's estate as well as the sub-trusts belonging to her 16-year-old half-sisters Finley and Harper Lockwood. Riley (born Danielle) admitted on the Call Her Daddy podcast Wednesday: 'It was [actually] a house for sale' She continued: 'The police came and most people got away. And then about 10 of us got arrested. My mom was pi**ed. She was like, "This is on you, girl!"' When Keough asked Presley - who was in Las Vegas - to pick her up from jail, she replied: '"I can't get there!" So she sent my aunt to come get me' (pictured in 2022) Luckily, the Emmy nominee's arrest did not make any headlines and it was her only brush with the law, but Lisa Marie did ground her for three months around her birthday (pictured in 2010) Sunday marked the second anniversary of Presley's tragic death, at age 54 from 'small bowel obstruction' as a result of bariatric surgery she underwent several years prior (pictured January 8, 2023) Lisa Marie never got over the death of her and ex-husband #1 Danny Keough's son Benjamin Keough (L, pictured in 2012), at age 27, in 2020 from a self-inflicted shotgun wound inside her former $1.8M Calabasas mansion Skai Jackson looked ready to pop when she was spotted taking her dog to the vet on Wednesday. The 22-year-old pregnant actress was seen carrying her adorable little dog Otis after he had an appointment at a veterinarian's office in Los Angeles' tony Sherman Oaks neighborhood. Skai, who announced her pregnancy in November, displayed the outline of her prominent baby bump under a pale gray T-shirt. She kept her look simple and nondescript with matching gray leggings, and she added a bit of contrast with cozy brown Ugg boots. The Disney Channel actress whose baby daddy was arrested late last year wore long dark braids draped down her shoulders and back, and she added some flash with gold heart-shaped earrings and a gold necklace. She held little Otis under one arm while clutching his paperwork from the bet, and she cooled down with a blue bedazzled tumbler in her other hand. Skai Jackson, 22, looked casual in a gray T-shirt that didn't do anything to hide her baby bump during a visit to a veterinarian in LA's Sherman Oaks neighborhood on Wednesday In 2019, Skai spoke to The Cut about falling in love with a dog at an adoption service when she was a nine- or 10-year-old child actor. That dog got adopted before she had a time to snatch him up, but then she discovered Otis, who was about 10 months old at the time and sick. Despite her concerns and lingering heartbreak over the dog that got away, Otis proved to be the perfect fit for her and her family once she took him home. She recalled bringing the black-and-white dog to the set of her Disney Channel series Jessie because he 'wasnt a barker' who would distract from the production. 'Most people didnt even realize that there was a dog there because hes so quiet,' she said approvingly. Skai's pregnancy got off to a bumpy start last year when her baby daddy Deondre Burgin whom she initially kept anonymous was arrest in Cincinnati, Ohio, just a day after she revealed she was expecting. Police said in a report Wednesday reviewed by TMZ that Burgin whom the outlet identified as her boyfriend initially fled the scene when they approached him over a juvenile parole violation warrant. Burgin tripped, fell and suffered a cut on his cheek in the encounter, according to the outlet, after which police placed him in handcuffs. The Disney Channel star, who brought along her dog Otis, wore matching gray leggings and brown Ugg boots, and she styled her hair into long braids The outing comes after Skai revealed she was pregnant in November. One day later, her baby daddy Deondre Burgin was taken into custody in Cincinnati, Ohio, after a botched foot chase with officers Burgin was released after receiving a citation for misdemeanor obstruction of official business, police sources told the outlet. Jackson defended her reported boyfriend while stopping short of explicitly revealing his identity after a blogger shared a message he allegedly wrote about her following her pregnancy announcement. Just after she announced her pregnancy, a man going by 'Yerkky Yerkky' allegedly posted to Facebook: 'On woop im salty i got this dumb a** Disney Chanel (sic) b**** pregnant I hate this h**.' Blogger Tasha K posted the comment to her Instagram, prompting a fiery message from Jackson and her mother Kiya Cole. Jackson insisted her love interest's Facebook account had been hacked, writing in the comments section: 'His page was hacked! He never said this. End of story.' Her mother posted: 'HE NEVER SAID THIS!!!! Stop being messy!!!' The post no longer appears on the page and photos of a pregnant Jackson were shared to the account with a sweet smiling face with hearts emoji. Jackson announced her pregnancy with People, with the outlet sharing photos of the star and her burgeoning baby bump. Police said in a report Wednesday reviewed by TMZ that Burgin whom the outlet identified as her boyfriend initially fled the scene when they approached him over a juvenile parole violation warrant; pictured in Santa Monica in August Jackson has defended her rumored boyfriend after a blogger posted an alleged message he shared about her pregnancy; pictured January 2024 Jackson is expecting her first child with her boyfriend, told the publication, 'Im thrilled to begin this new chapter in my life embracing motherhood and diving into new acting projects. My heart is so full!' In photos posted by the outlet, Jackson displayed her baby bump in a lilac crop top as she enjoyed an outing with her mother Kiya Cole. It comes after Jackson sparked pregnancy rumors last week while spotted in Los Angeles cradling her stomach. The pregnancy news comes several months after Jackson was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery but not charged. In September it was revealed that the Los Angeles District Attorney's office declined to file charges and dropped the case against her. She was previously arrested on August 8 at Universal Studios CityWalk in Los Angeles, California after an alleged altercation with her boyfriend. Police responded to a call from the theme park after security personnel detained Jackson for allegedly pushing her boyfriend. Deputies reviewed the surveillance footage of the alleged incident. Burgin, identified by TMZ as Jackson's beau, was pictured this past May on an Instagram account with 83,600 followers under the handle @richnviolent and a header reading, 'NETWORKK YERKK' Blogger Tasha K posted the comment to her Instagram - prompting a fiery message from Skai and her mother Kiya Cole No weapons were involved and there were no any identifiable injuries, the sheriff's department confirmed at the time. 'Skai is relieved that the investigation revealed that this was nothing more than a misunderstanding,' a representative for Jackson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. 'We appreciate that the DA determined very quickly that there should be no charges of any kind and Skai looks forward to putting this behind her,' it continued. At the time of her arrest, law enforcement sources told TMZ she told the arresting officers she was 'happily engaged and expecting a baby.' The star - who avoided questions from fans in regards to her arrest - did not have charges filed against her due to prosecutors finding a lack of evidence, TMZ reported. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office informed the outlet that the case will not go forward due to Jackson not having any criminal history. The alleged victim, her boyfriend, does not have any injuries and had also not been cooperating with prosecutors. Jackson is best known for her roles on Disney Channel sitcom Jessie and its spinoff Bunk'd, both of which ended in 2018. A$AP Rocky's lawyer says 'he's not interested' in cutting a deal with the prosecution, less than a week before he goes to trial for the alleged shooting of a former band-mate and friend. Lawyers on both sides got together on Wednesday to potentially come to an agreement on a plea deal. But his defense attorneys and prosecutors were unable to reach an agreement. The trial is scheduled to go ahead on January 21, starting with the selection of a 12-person jury. Superstar Rihanna's boyfriend, Rocky, 36 who was not present at a trial readiness hearing at a downtown Los Angeles criminal court on Wednesday - has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The rapper is facing up to 24 years in prison if convicted of both. Prosecutors and defense attorneys Joe Tacopina and Sara Caplan met in the chambers of LA Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold to talk about a possible 'settlement deal' before Wednesday's hearing. A$AP Rocky is 'not interested' in cutting a deal with the prosecution, less than a week before he goes to trial for the alleged shooting of a former band-mate and friend Rihanna and A$AP Rocky were seen in New York City on January 2. The trial is scheduled to go ahead on January 21 with the selection of a 12-person jury Defense attorney Joe Tacopina (left) met with prosecutors in the judges' chambers to talk about a possible 'settlement deal' before Wednesday's hearing. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec told DailyMail.com no deal was made The idea was that Rocky would plead guilty to a lesser charge and avoid a trial that's expected to take up to three weeks. Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec told DailyMail.com outside the courtroom after the meeting: 'We discussed the possibility of a settlement but no specific offer was made.' Rocky's attorney Tacopina indicated that his client is not interested in making a deal with prosecutors, telling DailyMail.com: 'He did not commit a crime.' Calling the prosecution's case 'fundamentally weak', he added: 'Ten police officers searched the scene and didn't find shell casings there.' When asked if Rocky will testify at his trial, Tacopina said: 'I wouldn't make a decision like that before trial. But he is eager to tell his story.' The defense attorney who repped Donald Trump in high-profile cases involving Stormy Daniels and E. Jean Carroll said he didn't know if Rihanna will be at the trial to support the father of her two young children. The charges stem from an altercation in Hollywood in November 2021 between Rocky and fellow rapper A$AP Relli who was a member with Rocky in the ASAP Mob rap group that started in Harlem in 2006 LA Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold asked Rockys attorney, Joe Tacopina, if the rapper was legally married to Rihanna, but Tacopina said he didn't know Judge Arnold invited Rihanna to attend the trial last October. But at Wednesday's trial readiness hearing, the nature of her relationship with Rocky became an issue. When the judge asked if Rihanna should be referred to as Rocky's 'common-law wife,' Tacopina replied: 'Just wife, your honor.' But when Judge Arnold asked him 'Are they legally married somewhere then?' Tacopina answered, 'I don't know'. Deputy District Attorney John Lewin at that point said that if the two are not legally married, then during the trial the prosecution would prefer to call them 'partners or significant others.' The judge agreed. The charges against Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, stemmed from a confrontation in Hollywood in November 2021 between him and fellow rapper Terell Ephron. Ephron's stage name is A$AP Relli. He was a member of the ASAP Mob rap collective that started in Harlem, New York, in 2006 alongside Rocky. Judge Arnold invited Rihanna in October to come to criminal court to support her boyfriend at his jury trial, but Tacopina said he didn't know if the superstar would be there Cops wrapped up their search at Rocky's L.A. home in April 2022 and detectives left the property with a box full of evidence At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented surveillance camera footage and testimony from Ephron and cops to support their allegations that during the argument, Rocky pointed a handgun at Ephron, then fired it twice toward him - injuring his hand. Ephron himself testified that Rocky held the gun to his stomach and said 'I'll kill you right now,' before firing off rounds. Tacopina has challenged the prosecution's case, saying there wasn't enough proof that a shooting had even happened and called the surveillance video evidence and witness testimony 'inconclusive'. Ephron has filed a separate civil assault and battery lawsuit in which his attorneys said that Rocky 'pulled out a handgun and purposefully pointed it in the direction of (Ephron) and fired multiple shots'. Adding that Ephron was 'in fear for his life,' the suit said that he was 'struck by bullet projectile/fragments' causing him injuries that required medical attention. Rocky was arrested in April 2022 at LAX airport as he stepped off a private plane from Barbados where he had been on vacation with multiple Grammy-winner Rihanna, also 36. A$AP Relli himself testified that Rocky held the gun to his stomach and said 'I'll kill you right now,' before firing off rounds If the rapper's jury's verdict in his criminal trial goes against him, the organizers of New York's Met Gala in May could be looking for a replacement for co-host since he's scheduled for it Cops held him for a few hours on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, then released him on the $550,000 bail and sent the case to LA's District Attorney to prosecute. It wasn't till the following August that then DA George Gascon decided that the charges were serious enough to press for felony status, rather than misdemeanor, which would have meant only a maximum of one year jail time for each count. Rocky is subject to a protective order demanding that he stays at least 100 feet away from Ephron who is also suing Rocky and Tacopina for defamation. In that defamation case, Ephron's lawyers claim that Rocky and Tacopina, in their defense of the civil assault case, have slandered and defamed Ephron wrongly accusing him of being a 'liar, money-grabber and an extortionist.' Tacopina dismissed the defamation lawsuit as nothing more than a 'publicity stunt' and asked the court to put the case on hold until after the criminal assault cases against Rocky are decided by a jury. Ephron's civil assault lawsuit against Rocky is already on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial. Meanwhile, if the jury's verdict in his criminal trial goes against him, the organizers of New York's Met Gala in May could be looking for a replacement for fashion icon Rocky. The rapper is scheduled to co-host the glittering event alongside LeBron James, musician Pharrell Williams, Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton and actor and playwright Colman Domingo. A beloved craft and fabric retailer with a history spanning over 80 years filed for bankruptcy Wednesday morning for the second time in two years. And experts warn it is now set to go out of business entirely after it made a big blunder while it was reorganizing its business after filing for Chapter 11 last March. Joann, which operates in nearly every US state, shut zero stores and tried to soldier on - rather than cutting loss-making shops and ending pricy leases. That was a huge blunder and leaves it open to being bought by the same asset-stripping firm that scooped up Toys R Us and Gymboree - and seeing all stores close. 'Joann kept all locations open after their last bankruptcy, which is the opposite of what a retailer is supposed to do. 'You must reject leases from unprofitable locations and downsize. They didn't, and now they are going to liquidate,' John Bringardner, Head of Debtwire, told DailyMail.com. He added: 'Joann's stalking horse bidder is Gordon Brothers, a well known liquidator of retailers like Gymboree, Toys R Us and BCBG. 'Unless Joann is able to find a higher bidder during a bankruptcy auction, Gordon will take control of the company and most likely launch going out of business sales, and remaining employees will be laid off.' Joann, which operates in nearly every US state, has recently shuttered six of its 815 stores Meanwhile, another retail expert also said Joann's 'future now looks very uncertain'. 'When Joann emerged from bankruptcy last year, it did so with breathing space rather than a complete solution to all its problems,' Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said. 'While it reduced its debt burden, it did not eliminate it, which meant it had very little room for error in terms of execution. Sadly, Joann has been found wanting on several fronts, and it has now run out of oxygen again. Inventory issues have created out-of-stocks and gaps in assortments which has weakened its specialist status in the fabric and textiles space and caused customer defections. The experience in many stores is also subpar, which has damaged sales. 'These things are not good enough with the growing presence of online specialists and strong operators like Hobby Lobby breathing down Joanns neck. 'With $615.7 million of debt as well as $133 million of trade debt outstanding, Joann did not have room for the problems that have plagued it over the past year. Unless it can find a buyer for the business, its future now looks very uncertain.' It emerged last week that Joann had recently shuttered six of its 815 stores - but it now faces all being shut. Until 2018, it was known as Jo-Ann Stores but rebranded as 'Joann' to move beyond fabrics to embrace a wider range of crafts. The six stores closed recently are in Burlington, Iowa; Owings Mills, Maryland; Holyoke, Massachusetts; Ithaca, New York; Hickory, North Carolina; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Shoppers impacted by the closures can score steep discounts during liquidation sales, with markdowns ranging from 50 to 90 percent off in affected locations. Joann first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March last year after pandemic-era sales growth faded, leaving the retailer with $1.2 billion in debt. It emerged from bankruptcy the next month - with 815 stores across 49 states - after creditors agreed to cancel $505 million in debt in exchange for ownership of the company. Sarah Foss, head of legal at Debwire, said this morning: ' Brick-and-mortar retail chains like Joann has been grappling with fierce competition from online retailers like Amazon. 'Joann joins the likes of Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, and Soft Surroundings, which have all commenced Chapter 11 cases in the past year. 'Retailers often seek out Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure their operations - it provides them with some bargaining power with landlords as they reduce their retail footprint and right-size their balance sheet.' Joann is the latest retailer to face challenges after experiencing a pandemic-era sales boom. With Americans now returning to work, the surge in home crafting has significantly declined. Home organization specialist The Container Store suffered the same fate, and filed for bankruptcy last month. Despite the closures, Joann maintains that it has no plans for widespread shutdowns or going out of business. Joann rebranded from Jo-Ann's in 2018 and refreshed stores - but it has struggled for sales after a boom in sales during lockdowns The six Joann locations 'are being closed as part of routine store location evaluation and optimization,' Joann's director of corporate communications Amanda Hayes told Retail Dive. She added that the company 'also opened new and remodeled locations in recent months, including new stores in Great Falls, Montana and Maplewood, Minnesota.' Joann's closures come after a widespread 'retail apocalypse' last year saw major companies file for bankruptcy and brick-and-mortar stores close in their droves. Up until mid-December, US retailers shut 7,300 stores - up nearly 60 percent from 2023. The most recent big retail bankruptcy was Container Store, which filed for Chapter 11 protection on December 22. There has been no news yet on the fate of its brick-and-mortar locations. The store - known for its home organizational goods, including closet organizers and storage bins - has been around for 46 years. Despite receiving a boost from Marie Kondo's hit Netflix show 'Tidying Up' during the Covid-19 pandemic, the chain has been weighed down by mounting losses in recent years. The most recent big retail bankruptcy was Container Store, which filed for Chapter 11 protection on December 22 Party City is shutting down all its stores immediately, putting an end to nearly four decades of business Big Lots also said last year it was beginning 'going out of business' sales at all its stores across the US, after filing for bankruptcy in September. The company initially said it was closing all its 963 remaining locations, after a sale to a private equity firm fell through - but has since found an investor that should keep between 200 and 400 open. Meanwhile after nearly four decades as a US retail institution, Party City announced late last year it would close all of its 850 stores in coming weeks. America's top department store Macy's also announced it would shutter 65 locations across the country before the end of January. There are fears the carnage will continue into 2025. Leading producers body Indian Tea Association (ITA) on Tuesday said it has submitted a white paper on the Darjeeling tea industry to the West Bengal government highlighting the challenges and opportunities. A team of ITA officials met Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak on Tuesday evening and submitted the white paper, the association said in a statement. The paper attempts to provide an in-depth analysis of the current state of the Darjeeling tea industry. It also highlighted key issues like production challenges and market dynamics. According to ITA, the paper also suggested recommendations aimed at reviving the industry and ensuring long-term viability. ITA said that the Darjeeling tea industry is not just an economic asset, but a cultural heritage which needs immediate attention and strategic intervention by the central and state governments by way of financial assistance. The Darjeeling tea industry faces problems of climate change, low productivity due to very old bushes and less profitability making operations enviable. A Republican lawmaker has asked the US Department of Justice to preserve all records in connection with the "selective prosecution" of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani and his group of companies by the Biden administration. The demand comes less than a week before the Donald Trump administration takes office. Rep Lance Gooden, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, in a letter on Tuesday to Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanded that the department preserve and produce all records and documents leading up to its decision to go after the Adani Group. In another letter to Garland on January 7, Gooden had raised serious concerns over the department's recent indictment of the group. The indictment alleged acts conducted entirely within India, involving Indian citizens and officials, with no apparent injury to US interests, he had noted. "The allegations in the Adani case, even if proven true, would still fail to make us the appropriate and final arbiter on the issue. These 'bribes' were allegedly paid to Indian state government officials, in India, by Indian executives of an Indian company, with no concrete involvement of or injury to any American party," Gooden had said. "Conversely, Smartmatic, an American company responsible for conducting our elections, had executives who allegedly laundered money and paid bribes to foreign governments, according to the Department of Justice's indictment earlier. However, despite numerous attempts by my colleagues and I to have our concerns addressed before the elections, we were never briefed by your department," he had argued. Alleging that the department had been highly selective against Adani and his companies, the Republican lawmaker posed several new questions to Garland. "Why has the Department of Justice not indicted a single American if the case involves a significant nexus with the US? Were there no Americans involved in this alleged scheme? Why has the Department of Justice pursued this case against Gautam Adani when the alleged criminal act, and the parties allegedly involved are in India? Do you seek to enforce justice in India?" he asked. "Will the Department of Justice seek an extradition of the Indian executives involved in this case? What is the Department of Justice's contingency plan if India refuses to comply with an extradition request and claim sole authority over this case? Is the Department of Justice or the Biden administration willing to escalate this case into an international incident between the US and an ally like India?" he further asked Garland. Gooden said the questions were also to remind him of the probable consequences of the administration's actions. India is one of the few reliable partners the US has in the Asia-Pacific region, alongside being one of the fastest-growing and largest economies, he said. "Such reckless acts of pursuit against its top industrialists could start a harmful narrative against India's growth. Not respecting India's authority over this matter could strain and even permanently damage our international relations with a strategically important and key economic and political ally," he added. "At this juncture, letting the Indian authorities investigate, determine any injury, and adjudicate on the matter instead of jumping to premature conclusions would be the best and only appropriate course of action. It would also be wise to pursue cases where the department is certain we have appropriate and conclusive jurisdiction, aside from a serious shot at winning," Gooden said in the letter. The Republican lawmaker asserted that targeting entities that invested tens of billions of dollars and created tens of thousands of jobs for Americans only harmed the US in the long run. "When we forego real threats from violent crime, economic espionage, and CCP (Communist Party of China) influence and go after those who contribute to our economic growth, it discourages valuable new investors hopeful of investing in our country," Gooden said. "An unwelcome and politically charged atmosphere for investors will only stall efforts to revitalise America's industrial base and economic growth, directly undermine President Trump's commitment to revive the economy with increased investments. Given the timing of these decisions coincides with the end of the Biden administration, concerns arise that the only true goal here is disruption for President Trump," he added. Instead of expending valuable taxpayer resources on opening lengthy and "perhaps politically-motivated" pursuits in foreign countries, the department should co-operate with the incoming administration on better serving the American people, Gooden said. "As a cog in the outgoing administration, it is your duty to the public in being mindful of not creating further complications that could compromise America's geopolitical eminence," he said in the letter to Garland. "Please also report if there has been any communication or negotiation regarding the Adani case between the Department of Justice (including any of its agents, subsidiaries, instrumentalities, or authorised representatives) and any third-party or agent representing any third party that works closely, for, or in conjunction with any entity partly owned or controlled by George Soros," Gooden said. The Los Angeles disaster underscores the growing wildfire risks in India due to climate change and human activity For the past week, firefighters in Los Angeles have been locked in a desperate battle against devastating wildfires, which have claimed numerous lives and forced the evacuation of over 200,000 residents. Driven by powerful Santa Ana winds and prolonged drought conditions, these fires have scorched hundreds of square kilometers, wreaking havoc in densely populated areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena. This disaster has left homes, places of worship, and critical infrastructure in ruins, forcing many into shelters and leaving thousands without electricity. The financial toll of these fires is staggering, estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion, making this one of the most economically destructive wildfires in US history. Beyond the immediate destruction, the long-term effects are profound: soil degradation, harm to water systems, loss of wildlife, and deteriorating air quality. Moreover, the vast carbon emissions from these fires will intensify global climate change, further exacerbating the environmental crisis. This catastrophe serves as a stark warning for India. According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, climate change will likely worsen drought conditions and elevate temperatures in forested areas of South Asia, including India, thereby increasing the risk of wildfires. To address these emerging challenges, India must overhaul its forest fire management strategies, drawing on lessons from global experiences like Californias recent tragedy. Indias forest cover is already under significant pressure from human activities and changing climatic conditions. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) reveals that 36 per cent of Indian forests are classified as highly, very highly, or extremely vulnerable to fires. Regions such as the Northeast, Garhwal Himalayas, and Central India are particularly at risk. Alarmingly, over 90 per cent of forest fires in the country are attributed to human actions, ranging from negligence to deliberate acts. Californias wildfire crisis underscores the urgent need to rethink existing forest fire management strategies to address the evolving challenges posed by changing geo-climatic and socio-economic conditions. With its rich biodiversity and diverse forest ecosystems, India stands to gain valuable insights from such disasters. Developing a comprehensive strategy that prioritises effective early warning systems, robust governance, institutional collaboration, and increased investment in research and development is crucial to safeguarding Indias forests. A national action plan aligned with international frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction would significantly enhance Indias ability to manage forest fire risks. Understanding the dynamics of disasters is essential to mitigating these risks. Conducting vulnerability assessments at both meso- and micro-levels can help identify high-risk zones. Investment in research and development, in collaboration with national and international organisations, can advance technologies for fire detection, prediction, and suppression. Enhancing governance in forest fire management is equally critical. Updated policy frameworks should integrate forest fire management into disaster management plans at both national and state levels. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and field manuals must be revised and streamlined to support effective detection, reporting, and management of forest fires. Establishing a dedicated National Institute of Forest Fire Management could strengthen training programmes for forest officials, community members, and other stakeholders, while fostering better coordination among forest departments, disaster management agencies, and local communities. Building resilience is paramount. Leveraging advanced technologies like drones, artificial intelligence, and satellite monitoring systems can significantly improve early detection and suppression efforts. Creating a national Air Operation Wing to handle aerial firefighting operations would enable rapid responses to fires. Capacity-building initiatives, such as training sessions and mock drills, would equip forest personnel and local communities with essential firefighting skills and SOPs. Collaboration with international research institutions to develop innovative solutionssuch as replacing non-native tree species with indigenous, fire-resistant varieties and creating eco-friendly fire suppression methodscan further strengthen forest resilience and sustainability. Establishing a national forest fire knowledge network would facilitate the sharing of best practices, research findings, and innovative approaches. (The writer is former executive director of the National Institute of Disaster Management; views are personal) By re-entering the high-stakes game of Afghan diplomacy, India is seeking to protect its security and geopolitical interests Over three years after the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, forcing the then President Ashraf Ghani to flee the nation, India is yet to officially recognise the new government. And yet, shedding its misgivings about the new hard-line regime and driven by its strategic concerns, New Delhi has finally decided to step up its engagement with Kabul. In what is a significant policy shift, foreign secretary Vikram Misri met the acting foreign minister of the Afghan government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Dubai on January 8. The two sides chose to meet in a third country because a meeting either in New Delhi or Kabul would not have made for the right optics for India. The Taliban administration has not been recognised by any country so far though several countries, including China, are engaging with it diplomatically, including exchanging ambassadors. While New Delhi had remained in touch with the Taliban leadership with an outreach at the joint secretary level thus far, the Misri-Muttaqi meeting essentially signals Indias willingness to take the bilateral relationship forward. With this upgrade in outreach, India has also indicated its back in the high-stakes game of seeking strategic influence in Afghanistan, an important neighbour in the region even if it means engaging with a UN Security Council-sanctioned entity. A pariah among Western nations, the Taliban finds itself trying to run an internationally isolated country with a beleaguered economy thats battling crippling economic sanctions. The Talibans approach to women their rights and freedom have been severely curtailed has contributed to Afghanistans isolation. Amid this backdrop, Indias outreach at the foreign secretary level has predictably drawn a positive response from the Taliban leadership. Not only has it assured New Delhi that it will remain sensitive to Indias security concerns, but also described it as a significant regional and economic partner. What has also impelled New Delhis diplomatic moves are its security concerns vis-a-vis Afghanistan and the instability in the region owing to the geo-political churn in West Asia. As for Afghanistan, India has had its worries about the Afghan Taliban and its links to Al Qaeda and other terror outfits though, ironically enough, it now finds itself engaging with it formally. Also fuelling Indian anxieties after the Talibans takeover was the possibility of its nexus with Pakistan, something a jubilant Islamabad had hoped for in the aftermath of the Islamist group seizing power. Instead, Islamabad-Kabul ties have now nose-dived to a point where the initial bonhomie has given way to heightened tensions and mistrust. Islamabad has accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) the two have strong links to use Afghanistans soil to launch attacks against it. Kabul, of course, has denied the charge. Amid the escalating Islamabad-Kabul tensions, New Delhi saw it as an opportune moment to reach out to the Afghan Taliban leadership and build on ties thereon. Chinas moves in Afghanistan and its close strategic clinch with Pakistan are yet another reason for New Delhi seeking to return to a more active role in Afghanistan. Indias arch geopolitical rival China took the lead in sending an envoy to Kabul, making it the first country to do so after the Taliban takeover. The China-Pakistan collusion poses a serious threat to Indias security interests in the region. China has been seeking to increase its footprint in the beleaguered nation long before the Afghan Talibans takeover in August 2021. Afghanistan, like many countries in Indias neighbourhood, is a vital element of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Afghan Taliban has voiced support for it. A resource-rich Afghanistan seeking friends during its isolation presents strategic opportunities for China. In its endeavour to forge close economic and diplomatic links with the Taliban, China has already offered the regime tariff-free access to its energy, construction and consumer sectors. In the Great Game involving Afghanistan, Russia has also been backing Kabul. Moscow, with its complex history with Kabul, has initiated moves to remove the Afghan Taliban from its list of banned terror outfits, while also boosting trade with the country. With all these geopolitical moves centred around Afghanistan in play, India has wisely realised it can no longer afford to remain a mere bystander. A course correction was required to protect its strategic interests, hence the pragmatic decision to engage with the Afghan Taliban. During the Misri-Muttaqi meeting, India indicated its willingness to resume development projects in Afghanistan shortly. In the past, India had undertaken several large and small development projects in Afghanistan despite the security risks they entailed. As India takes its first tentative steps to normalise ties with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, it will be hoping that the Afghan Taliban will keep to its word of not undermining its security interests. India, of course, will need to tread with caution on the difficult road that lies ahead. (The writer is a senior journalist who writes on foreign affairs; views are personal) As the race for the upcoming assembly elections intensifies, the Bihar elections emerge as the BJPs most formidable test since its victory in Delhi As preparations for the upcoming assembly elections gather pace, the Bihar elections present the BJP with its most significant challenge since its triumph in Delhi. The key to success lies in maintaining unity within the NDA under all circumstances. However, the question remains: can this unity be sustained? This concern looms large among NDA leaders. Amit Shah, often referred to as the BJPs election Chanakya, faces a daunting task in Bihar. Much like the lone warrior Abhimanyu, Shah stands against an opposition alliance steeped in socialist ideology. His mission is to keep all NDA factions united and harness their collective strength. Despite being aligned with the JDU, Shah must devise his unique strategies to secure victory. This entails testing new political equations daily and forging consensus among allies. The BJP is set to confront the formidable Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress, and the Left parties. Historically, Bihar has been a fertile ground for political experiments, but the challenges for the BJP here are substantial. The state lacks leaders with strong grassroots connections and effective leadership skills. Adding to BJPs woes are the growing demands of its allies. According to Sangh sources, the party is inclined to retain the LJP in its traditional form, fearing that a split could fracture its vote base. Leaders like Pashupati Paras, who have long awaited electoral rewards, are now pinning hopes on the 2025 assembly elections. However, with BJP and JDU unlikely to concede additional seats, Paras and Chirag Paswan must reconcile with the limited number allocated to the LJP in the NDAs seat-sharing arrangement. Bihars political history underscores three key regions that have long shaped its political landscape: Munger in Ang, Muzaffarpur in Tirhut, and Nalanda in Magadh. Presently, these regions remain central to the political contest. Mithilanchal, which gained prominence during the Mandal era and Lalu Yadavs social engineering, also remains significant due to the M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) equation. To counter these entrenched dynamics, the BJP plans to extend its influence to these regions. Amit Shah, spearheading this strategy, has made multiple visits to these areas since the Lok Sabha elections. Notably, JDU-BJP has positioned Sanjay Jha, a leader known for his harmonious approach, as a key figure. Additionally, two Bhumihar leaders from Munger-Begusarai have been inducted into the cabinet to bolster the partys presence in the region. Nalanda, a JDU stronghold, is also in BJPs crosshairs. Winning Bihar is not just a desire but a necessity for Amit Shah and the BJP. The NDA secured 39 MPs from Bihar in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but JDUs subsequent separation cost the alliance 16 seats. This loss has left Bihar BJP scrambling to retain its seats while identifying new opportunities for the upcoming elections. Amit Shahs electoral groundwork began in February last year, with his campaign kick-off in West Champaran. His focus has extended to constituencies like Shivhar, where BJP workers demand new candidates to replace underperforming veterans. In Seemanchal, a critical region where the MY equation holds sway, Shah faces the additional challenge of countering Prashant Kishores rising Jansuraj movement. Acknowledging the need for change, the BJP is poised to prioritise fresh faces over its traditional leadership. This shift aligns with Shahs vision of creating a new BJP in Bihar. The partys strategy includes an intensified campaign led by Shah, whose upcoming visits are expected to finalise decisions and dispel speculation.The battle for Bihar will test the BJPs adaptability and resilience, with Amit Shahs leadership playing a decisive role in shaping the states political future. (The writer is a senior journalist; views are personal) In a world that often uses wealth and appearances as markers of success, the true essence of human interactionsoft skillsfrequently takes a backseat We are often judged by factors that may not be relevant in the long run. Wealth, physical features, the name of the school or college we attended, flashy clothes, and many more, are the parameters used to measure our success. We forget that soft skills are equally, if not more, important. I waited patiently for my turn in the check-in queue at the airport during a recent visit to Mumbai. The young lady behind the counter handed the boarding pass to the passenger and guided her to walk some distance to get a wheelchair. The older lady cryptically remarked that the wheelchair was expected to come to her instead of the other way around. The counter girl looked clueless. Later in the evening, I walked over to the express check-in counter at the hotel. I waited patiently as the gentleman bent down to retrieve something before completing my formalities. Another counter lady walked by looking at me. Since the man did not resurface even after a lapse of time, I looked at the gentleman behind the adjoining table, who offered to assist me, explaining that the computer system at the other counter was not working. None from the crowd at the reception had bothered to assist me. The private company I worked for won laurels year after year as the best employer. I wondered about the criteria for the evaluation, more so since I saw many of the executives quitting the company and dissatisfied with the working conditions. The HR employees responsible for implementing all the right words in the rulebook failed to decipher the basic principles of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. All three companies are reputed names in the private sector. They recruit people with the best credentials from the best business schools or the best in the hospitality industry. One would expect them to understand soft skills, unlike those working in the government sector. I was witness to and on the receiving end of a raid by an enforcement agency while working in a private company. The officials barged into the office accompanied by uniformed policemen. Orders were rudely barked at me not to touch the telephone. My mobile phone was snatched from my hands. The officials remained in the office for more than 24 hours during which I, and the other team members, were not allowed to contact our families. We were made to feel like criminals for no reason.I was recently stopped by a traffic policeman after I had crossed a legitimate green traffic signal. I was perplexed. Another policeman sauntered over to ask me the reasons for my arguing with the other official. He rudely reprimanded me when I showed my ignorance of the matter. The policeman had stopped me apparently for crossing the red signal. Fortunately for me, there were cameras at the crossing, which proved my innocence. We face a similar lack of soft skills in our personal lives. Decades earlier, my wife and I were not given a table for lunch at a famous restaurant in Delhi. We were a newly wedded young couple and were probably not dressed the same way as their regular clientele. An attractive personality, a good education and a good job are enough for parents to settle marriages of daughters to strangers, not knowing if the young man will treat the girl well. There are countless examples. I was taught to be a good human being. The children of today are more intelligent and smart. All that we need to do is to teach them to be a better person each succeeding day. Soft skills will follow. (The author is an electrical engineer with the Indian Railways and conducts classes in creative writing; views are personal) Fifteen lawmakers, led by Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives to designate January as Tamil Language and Heritage Month. The resolution coincided with the beginning of Pongal, a major Tamil festival. "As a Tamil-American, I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution honouring the Tamil language, heritage and culture in the US and around the world," Krishnamoorhi said after introducing the bipartisan resolution. He was joined by five other Indian-American lawmakers -- Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar, Pramila Jayapal and Suhas Subramanyam as co-sponsors. The resolution was also co-sponsored by Nicole Malliotakis, Ilhan Omar, Yevette Clark, Sara Jacobs, Debroah Ross, Danny Davis, Dina Titus, Don Davis and Summer Lee. "America is a mosaic of different languages, cultures, ideas and traditions, and it is my sincere hope that this resolution will shine a light on the rich and distinct culture, as well as the incredible achievements, of the more than 3,50,000 (3.5 lakh) Tamil-Americans today," Krishnamoorthi said. He encouraged his colleagues to swiftly take up the resolution to recognise the impact Tamil-Americans had in the communities. More than eight crore people worldwide speak Tamil, one of the world's oldest languages. Tamil-Americans United PAC welcomed the resolution and said it highlighted the rich history of the ancient Tamil people and their invaluable contributions to the modern world. "We urge Tamil-Americans to actively and effectively engage in efforts to ensure the successful passage of this legislation in the US Congress," it said in a statement. The Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America said, "As proud Tamil-Americans, we strongly support Rep Krishnamoorthi's resolution to create a Tamil Language and Heritage Month." "Tamils have much to contribute to this dear country we call our home, and showcasing our history, language and culture will allow us to meaningfully share what we have with our fellow citizens," it added. The US Tamil Action Group also thanked Krishnamoorthi and urged Congress to pass the resolution with due speed. "Tamil-Americans cherish our rich and ancient language, traditions and culture and know that we have much to contribute to America's own unique and vibrant patchwork of traditions," it said in a statement. People for Equality and Relief in Lanka said the resolution highlighted the extensive history and cultural richness of the Tamil people. Stressing the importance of enhancing and modernising Indias military capabilities in the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Wednesday that be it land, water, air, the deep sea or infinite space, India was safeguarding its interests well. Speaking at a ceremony after commissioning three frontline naval combatants INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vagsheer on the occasion of Army Day, the Prime Minister said that as part of its continuous reforms in the defence sector, India had established the Chief of Defence Staff and was progressing towards the implementation of theatre commands to make the armed forces more efficient. Averring that India is today recognized as a reliable and responsible partner globally, especially in the Global South, the Prime Minister said that India operates with a spirit of development, not expansionism, and the country had always supported an open, secure, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific Region. He said that India considered the defence and security of the entire region as its responsibility. Modi said that when it came to the development of coastal nations, India introduced the mantra of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and advanced with this vision. During Indias leadership during its G20 presidency, we promoted the mantra of One Earth, One Family, One Future. We also implemented Indias vision of One Earth, One Health during the global fight against COVID-19, underscoring Indias belief in treating the world as one family and its commitment to inclusive development. Commissioning of warships and a submarine simultaneously marked a big event for Indias maritime heritage, the glorious history of the Navy, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Modi said. He added that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave new strength and vision to the Navy in India. We have taken a major step towards empowering the 21st-century Navy of India in the land of Shivaji Maharaj. It is for the first time that the tri-commissioning of a destroyer, frigate, and submarine has been done. It is also a matter of pride that all the three frontline platforms were made in India. I would like to congratulate the Indian Navy, all the stakeholders involved in the construction work, and the citizens of India for the achievement, the Prime Minister said. Dwelling upon the significant role being played by maritime nations like India in shaping global security, economics, and geopolitical dynamics, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of protecting territorial waters, ensuring freedom of navigation, and securing trade supply lines and sea routes for economic progress and energy security. While emphasising the need to safeguard the region from terrorism, arms, and drug trafficking, Modi spoke about the importance of becoming global partners in making the seas safe and prosperous, enhancing logistics efficiency, and supporting the shipping industry. He also highlighted the need to prevent the misuse of ocean resources like rare minerals and fish stocks and to develop the capacity to manage them. Noting the importance of investing in new shipping routes and sea lanes of communication and expressing satisfaction that India is continuously taking steps in this direction, the Prime Minister said: India has emerged as the first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. In recent months, the Indian Navy has saved hundreds of lives and secured national and international cargo worth thousands of crores, increasing global trust in India, the Indian Navy, and the Coast Guard. Modi said that Indias strengthened economic cooperation with ASEAN, Australia, Gulf countries, and African nations reflected the countrys presence and capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region. Todays event should be seen from both military and economic perspectives, he said. Todays program links our glorious heritage with our future aspirations. India has a rich history related to long sea voyages, commerce, naval defence, and the ship industry. Todays India is emerging as a major maritime power in the world. The platforms launched today displayed a glimpse of the same. While INS Nilgiri is dedicated to the maritime prowess of the Chola dynasty, INS Surat warship is reminiscent of the era when Gujarats ports connected India to West Asia. The commissioning of the Vagsheer submarine, the sixth in the P75 class, along with our warships Nilgiri and Surat will enhance both Indias security and progress, the Prime Minister said. Expressing satisfaction over the Navys significant contribution to the expansion of the Make in India initiative, the Prime Minister said that the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited had played a crucial role in the Navys expansion programme. We have added seven submarines to the Navy over the past decade. Of the total 40 naval vessels commissioned into the Navy during the past one decade, 39 were built in Indian shipyards, he said. Congratulating the armed forces for their contribution to the Make in India campaign, the Prime Minister said: Indias defence production has surpassed Rs 1.25 lakh crore and that the country is exporting defence equipment to over 100 nations. This reflects a rapid transformation of Indias defence sector. Maintaining that the nation would continue to achieve moments of pride and contribute to making a developed country, Modi said: While our responsibilities may differ, the goal remains the same-Viksit Bharat. Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were among those present at the naval ceremony. A total of 10 trains will be operated from Ranchi Railway Division from January 16 to March 1 for the Maha Kumbh Mela organized in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Coming from different areas, these trains will pass through Ranchi Railway Station, where a large number of people of Ranchi will be able to visit Kumbh. For the purpose of running as many trains as possible from Ranchi or via Ranchi for Kumbh, Minister of State for Defence and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and discussed with him. He was requested to run the Kumbh train from the Ranchi route. With this, people from many districts including Ranchi, Ramgarh, Khunti, Hazaribagh, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, Koderma, Chatra, Latehar, Purulia, Jamshedpur, Saraikela Kharsawan will be able to travel to Kumbh. The special train running for Kumbh on different dates will facilitate the pilgrimage of the passengers here. The Minister of State for Defence has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav for the operation of these trains. Seth said that this is the first time that Ranchi has received such a large number of trains for Kumbh Mela. Every train will run via Ranchi station and adequate number of seats will also be provided from here. Indian Railways is making every arrangement so that passengers do not face any kind of problem. General class, sleeper class and AC class bogies will also be available in all these trains. Adequate reserved seats will be arranged for passengers traveling from Ranchi. The Minister of State for Defence has urged the people that more and more Sanatanis should go to this Maha Kumbh being held after 12 years and participate in this great festival of Sanatan. Kumbh Mela Special from Ranchi to Tundla (08067/08968) will run on January 19, while Kumbh Mela Special from Bhubaneswar to Tundla (08425) on January 22, February 5, February 19 and February 25. Tundla to Bhubaneswar (08426) Kumbh Mela Special 24 January, 7 February, 21 February and 28 February, while Titlagarh to Tundla (08314) Kumbh Mela Special 16 January, 23 January, 6 February, 20 February and 25 February. Tundla to Titlagarh (08313) Kumbh Mela Special 18 January, 25 January, 8 February, 22 February and 01 March, while Tirupati to Banaras (07107) Kumbh Mela Special 18 January, 8 February, 15 February and 22 February. Banaras to Vijayawada (07108) Kumbh Mela Special 20 January, 10 February, 17 February and 24 February, while Narsapur to Banaras (07109) Kumbh Mela Special 26 January, 2 February. Banaras to Narsapur (07110) Kumbh Mela Special will run on 27 January and 3 February. Punjab Government has trained as many as 265 girls for Army, CAPF and Punjab Police for the first time through Centre for Training and Employment of Punjab Youth (C-PYTE) camps across the state, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora said on Wednesday. He was chairing the 5th Governing Council meeting of the C-PYTE. He said that the state would soon open a C-PYTE camp exclusively for girls aspiring to join the armed forces at village Theh Kanjla in Kapurthala district and the camp will be run entirely by the women staff. An additional C-PYTE camp will also be established in Pathankot district to enable the states youth for employment into the Police, Armed Forces and CAPF. Currently, Punjab has 14 C-PYTE camps across the state. Arora directed the officials concerned to complete the work of under-construction three new camps situated at village Asal Uttar (Tarn Taran), village Kheri (Sangrur) and Borewal (Mansa) within stipulated time. Principal Secretary Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Jaspreet Talwar apprised the Cabinet Minister that as many as 2,58,760 youth have been trained totally free of cost through these C-PYTE camps, of which 115,649 have been employed. Apart from training for uniformed forces, the youth are also being trained for alternative employment to enhance their employability. She informed that at least 150 youth will be trained as Drone Pilot, 300 youth as Security Guard and 150 as JCB/Crane Operators this year. Director General of C-PYTE Major General Rambir Singh Mann informed that the staff of C-PYTE camps have been working assiduously to instil values including national integration, discipline, social concern in the youth to make them better citizens, besides training and guiding them to find job in the armed forces, police, para-military forces and other industries. On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Maha Kumbh saw a remarkable confluence of faith and unity at the Sangam, where people from across the country and world gathered to take the holy dip. Chanting Jai Shri Ram, Har Har Gange and Bam Bam Bhole, devotees from around the world united for the first Amrit Snan, showcasing a remarkable display of cultural unity beyond borders. The first Amrit Snan witnessed an overwhelming spirit of unity, as people from diverse backgrounds Indian and foreign alike participated in this sacred ritual. Foreign visitors, moved by the eternal culture of India, arrived with their families to bathe in the holy Ganga, their hearts brimming with reverence. On this historic day, the banks of the Sangam were packed to capacity, swarming with devotees. People from across India, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and foreign citizens, all immersed in the holy waters of the Ganga. The air was charged with energy as chants of Jai Shri Ram and Har Har Gange echoed, creating a divine atmosphere. The first two days of this years Maha Kumbh fair saw active participation from citizens from many countries, who were deeply moved by Indias ancient traditions. Foreign devotees also took holy dips in the Ganga, immersing themselves in the rich culture and spiritual atmosphere of India, while chanting along with the Indian devotees. Foreign visitors to the Maha Kumbh shared their awe and admiration for the event. Jeff, an American citizen currently residing in Lisbon, Portugal, said, I am traveling through South India and came here via Varanasi. The energy here is very calm and peaceful. Everyone is friendly, and I feel like Im in a big temple. Im impressed by the orderliness and cleanliness there are dustbins every 15 metres. An Iranian woman, who was part of a group of nine people visiting from different parts of the world, expressed her gratitude, saying, Were staying in a great tent colony. Its our first time here, and were excited to take a holy dip at 10 am. The Kumbh is well organised, and the experience is truly impressive. Another American citizen, Paula, said in broken Hindi, Today is a very good day. Were fortunate to take a bath with the sadhus. Its an incredible experience, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to be here. The AIIMS Bhopal is set to host its annual cultural festival, 'Retina 7.0', from January 15 to 19, 2025. This festival is a celebration of creativity, sportsmanship, and culture, featuring a variety of events, workshops, competitions, and spectacular performances. Retina is not just a cultural festival; it is a celebration of India's cultural fabric. AIIMS Bhopal is a place where students from different regions, age groups, and communities across India come together and live under one roof. This makes the festival a true embodiment of the 'Mini-India' spirit, where students from every corner of the country gather to experience growth, learning, and joy. The festival will feature a range of exciting events that cater to all interests. From Pro-Nites like Rapper Night, DJ Night, Sufi Night, and Bollywood Night, the festival promises electrifying performances that will keep the audience engaged and entertained throughout. In addition, Retina will also host various workshops, competitions, and cultural activities, offering opportunities for students to showcase their talents, exchange ideas, and explore new skills. The BJP's Jharkhand unit has accused the INDIA bloc government in the State of failing to provide pensions to 11.81 lakh beneficiaries, including the elderly, widows, and people with disabilities. Former minister Amar Kumar Bauri took to social media to highlight the issue, claiming that these beneficiaries have been without pensions since September 2024. He criticized the government for its negligence, stating that the delay has deprived vulnerable groups of their rightful support. Bauri alleged that the administration has not taken adequate steps to address the problem, attributing the delay to the negligence of the Social Welfare Department. He pointed out that utility certificates, required every three months to process pensions, were not submitted on time. "Are 11.81 lakh poor and needy individuals not a priority for the government? Why has it failed to submit the certificates promptly?" Bauri questioned in a post on X. The State government has faced criticism for prioritizing the Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (JMMSY), which was launched ahead of the Assembly elections. The initial installments of JMMSY were managed with difficulty, as no allocation was made in the annual budget. This reallocation of resources has severely impacted regular pension distribution, according to reports. Ravindra Yati, the newly elected Bhopal District President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), assumed office on Tuesday amidst a grand welcome at the BJP State Office. Party leaders, workers, and dignitaries marked the occasion with enthusiasm. On his arrival, Yati paid floral tributes to the statues of great leaders in the presence of BJP State In-Charge Dr. Mahendra Singh and State Organization General Secretary Hitanand. They felicitated him with sweets and extended their best wishes. Mahendra Singh congratulated Yati and highlighted his significant role in strengthening the BJP organization in Bhopal. "I am confident that Ravindra Yati will lead the party to greater heights," he added. State Organization General Secretary Hitanand expressed similar sentiments, stating, "Yati will work collectively with everyone to propel the party forward." Speaking at the event, Ravindra Yati thanked senior party leaders for their trust. "I am committed to working diligently and living up to the expectations of the organization," he said. Outgoing Bhopal District President Sumit Pachouri handed over the charge and expressed hope that Yati would carry forward the initiatives undertaken during his tenure. The oath-taking ceremony was held at BJP's district office, Atal Bhavan, in the presence of senior leaders, including State General Secretary and MLA Bhagwandas Sabnani, Mayor Malti Rai, and District Organization In-Charge Mahendra Singh Yadav. The event began with a traditional worship ceremony followed by garlanding the statue of BR Ambedkar at Bhawani Chowk. A large number of BJP workers and officials, including district media in-charge Rajendra Gupta and other prominent leaders, welcomed Yati with shawls, fruits, and floral bouquets. Women leaders and office bearers also actively participated in the celebrations. The event concluded with Yati reaffirming his commitment to strengthening the BJP in Bhopal with the support and cooperation of all party members. by David J. Lobina A new year, and a new opportunity to write on some more contentious topics (and/or be cancelled), my new years resolution in 2024. I wrote about universality and diversity last year, as well as on the identity conditions of, well, identities, and I now start the year 2025 by reviewing a book published by Oxford University Press on inclusion in linguistics. I should warn any potential readers that this is possibly the worst book I have ever read in my career, and that it is hardly about inclusion to boot, but to understand what I mean by this one will have to read the 4000-word review I have written. I would say enjoy, but(NB: the review is due to appear on LinguistList at some point, unless they change their minds). * The volume Inclusion in Linguistics showcases the work of over 40 authors across 20 chapters on what is perceived to be a lack of inclusion in the field of linguistics, with North America as the main focus of attention (with some exceptions). Edited by Anne H. Charity Hudley, Christine Mallinson, and Mary Bucholtz, this collection of papers is part of a project that includes the volume Decolonizing Linguistics, also published by Oxford University Press. The overall project started in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter movement and its stated aim is to achieve equity and justice in linguistics on the basis of race, disability, gender, sexuality, class, immigration status, Indigeneity, and global geography (p. 2). As an instance of a social justice endeavour, therefore, the contributions are mostly focused on the sort of actions needed to achieve greater inclusivity in the field, and in these very terms, the editors encourage readers to use both volumes as guides for scholarly work as well as for pedagogical purposes, with further material to be had on a dedicated website. I shall very briefly summarise each chapter first and then I will engage with parts of the content below, where I shall name the respective authors when pertinent to do so. The volume itself is divided into 4 thematic parts. Part 1 focuses on intersectional models of inclusion; Part 2 details possible institutional pathways to achieve more inclusion in linguistics; Part 3 is devoted to some of the resources available to teachers and lecturers to build more inclusive classrooms in schools and universities; and Part 4 outlines various examples of inclusive public engagement in the field. The background to the overall project is chronicled in the books preface whilst the Introduction describes the general approach as well as each contribution, with the Conclusion highlighting the lessons learned. Regarding the organisation of each chapter, most contributions follow a similar template and are all equally short. The title page of each chapter except one presents the pronouns the contributors would like others to use when referring to them, whilst the actual issue at hand is usually introduced within the context of the authors positionalities viz., short biographical sketches of their background and motivations with most of the discussion typically centred around various recommendations and action plans to increase inclusivity. Chapter 1 calls for a change in how linguists talk about the speech of disabled people and argues that research on autism, in particular, is based on artificially-constructed tests that have resulted in harmful conclusions. Chapter 2 stresses the lack of deaf and/or black scholars in sign language research, especially from the Global South. Chapter 3 argues that linguistics in general is hostile to people of Filipino heritage, this partly due to the exoticisation and exploitation that Filipinos suffer in North America. Chapter 4 focuses on the language around transgender people and provides a number of examples of perceived cases of transphobia. Chapter 5 describes the pernicious effects of what it calls the figure of the lone genius in linguistics, a variation of Great Man Theory, and among other things argues in favour of citational justice as a way to elevate the work of minoritised people (i.e., an increase in patterns of citations for the work of minoritised people). Thus Part 1. Chapter 6 starts off Part 2 by highlighting the experiences of first-generation graduates that is, the first person in their immediate family to graduate from university and argues for the need of support structures for such first-generation students. Chapter 7 calls for the expansion of linguistic programmes in Historically Black Colleges, and for a more expansive definition of what qualifies as linguistics to boot. Chapter 8 describes the state of linguistic research in India, claims that it is too theory-focused, and suggests that the interested scholars need to consider social aspects too. Chapter 9 is devoted to Natural Language Processing research and the well-known dataset biases that plague the development of language models, offering some mitigating measures as a possible solution. Chapter 10 kickstarts Part 3 with a call for linguistics to be part of a social justice curriculum pivoting on antiracism. Chapter 11 reports efforts to incorporate the teaching of Cape Verdean Creole in specific bilingual settings in North America. Chapter 12 calls for linguistics to act as a force for social change in community colleges, especially in order to attract more people of colour to the field. Chapter 13 outlines one way to attract more students of colour to the field: by using data and examples from students own linguistic interactions. Chapter 14 explains the possible role of what the authors call land-based knowledge in linguistics. Chapter 15 has some advice on how to conduct so-called pronoun rounds: a classroom exercise where students identify which third-person pronouns they would like others to use when referring to them. Chapter 16 exemplifies one way to make university lectures more engaging by employing an active learning pedagogy. Chapter 17 describes a repository of open-access pedagogical tools to make lectures more inclusive, including a database of diverse names for the creation of more expansive linguistic examples. Lastly, Chapter 18 offers some pointers on how to make linguistics more approachable through public engagement. Chapter 19 argues for the need to offer critical language awareness workshops to primary and secondary students, as in a recent initiative in Boston. Chapter 20 discusses linguistic outreach programmes in relation to identity and cultural issues. Thus Part 4, and the bulk of the volume. What to make of it? Well, it is hard to believe this book exists at all; or rather, it is hard to believe that Oxford University Press has published this volume under its Oxford Academy section. Inclusion in Linguistics is mostly a product of political advocacy, not of scholarship, and whilst this is not necessarily a bad thing in itself, the problem here is that both the politics and the advocacy on display are incredibly tendentious. The book is populated by myriad claims and denunciations, and even though most of these are rather contentious in nature, they all go largely unargued for (in addition, some material is close to mockery and even slander, and one has to wonder what OUP were thinking; more about this below). The book is also rather parochial in outlook; most of the arguments and claims can only be understood within the context of certain social and political undercurrents in North America, some of which the contributors happen to exemplify quite neatly, and there is furthermore a fair amount of preaching to the already converted, this more clearly in evidence when it comes to the significant amount of jargon the reader encounters, which is rarely defined let alone explained it is instead simply assumed to be common currency, and moreover correct. As a case in point, much of the material in this volume will be largely incomprehensible to most readers in Italy, Spain, and, to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom, the three countries I know well, and partly because of the language (also, the book alludes to social conditions that dont really translate to those three countries). The general ethos, to now focus on this aspect of the book, is not a little partisan too: the preface denounces the apparent fact that scholarship is dominated by white cis male discourse, with the contributions meant to offer relevant alternatives, as per the expectation that diversity (of race, gender, ableness, etc.) produces different kinds of scholarship, whilst the Introduction identifies, as already stated, the Black Lives Matter movement as the relevant background to the overall project, and in particular the murders, as the editors stress, of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Both positions merit some commentary. The second point rests on a mistaken equivalence, as Breonna Taylor was accidentally killed in crossfire and no-one has ever been charged with murder or even manslaughter, unsurprisingly so. This is not meant as a petty and pointless correction, but as a way to highlight the comprehensive partiality of the overall project. Regarding the mention of white cis male discourse, more importantly, I must admit that this claim did not elicit a belief that some perspective is sorely and unjustifiable lacking in linguistics, but instead recalled, unfortunately, past talk of Jewish Physics and, in the event, no characterisation of what a white cis male discourse actually is was forthcoming in either the preface or elsewhere in the volume (incidentally, Jewishness makes one single, brief appearance in the volume, if the search function of the Open Access pdf file is to be trusted; the Press has not bothered to include an index in this volume). Moving on to the scholarship, the editors start off the volume by explicitly rejecting some of what many would regard as basic tenets of Wissenschaft a German term that is more expansive than the English word science, thus involving the human sciences, and meant to refer to scientific fields that involve rigorous and teachable methods for investigating and acquiring knowledge about their subject matters (Leiter, 2024). In the Introduction to the volume, then, the editors denounce and moreover reject the notion that research discovery and scholarly knowledge must be personally distant or seemingly objective for the author to have authority and expertise, a position they claim constitutes a case of colonialism and white supremacy (pp. 15-6), though no explanation or justification is given for the sweeping statement. Similar sentiments are expressed in many of the contributions, again with little to no elaboration, and usually presented as simple statements of fact. Readers who might view the editors position on science and the systematic pursue of knowledge as not a little preposterous will be excused for quickly skimming through the book, or giving it a pass altogether. More importantly, perhaps, such views can have the unfortunate effect of antagonising those of us who might otherwise be sympathetic to some issues from the volume, and who would have welcomed more detail and some argumentation. Consider further examples from the actual contributors. Lynn Hou and Kristian Ali, in chapter 2, draw a sharp distinction between the epistemologies of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, as per a model of Boaventura de Sousa Santos, according to which academia from the Global North is not to deferred to and academia from the South is to be privileged so that it can be liberated from the shackles of the Global North (pp. 38-39). Julien De Jesus, in chapter 3, casually mentions that both the Philippines and the United States are false countries and false nations, argues that the term Filipino needs to be replaced by Filipinx by analogy to Latinx vis-a-vis Latino, and takes it for granted that there is structural racism in linguistics (p. 65; the terms Filipinx and Latinx are not common in the Philippines and Latin America; they are the product of North American politics and are not, in fact, universally accepted there, either). Deandre Miles-Hercules (styled as deandre miles-hercules in the book), in chapter 4, assumes that a commitment to scholarship must entail a principled investment in dismantling oppression. Rikker Dockum and Caitlin M. Green, in chapter 5, warn against the pernicious effects of the figure of the lone genius and Great Man Theory, both of which are mired in Western chauvinism, Eurocentrism, scientific racism, and prejudiced language ideologies masquerading as objective facts (p. 100), and as such there is a need for reparations and restorative justice (p. 105). Candice Y. Thornton, in chapter 7, claims that linguistic methodology as currently practiced results in data that often perpetuate colonial hegemony. Emily M. Bender and Alvin Grissom II, in chapter 9, claim that large data sets as employed in contemporary language models preserve systems of oppression, including racism and misogyny, and thus are skewed towards hegemonic views (p. 206), a reflection of the colonisers mentality in the field of Natural Language Processing (p. 212). Rhonda Chung and John Wayne N. dela Cruz, in chapter 14, describe modern Canada as a settler-colonial state and refer to something they call raciolinguistics ideologies, which are used to justify and maintain monolingual, Eurocentric, and white supremacy structures. Lal Zimman and Cedar Brown, in chapter 15, have it that academic freedom is a supposedly apolitical concept that is in fact often mobilised to protect and sustain the influence of racist and transphobic oppressive ideas (p. 314). E cosi via I really need to stress that the vast majority of these claims are not defended or substantiated in any way in the book; they are mostly presented, as already mentioned, as statements of fact too obvious to require any elaboration, or indeed any references as support. Surprisingly for what is meant to be an academic book, moreover, some material is rather unbecoming. Certain admissions, in particular, come across as rather unedifying, and reflective of personal prejudices and grievances. Two examples will suffice here. Jon Henner, in chapter 1, recounts a chat with a group of women in pre-flood New Orleans, at a time where Henner admits he had more patience for engaging in oral conversation with hearing people (p. 30), whilst De Jesus, from chapter 3, devotes much of their biographical sketch to list many of the perceived slights received in the past (macro/micro aggressions, in the parlance of the volume); in neither case, however, do such admissions add anything to either the arguments or the content of these chapters. This is generally the case whenever authors positionalities are shared in the volume; contrary to the overarching assumption in the volume that ones past history and personal motivations can explain and affect scholarship, I perceived no direct relationship between the biographies of each scholar and their academic views what I did perceive was SOME connection between these biographies and the political beliefs and advocacy of the authors (including, as mentioned, prejudices and grievances), though even here I would not exaggerate the link, superficial as it is. Worse still is the behaviour of Miles-Hercules, from chapter 4. I have already mentioned the claim in this chapter that a commitment to scholarship must entail a principled investment in dismantling oppression; Miles-Hercules also believes that those academics who are not keen on discussions or initiatives about inequality in higher education would do well to steer far clear of academic occupations, perhaps to dedicate themselves to veterinary acupuncture (p. 85; I fear the advice regarding this alternative employment is not offered in good faith, though). Miles-Hercules also claims, with no evidence, that the work of gender critical feminists incites transphobia, and in the event refers to these scholars as TERFs and FARTs (pp. 88-89), terms that by now are often used as slurs, as seems to be the case here. One Rahel Katalin Turai comes in for particularly nasty treatment in this chapter for the temerity of having sent a critical email to Miles-Hercules on the occasion of a past event, and is effectively defamed as a transphobe in the chapter. We are thankfully spared the tiresome prospect of going through the actual contents of the email and are offered paraphrases instead, interspersed with Miles-Herculess rebuttals, but only because Miles-Hercules believes that emails are protected by intellectual property law in the US and thus cannot be publicly disclosed (this does not seem to be correct, but this is by-the-by now). It is certainly disappointing for an academic publisher such as Oxford University Press to allow publication of such gratuitous attacks, which certainly have no place in scholarly publications, and I am surprised the legal team at the publishers UK headquarters did not identify any potential legal issues (the copy I received was published in the US rather in the UK, where libel laws are stricter, but I assume the book has also been published in the UK). So far, so political (advocacy), but there really is very little scholarship to discuss in the volume. I will mention one issue below that is more or less academic in nature in order to close this review (such as it is), along with some comments about lost opportunities. I will not discuss, however, any of the recommendations on offer regarding how to increase inclusion in linguistics (not even the call shit out advice form chapter 3, though I have taken that to heart), most of which have little to do with academia and academics per se and more to do with society at large (many recommendations, moreover, strike me as potentially negative and against well-established, and well-justified, academic norms). This is unsurprising, given that inclusion and diversity are societal issues that require structural changes and government policy, and for which, I would argue, the concept of class (and equality rather than equity) would be the most important factor, and not the identities to do with race, gender, etc., so obsessively emphasised in the book (as an aside, in the UK some of these identities are codified as protected characteristics in the 2010 Equality Act as a guard against discrimination, a nomenclature that strikes me as much more apt; after all, there is much more to a person than their personal characteristics of race, sexuality, etc.). I should add that I find the kind of talk on inclusion and diversity in the book surprisingly divisive, and furthermore surprising coming from linguistics; divisive because the language around diversity is often couched as if people of different characteristics lived in different realities as somewhat closed groups or trapped in cultural enclosures, as Jurgen Habermas has put it (see here); and surprising coming from the field given that linguists have often emphasised the theoretical validity of any of the worlds languages to the enterprise of studying universal properties of the language capacity (I have discussed universality, diversity, and language in here and here; the former argues that diversity needs to be understood within the concept of universality; the latter revisits the work of the anarchist thinker Rudolf Rocker and in so doing includes discussion of national languages and standards, topics touched upon in the volume too). Regarding the limited scholarship present in this volume, then, the book contains various criticisms of linguistics as a field that are worth considering. Take Thorntons contribution again, from chapter 7. In a passage in which Thornton discusses an article of Frederick Newmeyers on the history of linguistics (cited therein), we are offered this stream-of-consciousness reaction (I let others judge the tone): so he just gon act like Greek scholars ain learn from KmT?! Like people of the African diaspora (pre and postcolonial contact) werent exemplifying linguistics, philosophy, and rhetoric through diverse oral traditions?! Like languages of the African diaspora ain been explicitly articulatin and signifyin all the cosmologies, epistemologies, and ontologies?! (p. 155) where, by KmT, I gather the author means the more common kemet, the term Ancient Egyptians seem to have used to refer to the black soil around the Nile Delta (and thus, perhaps, to refer to the Nile Valley; in either case, nevertheless, these are reconstructions and thus modern interpretations), though here it seems to be related to those strands of Afrocentrism that use the term to refer to black Africa, as Thornton appears to intend. The criticism levied at Newmeyer misses the target, though, for Newmeyer is talking about the origins of what may be termed theoretical (or structural) linguistics, and that is not what Thornton has in mind at all, as is clear from the quoted passage. Theoretical linguistics is certainly not all there is to linguistics, moreover; I myself studied at a department once regarded very much as one mostly focused on theoretical linguistics (and on generative grammar to boot), but there were also many courses in sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, linguistic anthropology, and much else (courses at the interface between linguistics and other fields, such as literature, were also available). Linguistics writ large is, well, a large field of study, and different aspects of language are studied at different levels and with different methods. Interdisciplinary, after all, is a reality of modern scholarship as much as the well-cemented principle that subject matters need to be properly delimited for scientific study (both points are of course rejected in various places in the volume; chapter 5 talks of disciplinary divisions as false dichotomies, for instance). And, in any case, I note that Oxford University Press classifies this volume under its Sociolinguistics category, along with the related areas of Linguistic Anthropology and Social Theory, so what is the issue exactly? Thorntons sentiment is echoed elsewhere in the book. In the context of exclusion rather than inclusion, the editors mention that [l]inguists who focus on the languaging of the mouth and its internal and external movements do not consider themselves obligated to include the languaging of the hands and the body (p. 10). Again and taking the term languaging to mean use of language for now (the term is used over 40 times in the book, but receives no definition) this is not a situation I have encountered myself (and the editors offer no examples); if anything, the addition of scholarship on sign language as another window into the study of the capacity for language has been very prominent in the field, along with many other sources of data (experimental, historical, etc.). All in all, it seems to me that the situation in this volume is as follows: many of the authors do not seem to believe that their subject matter or field of study is scientific or involves systematic knowledge as these concepts are customarily understood (as Wissenschaft), whilst some of the authors seem to confuse (or indeed conflate) scientific study with political advocacy. If the former is the case, then one needs to ignore the talk about positionality and identities and instead just judge whether the knowledge on offer adds to Wissenschaft or not, regardless of where it comes from. If the latter is the case, though, one needs to recognise that political advocacy is not Wissenschaft and advocacy need not always be the concern of scholarship. There are myriad examples of such conflations in the volume. Consider Miles-Hercules again, who actually starts chapter 4 by bringing up a controversial post from the blog Language Log from 2017 involving Geoffrey Pullum (Miles-Hercules also references, though obliquely, another post involving Pullum which proved controversial too, this one discussing the use and mention of the N-word, but this plays no role in the chapter and I suspect it was added for effect). The post Miles-Hercules focuses on has Pullum make a linguistic point about the use of singular they, which at the time unfortunately degenerated into a long discussion in the comments section on how the modern usage of they, in the context of a person who identifies as bisexual and wishes others to use they when referred to, ought to override a persons grammatical knowledge regarding which linguistic contexts the word they can and cannot appear in, including which antecedents they can and cannot take. Any argument to the contrary (or any nuanced disagreement) gained Pullum and others little more than abuse at the time accusations of misgendering and transphobia abounded and this remains so now, with Miles-Hercules defaming Pullum in the very same terms here. I should add that, for whatever reason, Pullum stopped writing on Language Log soon after these controversies, and this has been to everyones loss, in my opinion. In any case, this is a reflection of the failure to distinguish between political advocacy (or, in reality, the requests of particular individuals as to how they would like to be referred to by others) and actual theoretical points regarding the internalised and systematic knowledge of language of a person and, thus, constitutes an unfortunate lapse into ideology. I earlier alluded to lost opportunities. There was plenty of useful information in the book as well as a number of interesting surveys and interviews (though the samples were far too small for the conclusions that are drawn from them), but most issues of relevance were treated far too briefly and far too superficially. Some topics deserved more thorough and sustained discussion the history and current status of Historically Black Colleges is a case in point and a wide readership would have been found for a more judicious book (and perhaps even an international readership if the approach had not been so insular). What we have instead is a book displaying incredibly tendentious and parochial politics, poor scholarship, and an angry and divisive tone throughout, resulting in an exhausting to read list of claims, denunciations, grievances, and disqualifications. Most contributors had, quite simply, an axe to grind here, but what they described in their chapters was often more a case of how they would like the world to be instead of what the world really is like. The reader could have been spared some of the mockery and slander too if the editors had not been so inflexible. In the preface, we are told that the project decided against a regular reviewing process for each contribution because, of course, this is susceptible to colonisation (p. xviii), opting instead for group workshops and revisions. It is not unreasonable to believe that a regular reviewing process could at least have avoided the worst excesses typical of political group thinking. No doubt the editors view such a reviewing process as an example of the gatekeeping ideologies they denounce in various places in the book, ideologies that rely upon assimilatory replication models of academia that are grounded in and designed to maintain white-supremacist, colonial, normatively embodied, abled, and cis male-hegemonic views[continues ad nauseum] (p. 444). The volume could at least have been printed on recycled paper, but alas, this was not to be. Authors positionality: David J. Lobina specialises in cognitive science tout court and that is all you need to know. *** Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. BJP candidate from Kalkaji assembly seat, Ramesh Bidhuri has stirred up controversy again on Wednesday with a comment about his competitor for the seat, AAP nominee and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. During a public address, Bidhuri likened Atishi to a hirni (doe). The two time former MP and three time former MLA has recently made controversial remarks about her, stating that she changed her father. He made the comments minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Rohinis Japanese Park for a pre-election rally. He also said that he will build the roads of Kalkaji as smooth as Lok Sabha Congress MP Priyanka Gandhis cheeks. During a public address, Bidhuri said, Chaar saal se log nark bhog rahe hai. Ab jab chaar mahine chunav main reh gaye, toh Atishiji in galiyon main jaise jungle main hirni bhaagti phirti hai, vaise bhaagti phir rahi hai. (For four years, people have been living in hellish conditions. When there were four months to go for the elections, Atishi ji has been running around like a doe runs in the jungle). The BJP MLA candidate filed his nomination papers from the Kalkaji assembly constituency on Wednesday in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The ruling party reacted sharply to the statement, calling his statement anti-women In a post on X, the party said, Abusive party leader Ramesh Bidhuri once again showed his anti-women thinking! BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri again made derogatory remarks on Delhi's female Chief Minister @AtishiAAP. Delhiites will not forgive such abusive leaders and parties. Bidhuri, who served as a Lok Sabha MP from South Delhi from 2014 to 2024, has now been fielded as the BJP candidate from Kalkaji against Atishi. The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released a list of its star campaigners for the upcoming polls. The list features prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior party figures. The BJP's strategy hinges on leveraging the influence of these leaders to connect with voters across the capital. Sources in the party said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address two-three rallies in the city while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address seven poll rallies in each of the Lok Sabha constituencies of the city. "There is also demand for roadshows by the prime minister in Delhi, but a final decision is yet to be taken by the top party leadership," a BJP functionary said. Key figures in the campaign include BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Other heavyweights such as Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Manohar Lal Khattar, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Yogi Adityanath will also play pivotal roles. Additionally, Union ministers like Giriraj Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Devendra Fadnavis are set to participate in the campaign. The list also features prominent leaders such as Himanta Biswa Sarma, Keshav Prasad Maurya, Smriti Irani, and Anurag Thakur, among others. The seven chief ministers, who will campaign in Delhi as BJP's star campaigners, are Devendra Fadnavis, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Yogi Adityanath, Bhajan Lal Sharma, Nayab Singh Saini and Mohan Yadav. To woo purvanchali voters, the list also includes Purvanchali leaders, including Bhojpuri stars and MPs Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishan, and Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua. Purvanchalis -- people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- constitute a sizeable vote bank in the national capital. All the seven MPs from Delhi are also part of the list. Delhi BJP in-charge Baijayant Panda, co-incharge Alka Gurjar, and the party's state unit chief Virendra Sachdeva will also be star campaigners for the polls. The inclusion of top brass reflects the party's intent to make significant inroads in a state where regional parties have held sway in recent years. The BJP aims to break its 26-year drought of power in Delhi, while the Congress is looking to regain a foothold after being wiped out in the past two elections. The national capital will witnessed a triangular fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has intensified against each other. With freebies, law and order, education and governance dominating campaign agendas, the capital is bracing for an intense electoral showdown with results on February 8. An 11-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh, who ran away from home to meet Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, was rescued by the Railway Police Force (RPF) at Sant Hirdaram Nagar railway station in Bhopal and handed over to his parents. Officials of Sant Hirdaram Nagar RPF said the boy was caught traveling without a ticket. When asked as to where he was going, he said that he had to go to Mumbai. Suspicious at the boy's answer, the RPF personnel took him aside for further questioning. During this, he told he is going to Mumbai to meet Shah Rukh Khan and complain about his father. The boy told RPF that he had watched 'Jawan' in September 2023 and was highly impressed by Shah Rukh's stunts. After which, he became a fan of the actor and has since then watched more than 40 of his films. Hry CM approves construction of four-lane road Chandigarh: A four-lane road will be constructed within the available Right of Way (ROW) of MITC main channel from Agra Canal, Sector 8 to village Gharora in the Tigaon Assembly constituency of Faridabad. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has given his approval to the project. A government spokesperson said the construction of this road was demanded by Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar, Haryana Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Rajesh Nagar and former Minister and MLA Mool Chand Sharma and villagers of surrounding areas and about Rs 81 crore will be spent on this road project. Panipat is land of heroes, gives message of bravery & unity: Maharashtra CM Chandigarh: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while speaking as the chief guest at a programme organized by Shaurya Smarak Samiti on the occasion of Shaurya Diwas in Kala Amb, Panipat, said the next year, this function will be organized under the joint aegis of the Haryana Government and Maharashtra Government. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will be requested to participate in this programme. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue will also be installed in the Kala Amb sthal premises. Fadnavis said Panipat is the land of heroes, which gives the message of bravery and unity. It is from here that the Marathas got the lesson of living in unity. The Marathas showed bravery and taught a lesson to the invaders who destroyed temples, places of faith and places of worship, and unfurled the saffron flag in India again. Govt taking all steps for welfare of farmers: Minister Chandigarh: Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Tuesday said the state government has recently taken a big step in the interest of farmers and transferred an amount of Rs 184 crore directly into their accounts. In a statement Rana said the state government has constantly taken decisions by keeping the interests of every section paramount and taken many steps for the prosperity of farmers of the state. The state government is moving forward by working on the issue of increasing the income of farmers. Strict action if negligence found in resolution of CM Window complaints: Saket Kumar Chandigarh: Saket Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister, has said that strict action will be taken against officers and employees who are negligent regarding the complaints received on CM Window. He directed the officers of the Citizen Resource Information Department to improve their score within the next 15 days and submit a report to the Chief Minister's Office. Kumar was chairing a review meeting of nodal officers related to CM Window (Complaints) in Chandigarh. He took cognizance of a complaint related to Charkhi Dadri district and also directed to issue an explanation notice to the ADC, Charkhi Dadri. He issued instructions to the Director of the Services Department to inform about the action taken by fixing the responsibility of the concerned officer for not undertaking a complaint related to the Services Department pending since 2021. State-level function to be held in Panchkula on National Voters Day Chandigarh: A state-level programme will be organized at Government Post Graduate College, Panchkula, on January 25 on the occasion of 15th National Voters Day. Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi will participate in this programme as the chief guest. On this day, citizens will be administered an oath regarding the exercise of voting rights. National Voters Day is celebrated every year on January 25 in the entire country from the level of polling station to block, assembly constituency, district and state. The main objective of celebrating this day is to spread awareness among the general public to get every eligible citizen included as a voter in the voter list. Parents urged to avoid shortcuts like "Donkey routes" when sending children abroad Chandigarh: Haryana Foreign Cooperation Minister Rao Narbir Singh urged parents to avoid shortcuts like "Donkey routes" when sending their children abroad. He said that parents should send children abroad only with the guidance of the Foreign Cooperation Department. The Minister said the state government is closely monitoring illegal immigration agencies involved in "Kabutarbazi" (human trafficking) and will take strict legal action against them. He warned youth against falling prey to such illegal means. To address this issue, the state government has established a separate Foreign Cooperation Department. Recognizing the significant demand for drivers, plumbers, masons, and other construction workers in the UAE and other Arab countries, the government is offering facilities for learning foreign languages and obtaining certifications from related agencies. Importantly, the state government will bear the cost of these certifications. 9th Armed Forces Veterans Day celebrated in Chandigarh Chandigarh: The ninth Armed Forces Veterans Day was celebrated at Mahila Bhavan, Sector-38 Chandigarh and sacrifices made by our Veterans were remembered on this day. The celebrations were organised by Zila Sainik Welfare Office, UT Chandigarh. Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary honoured the gallantry awardees of Chandigarh. Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner-cum-President Zila Sainik Board, Brig BS Dhillon (Retd), Vice President Zila Sainik Board were also present during the occasion. Verma, while addressing the veterans and veer naris, stressed on the need to give priority to health and continue to play role model to the young generation for nation building. The Chief Secretary said that Chandigarh Administration is dedicated to assist veterans with all their needs. Chandigarh Administration will be according high priority to the cause of welfare of all Veterans, Veer Naris and the families of ex-servicemen. Chandigarh Health Deptt organises TB awareness rally Chandigarh: As part of the 100-day Intensified Tuberculosis (TB) Campaign, the Chandigarh Health Department, in collaboration with the State TB Cell, NSS volunteers from Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh and students of Government Homeopathic College, Sector 26, organised a TB Awareness Rally. The event aimed to raise awareness about TB prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, in alignment with Indias mission to eliminate TB by 2025. The rally commenced at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16 with over 250 participants. The event was officially inaugurated by Dr Sushil Mahi, Medical Superintendent of GMSH-16, who emphasised the critical importance of early detection and strict adherence to TB treatment protocols. A pledge for a TB-free India was also administered to the attendees. Cold weather conditions in Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh: Cold weather conditions prevailed in Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday with Moga being the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a low of 7 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 7.9 degrees Celsius, according to a meteorological department report. The mercury settled at 4.6 degrees Celsius in Pathankot district, 5 degrees Celsius in Bathinda and Faridkot, 5.5 degrees Celsius in Gurdaspur and 5.8 degrees Celsius in Patiala. In neighbouring Haryana, Ambala recorded a minimum temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius. Karnal recorded a low of 5.2 degrees Celsius, Sirsa 5.4 degrees Celsius, Narnaul 5.8 degrees Celsius, Hisar 7.1 degrees Celsius, Bhiwani 8.6 degrees Celsius and Rohtak 9.2 degrees Celsius. Preamble Reading Programme to be held across Haryana on Jan 17 Chandigarh: The Haryana Government will organize a Constitution Preamble Reading Programme across the state on January 17 at 11.00 am on the theme 'Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhiman'. The programme will be organized in all mini secretariats and other offices of all the districts as well as all government and private schools, colleges, universities and local bodies (gram panchayats, municipal councils and municipal corporations). A letter to this effect was written by the Chief Secretary's Office to all the Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Managing Directors and Chief Administrators of Boards and Corporations, Vice Chancellors of all the universities of the state, Municipal Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) and Chief Executive Officers of District Councils. The letter states that the Central Government has started a year-long historic celebration from November 26, 2024 to commemorate the completion of 75 years of adoption of the Constitution of the country. The purpose of these celebrations is to honour the Constitution makers by reiterating the basic values enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution Preamble Reading Programme is also being organized in this series. It has also been asked to ensure public participation in these programmes. To promote ease of doing business, Haryana to reduce 1,500 burdensome compliances Chandigarh: The Haryana Government has set a target of reducing 1,500 burdensome compliances and decriminalise 50 provisions (Business & Citizens) under Acts/Rules/Checklists by December 2025 in order to promote ease of doing business in the state. This was disclosed at a review meeting for implementation and submission of the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) and Reducing Compliance Burden (RCB) held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi. The Chief Secretary directed departments to involve their stakeholders for seeking inputs for the reform action plan. Joshi said stakeholder feedback was crucial in the successful implementation of Business Reform Action Points. He also directed that the departments must adhere to the stipulated timelines set by the government for completion of tasks. The Chief Secretary directed the Industries and Commerce Department to also involve all Deputy Commissioners for suggestions on business reforms. Officers asked to prepare report on Government's 100-Day Agenda: Minister Chandigarh: Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Wednesday directed officials to revive the defunct 'Pack House cum Cold Stores' built by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board with the cooperation of the Horticulture Department. This initiative aims to assist farmers in preserving their fruits and vegetables more efficiently. Additionally, he discussed the establishment of a kinnow fruit and vegetable market at the procurement center in Abubshahar under the Market Committee, Dabwali, which will significantly benefit farmers in the surrounding areas. Chairing a meeting, Rana instructed officials to prepare a report on the state government's 100-day agenda. Speaking to the media afterward, the Agriculture Minister said that he has been holding meetings with various departmental officials to gather feedback on the 100-day roadmap prepared in October after the government was formed. He said that meetings with officials from agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries departments are ongoing. Jatinder Malhotra elected unopposed as Chandigarh BJP president Chandigarh: Jatinder Malhotra was elected unopposed to continue as Chandigarh BJP president for the next three years by the partys 70 state council members on Wednesday. BJP office-bearers said an official announcement would be made on Thursday. The BJP first appointed Malhotra, 58, as its Chandigarh unit president, replacing Arun Sood, in October 2023. Malhotra ran for a seat in the municipal corporation elections in Chandigarh in 2011 but was defeated by Congress candidate Mukesh Bassi. Malhotra is close to former BJP chief Sanjay Tandon, who previously held the position for nearly six years, and was initially the district president of the party for a zone that included sectors 15 to 30. Pb Vigilance Bureau arrests Patwari taking Rs 20,000 bribe Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday apprehended Harsimratjit Singh, posted as Patwari in revenue Circle Chogawan, Amritsar district while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20000. An official spokesperson of the state VB said the accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by Sarmel Singh, a resident of village Kohala, in tehsil Lopoke, Amritsar. The complainant approached the VB and alleged in his complaint that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for correction in the revenue records which were intentionally distorted in Jambandi of 2019-2020 with an intention to demand a bribe from him. After a preliminary enquiry into this complaint the VB team laid a trap during which the accused was caught red handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of two official witnesses. More than 50 prominent leaders on Wednesday, who are in the fray for the high-octane Delhi assembly elections, including BJPs Kalkaji candidate Ramesh Bidhuri, BJPs New Delhi candidate Parvesh Saheb Singh Verma, AAPs Jangpura candidate Manish Sisodia and Congress' Badli candidate Devendra Yadav entered the election battle officially as they filed their nomination papers. Many leaders also took part in religious activites and also held roadshows before filing their nominations. Before submitting their nominations, BJP leaders Vijender Gupta, Satish Upadhyay, Parvesh Verma, and Ajay Mahawar stepped up their electoral campaigns with roadshows and rallies. Verma worshipped at Gauri Shankar temple in Chandni Chowk along with his wife before taking on a foot march to Jamnagar House from his Windsor Place residence for filing his nomination papers from New Delhi constituency. Meanwhile, Gupta accompanied by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the party workers performed a 'havan' and then moved to file his nomination papers from Rohini seat in a procession. Throughout the rally, the crowd chanted slogans such as Jai Shri Ram, Narendra Modi Zindabad, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, and Ab Nahi Sahenge, Badalkar Rahenge, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere. Former Delhi Minister and BJP candidate from Bijwasan seat, Kailash Gahlot, offered prayers at Shri Hari Mandir in Vasant Kunj before going to file his nomination. BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri joined a march that began from the EWS flats in Kalkaji built for rehabilitated slum dwellers. Satish Upadhyay, BJP candidate running from the Malviya Nagar Assembly seat, expressed his gratitude and optimism during the rally. He said, "I am grateful that MP Bansuri Swaraj, my amily, and my friends are all here in my support as I file my nomination today. Even amid this cold wave and dense fog, as you can see, people and my party workers are here in full force. This shows and assures that the lotus is blooming, and BJP is coming to Delhi," he said. Bansuri Swaraj shared her support for Upadhyay and said,"On February 5, press the lotus symbol and make Satish Upadhyay the winner. We assure you that we will change the fate of Malviya Nagar and work toward its development." BJP candidate Dushyant Singh Gautam, contesting from Karol Bagh, also held a roadshow ahead of filing his nomination at the SDM office in Jhandewalan, Delhi. He was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Nawab Singh Saini during his rally ahead of nomination filing. Manoj Tiwari, along with BJP candidate Ajay Mahawar, held a rally in Yamuna Vihar before Mahawar filed his nomination for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Mahawar expressed confidence in the BJPs success, saying, "This time, the BJP will win with a full majority, and we are receiving complete cooperation from the people." Manoj Tiwari also shared his optimism about the party's prospects, and said, "We are filing nominations for approximately 38 seats, and now I am here with Ajay Mahawar, who is going to file his nomination. We performed a 'hawan' ceremony, seeking the blessings of the gods. This nomination will bring happiness to the people of Delhi, as the city has long been suppressed under corruption. This is the right time for change. In the Gonda constituency, all problems and issues will be addressed. We want the support and blessings of the people. Press the lotus button." Taking a dig at former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said, "There is a wave in Delhi, and Arvind Kejriwal continues to lie, despite being ineligible to hold the position of Chief Minister. Delhi is watching all these lies. The people of Delhi will decide their fate, and a BJP's double-engine government will be formed." Several AAP candidates also filed their nomination with senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia visiting a temple and holding a roadshow before filing his nomination for the Jangpura Assembly seat. The former deputy chief minister sought blessings at the Angoori Mata Mandir in Kilokri before starting his roadshow. Under the banner "Bhai Ho To Aisa, Kejriwal Jaisa," Sisodia launched his roadshow. Further, former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain also filed his nomination papers from the Shakur Basti Assembly seat after holding a roadshow with MP Sanjay Singh and former MP Dr. Sushil Gupta. The Congress has pinned its hopes on leaders such as Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav who will contest from Badli taking on AAP's Ajesh Yadav and BJP's Deepak Chaudhary. The BJP has so far declared the names of 59 candidates for the polls, while the names of 11 candidates are yet to be announced. The nomination process for the Delhi Assembly elections began on January 10, and the last date for submission is January 17, 2025. As of now, 85 nominations have been filed, with 20 submissions made on January 13 alone. Voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly is scheduled to be held on February 5 and the counting of votes will be taken up on February 8. The spiritually significant Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025 continues to witness an overwhelming turnout of devotees, with the Paush Purnima and Makar Sankranti bathing festivals concluding smoothly under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. On Monday, the Paush Purnima bath concluded peacefully, while on Tuesday, during the Amrit Snan of Makar Sankranti, nearly two crore devotees had taken a holy dip in the sacred waters of the Sangam by noon. On Tuesday, during the first Amrit Snan of Maha Kumbh 2025 on Makar Sankranti, the Yogi government organised a grand flower shower from helicopters, draping crores of devotees at the Sangam bank in rose petals. Flowers were showered on all the ghats and akharas, adding to the sanctity of the occasion. The sight of rose petals raining down overwhelmed the devotees, who responded with chants of Jai Shri Ram and Har Har Mahadev. The Horticulture Department had been meticulously preparing for the flower showers at the Maha Kumbh Mela for weeks. Special arrangements were made to procure and store rose petals to ensure an uninterrupted shower during the bathing festivals. On Monday also, during the first bathing festival, Paush Purnima snan, rose petals were showered on the devotees. Chief Minister Yogi closely monitored the event from Gorakhpur, ensuring every aspect of the arrangements was meticulously managed. On his instructions, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad and Director General of Police Prashant Kumar, along with other senior officials, are maintaining a constant vigil over the arrangements at the fair. The authorities have been actively engaging with devotees, saints and Kalpvasis, ensuring smooth operations and addressing concerns with efficiency. Devotees have widely praised the administration and police for their promptness, effective crowd management, and the well-coordinated arrangements during the Maha Kumbh. The worlds largest spiritual congregation began under the direction of Prime Minister Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. On January 13 alone, over 1.62 crore devotees participated in the Paush Purnima snan at the Sangam. The first Amrit Snan on Makar Sankranti saw nearly two crore devotees, including saints, kalpvasis and pilgrims from across India and abroad, take the holy dip in the sacred confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. To manage the massive gathering, a 24- hour control room has been set up to ensure constant surveillance and timely responses snd Chief Minister Yogi has been personally receiving real-time updates. Spanning across a vast 1,000 acres, the Maha Kumbh city has been divided into 25 sectors, each equipped with comprehensive facilities such as accommodation, food, electricity, water, sanitation and security for saints, kalpvasis and devotees. Special teams have been deployed for disaster management to ensure a smooth experience for all. The entire fairground has been digitally mapped with surveillance cameras, Google location support and cashless transaction options via UPI integration. More than 60,000 police personnel have been deployed. Advanced monitoring systems, including thermal imaging at night and real-time visuals from drones and CCTV cameras during the day, have ensured proper crowd control and safety. DGP Prashant Kumar confirmed that special arrangements have also been made for devotees traveling from Prayagraj to other spiritual destinations such as Chitrakoot, Vindhyavasini Dham, Varanasi and Ayodhya. Coordination between administrative and police teams in these cities has been reinforced to ensure a seamless pilgrimage experience. The salary of the policemen who did not give the details of movable and immovable properties till now will not be released in the coming February. The DGP headquarters had ordered all police officers and employees to provide details of all their movable and immovable properties acquired in the year 2024 on the Manav Sampada portal by Wednesday. The DGP headquarters had directed all the districts in this regard to ensure that the police officers and employees under them register the details of their properties on the Manav Sampada portal by January 15. The headquarters has expressed displeasure over the very low number of policemen providing the details and has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against those policemen who have not registered the details of their movable and immovable properties on the portal within the stipulated time, as per the provisions of the UP Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999. After this their salary for the month of January will not be released. It may be mentioned that last year also the details of their properties were sought from the policemen. After Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh showed strictness, most of the employees (more than 99 per cent) of Police (Home Department) had provided the details of their properties as compared to other departments. A month -long -exhibition showcasing models of buildings designed by Le Corbusier and the works of Architect SD Sharma began at the Government Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday. Architect SD Sharma, 94, a close collaborator of both Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, is the highlight of this exhibition, which will run until February 12. This initiative is collaboration between the Museum and the A3 Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting art, architecture, and aesthetics, founded by Architect Sangeet Sharma. The event also celebrates three key milestones: Architect SD Sharmas 94th birthday, the A3 Foundations 75th event, and the Museums 50th anniversary, further enhancing the significance of this partnership. The exhibition was inaugurated by Brigitte Bouvier, Director of the Foundation Le Corbusier in Paris, along with other dignitaries who travelled to Chandigarh specifically for this occasion. The display chronicles Architect SD Sharmas six-decade career across nearly 70 panels. Many dignitaries like chief architect of UT, ex chief architects of UT , Punjab and Haryana , chairman of IIA and IIID, Manmohan Khanna, along with architectural students from the region were present Renowned Singaporean architect Rene Tan, along with other prominent architects, attended the event. Tan, the creator of the models, delivered a talk on the importance of documenting Le Corbusier's work and the process of curating such an exhibit. Speaking about his work, Architect SD Sharma stated, This exhibition is a tribute to architecture and reflects my deep respect and dedication to what I have learned from the masters, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. This is my second exhibition after Spain. I hope the current generation of architects and the architectural community can draw inspiration and knowledge from my contributions. Over 150 wooden models of Le Corbusier's buildings have been curated by Singaporean Architect Rene Tan and his firm RT+Q. This traveling exhibition has been displayed in 22 countries and includes nearly 192 meticulously crafted models. For the first time, this internationally acclaimed collection is being showcased at the Museum and Art Gallery of Chandigarh. The exhibition also includes approximately 70 panels that document Architect SD Sharmas six-decade career, including ongoing projects from his private practice. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday directed officials to set up biofuel briquetting plants in all cooperative sugar mills of the state so that the financial condition of the sugar mills can improve. Presiding over a review meeting of the Naraingarh Sugar Mill here in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said the work of setting up a biofuel briquetting plant had been started in the Kaithal Cooperative Sugar Mill as a pilot project, in which bagasse briquettes are being made and sold to thermal power plants and other consumers of Haryana. This has also improved the financial condition of the sugar mill considerably. He directed the officials to set up such plants in other cooperative sugar mills of the state on the same lines. Every possible effort should be made to bring the cooperative sugar mills out of losses, he added. Saini expressed happiness over the steps being taken by the government in the interest of cooperative sugar mills and farmers in the state and the continuous improvement in the efficiency of cooperative sugar mills. The Chief Minister was informed in the meeting that in the current crushing season 2024-25, till January 13, all the cooperative sugar mills associated with Sugarfed have crushed a total of 113.56 lakh quintals of sugarcane and produced 9.18 lakh quintals of sugar with an average sugar recovery of 8.70 per cent. In the last crushing season 2023-24, Rohtak, Sonipat, Jind, Palwal, Meham, Kaithal and Gohana cooperative sugar mills saved about 7.14 lakh quintals of bagasse and earned additional revenue of Rs 1,630.31 lakh. During the meeting, Sugarfed Chairman Dharambir Singh Dagar gave suggestions to improve the financial condition of the sugar mills. Reviews schemes of Housing for All Department; Issues instructions to officers In another meeting, Saini said that under the 'Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Yojana' and 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana', the state government will soon provide housing facility to all underprivileged families. The Housing for All Department has made all necessary arrangements in this direction. The allotment of 100-square-yard plots to eligible individuals will be carried out in a phased manner. Under the scheme, the 100-square-yard plots will be given in developed colonies with all essential amenities, similar to urban areas. To facilitate this, the Chief Minister has already approved an allocation of Rs 100 crore. The Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that eligible families are provided the option of financing the amount for flat or plot allotment through banks. This will ensure that no eligible family is deprived of the schemes benefits, even if they are unable to make a lump sum payment. It was informed during the meeting that under the schemes, all eligible families in the state who do not own a house, land to build a house, or a flat, and whose annual income is less than Rs 1.80 lakh, have been identified. Under the 'Mukhyamantri Gramin Awas Yojana', over 5 lakh people have applied for 100-square-yard plots, and all eligible beneficiaries will soon receive their plots in phases. Similarly, under the scheme, 50-square-yard plots will be allotted in Mahagram Panchayats. Similarly, under the 'Mukhyamantri Shahri Awas Yojana', more than 2.89 lakh families living in cities, which do not own a house and have an annual income of less than Rs 1.80 lakh, have applied for housing. Among them, approximately 1.51 lakh individuals have applied for plots, and 1.38 lakh have applied for flats. Last year, provisional allotment letters were issued to 15,256 applicants. It was informed in the meeting that Housing Board Haryana has successfully developed a Property Management System (PMS) software to manage the data of approximately 80,000 allottees. Previously, all property records were maintained manually by estate managers in ledgers, and allottees had to visit the concerned estate manager's office to update their details after making EMI payments. In addition, the Property Management System portal has been integrated with the Jamabandi portal, enabling seamless registration of properties under Housing Board Haryana. This integration ensures greater transparency and accuracy in property records. The Property Management System should also be linked with the Parivar Pehchan Patra to improve the implementation of schemes in the future, said the Chief Minister. Meets Japanese delegation In another event, the Chief Minister met with a Japanese delegation to discuss various projects being set up in the State. The Japanese delegation included Chairman, Fumio Sashida, Kazunobu Miyake, General Manager, ATL, Guan Zemin, and Sumit. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Arun Gupta, Advisor, Foreign Cooperation Department, Pawan Choudhary were also present during the meeting. Saini said that Foreign Department has been established to attract and assist foreign investors. Many major companies are interested in setting up projects in Haryana. The government has provided robust infrastructure and connectivity, making regions like Gurugram and the NCR a hub for reputed companies looking to invest. He emphasised that all necessary facilities for starting projects are now available under one roof, making Haryana the top choice for investors. The Japanese delegation said that TDK, a renowned Japanese company, is setting up a huge plant in Sohna. This initiative will not only create job opportunities for the youth but will also contribute significantly to the states economic growth. INOX Air Products (INOXAP), Indias leading industrial gas manufacturer, has successfully commissioned its largest-ever Air Separation Unit (ASU) at the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)s Bokaro Steel Plant. The ASU, with an installed capacity of 2150 tons per day (TPD), is INOXAPs biggest investment in a Greenfield Oxygen Plant in India, valued at INR 750 crore. It is also the largest ASU installed at any SAIL facility nationwide. The state-of-the-art ASU will produce 2000 TPD of gaseous oxygen, 150 TPD of liquid oxygen, 1200 TPD of nitrogen, and 100 TPD of argon. INOXAP already operates an ASU with a capacity of 1250 TPD at the same plant. With the commissioning of this new unit, the combined production capacity of INOXAP at SAIL Bokaro now exceeds 6300 TPD, significantly strengthening the supply of industrial gases. Siddharth Jain, Managing Director of INOXAP, called this a major milestone in the companys journey, emphasizing that this is SAIL's largest ASU and a testament to the reliability and capability of INOXAP. He stated, This achievement underscores our commitment to exceeding stakeholder expectations while contributing to the nations industrial growth. During the commissioning, Siddharth Jain met with B.K. Tiwari, Director-in-Charge (DIC) of SAIL Bokaro Steel Plant, to discuss the operational impact and future collaboration. Both leaders emphasized the importance of this partnership in enhancing efficiency and productivity at Bokaro Steel Plant. INOXAP's long-standing partnership with SAIL began in 2008, with the installation of its first onsite cryogenic ASU at Bokaro Steel Plant, followed by another at SAIL's Salem Plant. This latest commissioning reflects the companys continued focus on innovation and operational excellence. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the government is fully committed to the prosperity of the state and the progress of its people. Efforts to promote investment in Madhya Pradesh have brought remarkable success. Both small and large investments are equally significant, as the focus is on providing employment to the youth, fostering industrial development, and promoting self-employment. The Regional Industry Conclave has been instrumental in achieving these objectives. The next conclave is scheduled to be held in Shahdol on January 16, and it is already attracting substantial investment proposals on a large scale. During a virtual dialogue with industrialists from Shahdol, Umaria, and Anuppur late night on Monday, Chief Minister Yadav said that investment proposals worth Rs 20 thousand crore have been received for the Shahdol Industry Conclave. He highlighted the states investor-friendly industrial policies, ranking fourth in the country for Ease of Doing Business while interacting with local industrialists. To support investors, Madhya Pradesh has established 'Investment Facilitation Centers' in every district, with collectors serving as nodal officers, ensuring a seamless process for setting up industries. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that collectors in all three districts of the Shahdol division have been directed to encourage and support young entrepreneurs in establishing start-ups. The state government is committed to providing every possible assistance to promote self-employment. He also announced that the year 2025 is being celebrated as Industry Year in Madhya Pradesh. As part of this initiative, the Global Investor Summit will take place in Bhopal this February, with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurating the event. Dr. Yadav expressed pride in hosting this prestigious summit, calling it a significant achievement for the state. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shakti Mission has been started in the state. Through this mission, we will give a constructive direction to the energy of the youth and make them self-reliant. This will enable them to become job providers and ensure their participation in a developed Madhya Pradesh for a Vikasit Bharat. Investment received in RIC so far Chief Minister Yadav took an innovative initiative to organize the Regional Industry Conclave for equal industrial development and employment generation in different regions of the state. The first RIC of the state was held in Ujjain on 1-2 March, in which investment proposals worth Rs one lakh crores were received. The second RIC was held in Jabalpur on 20 July, in which investment proposals worth Rs 22 thousand crores were received. In the same sequence, the third RIC was held in Gwalior on 28 August, in which investment proposals worth Rs 8 thousand crores were received. The fourth RIC was held in Sagar on 27 September, in which investment proposals worth Rs 23 thousand 181 crores were received. The fifth RIC was held in Rewa on 23 October, in which investment proposals worth Rs 30 thousand 814 crores were received. The 6th RIC of the state was held in Narmadapuram on 7 December 2024, in which investment proposals worth Rs 31 thousand 800 crores were received. Jitendra Singh, the mastermind behind a nationwide fraud involving fake Tata Zudio outlet franchises, was arrested by Mandsaur Police at Kolkata Airport. The main accused orchestrated the scam by creating fake websites offering Zudio franchises, targeting victims across the country. The fraud came to light in December 2024 when Suraj Gupta from Mandsaur reported being cheated of Rs 38.67 lakh. The accused demanded more money, raising suspicion. Jitendra, originally from Bihar, exploited the popularity of Tata Zudio, which ranked second in Google Trends, to attract victims. His operation involved creating fake websites, opening numerous bank accounts across states, and withdrawing money through ATMs using fake SIM cards. His associates, including Sachin, Amish, and Nitesh, helped in withdrawing and laundering the money. The police traced the fraud to Bihar and West Bengal, with the fake websites linked to these regions. After tracking Jitendra's phone activity, they apprehended him upon his return from Manali. The police discovered 35 linked bank accounts, though all funds had been withdrawn. During questioning, Jitendra revealed that he had cheated at least five people in the past few months, and his in-laws were aware of his activities but did not stop him. The police also suspect the involvement of several other relatives and associates, including Jitendra's brother-in-law. Jitendra is currently on police remand until January 20, with investigations continuing into the identities of other accomplices and the financial networks supporting the fraud. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Women and Child Development Department has undertaken groundbreaking initiatives for childrens protection, rehabilitation and empowerment. Through Mission Vatsalya, efforts are being made to ensure a secure and promising future for children across Uttar Pradesh, supported by 132 state institutions and specialised services. Psychosocial counseling has also been introduced to provide children better guidance and emotional support. In the financial year 2024-25, 128 children found new homes and brighter futures through adoption under Mission Vatsalya, fostering a culture of adoption and providing children with the stability of a loving family. The sponsorship and foster care programmes have further enhanced childrens lives, benefiting 10,659 children under the sponsorship scheme and 11 under foster care. These measures are equipping children to become self-reliant and confident contributors to society. The state has also taken a firm stance against child marriage, preventing over 200 potential cases this year through proactive efforts by the state level monitoring committee and district task force. New rules are being drafted to strengthen Child Marriage Act enforcement, secure daughters futures, and spread societal awareness. Psychosocial counselors have been appointed in collaboration with the Health Department to address childrens mental and emotional well-being in government homes. These professionals are helping children overcome challenges, set life goals and develop self-reliance. Under Mission Vatsalya, modern technology, skill development and employment-focused initiatives provide children with the tools they need to build successful futures, underscoring the governments unwavering commitment to their welfare. A meeting of Madhya Pradesh Unit was held in the city on Saturday regarding Nation wide Strike on 24th February & 25 February proposed by AIBOC central committee. A discussion on 5 days working week, Security of Bank Employee, Shortage of Staff, Adequate Recruitment & other major challenges of banking sector also discussed in the meeting in the chairmanship of Comrade Subin Sinha and State Secretary Dinesh Jha. They appealed to officers of every Bank in all districts of Madhaya Pradesh to join the Strike in february.More than 100 officers of different banks like UCO Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, SBI, Union Bank & others took part it. The Ranchi Meteorological Centre of the India Meteorological Department has predicted that there will be no significant change in the minimum temperature across Jharkhand for the next few days. The forecast suggests that mornings in the state will experience shallow to moderate fog in isolated areas, followed by partly cloudy skies during the day over the next 48 hours. The minimum temperature is expected to remain stable for the next four days, with a slight dip anticipated afterward, particularly in the northwestern parts of the state. Meteorologists attribute the recent rise in minimum temperatures to the influence of a Western Disturbance passing through northern India. On January 14, Ranchi recorded a minimum temperature of 12.4 degrees Celsius, while Jamshedpur recorded 13.5 degrees Celsius. Daltonganj registered a minimum temperature of 12.7 degrees Celsius, and Bokaro recorded 12.1 degrees Celsius. Chatra experienced the states lowest temperature, at 10.6 degrees Celsius. The Western Disturbance has been influencing the weather pattern in Jharkhand, causing a slight increase in night temperatures. However, experts predict that the disturbances impact will reduce in the coming days, allowing cooler conditions to return to the state. The stable weather conditions are expected to provide relief to residents from extreme cold, although the foggy mornings may cause visibility issues in certain regions. Travelers and commuters are advised to exercise caution during early morning hours, especially in areas prone to fog. The Ranchi Meteorological Centre continues to monitor the weather conditions closely and will provide updates as the situation evolves. The Tarn Taran Police has busted a Pak-backed drug trafficking cartel with the arrest of a kingpin and seized 5 kg heroin from his possession, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday. The arrested accused has been identified as Rashpal Singh, a resident of Village Bhai Ladhu, Tarn Taran. Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded his motorcycle. Yadav said that the accused person was in direct contact with multiple Pakistan-based smugglers and had been receiving consignments of drugs from across the border. Probe revealed that the Pak-based smugglers were exploiting drones to ferry drugs across the border, he added. The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that acting on reliable information, a police team conducted a targeted operation and apprehended Rashpal Singh in the area of Village Bhai Ladhu and recovered 5 kg heroin from his possession. He said that efforts are being made to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers, as well as to ascertain the total quantity of drugs purchased by the arrested individual so far. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced to set up a state of the art Surjit Patar Centre for ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Guru Nanak Dev University. Chairing a function to pay homage to the eminent writer, Mann said that this centre will be equipped with the latest ultra modern technology and assured fulsome support and cooperation to the University. He also announced to institutionalise an Award in the memory of great writer which will be given to the budding writers to encourage them. The Chief Minister said that appointments in the universities are being made for the sole purpose of promoting academics in these prestigious institutions, adding that the single point agenda is to ensure that education, and not groupism, gets boost in these premier institutions. He said that the great Gurus, saints and martyrs have taught us to fight against tyranny, oppression and injustice. Paying floral tributes to Dr Surjit Patar, Mann said that passing away of this great son of the soil was a huge and irreparable loss for the Punjabi literature, adding that he was one of the greatest writers of Punjabi Literature and he had a strong personal bond with the late writer, who appreciated him a lot. He said that Dr Surjit Patar was one of the most celebrated Punjabi writers who had a deep impact on the psyche of every Punjabi adding that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that if English language had legendary writer Keats then Punjabi language has Dr Surjit Patar. The Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts for promotion of Punjabi language, adding that the state government has allocated funds worth more than Rs 350 crore to the Punjabi University Patiala to bring it out of financial crunch. He said that it was imperative to ensure that the teaching staff could focus duly on educating the youth and promotion of Punjabi language. Mann also extended his best wishes to the people on the sacred day of Maghi adding that this solemn occasion is observed every year in memory of the 40 Muktas (liberated ones) who laid down their lives in the battle of Khidrana, now known as Sri Muktsar Sahib. He said that the auspicious occasion of Maghi in Sri Muktsar Sahib was being held since time immemorial as a mark of respect to eulogize the supreme sacrifice of 40 Muktas, who valiantly fought against the Mughals. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and MP from Ludhiana, attended the inauguration ceremony of Indira Bhawan, the newly constructed headquarters of the Indian National Congress, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Speaking at the occasion, Warring said, Indira Bhawan is more than a building; it is a symbol of our partys unwavering dedication to democracy, equality, and justice. It represents the sacrifices and vision of our leaders who steered India through its Freedom Struggle and laid the foundation of a progressive and inclusive nation. Today, as we inaugurate this iconic structure, we recommit ourselves to these ideals. He further added, The Congress Party has stood with Punjab through thick and thin, whether it has been during the ongoing farmers protests, the waiver of loans of Punjabs farmers, Congress has and will always work for the benefit of the state of Punjab. Warring was joined by prominent Punjab Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Dr. Amar Singh, and Sukhpal Singh Danny Bandala, who together represented the spirit and aspirations of Punjab. Following the inauguration, Warring, along with other senior Punjab Congress leaders, participated in a session in Delhi. Joining him were LOP Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and MP Dr. Amar Singh. During the meeting, the leaders deliberated on pressing issues, including farmers' demand for MSP, the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, and the hardships faced by common people under the current government. Warring said, This moment is a proud one for every Congress worker. The spirit of Indira Bhawan inspires us to continue our fight against divisive forces and build an India that stands united in its diversity. Together, Punjabis and the Indian National Congress remain steadfast in working for the betterment of Punjab and India. Manish Raj Gupta assumed the position of Director (Technical, Projects, and Raw Materials) at the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on January 13, 2025. A Mechanical Engineering graduate from MANIT, Bhopal, Gupta began his journey with SAIL in 1991 as a Management Trainee (Technical) at the Durgapur Steel Plant. With over 30 years of experience in the steel industry, he has worked across various SAIL plants and units, demonstrating expertise in technical operations, efficiency, and leadership. At Durgapur, he significantly improved the Steel Melting Shops efficiency and safety. In 2019, he became Chief General Manager at Bokaro Steel Plant, leading modernization projects and technology upgrades. As Executive Director (Works) at IISCO Steel Plant, he focused on sustainability, cost optimization, and digital adoption. His tenure as Executive Director In-Charge (Operations) at SAILs Corporate Office further bolstered operational efficiency and strategic coordination. Guptas leadership is expected to drive innovation and excellence in his new role. Columbia University students savor bright, eye-opening China travel 14:48, January 15, 2025 By Wang Xiaopeng and Tang Siqi ( Xinhua SHANGHAI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A group of students from Columbia University in the United States recently had an opportunity to visit Chinese electric carmaker Nio's delivery center in Shanghai, where they engaged in a lively discussion. Brimming with curiosity and awe over China's electric vehicle advancements, the students asked intriguing questions about the future of sustainable mobility. Their inquiries spanned topics such as the range of Nio's batteries, the rationale behind renting or building Nio Houses, the impact of power swap solutions on social sustainability, and the company's vision for a greener future. "Though I was prepared, I was still surprised by the depth of their thinking on the development of the EV industry," said Jin Bei, a senior product experience expert at Nio, after the Q&A session with the visiting students. Having participated in over 20 such sessions since last June, Jin noted that the students' engaging questions clearly demonstrated their strong interest in and solid understanding of the development trajectory of China's electric vehicle industry. As the students entered Nio's showroom, many eagerly hopped into the driver's seats of the display cars. "This showroom is crazy," said Anna Torpey, a postgraduate student, impressed by the innovative technologies of the companies. "I do think that this type of EV technology is going to be really important for our future." "The cars are modern and sleek. I'm not a big car person, but I was definitely impressed by what I saw," said Jonathan Epstein, another student who had previously worked in the U.S. tech industry. He even admitted feeling jealous that Chinese companies had succeeded in making electric vehicles more affordable for people. When asked to summarize her thoughts on the visit, Torpey described it in three words: bright, fun and eye-opening. Epstein said he is excited about the future of Chinese EVs, noting that the EV industry offers an opportunity for U.S.-China collaboration to promote sustainability, as "we all live on one planet." The group of 27 students was part of a 10-day trip to China that concluded on Jan. 10, during which they visited iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They also exchanged ideas with Chinese university students and gained insights into the people's congress system, rural revitalization efforts, and urban community renewal. For Miriam Triassi, a German student at Columbia University, the experience far exceeded just discovering China; it was about connecting with kindred spirits who shared her curiosity. "Talking to students and young people today is really nice. It's like being in New York, but now talking to Chinese students and seeing so many things we have in common," Triassi said. "We talk about a variety of topics, and it feels like an authentic way to understand our shared thoughts and differences." The trip was part of a 2023 initiative by the Chinese government to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period, according to the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), one of the organizers of the trip. "I think that to truly understand people, a culture, you need to engage with it firsthand. I'm happy to participate in this initiative and hope that more Americans come to China to experience as well," said Joshua Kimball, who is studying U.S.-China relations and has previously visited the country. He noted that this trip allowed him to see a more multifaceted China, and he shared his plans to work and live in the country after graduation. To date, more than 15,000 young Americans have visited China for exchange programs since the 2023 initiative was launched. "What they learned about the real China in their trips will help dispel misunderstanding and misconceptions," said Shen Xin, vice president of the CPAFFC. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday, asserted that the INDIA bloc was intact and his party was supporting the Aam Aadmi Party over the Congress in Delhi assembly election. He said the SP was supporting AAP as Arvind Kejriwals party was stronger and the common aim was to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party. Strengthening the hands of regional parties wherever they are strong and in a position to fight the BJP is the basic principle behind the formation of the opposition alliance, Akhilesh Yadav told media persons. He was in Haridwar to immerse the ashes of his uncle Rajpal Yadav in the Ganga at Har Ki Pauri. The INDIA bloc is intact. I remember, when the alliance was being formed, Nitish Kumar had talked to leaders of all parties, including ours. He had said at the time that we should strengthen the hands of a regional party wherever it is strong. AAP is strong in Delhi, so we are supporting it, the SP chief said after the ritual. We must support whichever party is strong and in a position to give a fight to the BJP. In Delhi, AAP and Congress are facing each other... My advice is AAP is strong so we should all support it. After all, our common goal is the defeat of BJP, whether it is Congress, Samajwadi Party or AAP, Akhilesh Yadav said. Asked for his response on the Union Home ministry granting sanction to the Enforcement Directorate to prosecute AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy linked money laundering case, Yadav said the BJP governments work like that. Wherever they are in power they rule in a dictatorial manner, he said. Akhilesh Yadav said he would visit the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj whenever Mother Ganga calls him. Ganga is one from Haridwar to Gangasagar... I took a dip in the Ganga in Haridwar yesterday (Makar Sankranti), he said. Tusu festival, the vibrant harvest celebration of the tribal community, brought the city alive with traditional fanfare, cultural events, and immense joy. Tribals from across Jamshedpur and its outskirts gathered to mark the occasion, which celebrates the bountiful harvest and pays homage to Goddess Tusu. The festivities were highlighted by the Tusu Mahotsav, organized at prominent venues such as Domuhani in Sonari, where the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers converge, and at Itagarh. The Jharkhand Sanskritik Kala Kendra, a socio-cultural organization, took the lead in hosting the Tusu fair at Domuhani. The event drew not only tribal participants but also politicians and social workers who joined in the celebrations, dancing to the rhythmic beats of tribal musical instruments. The Tusu Mela at Domuhani is renowned as one of the largest and most popular fairs in the region. Hundreds of people, particularly from tribal communities, thronged the venue to partake in the festive spirit. The highlight of the mela was the immersion of idols of Goddess Tusu, carried to the river by various tribal groups. The fair, known for its historical significance, showcased traditional events and vibrant festivities that attracted a massive crowd. Dikuram Manjhi, president of the Tusu Mela Samiti at Itagarh, highlighted the importance of the mela, stating that it aims to spotlight tribal culture and artisanship. He emphasized that the festival provides a platform to showcase traditional art forms and crafts while preserving the essence of tribal heritage. Contests and cultural programs further enriched the festivities. The Tusu Parab, which holds significant religious and cultural importance, also finds roots in neighboring Bengal. It is celebrated as a devotional expression, particularly among young women from farming families, who seek blessings from the Goddess. Unlike Jharkhands celebrations, Bengals Tusu Parab is characterized by vocal performances without the accompaniment of instruments, showcasing its unique cultural flavor. Anand Mahato, a participant, described Tusu as a harvest carnival that celebrates prosperity and community spirit. He explained that the festival is marked by the immersion of elaborate choudalstowering temple-like structures adorned with tribal deities. These giant idols are a visual spectacle, drawing visitors from far and wide. As the sun set over Domuhani, the convergence of rivers mirrored the confluence of traditions and festivities. The Tusu festival once again proved to be a vibrant celebration of tribal heritage, fostering community bonding while preserving the cultural legacy of Jharkhand. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced the establishment of a research chair in the name of the freedom fighter and member of Constituent Assembly Pandit Shriram Sharma at Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. In addition, the Chief Minister said that a University would be named after him to honour his immense contribution to the nation. The Chief Minister made this announcement while unveiling the statue of Pandit Shriram Sharma at a function organised in Rohtak. He announced that the state government will also observe his birth anniversary, on October 1 every year. On this occasion, essay, poem writing, and speech competitions will be held in schools and colleges across the state, encouraging students to learn about and reflect on his life and legacy. Saini also announced the installation of a 30-feet tall national flag at the site of Pandit Shriram Sharmas statue, along with a beautification project for the location. Regarding the two other demands made by the Pandit Shriram Sharma Vichar Manchwriting his saga of valor at the Pandit Shriram Sharma Metro Station in Bahadurgarh and including his biography in the school curriculumthe Chief Minister said that these requests would be forwarded to the relevant departments for fulfillment. He also announced a discretionary grant of Rs 21 lakh for the Pandit Shriram Sharma Vichar Manch Samiti, further supporting the continued promotion of his ideals and values. He paid rich tributes to the great freedom fighter, highlighting his significant role in Indias freedom struggle, making of constitution and his contributions to nation-building post-independence. Deeply influenced by the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, Pandit Shriram Sharma participated in all five Satyagraha movements during Indias struggle for independence and was imprisoned multiple times for his efforts, he added. In January 1922, during the Non-Cooperation Movement, Pandit Sharma boldly uprooted the British flag in Jhajjar and hoisted the tricolor, leading to his arrest and brutal torture by the British police. Undeterred by the mistreatment, he remained resolute in his cause. In 1923, he also launched a weekly Urdu newspaper, Haryana Tilak, to inspire and ignite the spirit of the freedom struggle among the people. The government has honoured Pandit Shriram Sharma by naming the Bahadurgarh Metro Station after him. In addition, the monthly Samman Pension provided to freedom fighters and their dependents has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000. This pension is currently being given to 289 beneficiaries across the state, he added. Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday refuted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's claim related to a parcel of railway land in Delhi's Shakur Basti as "factually incorrect" and presented a detailed account of his ministry's work to develop railway stations in the capital. The railway minister told reporters that his ministry's budget for Delhi has gone up by 27 times in 10 years, from Rs 96 crore to Rs 2,582 crore. "Arvind Kejriwal went to Shakur Basti two-three days ago and said the railways has floated tendered for these jhuggis," he said in an apparent reference to the land housing these slums. "I want to state this very clearly that nothing of this sort has happened. He (Kejriwal) has made a purely, factually incorrect statement," Vaishnaw added. Showing a map at a press conference, he said the project Kejriwal referred to was a vacant plot being developed for the Shakur Basti railway station. The former Delhi chief minister had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of planning to demolish slums in Shakur Basti's railway jhuggi camp. Speaking about his ministry's work in Delhi, Vaishnaw said all the 13 main railway stations in the national capital are being redeveloped. Most of the stations had become old, he added. The Safdarjung railway station is being redeveloped into a seven-floor project, while the one in Bijwasan will become an important hub for trains to western India, the Union minister said. Hazrat Nizamuddin is being developed as a mega terminal to ease congestion, he added.Similarly, the Anad Vihar, Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantonment stations are undergoing redevelopment, Vaishnaw said. He said a new 1.2-km-long bridge over the Yamuna river is ready and will be open to operation soon, adding that Delhi can currently handle 700 trains and the ministry is preparing a masterplan, keeping in mind the need to deal with up to 1,200 to 1,400 trains in the future. On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, Gorakshapeethadhishwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, adhering to the sacred traditions of the Nath Panth, offered the holy khichdi of faith to Shivavtar Mahayogi Gorakhnath at the Gorakhnath temple during the Brahma muhurta at 4 am on Tuesday. On this auspicious occasion, he prayed to Baba Gorakhnath for the welfare of the people, a harmonious and prosperous life for all citizens and the nations well-being. After the ritual offering, Chief Minister Yogi extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes for Makar Sankranti to all citizens, saints and devotees. Addressing the media, he described Makar Sankranti as a festival dedicated to expressing gratitude to the Sun God, the creator and sustainer of life. He said, This festival, deeply rooted in Indias Sanatan Dharma, is celebrated with immense devotion under various names nationwide. The chief minister highlighted the cultural diversity in the celebration of Makar Sankranti, saying that people in the North, South, East or West mark this day with unique traditions and rituals. He added, It is celebrated as Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in the far South, Tilwa Sankranti in Bengal and Maharashtra, and Khichdi Sankranti in North India. He emphasised that Makar Sankranti is a profound expression of joy, unity and solidarity, embodying the spirit of togetherness and happiness within Indian society. He also shared that in Uttar Pradesh, the day is marked by holy dips in sacred rivers and lakes, acts of charity and other virtuous deeds. Reflecting on his role, he said, It is my great fortune to have the opportunity to offer khichdi at the feet of Baba Gorakhnath at this revered place of worship. The chief minister also took the opportunity to congratulate saints and devotees on the first Amrit Snan of the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. He remarked that while faith-filled khichdi is being offered at the sacred site of Lord Gorakhnaths penance, the grand Maha Kumbh of the century has commenced at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Prayagraj. Chief Minister Yogi emphasised that festivals like Makar Sankranti convey the message of unity and inspire people to uphold social harmony and preserve our traditions. Meanwhile, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, the world-famous Khichdi Mela at Gorakhnath temple witnessed an extraordinary gesture by the Yogi government as flowers were showered on devotees from helicopters, creating a mesmerising spectacle. As petals rained from the skies, the devotees chants grew louder, filling the atmosphere with devotion and reverence. On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, over 15 lakh devotees offered khichdi to Baba Gorakhnath, seeking blessings for themselves and their loved ones The "Coffee with the SDM" event took place on Wednesday. It drew young people from the Garhwa region. They came to the sub-divisional office auditorium after being invited by the SDO. The youth shared their concerns and offered suggestions to improve Garhwa. Mubarak Ansari, a civil engineering student from Birbandha, raised an important issue. He pointed out that construction companies working on national highways are hiring workers from outside the area. He believes it would be better if qualified local workers were given job opportunities. Juhi Kumari, a B.Ed student from Lagma, and Kashmira Khatun talked about their struggles commuting from their village to college on Rehla Road. They suggested introducing pink autos or pink buses like those in other cities. This would make travel easier for female students. The students proposed setting up a special library for girls. They noted that girls often feel uncomfortable in mixed libraries. A separate library would encourage more girls to participate. Manas Pandey suggested that technical students in Garhwa need support to find internships in local government offices and hospitals. The SDO promised to help and advised all students to register on the Government of India's "Mera Bharat" portal to find internships. Sanjay, the sub-divisional officer, told the attendees about the National Career Service portal. He stressed the need to keep an updated profile there. He also encouraged them to call the toll-free number 1514 for career-related questions, available daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. During the session, the officer answered a question about young entrepreneurs. He mentioned various schemes from the Centre and state governments for starting new businesses. He recommended registering on the Startup India web portal to learn about eligibility and funding. He also said that students can now take online courses in artificial intelligence, data science, and other subjects from top institutions like IITs and IIMs. These resources are available through the government's "SWAYAM portal." For online learning materials, they were directed to use the Diksha app or e-pathshala. The discussion included contributions from Shubham Kesari, Ritika Kesari, Brijesh Kumar, Kashmira Khatun, Priyanka Kumari, Anupriya Gupta, Sanjana Kumari, Manas Pandey, Juhi Kumari, Harinder Thakur, Mubarak Ansari, and Ahmed Raza, all sharing their thoughts. Rahul Gandhi's remarks that "we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself" triggered a row on Wednesday, with BJP president J P Nadda claiming that the Congress' "ugly truth" has been exposed by its own leader. Nadda alleged on X that it is not a secret that Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with urban naxals and the deep state who want to "defame, demean and discredit" India. He said Gandhi's repeated actions have also strengthened this belief. Everything he has done or said has been in the direction of breaking India and dividing our society, Nadda said. Speaking at the inauguration of the new building of the Congress party's headquarters, Gandhi had said earlier said that the BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. He added, "We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself." Hitting back, Nadda said, "Hidden no more, Congress' ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader". "I 'compliment' Mr. Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows- that he is fighting the Indian state!" he said. The BJP president charged that the Congress has a history of encouraging all those forces who want a weak India. "Their greed for power meant compromising the nation's integrity and betraying the trust of the people," Nadda said, adding, people of India are wise, and they have decided they will always reject Rahul Gandhi and his rotten ideology. The South China Sea continues to be a focal point of escalating tensions between the Philippines and China. Recent actions by the Chinese Coast Guard have prompted strong condemnation from Manila, leading to increased concerns about potential conflict. A significant incident occurred when a large Chinese Coast Guard vessel, estimated at 541 feet in length, patrolled the Scarborough Shoal and then approached the Philippine coast to within 77 nautical miles. This proximity sparked an immediate response from the Philippines. Get alerts: Philippine Response and International Law Philippine officials, including Assistant Director-General of the National Security Council Jonathan Malaya, described the Chinese actions as unacceptable and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the vessel. Malaya stated that Chinas actions are pushing us to the wall and emphasized that the Philippines will not back down from its assertion of its territorial rights. Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, supported by a surveillance aircraft, actively challenged the presence of the Chinese ship within what the Philippines considers its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a 200-nautical-mile stretch of water. Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard highlighted the ongoing daily efforts to challenge Chinas actions and make them known to the international community. Chinas Justification and Diplomatic Responses China, through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, maintained its claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea. The Chinese government characterized its coast guard patrols as lawful and justified and urged the Philippines to cease what it considers to be provocative actions. China has consistently accused the Philippines and other claimant states, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, of encroaching upon its claimed territories. Legal Precedents and Future Actions Security Alliances and Regional Implications The current situation recalls the 2012 standoff at Scarborough Shoal, which led to the Philippines initiating international arbitration proceedings in 2013. In 2016, an arbitration panel in The Hague invalidated many of Chinas expansive claims in the South China Sea, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has rejected this ruling. Philippine officials, while stopping short of formally announcing plans for new legal action, acknowledged that all options are on the table, raising the possibility of a renewed international legal challenge to Chinas actions. China, however, has indicated a preference for bilateral negotiations, a proposition that some Philippine officials see as potentially disadvantaging to the Philippines, given the disparity in size and power. The recent events underscore the heightened tensions in the region and highlight the Philippines efforts to strengthen its security posture. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has actively pursued closer security ties with other countries. This includes a significant agreement with Japan that, upon ratification, would allow for joint combat training. The agreement is a significant development, marking the first such pact for Japan in Asia. The increasingly assertive actions by China in the South China Sea have prompted the Philippines to diversify its alliances to counter what it perceives as an imbalance of power. The ongoing dispute raises concerns about potential escalation and the involvement of other regional and global powers, including the United States, a long-time treaty ally of the Philippines. Bilateral Consultations and Path Forward Despite the heightened tensions, both the Philippines and China continue to engage in bilateral consultations aimed at de-escalating the situation. The next round of these talks is to be hosted by China. The success of these discussions will be crucial in determining the trajectory of relations between the two countries and the future stability of the South China Sea. The continuing disagreement over the interpretation and implementation of international law, coupled with the strategic importance of the region, indicates that the South China Sea will remain a significant area of focus in international relations for the foreseeable future. A Derry girl has begun her entrepreneurial career with the launch of her dog shampoo and designer pawfume.. Ella Carlyle has taken her idea and made it real with her business, Best Pooch'. The 11-year-old had a love of dogs and an entrepreneurial spirit, so she decided to pair the two to launch her own business. She said: I really love dogs, so firstly I designed my own wee logo, and then I got a branded name, Best Pooch, so I have gone about it all the right way, I feel. I got my design graphic designed for the bottles, and now it is the early stages of my own wee business; it is super exciting. It is all specially formulated for dogs, the shampoos and perfume with natural ingredients. Ellas mother, Lynne Brennan, is the owner of Mavericks Hair Extensions & Beauty Gift, where the dog shampoo and designer pawfume are available. The Thornhill College student was inspired by her mothers own brand and hair products when starting her venture, and like when her mother started, she has an ambition to expand her business. She said: I am proud to this point because I can see what I am doing, and so far it is successful. We got the products made a few weeks before Christmas, and we saw over this period a number of people coming in and purchasing the product for their dogs out of this business. There will be expansion as originally we started it off on my mother's business page (Mavericks Hair Extensions & Beauty), but we plan on launching my own social media page through a social media manager we have got on board, Roisin Henry, and through our future website being built by my stepdad, Darren Brennan. Both her parents, Lynne and Darren Carlyle, are extremely proud of their daughter and the journey she has started. Lynne said: I am very proud of her as a mother. It is important to me to teach Ella about work ethic and to do something that you are passionate about, and I can see her fulfilling that, and she is determined to continue it, and she is loving this new wee venture. There is room for expansion as she grows older too. It is also beneficial for her in teaching about financial resilience for her when she is older too. The dog shampoo and designer pawfume are available at Mavericks Hair Extensions & Beauty in Northside Shopping Centre Derry, and for those that visit, they can enjoy the different dog puns on the pawfume products. Sinn Fein has questions to answer over its employment arrangements for a former press officer who was later convicted of sex offences, a DUP minister has said. Gordon Lyons said public confidence in Stormont had taken a hammering over the Michael McMonagle controversy and Sinn Fein needed to act to ensure trust in the political institutions was restored. His comments came after an Assembly report found that McMonagle likely misrepresented details of his employment which may have resulted in a misuse of public money. The review found that he simultaneously held two full-time jobs working for Sinn Fein politicians while also working as a press officer for three months in 2020, including being employed by then deputy first minister Michelle ONeill. Assembly chief executive Lesley Hogg has told MLAs that the issue has now been referred to the PSNI. Police have confirmed a report was received and inquiries are ongoing. On Wednesday, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy indicated that an internal party review into the matter was set to conclude very soon. Communities minister Mr Lyons told reporters in Belfast that his partners-in-government had questions to answer around the partys knowledge of the employment arrangements. I think this report has brought up a number of questions and that should be looked into, he said. What did people know? How could this have happened? Look, the most important thing is that we have public confidence and public trust in our institutions, and I think thats certainly taken a hammering over this issue, so, yes, absolutely questions for Sinn Fein to answer. We need to make sure that we look at the report, that we look at possible recommendations and possible reform that needs to take place, because we need to make sure that the public has confidence in what we do. He added: I think that Sinn Fein should be answering questions directly. There are a number of questions that come out of the information that was released yesterday. It would be useful to hear from them directly about what they knew and what they understood. Ms Hogg commissioned the review of Assembly members allowances in October in the wake of the McMonagle scandal. McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Derry, was jailed last year after being found guilty of a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. The review found that he had been employed by Sinn Fein MP Orfhlaith Begley from January 2019 until May 2020. He began full-time employment with Ms ONeill as a press/research adviser in March 2020 and worked for her until the end of May of that year. It said at an unspecified date in March 2020 he also began employment with Sinn Fein as a press officer on a part-time basis. He began his employment with party MLA Jemma Dolan in June 2020, for whom he worked until July 2022. In a letter to MLAs, Ms Hogg said: A key finding of the review is that it is likely that Mr Michael McMonagle, misrepresented details of his employments to his employers during a three-month period from March 2020 to May 2020. She went on to say the likely misrepresentation of his employments by Mr McMonagle may have resulted in a misuse of public money and said the PSNI had been informed. Ms Hogg added she had advised those MLAs who employed McMonagle and also Sinn Fein to consider any further steps that they should take in their role as employers. The review was carried out by Jonathan McMillen, the Assemblys head of legal services. He concluded that McMonagle is likely to have been subject to three separate contracts of employment in a three-month period between March 2 2020 and May 31 2020. His review added: It was not realistically possible for Mr McMonagle to carry out all the work for which he was employed between March 2 2020 and May 31 2020. This is indicative of misrepresentation by Mr McMonagle to his employers, and but for the particular circumstances set out in this review, would call into question the role of the employer. The review said that Sinn Fein ought to have known that Mr McMonagle was contracted to work for around 80 hours a week in the period March May 2020. However, it said Ms ONeill, now Northern Irelands First Minister, is unlikely to have been aware of all the employment contracts to which Mr McMonagle was subject at that time, and is unlikely to have become aware of those contracts during his employment with her. The review said the most serious issue to emerge was that McMonagle had taken up full-time employment with Ms ONeill in March 2020 when at the same time he was employed by Ms Begley. It said: If Sinn Fein did provide centralised recruitment facilities to members of the party, as seems likely, it is odd that this was not picked up until October 2024, particularly when Mr McMonagle was at the same time working part-time for the party. The result was that Mr McMonagle was for a three-month period entitled to two full-time salaries from two different sources, both drawing on public funds. The review said that for part of the period it was investigating, public health measures introduced because of the Covid pandemic were in place which affected the way all Members employees carried out their work. The review recommended employees engaged in party activity should keep records of that activity and the employing member should keep a record of the hours involved and that MLAs should provide details of employees who hold other employment remunerated from public money. On Wednesday, Mr Murphy told reporters in Belfast that his partys internal review will conclude very soon. The (Assembly) report only landed yesterday, its something like 40 pages. I know there has been an initial response from the party, he said. In relation to all of those matters, we have initiated our own internal review of that. That is coming to a conclusion very soon. But the report from the Assembly now goes to the police and they have to make their assessment of it, and I think we should give them space to do that. People Before Profit have backed the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign march for Palestine in Derry this weekend. The march will take place on Saturday, January 18 at 2.00pm, leaving from the Waterside Railway Station and making its way to the Guildhall. PBP councillor Shaun Harkin said: "It may be a new year but it's the same old horror being visited upon the Palestinian people. "UNICEF has reported that at least 74 children were killed in Gaza in the first week of 2025 alone. "We are told that a ceasefire is imminent, yet the Israeli war machine appears to be ramping up its genocidal campaign. "If and when the ceasefire comes, it cannot be a full stop on Palestinian solidarity. "It should mark a new chapter in the campaign to hold the United States, Britain, the European Union and the Israeli state accountable for their crimes. "A ceasefire cannot be used to further increase illegal settlements and to expedite the colonisation of Palestinian lands. "Regardless of the outcome of the current ceasefire talks, our support for Palestine must remain steadfast. "The struggle for justice and human rights cannot be paused or diminished by temporary political agreements. "People Before Profit are proud to stand with the people of Palestine. We call on the people of Derry and the North West to join the march to show their unbreakable solidarity with Palestine." Sir Keir Starmer has said he is looking at every conceivable way to stop former Troubles internees such as Gerry Adams from seeking compensation. Sir Keir was responding to criticism of the Governments proposed repeal of legislation that had put a stop to such civil claims. He took aim at the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 and said he will continue with efforts to replace the existing legislation, which stopped such payouts to former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams and other former internees. Meanwhile,Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer KC, who previously represented Mr Adams as a lawyer, came under fire when questioned by MPs for refusing to confirm whether he had advised the Government on repealing the laws. Kemi Badenoch said during Prime Ministers Questions that Sir Keirs Government may write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams. This is shameful, the Conservative Party leader said. Sir Keir replied: That Act was unfit not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland, nor I believe by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. The court found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework, were working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. Its important I say that on the record. But Downing Street could not guarantee that compensation payouts would be prevented. Clearly the Governments intention is to prevent compensation from being paid. We are going to look at every option but I cant get ahead of that process, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said when asked about a guarantee. Asked if there are real, conceivable options to block payments, he said: The Prime Minister wouldnt make the commitment on the floor of the House if he didnt think we could address this issue. But as I say, it is a complex area and we have been left with a real mess when it comes to the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, which was completely unfit for purpose. A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said there were almost certainly no circumstances in which she would support awarding compensation. But we are going to need to see what the Bill is that the Prime Minister comes forward with, the Opposition leaders spokesman said. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said nobody wants to see Gerry Adams paid compensation for his detention but defended the decision to repeal. He told the Commons: Nobody wants to see that but the Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the interim custody orders following internment were not lawfully put in place, in which the Carltona principle was much discussed, was in 2020. The last government did nothing about that for three years until they belatedly accepted an amendment in the House of Lords which has now been found to be unlawful. He was urged by his shadow counterpart Alex Burghart to return to the previous cross-party position that we have to block compensation payments to terrorists such as Gerry Adams. The minister vowed to continue to see if we can find a lawful way of dealing with the issue that he has identified. Lord Hermer told the Commons Justice Committee that convention for law officers under the ministerial code precludes him from saying whether he had been asked to advise on any matters or detail any advice given. Pressed by Conservative committee member Sir Ashley Fox in a lengthy exchange on Wednesday morning, he also said he could not recall if he acted for Mr Adams on any form of conditional fee agreement, adding: Even if I could recall, Im not sure I would feel inclined to answer a question as to the basis on which I was paid by any given client. I did represent Gerry Adams on something unconnected to the Legacy. As it happens, as a reflection of our legal system, at the same time I was representing the family of a young British soldier murdered by the IRA in the 1970s. Now both clients understood the importance of being able to represent everybody. Thats what a legal system is all about. And my concern about attacks on lawyers for doing particular cases, is that it undermines faith in the legal system, Lord Hermer said. Sir Ashley replied that it was unacceptable for him to hide behind (convention) and refuse to answer questions on the merits of the case, and then speak about the importance of the rule of law, adding that this undermines faith in politicians. The relevant sections of the Legacy Act had been agreed by Parliament in 2023 in response to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020 that paved the way for Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment without trial in the early 1970s. Mr Adams won his appeal to overturn historical convictions for two attempted prison breaks, after he was interned without trial in 1973 at Long Kesh internment camp, also known as Maze Prison, near Lisburn. The Supreme Court ruled that his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him had not been considered personally by then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Willie Whitelaw. At the time of the case, the previous government contended that the ICOs were lawful due to a long-standing convention, known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the Secretary of State. Mr Adams subsequently successfully challenged a decision to deny an application for compensation for his detention. However, the Legacy Act stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and other former internees. The Act retrospectively validated the ICOs to make them lawful and halted civil claims related to the orders. At the time, the then UK government said the legislation would prevent up to 400 compensation bids by former internees. However, in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act related to the ICOs were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The current government has not appealed that judgment and has tabled a remedial order in Parliament that will repeal various parts of the Legacy Act, including the sections on ICOs. A Policy Exchange report criticising the move has been backed by 16 peers, including Shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson KC. The Governments decision to repeal sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Troubles Act 2023 is inexplicable and unexplained, Lord Wolfson said. The Government announced last July that it would not be challenging the human rights elements of the Belfast High Court ruling and would be removing the offending provisions from the Legacy Act, including those related to ICOs, by way of remedial order. A draft order was subsequently published in December. It is understood officials are currently exploring ways to achieve a similar block on compensation claims for internees as part of a new wider piece of Government legislation on legacy issues. However, given the High Court determined it was unlawful to act retrospectively on the ICO issue, there is feeling within Whitehall that the Government faces a significant challenge to find a lawful way of achieving its desired outcome. The fact the Supreme Court has already ruled on the unlawfulness of the ICOs is seen as a further challenge in finding a lawful means to prevent claims from former internees who were subject to orders not signed by a secretary of state. The Government said it will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, as MPs were told how it had previously provoked horror among rural communities in the UK. Farming minister Daniel Zeichner told the Commons the UK has banned the import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany. He said the Government will be liaising with officials in Germany and monitoring the outbreak in the eastern state of Brandenburg. MPs heard the disease had been found in a herd of water buffalo. Mr Zeichner denied there had been a delay in the prohibition being introduced. The outbreak was reported on Friday and the public announcement of the ban was made on Tuesday. He said: Defra has taken rapid action to protect the UK, including suspending the commercial import of the susceptible animals in Germany, and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the European Union. I can assure the House, the Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nations farmers from the risk posed by foot-and-mouth risk levels to the UK, we have increased to medium. Mr Zeichner said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will consider vaccination, culling and movement controls if an outbreak occurs in Britain. Shadow environment minister Dr Neil Hudson said he worked as a vet during the outbreak in 2001 and supervised some of the animal culls. He said he witnessed sights I never want to see again in my lifetime. More than six million animals were slaughtered in response to the disease in 2001, and cost the economy 12.8 billion, he added. Dr Hudson said: Farmers want reassurance that action is being taken to protect our borders, their livestock and their livelihoods. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman and former party leader Tim Farron said the news had been met with fear by farmers. The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said: I confess I think all of us in Westmorland and across rural Britain feel a sense of terror, actually, as we recall the sense of horror and devastation of the outbreak in 2001. I will never forget that looming sense of dread and threat as the disease got closer to our farms. The dread when the disease was diagnosed, as whole herds and flocks were slaughtered by those who had cared for them. I wont forget the burning fires on the hillsides of bodies of the slaughtered animals, or the deep trauma that affected all of our communities, but especially our children. MPs raised concerns the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland could provide a way for the disease to enter the UK. Conservative John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) said it could be the unlocked back door for foot-and-mouth. Carla Lockhart, Democratic Unionist Party MP for Upper Bann, said: Does the minister not agree with me that it is a preposterous situation that Northern Ireland has been excluded from the UK ban on imports from Germany because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth there? Would he agree with me that this is the tip of the iceberg with regards to the impact that the Windsor Framework and protocol is continuing to have on our agri-food industry on Northern Ireland? Since he thinks, and rightly so, it is essential to protect GB farms from potentially devastating impacts, why does he think that Northern Ireland farms are not as important? Mr Zeichner replied that the ban would apply to meat and live animals moving from a 3km protection zone, and 10km surveillance zone around the affected farm in Germany. Northern Irelands farms are just as important, he added. He later told MPs: On the checks at the borders, that is a complicated set of issues, but one of the Brexit benefits, if you like, is we actually have checks at the borders, and Im confident that they are giving us a level of security that should give people confidence. The minister also acknowledged calls for investment in the Animal and Plant Health Agency headquarters in Weybridge. Im delighted to see an outbreak of cross-party consensus on the need to invest more, he said. I hope it is also an outbreak of consensus on how to fund it. TUV leader Jim Allister said the minister could not provide a national protection to Northern Ireland, as well as Great Britain, because the Commons had surrendered the right to make these regulations for Northern Ireland. He added: They cant even be made in Stormont, because only a foreign parliament is now entitled to make them. Mr Zeichner said he did not recognise that loophole, adding: Northern Ireland will be fully protected because that is what were determined to do. Gerry Adams has said he is not surprised the UK Government would seek to dodge its lawful and human rights responsibilities in respect of compensating him and other Troubles internees. The former Sinn Fein president was responding to the Prime Ministers pledge to look at every conceivable way to stop people detained without trial during the Northern Ireland conflict from seeking payouts on a legal technicality over who signed the orders to incarcerate them. Mr Adams remarks come amid a controversy over Sir Keir Starmers plan to repeal legislation that would have blocked such claims. The legislative provisions are included in the last governments contentious Legacy Act, which also offered a form of conditional immunity to perpetrators of Troubles killings. The current governments intention to repeal elements of the Legacy Act that have been found by a High Court judge to be unlawful were announced last July, with a subsequent draft remedial order to achieve that outcome tabled in December. The issue garnered greater political scrutiny on Wednesday following the publication of a report by think tank Policy Exchange that criticised the Governments move, portraying it as paving the way for taxpayer-funded pay days for Mr Adams and other ex-detainees. Kemi Badenoch raised the issue during Prime Ministers Questions, claiming that Sir Keirs Government may write a cheque to compensate Gerry Adams. This is shameful, the Conservative Party leader said. Sir Keir replied: That Act was unfit not least because it gave immunity to hundreds of terrorists and wasnt supported by victims in Northern Ireland, nor I believe by any of the political parties in Northern Ireland. The court found it unlawful. We will put in place a better framework, were working on a draft remedial order and replacement legislation, and we will look at every conceivable way to prevent these types of cases claiming damages. Its important I say that on the record. Reacting to Sir Keirs remarks, Mr Adams urged caution and said there was a need to see what the Government was proposing. When the legislation is changed there will almost certainly be further legal process in the courts before there is clarity on this matter, he said. But no one should be surprised by a British government seeking to dodge its lawful and human rights responsibilities. The relevant sections of the Legacy Act had been agreed by Parliament in 2023, following late amendments, in response to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020 that paved the way for Mr Adams to secure compensation over his internment without trial in the early 1970s. Mr Adams won his appeal to overturn historical convictions for two attempted prison breaks, after he was interned without trial in 1973 at Long Kesh internment camp, also known as Maze Prison, near Lisburn. The Supreme Court ruled that his detention was unlawful because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him had not been considered personally by then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Willie Whitelaw. At the time of the case, the previous government contended that the ICOs were lawful thanks to a long-standing convention, known as the Carltona principle, where officials and junior ministers routinely act in the name of the Secretary of State. Mr Adams subsequently successfully challenged a decision to deny an application for compensation for his detention. However, the Legacy Act stopped such payouts to Mr Adams and other former internees with similar cases. The Act retrospectively validated the ICOs to make them lawful and halted civil claims related to the orders. At the time, the then UK government said the legislation would prevent up to 400 compensation bids by former internees. However, in February last year, the High Court in Belfast ruled that the provisions of the Act related to the ICOs were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The current government did not appeal against that judgment and tabled the draft remedial order in Parliament in December that will repeal various parts of the Legacy Act, including the sections on ICOs. Commenting on the legal situation, Mr Adams said: The decision by the Supreme Court in 2020 was explicit. Interim Custody Orders not authorised and approved by the Secretary of State are illegal. The British government has accepted this. It is a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. He added: Mr Starmers comments reflect the infamous assertion of British General Frank Kitson who said The law should be used as just another weapon in the governments arsenal, in which case it becomes little more than a propaganda cover for the disposal of unwanted members of the public. It is understood Government officials are currently exploring ways to achieve a similar block on compensation claims for internees as part of a new wider piece of legislation on legacy issues. However, given the High Court determined it was unlawful to act retrospectively on the ICO issue, there is feeling within Whitehall that the Government faces a significant challenge to find a lawful way of achieving its desired outcome. The fact the Supreme Court has already ruled on the unlawfulness of the ICOs is seen as a further challenge in finding a lawful means to prevent claims from former internees who were subject to orders not signed by a secretary of state. On Wednesday, Downing Street could not guarantee that compensation payouts would be prevented. Clearly, the Governments intention is to prevent compensation from being paid. We are going to look at every option but I cant get ahead of that process, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said when asked about a guarantee. Asked if there are real, conceivable options to block payments, he said: The Prime Minister wouldnt make the commitment on the floor of the House if he didnt think we could address this issue. But as I say, it is a complex area and we have been left with a real mess when it comes to the Northern Ireland Legacy Act, which was completely unfit for purpose. A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said there were almost certainly no circumstances in which she would support awarding compensation. But we are going to need to see what the Bill is that the Prime Minister comes forward with, the Opposition leaders spokesman said. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said nobody wants to see Mr Adams paid compensation for his detention but defended the decision to repeal. He told the Commons: Nobody wants to see that but the Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the interim custody orders following internment were not lawfully put in place, in which the Carltona principle was much discussed, was in 2020. The last government did nothing about that for three years until they belatedly accepted an amendment in the House of Lords which has now been found to be unlawful. He was urged by his shadow counterpart Alex Burghart to return to the previous cross-party position that we have to block compensation payments to terrorists such as Gerry Adams. The minister vowed to continue to see if we can find a lawful way of dealing with the issue that he has identified. Meanwhile, Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer KC, who previously represented Mr Adams as a lawyer, came under fire when questioned by MPs for refusing to confirm whether he had advised the Government on repealing the laws. Lord Hermer told the Commons Justice Committee that convention for law officers under the ministerial code precludes him from saying whether he had been asked to advise on any matters or detail any advice given. Pressed by Conservative committee member Sir Ashley Fox in a lengthy exchange on Wednesday morning, he also said he could not recall if he acted for Mr Adams on any form of conditional fee agreement, adding: Even if I could recall, Im not sure I would feel inclined to answer a question as to the basis on which I was paid by any given client. I did represent Gerry Adams on something unconnected to the Legacy. As it happens, as a reflection of our legal system, at the same time I was representing the family of a young British soldier murdered by the IRA in the 1970s. Now both clients understood the importance of being able to represent everybody. Thats what a legal system is all about. And my concern about attacks on lawyers for doing particular cases, is that it undermines faith in the legal system, Lord Hermer said. Sir Ashley replied that it was unacceptable for him to hide behind (convention) and refuse to answer questions on the merits of the case, and then speak about the importance of the rule of law, adding that this undermines faith in politicians. The Policy Exchange report criticising the repeal move was backed by 16 peers, including shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson KC. The Governments decision to repeal sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Troubles Act 2023 is inexplicable and unexplained, Lord Wolfson said. Stormont must do more to tackle a homelessness crisis that is unfolding on the streets of Northern Ireland, a charity has warned. Communities minister Gordon Lyons visited the Peoples Kitchen Belfast on Wednesday to see first hand the work it does supporting homeless people and rough sleepers. The minister helped serve breakfast and spoke to some of the hundreds of people who use the service every week. He also heard a stark message from representatives of the charity about the scale of the problem. Paul McCusker, from the Peoples Kitchen, said it currently feeds more than 1,000 people a week. The charity does not receive any funding from Stormont. I think we need to be taking this seriously, theres an emergency on our streets, Mr McCusker told reporters after the meeting. He said the numbers of homeless people had increased dramatically in recent months. We also made that clear to the minister as well, that theres a lot more vulnerable people in Belfast that are experiencing homelessness, and we need a commitment from his department to end rough sleeping, he said. Mr McCusker added: I dont believe theres enough being done. I think long term, we need a more long-term look at this, because at the minute, its reacting to the crisis. We need to look at prevention, early intervention. We see the crisis every single day. We see the devastation that homeless men and women are having to face, families are having to face every single day. So we know theres not enough being done, and we need a long-term commitment from the minister to look at that long-term approach, Mr Lyons insisted tackling homelessness was a priority. He said one of the key ways his department was seeking to address the issue was by driving up the housing supply in Northern Ireland. I know that homelessness overall is a very serious issue right across Northern Ireland, he told reporters. I think thats why this has been the priority for me. The focus has been improving housing, improving housing supply in Northern Ireland and across all tenures as well. First and foremost, because of how many people that it affects, the impact that it has on them, and the cost that there is to the public purse by inaction, thats why Ive put the housing supply strategy in place. Thats why I have a Programme for Government commitment that were going to deal with housing. Thats why Ive allocated additional money for homelessness, and particularly homelessness prevention in Northern Ireland. So Im pleased with the work that we have been able to do since I have been in office. Theres clearly more to do, and thats why I wanted to come here today to hear first-hand from those who are most affected, and to see how it is that we might be able to provide additional support. Mr Lyons said he was also committed to exploring ways Stormont could provide direct support to organisations such as the Peoples Kitchen. Northern Irelands draft budget consigns the crisis-ridden health service to more of the same, Mike Nesbitt has warned. The Health Minister said he was facing a 400 million funding shortfall, adding that making savings to balance the budget would have consequences for service delivery, including waiting lists. Earlier this week, Northern Irelands First Minister Michelle ONeill said the situation facing the health service in Northern Ireland is dire and diabolical. Ms ONeill expressed concern at the scenes witnessed both inside and outside emergency departments in recent weeks, with patients facing long waits in the back of ambulances because of capacity issues. The powersharing Executive at Stormont agreed a draft budget in December. Publishing an equality impact assessment into the budget, Mr Nesbitt said it contained no additional funding for waiting list reduction initiatives. Northern Ireland has the worst hospital waiting lists in the UK. Mr Nesbitt said: My department is projecting a funding gap of some 400 million for 2025/26. The HSC (health and social care) system will be asked to deliver in the region of 200 million in new savings for the second year running. Even then, it is anticipated that significant in-year monitoring round allocations will be required to achieve a break-even position. The assumption that savings on this scale are achievable is not without considerable risk. They will inevitably have consequences for service delivery, including waiting lists. The minister said it was the second successive year no money had been made available to tackle waiting lists. He added: This is despite waiting lists having been identified as a programme for government priority. Mr Nesbitt said MLAs had been entirely justified in voicing deep concern at current hospital pressures. But he added: Simply demanding unspecified action is not the answer. Nor is repeating vague mantras about transformation while never really defining what this means and simultaneously opposing actual proposed changes to hospital services. Unfortunately, the draft budget threatens to consign our health service to more of the same for the year ahead. Mr Nesbitt said this included struggling to maintain existing levels of provision and firefighting through recurrent service pressures. He added: I am deeply concerned that already unacceptable health outcomes here will fall further behind those of the rest of the UK. Improvements in productivity, efficiency and performance are more essential now than ever. I am sure members will join me in commending the trusts on the savings secured this year. However, the gap between demand and capacity is too wide to be bridged by productivity and efficiency. I again fully acknowledge the financial challenges facing other departments. I also accept that members will want to support the budget bids of their party colleagues who hold ministerial posts. But I would challenge the Assembly and Executive to honestly consider if they are truly prioritising health. 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. Indichip Semiconductors and Japan's Yitoa to build SiC fab in southern India Indichip Semiconductors Ltd, in collaboration with Japan's Yitoa Micro Technology, is set to make a significant leap in India's electronics sector by establishing the nation's first private semiconductor plant in Andhra Pradesh. The ambitious project pegged at an investment of INR140 billion (US$1.62 billion), will focus on the production of silicon carbide (SiC) chips, a crucial component in the advancement of energy-efficient technologies. Sources such as the Business Standard and the Times of India report that the joint venture has reached an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government, paving the way for the development of the pioneering semiconductor manufacturing site. The facility, initially designed to produce 10,000 wafers per month, is expected to ramp up its production capacity to 50,000 wafers monthly within the next two to three years. The announcement took place during a key meeting involving prominent state officials, including IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Industries Minister TG Bharat. The government has committed to providing land and crucial infrastructure at the Orvakal mega industrial hub in Kurnool, as part of their strategic Semiconductor Policy launched in November 2024. This policy underscores Andhra Pradesh's ambition to become a frontrunner in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, highlighting the state's dedication to fostering technological growth. Nara Lokesh emphasized that such a substantial investment is a testament to Andhra Pradesh's appeal to cutting-edge industries, driven by robust policies and excellent infrastructure. The move is expected to bolster India's semiconductor industry significantly. Industries Minister TG Bharath voiced confidence in the alignment with the state's vision of becoming a manufacturing powerhouse, noting the potential of the new SiC fab to create thousands of jobs, spur innovation, and provide support to ancillary industries. Piyush Bichhoriya, managing director of Indichip Semiconductors, reflected on the initiative as a vital part of the company's commitment to nation-building through technological innovation. With a focus on SiC chips, the endeavor aims to enhance India's manufacturing landscape and make a substantial contribution to the global semiconductor market. Meanwhile, Sandeep Garg, a director at Indichip, pointed out the collaboration's role in driving forward groundbreaking technological advancements. He highlighted the importance of addressing the rising demand for energy-efficient solutions, particularly in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energy, paving the way for a sustainable future. AI goes mainstream at CES 2025: Insights from DIGITIMES experts on the ground The artificial intelligence revolution is moving from hype to reality, with CES 2025 demonstrating a clear shift toward practical AI applications across consumer technology, automotive, and smart living sectors. Industry analysts project global AI market size to exceed US$1 trillion by 2030, as major tech companies accelerate investments in AI infrastructure. Market growth and opportunities The adoption of AI technology is accelerating across consumer segments. Analysts project AI smartphone penetration to exceed 50% by 2026, while AI-enabled notebooks with over 40 teraflops of processing power are expected to see rapid growth starting in 2026-2027. Taiwan's ICT supply chain is particularly well-positioned in this transition, with manufacturers able to develop high-performance computing solutions in half the time of traditional tier-one suppliers. "The focus has shifted from whether AI will be implemented to how quickly it can be deployed effectively," a DIGITIMES Research analyst notes. Automotive AI takes center stage The robotaxi sector is emerging as a key battleground. Traditional automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai took a backseat this year, leaving the spotlight to emerging players such as China's Geely and CNY100 million (US$13.63 million) and Great Wall Motors. Honda's Zero Series EV exemplifies this shift, blending futuristic design with near-term commercial viability. Industry projections suggest autonomous vehicle sales could reach 68.8 million units by 2028, with penetration rates exceeding 80% in key markets like China by 2025. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's keynote presentation at CES outlined the evolution of automotive AI through distinct stages: from basic perception AI to generative AI, and ultimately to physical AI embodied in fully autonomous vehicles. This progression is supported by three critical components: extensive data collection, advanced algorithms, and powerful computing capabilities. Smart glasses: the next AI battleground Smart glasses have become a focal point of AI device innovation, with dozens of companies preparing to launch products in 2025. Following Meta and Ray-Ban's success with their smart glasses, which have sold over 2 million units, competitors including Loomos, TCL, and Rokid are entering the market with advanced features like 4K photography, real-time translation, and AR displays. Manufacturers are racing to stay under the critical 50-gram threshold, which a DIGITIMES Research analyst identifies as the maximum acceptable weight for commercial viability. The competitive landscape is set to become even more crowded with major technology companies preparing their entries. Xiaomi is expected to launch its smart glasses in the second quarter of 2025, while Google, Samsung, and Apple are reportedly developing their versions. These companies bring significant advantages through their existing ecosystem integration and retail networks. Meta, despite its early market leadership, faces growing challenges. The company plans to launch a new Ray-Ban model in September 2025 and introduce Chinese language real-time translation features in 2026. However, analysts point out that Meta's limited ecosystem integration compared to potential competitors could become a vulnerability. Distribution strategy has emerged as a critical factor in the market. Unlike other wearable technology, smart glasses require precise fitting and measurements, making physical retail presence crucial. "Virtual try-ons have proven insufficient for consumer confidence," a DIGITIMES Research analyst says. A DIGITIMES Research analyst projects smart glasses shipments could exceed 20 million units by 2030, driven by a projected 3.4 billion people requiring vision correction by that time. Physical AI and robotics evolution One of the most futuristic trends at CES 2025 was the emergence of physical AI embodied in humanoid robots. Three major playersAgility Robotics, Apptronik, and Unitreeshowcased different approaches to humanoid robotics. Notably, Apptronik's Apollo robot introduced transformer-based imitation learning, allowing robots to replicate human movements through observation rather than manual programming. Smart home integration advances The integration of AI into home environments is reaching new levels of sophistication through the "Matter" standarda universal protocol enabling seamless integration across smart home devices regardless of brand. Companies like NXP and GEO have leveraged AI agents in their energy management systems, optimizing power usage during peak demands. Challenges ahead Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain. Regulatory frameworks for autonomous driving lag behind technological progress, raising questions about liability in Level 3 and higher vehicles. The "black box" nature of AI decision-making complicates transparency and accountability. Safety concerns continue to impact the deployment of autonomous vehicles and robotics, while privacy considerations affect AI device adoption. In smart living, interoperability and user adoption remain challenges, even as standards like Matter aim to simplify integration. As AI technology matures, 2025 is expected to mark a critical turning point in adoption, with practical applications finally matching the technology's long-promised potential. The success of early market entries suggests growing consumer acceptance of AI-enabled devices, paving the way for broader adoption across multiple product categories. Biden's final AI regulations target closed models, spark open-source debate As President Joe Biden approaches the end of his term, his administration has unveiled comprehensive regulations on AI technology, addressing national security concerns and economic competitiveness. The Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion establishes restrictions on high-end chips and closed-weight AI models, while maintaining exemptions for open-weight models. The rule allows a 120-day window for public comment and a one-year adjustment period for affected industries. Notably absent from this initial regulatory framework are cloud service provider (CSP) platforms, leaving critical questions about computing power distribution across data centers unaddressed. Taiwan's strategic position Lee-Feng Chien, advisor to the Economic Development Council of the Executive Yuan, emphasized Taiwan's inclusion among 18 allies under the new framework. Chien cautioned that excluding Taiwan would impact exports of chips produced by TSMC, ultimately disadvantaging the US. He further noted that Nvidia, a leading AI chip supplier, will likely need to adjust its overseas market strategies in response to these restrictions. "While the regulations primarily control who can purchase high-end chips from Nvidia and TSMC, the greater challenge lies in overseeing computing power centers," Chien explained. He suggested that additional measures might follow, particularly to prevent unauthorized foreign access to restricted chips and computational resources. Open versus closed model dynamics The proposed rules aim to protect closed-weight AI models by restricting model weight transfers to untrusted parties and implementing safety standards against unauthorized access. Currently, open-weight models remain unregulated, an exemption based on three key factors: the perceived superiority of closed-weight models in capabilities, the academic and research community's dependence on open-weight resources, and the practical challenges of monitoring freely available models. Closed-weight models, requiring payment, are inherently easier to track and control. Security implications and industry response Concerns about open-weight AI models intensified after reports emerged that China had utilized Meta's open-source Llama model for military purposes. This development sparked speculation about potential future restrictions on open-source models, with Meta likely to face an initial impact. However, current regulations reflect the assessment that open-weight models, despite rapid advancement, still lag behind their closed counterparts in capability. Meta and Google dominate the open-source model sector, with Meta preparing to release Llama 3.1 in the second quarter of 2024, featuring 405 billion parameters. Meta's internal evaluations indicate this model could compete with offerings from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. Google maintains a dual approach, developing both large-scale closed models and smaller open models, such as its Gemma series. Cloud computing challenges The regulatory landscape faces ongoing challenges in cloud computing. In 2023, several US senators proposed sanctions against Chinese firms, including Huawei Cloud and Alibaba Cloud, citing security concerns. Industry experts have raised alarms about Chinese entities potentially exploiting American cloud platforms to access high-end computing resources. While cloud quotas have caps, experts warn of potential workarounds. They acknowledge the complexity of regulating cloud platforms, urging corporate self-discipline amid escalating US-China tensions. With Donald Trump's upcoming presidency in 2025, the future of Biden's AI regulatory framework remains uncertain. EU urges Trump to reverse Biden's AI export ban affecting 17 member states The European Commission (EC) has voiced strong opposition to the Biden administration's expansion of export controls on AI chips and large language models (LLMs) to most regions worldwide. The new export controls on AI chips have sparked widespread concern across the AI industry, drawing significant criticism. The Biden administration's latest restrictions have particularly strained relations with the European Union (EU). Under these controls, only 10 out of the 27 EU countries qualify for exemptions, leaving 17 EU member states subject to restrictions. The EU is now seeking to influence the incoming Trump administration to alter this policy. According to reports from CIO, countries including Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, and Poland face exclusion, though the specific reasoning remains unclear. Sources suggest this could stem from certain leaders' pro-Russian stances or the Biden administration's concerns about these nations' proximity to non-allied countries, potentially enabling them to serve as intermediaries. While the Biden administration maintains that these restrictions primarily target China and other hostile nations already under strict export controls, numerous countries find themselves in an ambiguous position. From the EU's perspective, the restrictions create an unprecedented divide, with 17 member states facing what they view as discriminatory treatment. The Register reported that in a decisive response, Henna Virkkunen, executive VP for technological sovereignty, and Commissioner Maros Sefcovic issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the restrictions. They indicated plans to continue dialogue with both the current administration and Trump's incoming team regarding these controls. "We are concerned about the US measures adopted today restricting access to advanced AI chip exports for selected EU member states and their companies," the EU statement noted. "We believe it is also in the US economic and security interest that the EU buys advanced AI chips from the US without limitations: we cooperate closely, in particular in the field of security, and represent an economic opportunity for the US, not a security risk." The statement underscores the EU's position that all 27 member countries should receive equal treatment in accessing advanced AI chips from the US, directly challenging the Biden administration's implementation of tiered regulations and rationing of AI chips. As of early 2025, Trump has not commented on the AI restrictions, but Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticized the policy on X, stating, "This heavy-handed restriction on chip exports, drafted in secrecy without input from Congress or American companies, mirrors their misguided approach to AI policies and threatens to cripple innovation." The tech industry now faces uncertainty over whether these measures will continue under Trump or undergo significant changes. While speculation suggests the incoming Trump administration might dismantle much of the regulatory framework, experts note that the new US government must still address fundamental questions about American AI technology access, restrictions, and usage conditions. The current framework's primary weakness lies in its complexity, potentially creating exploitable loopholes. However, future US administrations will likely continue grappling with the challenge of limiting hostile nations' AI development while minimizing the bureaucratic burden on American businesses. Tata reportedly in talks with Xiaomi and Oppo for smartphone manufacturing expansion Tata Electronics is reportedly in negotiations with Xiaomi and Oppo to assemble smartphones, marking a strategic expansion beyond iPhone case manufacturing. This move reflects a trend where established EMS/ODM providers pursue more profitable ventures, creating opportunities for emerging EMS providers amid the global shift in production beyond China into emerging economies. Strategic market expansion The Economic Times, citing sources, reported that Tata Electronics is in talks with Xiaomi and Oppo to start contract manufacturing their smartphones as it seeks to scale up and diversify its components. While discussions were also held with Vivo, the latter might not outsource phone manufacturing to Tata Electronics due to its joint venture with India's Dixon Technologies, announced in December 2024. Additionally, The Economic Times reported in December 2024 that Tata Electronics held talks with Microsoft, Dell, HP, and other companies for product assembly or electronic component supply. Industry experts suggest that smartphone vendors in India might consider outsourcing to Tata Electronics if they trust its manufacturing capabilities, as this could help them diversify suppliers and enhance their bargaining power. Manufacturing expertise development According to the report, Prabhu Ram, head of the industry intelligence group at Cybermedia Research, described Tata Electronics' strategy as a bold move to develop the manufacturing expertise and ecosystem required to become a significant player in the global electronics supply chain and support multiple tech giants. Ram added that by expanding beyond Apple to include major Android OEMs, Tata Electronics aims to achieve the necessary scale and sophistication for the contract manufacturing industry. The company's focus on component manufacturing, like camera and display modules, will improve its operational efficiency and broaden its technical capabilities. Industry-wide diversification trends In a parallel development, Luxshare, a China-based iPhone and AirPods manufacturer, announced its intention to acquire China-based Wingtech's ODM business in late 2024. This move is expected to help Luxshare expand beyond iPhone manufacturing into Android smartphone and feature development and manufacturing, given that Wingtech is among the top three mobile phone ODM providers. According to IDC, Oppo and Xiaomi outsource their smartphone manufacturing to Huaqin, Longcheer, and Wingtech. Additionally, Xiaomi collaborates with Bharat FIH, Foxconn's Indian subsidiary, for its sub-brands like Redmi and Poco. Policy implications and market dynamics Chinese smartphone brands have captured more than 70% of the smartphone market in India. However, in recent years, the Indian government has been encouraging these Chinese vendors to increase their collaborations with local suppliers, particularly in manufacturing and distribution. Reports suggest that the government is also urging these vendors to establish joint ventures with Indian partners. Dixon has significantly benefited from the reported policy, announcing a joint venture with Vivo and acquiring a majority stake in Ismartu India, a manufacturing unit of Transsion Holdings, a major player in the African mobile phone market. Smartphone assembly (thousand units) Brand Assembler 2,020 2,021 2,022 2,023 1~3Q 2024 OPPO Huaqin 23,908 3,920 2,105 7,288 2,600 Longcheer 355 80 1 2,180 OPPO 113,017 130,895 86,282 82,407 60,604 Wingtech 14,340 10,583 4,280 2,600 1,000 Xiaomi BYD 13,724 13,000 17,174 26,939 25,685 DBG 75 6,290 3,778 3,112 Dixon 5,773 Flex 2,099 Foxconn 61,707 70,113 47,561 28,659 6,807 Huaqin 10,078 37,909 8,601 25,165 26,310 Inventec 20,736 4,051 8,318 - Lens 1,800 2,700 4,200 Lingyi iTech 1,800 Longcheer 34,885 51,700 48,610 30,098 40,700 Others 496 5,517 14,863 5,729 Salcomp 4,377 3,721 Wingtech 12 3,076 3,140 16,370 6,840 Xiaomi 540 540 Zowee 4,291 900 1,600 2,100 Source: IDC, January 2025 Infineon breaks ground for new backend fab in Thailand Infineon Technologies has broken ground on a new semiconductor backend production facility in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok, strengthening its manufacturing presence. Following an official meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, at the Government House, Infineon COO Rutger Wijburg inaugurated the construction of the new fab on January 14, 2025. The first building is scheduled to open in early 2026. The company will manage further ramp-up according to market demands. All costs associated with the new facility are already factored into the company's capex plans until 2025, Infineon said in a statement. The project has received funding from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). The highly automated facility will play an important role in expanding Infineon's manufacturing capabilities as global decarbonization and climate protection initiatives boost demand for power modules, particularly in industrial applications and renewables, the company added. The German chipmaker will contribute to the development of a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Thailand, leveraging the country's strategic location in Southeast Asia and its access to critical components and materials in the supply chain. Furthermore, Infineon aims to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem and cultivate a skilled workforce by deepening connections with local firms and universities in Thailand. The company collaborates with academic institutions and local entrepreneurs to develop a talent pool of skilled engineers with advanced semiconductor expertise. It has implemented a thorough training and education program focusing on AI, digitalization, and automation. The initial cohort of Thai engineers has successfully completed this training program at various Infineon sites, according to the Germany-based firm. "This investment is a key step in our strategy to further diversify our manufacturing footprint and optimize it in terms of costs while matching the expansion of our frontend capacities," said Wijburg. "Our new backend site is designed to operate with high efficiency, resilience, and quality, ensuring that we can reliably deliver high-quality products to our customers." Kneecap, the raucous, genre-defying film that has taken the global stage by storm, is a testament to TG4s unwavering commitment to Irish cinema. Commissioned and supported by TG4 from its inception, Kneecap has been nominated in an astonishing six categories at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, cementing its status as one of the years most talked-about films. Some of the scenes for the widely acclaimed movie were filmed in Dundalk and north Louth including New Street in Dundalk as well as at The Spirit Store in Dundalk and in Greenore. Kneecap has earned nominations in: Outstanding British Film Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer Film Not in the English Language Original Screenplay Casting Editing This sweeping recognition underscores the films ability to resonate with audiences far beyond its origins, challenging expectations and pushing boundaries. Writer-director Rich Peppiatt stated that: The Irish language has always lived generation-to-generation through music and poetry and storytelling, so to be part of that rich history with Kneecap - bringing this beautiful language and Irish cinema to a global stage - is a huge honour. And it is only fitting that TG4 - the heartbeat of so much of the best contemporary Irish storytelling - has been a vital part of that journey from the beginning." READ NEXT: 'We still miss you every day' - Touching tribute paid on anniversary of Dolores O'Riordan's death For a language often viewed as being in decline, the success of Kneecap is a cultural and cinematic triumph. The films nominations are proof that Irish-language productions can competeand winon the world stage, standing shoulder to shoulder with blockbuster films. Audiences and critics alike are hungry for authentic, culturally rooted storytelling, and TG4s investment in Kneecap has proven that these stories can captivate audiences worldwide. TG4 is proud to be the broadcast partner for Kneecap, airing exclusively in 2026 and Proinsias Ni Ghrainne, TG4s Commissioning Editor, added: Kneecap is more than just a film; its a movement that has carved a unique space in Ireland's youth culture and now in global cinema. Kneecap has yet again brought the Irish language to the most important stages of the world as a powerful creative channel that speaks to indigenous cultures, music lovers and anyone who appreciates good storytelling. TG4's commitment to support this wave of excellence in both scripted and non scripted programme genres is unwavering. Comhghairdeas Kneecap. Set in West Belfast in 2019, Kneecap tells the electrifying story of three young men who revolutionise Irish punk rap, blending Irish and English to create a cultural force like no other. Starring real-life rap trio Kneecap (Moglai Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Provai), alongside Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, and Jessica Reynolds, the film has captivated audiences from Sundance to Tribeca. TG4 also dominated the 2025 Irish Film & Television Academy Awards (IFTA) with 20 Nominations. A historic milestone was achieved as Kneecap garnered an unprecedented 17 nominations, the highest ever for a single project. The nominations include major categories such as Best Film, Best Director, Best Script, and an extraordinary triple Lead Actor recognition for Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh. Kneecap is also Irelands official submission for Best International feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. The band have also been shortlisted in the Best Original Song category for their track Sick In The Head. Nominations are set to be announced on January, 23. Competing against some of the most accomplished filmmakers and productions in the industry, Kneecap has firmly established itself as a worthy contender on the global stage. This recognition highlights that Irish-language films are not only resonating with audiences but are also proving they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world. This achievement comes just two years after TG4s An Cailin Ciuin (The Quiet Girl) made history as the first Irish-language film to be nominated at the Oscars for Best International Feature. Together, these milestones demonstrate TG4s pivotal role in driving the global resurgence of Irish-language cinema and its impact on international audiences. The film was produced by Trevor Birney and Jack Tarling for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O'Neill at Wildcard acting as Co-Producer. Funding for the film was provided by TG4, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Northern Ireland Screen, Fis Eireann / Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiun na Mean, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with backing from Great Point Media. The BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will take place on February 16, 2025, in London. A woman who vandalised a camera on a security barrier at Dundalk Garda Station was fined at Dundalk district court over the incident and a number of separate public order offences, including one where she racially abused security staff. Mary Burgess (57) with an address at College Manor, Hoeys Lane, Dundalk was before the court charged with causing criminal damage at the Garda Station on May 20th last year and with being intoxicated in a public place at College Manor and Tesco Extra on May 4th and 25th. The court heard the defendant went to the security barrier at the Ardee Road entrance to Dundalk Garda Station around 10pm and broke the camera away from its mount causing 500 worth of damage. Five days earlier she was highly intoxicated and abusive at Tesco Extra and was being restrained when gardai arrived on the scene. The court was told Ms. Burgess continued to shout racial abuse at security staff and was also abusing members of the public. Garda who responded to a call to attend College Manor spoke to the defendant who told she did not ring them and repeatedly shouted at them Get out. Get out in addition to shouting profanities. The court heard that neighbours were present at the time of the public order incident. The defendant had 72 previous convictions including 46 for public order offences but has not come to attention since then. Having heard that compensation had been paid to cover the damage to the security camera Judge Stephanie Coggans imposed a 100 fine for the criminal damage offence and imposed a further fine of 200 for the Tesco Extra public order offence but said she was taking everything else into consideration. Cllr Ciaran Fisher has called for a motion to central government to make a portion of the Apple Tax surplus available to Municipal Government and Councillor led projects. In a statement, Cllr Fisher said, "The central government has been almost patronising about how well Ireland has been doing. "Ahead of the general elections, the budget surpluses were a source of quasi-bragging for the sitting parties but that was only salt in the wound of people who havent seen that on-paper wealth, translate into tangible improvements for their day to day life: Our healthcare system is still bursting at the seams, we are in a housing crisis, we have some of the largest class sizes in Europe, our Garda are struggling to recruit and so on. "The state struggles with getting value for its money, which also contributes to the disconnect between Ireland being a rich country, but not always feeling like one: Dare I mention the National Childrens Hospital? Or the recently released files that revealed the Narrow Water Bridge would have cost 500,000 fifty years ago (about 8million in todays money) but was dismissednow its running to a cost of 100million plus! "As a new councillor, I have been privy to how local government, and in particular the role of the local councillor, has been hamstrung by financing issues and the gradual removal of councillors powers. "The local budget is a balancing act. The vast majority of money is spent on housing, development management, environmental services and roads. "As a result of financial restrictions, it can be a reactive budget; hastening to build houses for a superhot market and housing crisis, repairing roads that really should have been repaved years prior and reacting to flooding as it happens rather than being proactive. READ NEXT: Uisce Eireann warns of water disruptions in certain areas of Louth this week "It can leave little, by comparison, to play around with at civic level, the things that give us pride of place and the pro-active creation of services and amenities. "The new playground in St Helenas is amazing, the crowds going are brilliant to see. There are people coming from far and wide to see it, which is a testament to how good it is on the one hand, but on the other it tells you the town is crying out for more facilities like this. "Ultimately when people are casting their votes, they are participating in democracy, and they are under the assumption that their vote matters and that the people they elect can push for positive change and actions. If people dont feel that, then they lose faith in the process, which is a dangerous thing! "This is why Im proposing the Louth County Council join Kerry Council, in writing to the government to advocate for more discretionary funding at municipal level. "This would help the councillors of Dundalk, Drogheda and Mid-Louth to bypass some of the bureaucracy and to make a real difference to selected projects in their localities. The team at Louths Local Enterprise Office say they are proud to support five exceptional creative entrepreneurs who will showcase their talent and innovation at Showcase 2025. Taking place at the RDS Dublin from Sunday 19 to Tuesday 21 January 2025, Showcase is Irelands premier international event for craft, design, and giftware, attracting buyers from across the globe. Showcase is a vital opportunity for local creatives to connect with international buyers and share their unique stories and products, explains Sarah Mallon of Local Enterprise Office Louth. This years participants highlight the incredible talent we have here in Louth, and were proud to see them represent our region on such a prominent stage. Among the participants is Lana Dullaghan, whose Meaningful Home collection blends timeless styling with modern sensibilities. From elegant linen tableware to cozy wool throws, Lanas designs bring a sense of personal warmth and charm to every home. Her work, all created in Ireland, can be explored further at lanadullaghandesigns.com. Maureen Hoey, founder of mojo&co, will showcase her thoughtfully designed range of wellness journals and personal development tools. These products aim to empower people to live intentionally, build positive habits, and feel more grounded in their daily lives. Learn more about Maureens inspiring creations at mojoandco.ie. For children and families, Emma Duffy of My Forever Tooth Fairy has created a magical experience that reimagines the tooth fairy tradition. Her beautifully designed gift set includes a keepsake box, a Forever Tooth Fairy doll, and a heartwarming storybook. The collection can be viewed at myforevertoothfairy.com. Fiona Lynch of Almond Rose Designs brings her playful and sustainable Pawsome Pet Cards to Showcase 2025. These charming cards celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives and are perfect for any occasion. For more details on Fionas unique designs, visit almondrosedesigns.ie. Finally, Tracy Fry will showcase her artistic talent through statement resin maps and symbolic copper art. Inspired by her love of nature and Irish heritage, Tracys work merges topography with texture, creating modern pieces with timeless appeal. Discover her creations at tracyfry.ie Showcase 2025 is where creativity meets opportunity, concludes Sarah Mallon. We are excited to see these talented makers bring their stories and products to an international stage, shining a spotlight on Louths vibrant creative sector. Irish premier Simon Harris has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal following 15 months of immense human suffering and destruction. Mr Harris said he hoped the deal will now receive the formal approval of the Israeli government. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal which promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Mr Harris said: The brutal war we have witnessed has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including more than 17,000 innocent and vulnerable children. More than 100,000 have been physically injured or maimed, many of them losing limbs or suffering other life-altering injuries. Hostages have been held in captivity for more than 465 days, away from their families and loved ones. They too have endured the most horrific suffering and distress. I hope that all sides will seize this opportunity, fully honouring their commitments, allowing hostages to return to their families and the people of Gaza to begin rebuilding their lives and I hope that it will lead to a permanent arrangement. The Taoiseach said the international community must play its part by working to put a process in place that can lead to lasting peace. He added: This will only be achieved through a two-state solution, with the state of Israel living in peace and security alongside a sovereign state of Palestine. Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin said it had been a long-awaited development. He said: We need to see a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza, return of basic services and a clear framework under which those displaced as part of the conflict can return. Palestinian Authority governance is crucial in this regard, as is the role of UN and humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA, who must be allowed to operate fully and without hindrance. I commend the facilitators, notably the US, Egypt and Qatar, for their sustained efforts over recent months and urge that these discussions are sustained with a view to ensuring full implementation of this agreement. Irish President Michael D Higgins said the agreement would be welcomed by those at the edge of survival itself. He added: The agreement has been anxiously awaited by the families who have had to wait since the attacks by Hamas on 7th October 2023 for news on the wellbeing of their relatives who had been taken hostage. In some cases, the coming days may bring news of the death of family members which will be a matter of the deepest grief. All those in Gaza who have mourned their relatives or who are searching in the rubble for news of their relatives will equally have welcomed this ceasefire. Most importantly, this agreement must be utilised to deliver the massive scale up in humanitarian aid which is urgently needed to save more lives. Central clearing and the growing presence of non-bank financial intermediation in euro area government bond repo markets Prepared by Charles ODonnell and Fabio Tamburrini The non-bank financial intermediation (NBFI) sector is playing an increasingly important role in euro area government bond repo markets. The NBFI sectors activity in euro area government bond repo markets has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in the area of investment funds. The sectors growth is focused in the non-centrally cleared segment (Chart A).[1] This development may improve market liquidity in normal times. However, recent stress episodes have highlighted the systemic risks posed by deleveraging dynamics stemming from the activities of highly leveraged investment funds in these markets (see Article 1). Chart A Share of non-centrally cleared euro-denominated cash-borrowing repo transactions (outstanding amounts at end-of-month reporting dates in EUR billions) Sources: SFTDS and ECB calculations. Notes: The chart displays outstanding repo volumes at end-of-month reporting dates from January 2021 to October 2024. The data considered only include non-centrally cleared euro-denominated transactions with government bond collateral and exclude intragroup trades. The borrower sector classification is based on Letizia and Lenoci (2021). Mandating the use of central clearing in government bond repo markets is one potential tool for authorities to address NBFI leverage risks. Central clearing mandates were introduced as part of the post-2008 financial crisis reforms to address leverage risks for key over-the-counter derivatives classes, but these reforms did not extend to government bond and repo markets. To address the emerging vulnerabilities due to the growing role of highly leveraged NBFI entities in these markets, policymakers are now considering the increased use of central clearing, including clearing mandates, among their policy options.[2] Most notably, following bouts of turbulence in the US Treasury (UST) markets in December 2023, the US Securities and Exchange Commission introduced rules mandating the central clearing of USTs in cash and repo transactions.[3] By imposing stricter risk management practices, central clearing can limit the build-up of NBFI leverage ex ante. Leveraged investors such as hedge funds can build significant leverage by borrowing in the repo market against government bond collateral. Haircuts of 0% are widespread in uncleared repo transactions: available data show that in both the European Union (EU) and the United States, approximately 70% of uncleared repo transactions with government bond collateral have 0% haircuts.[4] As centrally cleared transactions are generally subject to stricter risk management practices, mandating the use of central clearing makes it effectively more costly for NBFI entities to build and maintain high-risk leveraged strategies, including by placing a limit on the re-use of repo collateral. Ex post, central clearing can mitigate counterparty risks and support market resilience in times of stress. Central clearing reduces credit risk exposures by having a central clearing counterparty (CCP) acting as the buyer to every seller and the seller to every buyer. By reducing the net exposures and transferring counterparty risk from the dealer banks to CCPs, this mitigates potential losses from the default of a leveraged entity, reducing risks from growing interlinkages between banks and non-banks. Central clearing may also improve the supply of liquidity during stress, when large one-sided flows triggered by the unwinding of NBFI entities leveraged positions can overwhelm dealers intermediation capacity. Owing to the increased possibilities of netting, central clearing can reduce the costs of market-making activities, increasing dealers ability to accommodate fluctuations in market demand. The marginal benefit of mandatory central clearing depends on each jurisdictions market structure and needs to be weighed against potential costs. In the euro area, a significant share of government bond repo transactions (around 60% of outstanding amounts) is already centrally cleared (Chart B), although the percentage varies strongly across individual issuers. This suggests that the benefits of mandatory central clearing are generally lower than in other jurisdictions which have a lower share, such as the United States.[5] As regards the netting benefits from clearing, the prevalence of central clearing in the euro area is especially high among dealer banks, and netting also occurs in non-centrally cleared trades.[6] This suggests that mandatory clearing offers only limited additional netting benefits, although further efficiencies could be achieved via cross-product (cash-repo) netting.[7] The financial stability benefit of reducing leverage risks in the non-centrally cleared market would need to be weighed against a potential increase in the demand for liquidity from the NBFI sector in stress episodes. Such an increase could result from the need for NBFI entities to meet CCP variation margin calls with cash. If market volatility were to increase, this could potentially make (systemic) liquidity needs even more procyclical.[8] Finally, central clearing could lead to higher trading costs and lower market liquidity in normal times and reduce market access for some end-users that find sponsored access uneconomical. Chart B Share of centrally and non-centrally cleared euro-denominated repo transactions (outstanding amounts at end-of-month reporting dates in EUR billions) Source: SFTDS. Notes: The chart displays outstanding repo volumes at end-of-month reporting dates from January 2021 to October 2024. The data considered only include euro-denominated transactions with government bond collateral and exclude intragroup trades. Mandatory central clearing also needs to be assessed against alternative policies. As shown by the policy response to the liability-driven investments episode, entity-based measures can be an effective tool with which to address leverage risks from investment funds in government bond repo markets, especially when the fund type holds highly concentrated positions (see Article 2). However, such measures may be less appropriate for funds which have a lower share of government bonds in their portfolio, even if they hold a sizeable market share. In addition, their use may not always be feasible, as entities may lie outside the regulatory perimeter. In these cases, activity-based measures such as central clearing can be a viable alternative. Compared with other activity-based measures such as haircuts,[9] which can be aimed specifically at NBFI trades (see Article 5) to directly address their leverage risk, a central clearing mandate would apply more broadly, including to the interbank segment. Finally, unlike tools such as leverage limits and haircuts, which could be introduced strictly on financial stability grounds, mandatory central clearing would also have broader implications for market functioning and monetary policy implementation. A careful assessment of its potential effects is therefore needed, which should also take into account concurrent developments in securities markets, such as the EUs potential shift to a shorter settlement cycle. References Avalos, F., Ehlers, T. and Eren, E. (2019), September stress in dollar repo markets: passing or structural?, BIS Quarterly Review. Baranova, Y., Holbrook, E., MacDonald, D., Rawstorne, W., and Vause, N. (2023). The potential impact of broader central clearing on dealer balance sheet capacity: a case study of UK gilt and gilt repo markets. Bank of England Staff Working Paper No. 1,026, June. Bowman, D., Huh, Y., & Infante, S. (2024). Balance-Sheet Netting in US Treasury Markets and Central Clearing. Federal Reserve Board Finance and Economics Discussion Series (FEDS), July. CPMI-IOSCO (2024), Streamlining variation margin in centrally cleared markets examples of effective practices, BIS, February. European Securities and Markets Authority (2024), EU Securities Financing Transactions markets, ESMA Market Report, April. Ferrara, F.M., Linzert, T., Nguyen, B., Rahmouni-Rousseau, I., Skrzypinska, M. and Vaz Cruz, L. (2024), Hedge funds: good or bad for market functioning?, The ECB Blog, ECB, 23 September. Financial Stability Board (2015), Transforming Shadow Banking into Resilient Market-based Finance: Regulatory framework for haircuts on non-centrally cleared securities financing transactions. Fleming, M. J., and Keane, F. M. (2021). The netting efficiencies of market-wide central clearing. FRB of New York Staff Report, (964). Grill, M., Molestina Vivar, L., ODonnell, C. and Weistroffer, C. (2024), Containing risks from leverage in the NBFI sector insights from recent policy initiatives, Financial Stability Review, ECB, May. Hempel, S., Kahn, R.J., Mann, R. and Paddrik, M., 2023, Why Is So Much Repo Not Centrally Cleared?, OFR Brief Series, OFR, No 23-01 International Monetary Fund (2024), Expanding central clearing in Treasury Markets, IMF Global Markets Analysis, IMF, 24 May. Lenoci, F. D., and Letizia, E. (2021). Classifying counterparty sector in EMIR data, in Data Science for Economics and Finance: Methodologies and Applications (pp. 117-143). Springer International Publishing. Vissing-Jorgensen, A. (2021), The Treasury Market in Spring 2020 and the Response of the Federal Reserve, Journal of Monetary Economics, Vol. 124, pp. 19-47 Tell us about yourself: I am an artist living and working in Cork. I am a member of Backwater Artist Studios and Sample Studios. I studied fine art in the Crawford MTU here in Cork and completed a Masters in NCAD, Dublin in 2016. I consider myself primarily to be a painter but I also make assemblages and installation type pieces. My work deals with memory, objects, rituals and identity. I have a studio here in the city and exhibit in Cork and nationally. Where were you born? I grew up in Boherbue in North Cork. Where do you live? In Gurranabraher here in the city. Family? My dad is a psychologist and my mom is a retired dental nurse. I have a twin brother who lives in Belfast whos a historian, and an older brother who also lives in Cork and is a psychologist as well. Best friend? I met my best friend when I was studying in the Crawford Art College here in Cork a long time ago. Earliest childhood memory? My earliest childhood memory is actually of having my head stuck between two bars in the gate of the parish graveyard. I dont know what I was doing to end up in such a situation. Person you most admire? If it was a famous person, I would have to say Nick Cave, but there are lots of people that I admire in my day-to-day life. Person who most irritates you? There are lots and lots of people that irritate me in the world and the leaderboard changes regularly. Where was your most memorable holiday? A family holiday to Egypt when I was 15. The Temple of Luxor is amazing. Favourite TV programme? My answer here would be a roll-call of HBOs best programmes from the noughties, I guess. One of the best shows Ive ever seen is a mini-series called Irma Vep that HBO did a few years ago. Alicia Vikander and Vincent Macaigne are in it. I have yet to meet anybody else who actually saw it. Favourite radio show? I dont listen to the radio much but I like Matt Coopers Today FM show whenever I hear it. Your signature dish if cooking? I like cooking lamb, but I dont eat red meat very often for environmental reasons. Favourite restaurant? I work in Market Lane part-time, which is great and a great place to work. My late brother worked in Greenes for many years and I have very fond memories of eating there. Last book you read? Eliza Clarks Boy Parts. Its very funny. Best book you read? It would be very hard to give just one answer to this. Michel Houellebecqs Atomised, Nick Cavess The Death Of Bunny Munro, John Berrymans The Dream Songs, and Iain Banks The Steep Approach To Garbadale. Last album/CD/download you bought? Father John Misty (AKA Josh Tilmann)s Mahashmashana. Im going to see him in City Hall in August. Favourite song? Oh, I dunno. Thats a tough one. My favourite Album is probably Curtains by Tindersticks. One person you would like to see in concert? I would love to see Tom Waits live but I doubt itll happen at this stage. Every few months I google Tom Waits New Album just to see what will come up. Do you have a pet? The last pet I had was a stray cat that I sort of adopted for a year in 2013 that lived on the roof outside my bedroom window and eventually in my bedroom as well. We had a sort of war going on with the other cats in the neighbourhood around The Lough. I moved to Dublin after I left that house and often wonder what became of the cat. Morning person or night owl? I like getting up early but Im not very functional in terms of making qrt until after midday. I definitely go to bed earlier than I used to. Your proudest moment? I suppose career-wise I did a solo show in the Royal Hibernian Academy a few years ago which was great. The works Im proudest of are the two recent shows Ive done in Cork, in Studio 12 Gallery and The Triskel. Spendthrift or saver? I have a pretty frugal life nowadays, but I have a habit of collecting random stuff. I bought a full-size Victorian era rocking horse a few years ago for instance that I have yet to make use of. It just sits in my studio looking at me. Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? I would confiscate all the derelict buildings around the place and make it so people can actually live in them What makes you happy? My friends and family. How would you like to be remembered? With a museum, of course. What else are you up to at the moment? Im currently working on a large body of work that Im planning to exhibit in 2026. More than 20 secondary school students recently took part in a corporate initiative aimed at supporting women in emergency accommodation in Cork. The initiative, run by the team at PepsiCo in Little Island, welcomed 26 transition year students from various Cork schools, including from St Marys Secondary School in Midleton, on-site to join the team for a collaborative charity event. The event, hosted in Little Island, saw the students help to pack 100 care packages for women staying at Corks Edel House, which is a part of the Good Shepherd charity. The care packages, put together by both the students and staff at PepsiCo, were filled with essential toiletries, which will be used to support those in need of emergency accommodation. In addition to the curated care packages, PepsiCo also donated 10,000 to support the work of Good Shepherd Cork. For more information on Good Shepherd Cork, visit: goodshepherdcork.ie/ Fianna Fail councillor Terry Shannon paid tribute to his late wife Ursula at Monday nights city council meeting, describing her as a force of nature. Mr Shannon thanked the elected members and executive, as well as the Lord Mayor for their support. She was a force of nature. She loved her year here as lady mayoress, and she was the real lord mayor because I spent 35 years doing what I was told, he said. She was an advocate lately for the Adoption Rights Alliance, where she found her birth sister and brother. He recalled when she was asked to appear in the House of Commons, and told him after that she had asked them to find their moral compass. He said his late wife delighted in their children, adding: They are her legacy they got her brains and her looks. She was very stoic in her short illness, she knew what was happening, though we thought we might have more time. She slipped away Christmas morning. She left a great legacy, great friendships, and were the better for knowing her," he concluded, adding that he will be stepping back from his council work for a short time while he and his family adjust. There has been mixed reaction to news that Cork City Council has been allocated 28m for 2025 under the National Transport Authority (NTA) Active Travel Investment grants scheme. On top of the 28m allocated in active travel grants, the city council has also been allocated 6,535,000 in other NTA funding streams, bringing to 34,535,000 the total amount allocated to the city. The news was hailed by some as a very welcome investment, but one representative saw it as proof of the neglect of Cork citys northside. Among the headline figures allocated in the city are 5.6m for street renewal in the Mahon area, 5.2m for the Lehenaghmore Road Improvement Scheme, and 2m for the Marina Promenade Active Travel scheme. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, welcomed the allocation and he thanked Transport Minister Eamon Ryan for his help. An important figure to bear in mind is that Cork City Council has benefitted from more than 100m in NTA funding over the past four years, he said. Im glad this round of funding has been put in place because there are a lot of projects that have been started that need to be finished, and some that have been promised and need to be started. Im hoping that this level of funding can be maintained over the next number of years, because its important that we not only put in cycleways here and there, but we make every effort to have a completed network of connected cycleways across Cork city. Donnchadh O Laoghaire, the Sinn Fein TD for Cork South-Central, welcomed the 5.2m Lehenaghmore Rd allocation. This is a crucial step forward to finally getting the people of Lehenaghmore and Lehenaghbeg the footpaths and road scheme they deserve, he said. This has been a saga that has gone on years, and people in this community have been waiting for far too long for the basics. However, Mr O Laoghaires northside Dail colleague, Cork North-Central Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, claimed the funding allocation once again proves the neglect of northside infrastructure. Mr Gould said the average project spend on northside projects was almost 100,000 less than the overall average per project. The numbers dont lie and, year-on-year, the spend is less and the average spend per project is less. The northside TD said he had written to the authority and Cork City Council seeking urgent meetings and, once the Dail returned, he would seek a meeting of the Transport Committee to look at this pattern of unfair allocation. Despite his misgivings, Mr Gould said he welcomed some positive projects, including pedestrian works on the Banduff Rd, the Nashs Boreen Active Travel Scheme, and active travel measures in Innishmore. In the same funding announcement, Cork County Council was allocated 19m for 2025, and 1.9m through other authority allocations, bringing to 20.9m the total allocation to the county. The headline figures in the county include 4.4m for the Ballinacurra to Midleton Phase 4 scheme and 2,073,040 for the Carrigtwohill to Midleton Phase 1. The mayor of the county of Cork, Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll, said the investment was extremely positive. Significant progress was made right across the county during 2024, including the substantial completion of the Dunkettle to Carrigtwohill pedestrian and cycle route, and the completion of several safe routes to school with many more progressing, he said. These projects enhance our towns, villages, and local areas. They can improve the quality of life for our communities, enabling people to choose more sustainable ways to travel whether its for work, school, or leisure. Update 11.30am: Members of the Blackpool community have said they are devastated and shocked following fire damage to Healys Bakery this morning. The bakery, located on 94 Great William O'Brien Street, Blackpool, has been owned by the same family for six generations, and was established in 1862, making them Corks oldest bakery. Rachel Healy, the owner, shared on Facebook this morning: Our sincere apologies to everyone collecting cakes for the foreseeable future. Due to fire we are closed. Speaking this morning outside the premises, Ms Healy said the bakery had suffered extensive damage and she and her team were grateful no one was hurt. More than a dozen people were evacuated from a nearby building as a precaution but no injuries were reported. Someone went in at 5am, he went off to do deliveries, and when the other person came in at 6am, the place was on fire," Ms Healy said. They dont know how it started. they just dont know what happened, Im waiting for the crime scene investigators checking it out. She explained that the fire brigade had also been on the scene, and that water had to be turned off as it had flooded the premises. The damage is extensive, and mostly at the back of the shop, she added, saying: Thank God nobody was hurt, thats the main thing. Hopefully well get it fixed and get it sorted. She again apologised to all customers who had orders for collection, saying that she expects it will take them a while to reopen. Shock in local area Louise Jordan, chairperson of the Blackpool Community Centre, told The Echo: Rachel and her family have been here forever. We ran down this morning because we were just really concerned for Rachel, were so delighted nobody was hurt. We are sure Rachel will rebuild and bring the business back better than ever. Its a terrible thing to happen especially right at the beginning of the year so its really awful timing, and awful for all the staff too. This will be a huge loss for the community, people go in their for their cakes and she has a coffee machine, were hopeful she will build it back up. Tom Dennehy, the owner at Dennehys Fish Shop said it was: Very shocking altogether, Im absolutely devastated for Rachel. The bakery has been here a long time, and its just awful for the whole area people come get their cakes, get their fish, get their hair cut and this is another blow to the area. Its just shocking and I feel very sorry for her, business is so hard at the moment anyway with the costs, every business is finding it difficult and to come into that this morning must have been terrible. We all help each other out in the area and look out for each other as best we can, so its really devastating. That everything could be grand yesterday then gone today words cant describe it. Earlier: Emergency services are at the scene of a fire at a commercial premises in Blackpool. The fire occurred at Healy's Bakery on Great William O'Brien St. Crews from Cork City Fire Brigade attended the incident just after 6.30am and remain at the scene. Approximately 20 people were evacuated from a surrounding apartment as a precaution. No one has required hospital treatment. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are assisting Fire Services at the scene of an industrial fire at [a] premises on Great William OBrien Street, Cork." Traffic management is currently in place. Following an extensive campaign, in-school therapy services have returned to St Killians Special School in Mayfield the largest special school in Munster. St Killians yesterday welcomed therapy service providers The Sunflower Clinic, who are onsite to begin offering vital support to 104 students. The milestone follows a year-long campaign by St Killians Parents Unite, a group of parents and staff, who have been advocating for the reinstatement of therapeutic interventions at the school to meet the significant needs of the students. We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated and helped in our campaign to provide our amazing children with the essential therapies they need to access their education, Eibhlin Gleeson, chair of St Killians Parents Unite, said. In particular, we would like to extend our thank you to Dr Andy Phillips, REO of the HSE South West, for releasing this essential funding. Our children deserve the world, and these interventions are essential in them reaching their full potential. It is our sincere hope that they are never without therapy in their school environment again. The campaigning included a meeting with former disability minister Anne Rabbitte in November 2023. This was followed by a protest at the school in August 2024, which brought significant public attention to the urgent need for in school therapeutic support. Campaigners also worked closely with elected representatives, at both local and national levels, to secure essential funding from the HSE and ensure that this interim service could be put in place. Funded by the HSE, this private therapy provision serves as a temporary solution while the public system prepares to deliver equivalent support under the Therapy Pilot Scheme. Sue Lenihan, the principal of St Killians Special School, said it marked a "proud moment for St Killians" adding that the services will be "transformative for the school". The tireless efforts of our parents and staff have ensured that the children of St Killians are prioritised, she said. While this is an interim measure, it is a vital step forward, and we are deeply grateful to the HSE and the elected officials who supported us in achieving this outcome. We look forward to seeing the impact of these therapies on the children, which in many cases will be life changing, she added. The school community extended its gratitude to everyone who participated in the campaign to ensure the vital services were made available at the school. The parents of a 25-year-old man with an out of control drug problem said yesterday that he might need to be kept in jail for a couple of weeks, and indicated that they could not cope with him. The matter emerged at an in-camera hearing of Cork District Court, where the parties cannot be identified because it involves an alleged breach of the Domestic Violence Act. The parents had just secured an interim barring order against their son, but he allegedly breached it by turning up at their home late on Monday and putting them in fear. Garda John Kiely arrested the young man and brought him before Cork District Court. The defendant first appeared yesterday morning, but ultimately the matter was dealt with later in the afternoon. The young mans mother believed that her son was becoming more intoxicated through the day even though he was in custody. It is alleged that he turned up at the family home drunk and shouting at his parents in a threatening manner. The young mans mother said: He is highly intoxicated today. As he is every day. His addictions are out of control and he is doing nothing to help himself. We, as his parents, cant have him anymore. It is constant. I dont know what is going to become of him. She said he went into rehabilitation, but there was a call within 24 hours to say that he was out causing trouble in the town near the centre. On a recent incident near their home, she said he was found collapsed on the street and she thought he was dead. Solicitor Eddie Burke said the young man would go to Cork Simon Community and would go nowhere near his parents if given bail. Judge Mary Dorgan said the man was in no fit condition to be making an application in court. She remanded him in custody overnight to today, and said he could renew his bail application then. Before being taken into custody, he asked his parents for cigarettes. His mother handed a box to gardai for him. Today marks the five-year anniversary of the disappearance of Christophe Goutte. Mr Goutte, who is a French native, was last seen leaving his place of work in Carrigtwohill at approximately 11am on January 15, 2020. Having lived in Ireland for a number of years, Mr Goutte was a resident at OBrien Terrace in Midleton at the time of his vanishing. Galway From inquiries to date, and via CCTV imagery, it is understood that Mr Goutte took a bus on this day from Parnell Station in Cork city, travelling to Galway, where he disembarked at approximately 5.35pm. Described as being a white man, who is 5 foot 8 inches in height, of stocky build, with short brown hair and a sallow complexion, gardai at Cobh Garda Station continue to appeal for any information on Mr Gouttes whereabouts. When last seen, he was wearing a black coat, black pants, a black woollen hat, a pair of brown boots, and was carrying a dark coloured overall bag. Appealing Gardai are particularly appealing to those in Galway city or the surrounding areas to report any recent sightings of Mr Goutte, as the investigation into his disappearance is ongoing and active to this day. While Mr Gouttes family do not live in Ireland, gardai confirmed to The Echo that Garda French liaison has been in contact with them and remains their current point of contact on the case. Anyone who may have information on Mr Gouttes movements at the time of his disappearance, or on his current whereabouts, is asked to contact the gardai in Cobh on 021-490-8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or any garda station. Two new city councillors made their maiden speeches at Monday nights full council meeting Niamh OConnor of the Social Democrats and Noel OFlynn of Independent Ireland, who replaced new TDs Padraig Rice and Ken OFlynn, respectively. Ms OConnor shared how proud she was to be a member of the council and to be improving the councils gender balance. She paid tribute to recently elected TD Padraig Rice, who she said was an extremely effective councillor who was going to do phenomenal work in the Dail. She explained: My agenda would align very much with Padraigs. Cork city, as much as I love it, we could address the basics a little bit better better footpaths, public toilets, drinking water, reliable public transport. Those are things Ill be pursuing at council, those are the things I heard most on the doorsteps when I canvassed with Padraig. She also highlighted the importance of reflecting the strong opinions of the people of Cork city on issues such as Gaza, and urging the Government to pass the Occupied Territories Bill. Independent Ireland Cork city councillor Noel O'Flynn, who took up the seat on the located authority vacated by his son Ken following his election to Dail Eireann. Picture: Larry Cummins. Mr OFlynn recalled his previous time as a councillor and a TD, saying: I now bring this wealth of experience to council. I look forward to making Cork better for all our citizens, he said, highlighting roads infrastructure such as the North Ring Road, the Northern Distributor Road and the Cork to Limerick motorway. Mr OFlynn also highlighted the levels of house vacancy in the city as well as the homelessness figures, and welcomed the progress of the development in the Docklands, saying that he had made a similar proposal of this nature back in 1999. Cork Olympian Nicola Tuthill will feature in this weeks edition of RTEs Ear to the Ground. Ms Tuthill, who was the youngest competitor to take part in the hammer throw event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, will be seen tutoring journalist Stephen Robb on the ways of the sport, while also discussing her experiences over the last year. At just 20-years-old, Ms Tuthill took to the Olympic Games with delight, and with that milestone now behind her, she enjoys spending her free time working on the family farm in Kilbrittain alongside her father, Norman. In the episode, Mr Robb will visit the Tuthill farm and try his hand at using Nicolas at-home purpose-built hammer cage and throwing circle. Also this week, journalist Darragh McCullough will visit a farm in Meath, where farmer Paddy Mangan will describe why he is giving away more than 100,000 trees; then journalist Ella McSweeney will spend a day at the Roscommon Mart to see off another farmers pedigree Charollais sheep flock following recent family pressures. The episode will air on RTE One on Thursday at 7pm, and will be repeated on Sunday at 1.10pm. A response from Childrens Health Ireland (CHI), which declines to provide information about waiting times for patients in Cork in need of scoliosis and limb deformity surgery, was described as watery during Mondays meeting of Cork County Council by the county councillor who had made the request. Bandon-based Fianna Fail councillor Gillian Coughlan had sought information about surgery waiting times for those suffering with scoliosis and limb deformity in Cork. However, she was told in a letter from CHI issued to Cork County Council that the information could not be released due to patient confidentiality. Its unacceptable, really. I wasnt looking for names of patients or where they lived. Its a big county, there are a lot of children waiting, said Ms Coughlan. I think they could have given us some more information. Children grow, thats the fundamental of life, and the longer they have to wait, the more complex the surgery becomes. I thank them for their response and acknowledgement, and I accept that theyre trying to get to grips with it. I really want to reiterate that this is not good enough for children to wait for any length of time for scoliosis surgery in this country, she said. While the response is there, Im really not pleased. According to the letter from CHI, the waiting list for scoliosis includes children from all counties. Patients are treated firstly on the basis of clinical priority and secondly on the length of wait. The letter went on to state that the scoliosis operational plan was in place. CHI is working on improving access times for all children with scoliosis. Information regarding the waiting and activity reports is available on the CHI website, the letter pointed out. Fresh charges of drug-dealing and money-laundering were brought against a member of the Irish Defence Forces arising out of the alleged seizure of 26,992 worth of cocaine at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork. Detective Garda Derry OBrien gave evidence today of charging Shane Scanlon of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, County Cork, with a number of charges. He made no reply to any of the charges against him. 35-year-old Shane Scanlon is charged with possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Collins Barracks, Old Youghal Road in Cork for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another on March 27, 2024. He is also charged with having cocaine unlawfully in his possession for his own use. The most serious drugs charge brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act refers to having cocaine for sale or supply when its street value exceeded 13,000 a charge which carries a 10-year minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances. He is charged with money-laundering in respect of 2,250 at his home in Cobh and another sum of 1,100 at Collins Barracks. Mr Scanlon is finally charged with possession of articles, namely a blender and weighing scales in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was for the purpose of commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence. Some of the charges brought against Mr Scanlon today had been brought against him previously but were struck out due to a delay in DPP directions. This did not preclude the prosecution from charging him again in the same case. Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the DPP had decided that the case should proceed by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Frank Buttimer asked for clarification on the issue of whether a signed plea of guilty could be entered at Cork District Court for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. This will be clarified on the next occasion in court. On the application of Sergeant Murphy, Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until January 29 at Cork District Court. Bail conditions to be observed by the accused, include the surrender of his passport and travel documents and signing three times a week at Cobh garda station. Gardai objected to bail being granted to a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly caught with a balaclava and implements for carrying out a theft at a time when he was already on bail for travelling in a stolen car. Detective Garda Conor Cronin said: This youth was observed acting suspiciously with another youth on Lough Road. The youth was searched and he was found in possession of two screwdrivers, Allen keys, vice grips and balaclava. The other youth had a stolen electric scooter. Interviewed in presence of his mother, the 15-year-old made admissions that he was in possession of the items. He said they were given to him earlier. He admitted that the tools would have been used to steal the scooter but was not present when this occurred. He was caught red-handed. Judge Mary Dorgan asked if a bed was available in Oberstown if the juvenile was remanded in detention, and it was confirmed that a bed was available. However, after hearing the evidence and defence submissions from Shane Collins-Daly solicitor that the young man had no previous convictions, was attending school and was present in court, Judge Dorgan decided to grant bail to the 15-year-old. The case was adjourned until January 24 at the Childrens Court. The defendant cannot be identified as he is a juvenile. Det Garda Cronin said the teenager was on bail since October 2024 when this alleged new offence occurred on January 14. Garda Conor Smiddy charged him with allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car on October 23 2024 in Cork city. He was also charged with a count of driving a stolen car on September 26 2024 at Crosshaven, County Cork. Sergeant Aisling Murphy stated last October that there was no objection to bail being granted to the accused but that conditions were required, namely, a 9pm to 7am curfew, to stay out of the southside of Cork city, not to associate with two named individuals, go to school daily and not to be in any stolen car. Similar conditions were required yesterday but the curfew was changed to 8pm and the teenager was required to sign on regularly at his local garda station. The case against a man charged with producing a screwdriver in Cork city centre and assault causing harm to a French visitor was before Cork District Court yesterday. Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the case should proceed by indictment. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke asked for a copy of the prosecution evidence so that the defence could decide if a plea of guilty or not guilty would be entered. Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until February 6 at Cork District Court for that purpose. Adam Corcoran, aged 30, with an address at an apartment at John Barry House, Midleton, Co Cork, is charged with assaulting a French man causing him harm at Patrick St, Cork, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, and production of a screwdriver during the incident. As I used a lift with a friend recently, he remarked on how low the buttons were positioned. This design is silly, he said, assuming it was an oversight. I paused and explained: These buttons are low so that people who use wheelchairs or little people can access them. My friend, like many, had never considered this before. He hadnt needed to. This moment reflects an often-overlooked truth: privilege shapes how we experience the world. If youre someone without a disability, the world is designed for you - lifts, streets, and public spaces all cater to your needs. But privilege is temporary. One day, many of us will lose it, whether through illness, injury, or aging. Well find ourselves navigating a world that no longer accommodates us, wondering how we once took that ease for granted. So, how do we ensure our cities work for everyone, not just for the privileged few? What Does It Mean to Be Normal? Normality is often defined statistically as one standard deviation from the mean. This range includes about two-thirds of the population, leaving another third outside it. Among those left out are people with disabilities - individuals whose needs and experiences often go unconsidered in the design of public spaces. When architects and city planners design only for the so-called normal, they inadvertently exclude many people. This isnt just a failure of design; its a failure of imagination. True inclusivity requires stepping out of our own experiences and imagining life through someone elses eyes. Robert Fourie has had positive experiences as a blind person at Kent Station What is it like to navigate a street with a visual loss? To rely on a wheelchair in a world full of stairs? To find lighting inadequate because of night blindness? Or to attend a service where an official is talking behind a glass partition and your hearing aid cannot pick up their words? Imagining these realities helps us to create spaces that serve everyone, not just the average or typical person. Examples of Thoughtful Design in Cork Cork isnt without its successes. Kent Station, for example, stands out as a model of inclusive practice. When I arrive, staff in high-visibility jackets are quick to approach, asking if I need assistance. They guide me through the gates, help me onto the train, and even radio ahead to Dublin to ensure someone is there to meet me. Cork Airport is another excellent example. From check-in to boarding, porters are available to guide passengers with visual losses or other disabilities through security and other processes. This seamless, respectful support shows whats possible when inclusion is a priority. These examples show that Cork can be a leader in accessibility when it chooses to be. But these successes are only part of the picture. Areas for Improvement Despite these positive examples, theres still much work to be done. Consider electronic bus timetables. While helpful for many, they are often mounted too high for people with visual loss to read closely. A simple adjustment - lowering them to head height - could make a big difference. Adding an audio function, activated by a button, would make these timetables accessible to even more people. Lighting is another critical issue. Poorly lit streets are not just inconvenient; theyre dangerous, especially for those with conditions like Retinitis Pigmentosa or night blindness. Addressing this would enhance safety and independence for many Cork residents. Privilege Is Temporary One of the most profound things Ive heard came from a friend who uses a wheelchair. Before I lost most of my vision, he said the prophetic words: Youre not disabled - yet, pointing out that disability is not a question of if, but when. If we live long enough, all of us will experience some form of disability. Privilege, he reminded me, is fleeting. When we ignore the needs of others, we arent just failing them; were failing our future selves. By building a world that excludes, we create a society where many - including us, eventually - struggle to participate fully. As we start a new year, lets commit to rethinking what it means to design for humanity. Architects, city planners, and policymakers must consult, most importantly, with people who have disabilities themselves, but also with occupational therapists and disability advocates to create spaces that reflect the diversity of human experience. And as individuals, lets expand our empathy. Lets step out of our own experiences and imagine life through the eyes of someone else. Because inclusive design doesnt just benefit people with disabilities; it enriches all of us. It creates a city where dignity, independence, and opportunity are available to everyone - a city where no-one is left behind. Ellen O'Donoghue An Enniskillen Cathedral are hosting an exhibition about D-Day and the Liberation of France. St Macartins Cathedral in Enniskillen are the only venue in Ireland hosting The Longest Yarn, a three-dimensional wool tapestry and touring exhibition. It tells the story of the 80 days between D-Day and the Liberation of Paris in the summer of 1944. The exhibition runs until Saturday, February 8th and is open from 10am until 4pm. The artworks story is told in a new video interview with Tansy Forster, the creator of the exhibition who is originally from Northern Ireland, and Dean Kenneth Hall, who serves as Rector of St Macartins and Dean of Clogher. The Longest Yarn draws its name from the 1962 film titled The Longest Day. The display, knitted and crocheted by hundreds of volunteers worldwide, depicts various scenes to tell a story of that time in history. The total exhibition measures 80 metres, representing the 80 years since D-Day. It took over 1,000 people knitting and crocheting from countries across the world, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France, to create all of the scenes. It was first unveiled at Notre Dame Church in Carentan, France, on May 28th, 2024, and has been touring cathedrals in England before arriving in Enniskillen ready for opening to the public from January 14th. Dublin City Council is urging people visiting the "cherry tomato bridge" to stop wasting food. The bridge has become one of Dublin's hottest tourist attractions after a viral video. During the cold snap, passersby noticed frozen tomatoes on Drumcondra Bridge in the north of the capital. However, the tomatoes were then knocked off the bridge on Monday leading to many sharing their heartbreak at the ending of the shrine, with Dublin City Council since saying that they plan on cleaning and inspecting the site on a daily basis. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: "Dublin City Council are aware of food being presented on Drumcondra bridge and will be cleaning and inspecting the site daily. "It is asked that food is not discarded and wasted in this manner." Visitors have taken to social media to document their trips to the area, with it becoming a viral trend. Droves of people living in the Dublin area (and the chronically online) turned up on the canal bridge to see the spectacle first-hand. The bridge in question, Binns Bridge on Drumcondra Road, lies a short walk from Croke Park, between Le Petit Breton and the Royal Canal Way. Niamh ODonoghue A Kildare man who was paid 100 to transport over three million euro of cannabis has been jailed for six years. Francis Cox (54) pleaded guilty to possession of 161.5kg cannabis at the M50 motorway on March 20th 2024. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 3.23 million of cannabis was seized. Cox, of Hazelmere, Naas, Co. Kildare, has no previous convictions. Detective Garda Niall Cleary of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told the court an operation was put in place of the M1 motorway. Cox was driving the van, which was stopped by gardai on the M50. A mobile phone and a lottery ticket were among the items found in the cab, which Cox said was his property. The rear of the van was searched, and boxes of suspected cannabis was found. After gardai searched the van they cautioned Cox who denied knowing what was in it saying I dont know. All I was told was to meet a fellaI didnt know what was in it. He was interviewed on three occasions where he told gardai he couldnt give information because he was scared for his life. In the third interview, Cox answered some questions and told gardai he got 100 for driving the van. Cox told gardai he was on disability allowance of 220 a week and talked about the cost of living. He said he had a motorbike accident and broke his collarbone. He also said hed had a heart bypass the previous October. He said he was separated from his wife and had two children and was approached to drive the van. Justin McQuade BL, prosecuting, told the court the mandatory minimum sentence for the offence was 10 years. In mitigation, Patrick Gageby SC, defending, said his client had had a bad year. He had a heart bypass, a motorbike accident, a relationship break-up and ended up homeless. Mr Gageby said it was a very serious case and that up to this offence Cox was a person of good character. He was a good father and had none of the trappings of wealth, Mr Gageby said, and asked the judge for clemency. Passing the sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan said he was happy Cox was a low-level operative whose function was to transport drugs. The judge said there was no evidence of wealth. He took account of Coxs plea of guilty, co-operation with gardai, work history, references, and that he had no previous convictions. The judge also noted that he had been in a serious motorbike accident and had a cardiac problem. It seems he was in financial straits at the time.. he was prey to temptation, said the judge. Judge Nolan said he questioned how far he should depart from the mandatory minimum sentence but noted the strong mitigation in the case. Judge Nolan said the appropriate sentence was 6 years. High Court reporters A hotel accounts executive who, along with her husband, allegedly misappropriated 597,000 worth of payments from the hotel claims she is owed 1 million under a consulting agreement she had with her employer, the High Court heard. Last October, the court made freezing orders against Andja (also known as Anda) Gulic Pejovic and her husband Dusan Pejovic, both of Seagrave Drive, Meakstown, Dublin, in relation to monies in four bank accounts they are linked to. The order required that the couple must not dissipate their assets, pending further order, below 582,000 which is the amount, it is claimed, that has not been recovered by the hotel, The Address Connolly, Amiens Street, Dublin, formerly the North Star Hotel. The freezing order application was brought by the hotel operators, BC McGettigan Ltd, against Ms Pejovic who was described as a "trusted employee" for some eight years. Her husband was joined as a defendant because the hotel operator said he was "bound up in this fraud". The case came back before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Wednesday when the court was told the defendants, who denied the claims, were no longer legally represented as their lawyers, who had not heard from them, had ceased to represent them. They did not appear before the court on Wednesday. Frank Kennedy BL, for BC McGettigan, said his client has now received a document entitled "counter motion" in which Ms Pejovic claims she had entered into a "consulting agreement" with her employer where she was to be paid 487 per hour and for which she worked 300 hours per month. She claims she is entitled to 1 million for the work she did in addition to the money she is alleged to have misappropriated, counsel said. Brian McGettigan, a director of the operating company, had sworn an affidavit stating these claims she made were "entirely false", he said. "It goes to show to a very considerable extent the audacity of the defendants in the way they have defended these proceedings", counsel said. They had been ordered by the court to disclose their assets to the plaintiff but in the documents provided there is no reference to the claim of 1m from a consulting agreement, he said. Mr Kennedy sought a number of directions requiring the defendants to deliver certain information in advance of the hearing of the case. He also sought an early hearing date. "The defendants have indicated they may be returning to Croatia", he said. Mr Justice Cregan gave directions and a timetable for the defendants to provide the information sought and adjourned the case for mention next month. In the action against the couple, it is alleged that over a three year period Ms Pejovic generated 152 payments that were purported to be to certain suppliers or employees. The payments went into two Revolut bank accounts in Lithuania and one in Ireland, as well as Ms Pejovic's Bank of Ireland account into which her salary was paid. After it was discovered, while she was on maternity leave, that a particular supplier to the hotel had not been paid when it was believed he had been, a review discovered payments to the Revolut accounts. It was also discovered she allegedly sent a large number of emails, including copies of the company payroll and procurement database, to her husband. It was also alleged there was a forged tenancy agreement created by Ms Pejovic for a property in Dubai and which Mr Pejovic was named as the landlord. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA Taoiseacj Simon Harris has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal following 15 months of immense human suffering and destruction. Mr Harris said he hoped the deal will now receive the formal approval of the Israeli government. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal which promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. Mr Harris said: The brutal war we have witnessed has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including more than 17,000 innocent and vulnerable children. More than 100,000 have been physically injured or maimed, many of them losing limbs or suffering other life-altering injuries. Hostages have been held in captivity for more than 465 days, away from their families and loved ones. They too have endured the most horrific suffering and distress. I hope that all sides will seize this opportunity, fully honouring their commitments, allowing hostages to return to their families and the people of Gaza to begin rebuilding their lives and I hope that it will lead to a permanent arrangement. The Taoiseach said the international community must play its part by working to put a process in place that can lead to lasting peace. He said: This will only be achieved through a two-state solution, with the state of Israel living in peace and security alongside a sovereign state of Palestine. Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheal Martin said the ceasefire deal had been a long-awaited development (Brian Lawless/PA) Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it had been a long-awaited development. He said: We need to see a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza, return of basic services and a clear framework under which those displaced as part of the conflict can return. Palestinian Authority governance is crucial in this regard, as is the role of UN and humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA, who must be allowed to operate fully and without hindrance. I commend the facilitators, notably the US, Egypt and Qatar, for their sustained efforts over recent months and urge that these discussions are sustained with a view to ensuring full implementation of this agreement. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA A lawyer representing influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate has said there was no threat referred to in social media posts from his clients about Sorcha Eastwood, other than in a political sense. However, the legal team of the Northern Ireland MP responded by calling this an attempt to to trivialise the relevant offensive postings. Kevin Winters of KRW Law said, earlier this week, he had been instructed by Ms Eastwood to begin legal action against the brothers over social media posts. The posts were made last week, a day after the Lagan Valley MP had told the UK House of Commons she was a survivor of abuse and had received rape threats. Solicitor Kevin Winters said he had been instructed by Ms Eastwood to begin legal proceedings against the Tate brothers (Liam McBurney/PA) In a statement, Andrew Ford of Holborn Adams, who represents the Tate brothers, said: No legal proceedings have been commenced at this stage. A letter was received from KRW Law which alluded to a potential claim. Mr Ford said the letter from Mr Winters had been sent in response to a letter sent on behalf of Tristan Tate which raised concerns about a tweet sent by Ms Eastwood. He added: It only takes someone to read the tweets sent by my clients to realise that there is no threat referred to, directly or indirectly, other than in a political sense (ie the threat of changing the shape of politics in the future). In response, Mr Winters said: Our letter to Holborn Adams is unequivocal. It makes it clear our client will be issuing a claim. Mr Winters rejected the claim that the letter was sent in response to a letter of claim received by Ms Eastwood, stating it was sent on an entirely standalone basis. He added: We can confirm we did send a second separate letter in response to the letter of claim in which we rejected the allegations made. It is a matter of concern that the solicitors acting for Mr Tate have sought to trivialise the relevant offensive postings as amounting solely to threats of a political nature. Ms Eastwood told the House of Commons last week: I am a survivor of abuse myself. Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman. She added: We previously did a lot of visits to the Northern Ireland Parliament building, Stormont, whenever I sat there in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and during one school visit a member of the public came up and said they wanted to rape me. And there were two people there and we just kind of were paralysed with the response, and that was not the right response. Not from me, but from the people around. Andrew Tate has previously been banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook after the platforms accused him of posting hate speech and misogynistic comments, including that women should bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted. But he remains popular on X, with almost 10 million followers, many of them young men and schoolchildren. There has been a quiet influence at play in Irelands celebrated artisan food scene for nearly two decades. Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards was the first of its kind to recognise, champion, and award the endeavours of Irelands small producers. Established by Artie Clifford in 2007 as a day of tasting, judging and awarding during the Dingle Food Festival, the event has morphed into a year-round programme of events, supports, showcases, taste judging and awards since his daughter, Fallon Moore, joined him at the helm. Although the headquarters of Blas na hEireann is An Daingean, there are deep-rooted connections with their neighbouring county of Cork through important partnerships with UCC and Cork Penny Dinners. Over the years, Corks army of small artisan and specialty food producers have enjoyed much success at Blas (its affectionate nickname) going on to grow their business and expand into markets outside of Ireland too. Blas is a network of food producers, retailers, chefs, industry experts, food champions and media, all working together to raise up and celebrate the achievements of those operating in Irelands largest indigenous economic sector food. I caught up with Fallon Moore to find out why the work of Blas is important for the all-island community of food producers. Fallons career in food started early, working in the family guesthouse from the age of 14 and later in restaurants. With an interest in the space where food and events met, she gained a degree in Business with Arts Management, then went on to a career in hotel sales and marketing. But Blas, says Fallon, was something her dad, Artie, snuck up on her. In the early years, dad would say, when youre at home and around that weekend of Dingle Food Festival, you might give me a hand with a new project. It was just helping out but, like anything in a family, it grew! Hed talk about ideas for Blas, and Id get involved with projects that were going on. For a long time that was all on a voluntary basis while I was working with hotels. Eventually, Fallon left hotels behind and joined Artie full-time in the food awards, bringing the years of experience in event management and hospitality with her. Artie had been working as a fisherman, later setting up a company making seafood products. A shelf-life issue with a chowder led to a connection with UCC and Dr Joe Kerry, a lecturer in UCCs School of Food Science and Nutrition who specialised in food packaging, product stability, shelf-life, and smart technologies for food quality. Later, Dr Kerry was instrumental in designing the sensory evaluation protocol used by every Blas na hEireann judge, and is now the awards Academic Director. Dad had completed the Diploma in Speciality and Artisan Food Enterprises at the Food Industry Training Unit (FITU) in UCC, so he had the understanding of food science, and I had the hospitality and events side. Fallon Moore joined her father, Artie Clifford, at Blas na hEireann in recent years. Picture: Robbie Reynolds Dad developed that relationship with UCC which then developed into a friendship between dad and Joe. When he wanted to look at an award for Irish food, he went to Joe and the team and said he wanted to establish a food award in Ireland, but how could it be rooted in science; something concrete and reliable? The development of the unique sensory analysis protocol is just one aspect of how Blas and UCC have continued to work together over the years. Raising awareness of and providing access to ongoing education, training, mentoring and other supports for producers in the Blas network has proven to be essential in supporting innovation. Producers approach us looking for advice, like a packaging issue, and because we work closely with FITU, producers have found them [courses and educational resources] incredibly useful and have changed how they look at their business. We also have speakers from UCC and FITU engaging with us at the Blas Backyard, [a space for discussion and sharing ideas] during the Blas weekend in October. That weekend leads into and then coincides with Dingle Food Festival, in which food producers, vendors, chefs, food writers and foodies land into West Kerry for a slice of food heaven. The weekend includes a Producers Showcase to highlight all the Blas finalists, providing opportunities to network in an informal environment with buyers from independent shops, big retailers and the hospitality sector looking to buy the latest and best of Irish food. Winning a Blas na hEireann award (gold, silver or bronze) can have an impact on sales by as much as 20%. Producers work differently, and it took me a couple of years to understand they werent doing this kind of networking and negotiation every day. They are in production or delivering; theyve got their head down in the business. I had to rethink how we looked at our events to make things more informal and suitable. Thats the impact of Blas. We learned in the early years that its a place where people make connections; importantly, with each other as well as buyers, press, anyone in the industry that can help them. But predominantly its their colleagues in their own industry they need to connect with. People travel to Dingle and have committed to be there for several days. It has grown very organically for that community of producers and is true to say that some feel they are able to pick up the phone to another producer and are collaborating with each other. This kind of cross-collaboration, support and friendship is not something one would expect to come out of what is essentially a competition. In the very first few years of Blas, we set out some principles we would always come back to for everything we do, Fallon says. One of those principles was to build a network for Irish food producers because we could see that was where the value was going to be for people. To have the award is great; to have the piece of glass everyone can look at or to have the badge on their product we know makes a difference to people; we know thatll make a difference to sales. But that network, the community and the friendships that come out of Blas, thats a huge value. As soon as we understood that, we chose to focus on it. Behind the scenes, theres a lot of connecting people. For a lot of producers, it can feel lonely because theyre working on their own or in a small group, and they need community to understand that other producers are facing similar challenges. Around the time Blas na hEireann was established, Ireland was going through its catastrophic economic crash. Many people, women particularly, who were made redundant took to their kitchens and began making food to sell - cheesecakes, chutney, preserves, jams, cakes, breads, chocolates, etc, as a way of regaining some sense of agency and purpose. Some have gone on to become household and international names with success in business based on the principles of Blas community, network, and the power of small artisan food businesses. But how has Blas made a concrete difference to women in the food space? Because the judging is entirely blind, its a level playing field. A producer who was making something great in their kitchen but without all the marketing expertise, packaging, etc, Blas gave them a chance to be judged purely on the merit of the product, explains Fallon. The opportunities we try to open with our events, the exposure we try to give finalists and winners, thats where weve seen some interesting stories develop. One is Mienas Nougat. Miena Rust was exactly in that situation. She started her business coming out of the crash making nougat because thats what she knew from her childhood. As the business grew, she started to employ other women who live locally to her and who were in similar situations to her with young children. They worked around the school times and, as time went on, they shared childcare between them, which was amazing. Mienas Nougat was seen and tasted at Blas by one of the buyers from Simply Better in Dunnes Stores. It went on to be listed and Miena is now their national supplier. The following year, the buyer for Harrods (who, at the time, was Annie Dunne of The Art of Grate Food) called Miena as she was driving home, said she had tasted the nougat, and was working for Harrods and theyd love if she could talk to them. Miena now makes the nougat for Harrods! A prestige name like that has made an enormous impact not just in sales, but, says Fallon, to go on and export to France and the U.S, based on her relationship as a producer for a name like Harrods. Its those little doors that open all along the way and for the producer to be ready to step through it, answer the call and say, Yes, Ill do it! For the month of July, Blas na hEireann base themselves at UCC where the lions share of blind tasting takes place. Judges come from all aspects of the food industry, tasting thousands of products in more than 150 food and drink categories. In recent years, Blas has struck up a mutually beneficial relationship with Cork Penny Dinners who serve hot meals for free every day to anyone who needs it. We would have struggled in the past with charities taking food because packaging will have been opened, or a leg of lamb would have slices cut off it for tasting but most leftover. Someone suggested Cork Penny Dinners. We approached Caitriona Twomey and she has been an absolute joy to work with. We can explain to her exactly what weve got coming up one week we might have lots of joints of meat, or it could be a week you have lots of dairy. We are so proud to work with Cork Penny Dinners and donate all the surplus food, especially as demand for their service has only increased in recent years. With such a broad experience in different aspects of the food industry, what wise words does Fallon have to inspire other women looking to develop a career in food? Women are very good at talking, asking for help, and being open to ideas. I think women are naturally collaborative, we work well as a group. Its being able to ask for help and to freely give it. China's top liquor brand reports 10.2 pct profit surge in 2024 Xinhua) 15:41, January 15, 2025 GUIYANG, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kweichow Moutai, China's leading liquor producer, reported profits exceeding 120.7 billion yuan (about 16.79 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, up 10.2 percent year on year. The company's revenue climbed 13.3 percent year on year to reach 187.19 billion yuan, according to a report released on Tuesday evening. Moutai also emphasized its strong focus on innovation, with research and development (R&D) spending rising 11 percent from the previous year. Looking ahead, the company aims to sustain steady progress across key performance indicators and has set a target for a 10.2 percent year-on-year increase in R&D investment in 2025. Distilled in the town of Maotai in southwest China's Guizhou Province, this famed liquor is often served at state banquets. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Google is partnering with The Associated Press to bring real-time information from the news agency to its Gemini app, the search giant announced on Wednesday. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal builds on an existing partnership Google had with The Associated Press to source real-time information for its search engine. This will be particularly helpful to [Gemini app] users looking for up-to-date information, Google says of the deal. AP and Googles longstanding relationship is based on working together to provide timely, accurate news and information to global audiences, said Kristin Heitmann, The Associated Press senior vice president and chief revenue officer. We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP's journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products. In 2023, The Associated Press was among the first news publishers to forge a partnership with an AI firm, signing a two-year deal with OpenAI that gave the company access to select news content dating back to 1985. Since then, many other publishers have followed suit with their own agreements. In fact, just earlier today, Axios announced a three-year deal with OpenAI that will see the AI startup fund four new local newsrooms. Last year, OpenAI partnered with People publisher Dotdash Meredith, a deal that has since been reported to be worth at least $16 million annually. Correction 6:23PM ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that The Associated Press was following other publishers in signing agreements with AI firms. We regret the error. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a suit against John Deere , accusing it of unfair practices that force farmers to pay higher-than-average repair costs. The federal organization, along with attorneys general for Illinois and Minnesota, are alleging that the company engages in practices that keep farmers from being able to make repairs on equipment they own. In other words, this is another salvo in the ongoing right-to-repair battle . The complaint states that John Deere engages in dubious practices, like incorporating software into farm equipment, to dissuade people from trying to fix stuff on their own. Additionally, the suit points to decades of unlawful behavior that pushes farmers to the companys authorized network of dealers for repairs. FTC, states sue Deere & Company to protect farmers from unfair corporate tactics, high repair costs: https://t.co/sdho0iXf1u /1 FTC (@FTC) January 15, 2025 Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income, FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a press release. The FTCs action today seeks to ensure that farmers across America are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The suit goes on to allege that Deere makes the only fully functional software repair tool capable of performing all repairs on its equipment, which was only made available to official dealers. These dealers allegedly charge higher prices than independent shops, giving the company unlawful monopoly power. Farmers have long maintained that they can conduct basic repairs on equipment, but the computers lock the systems from working again until an officially licensed technician does their thing. This thing, allegedly, is simply flipping a software switch. The company says it supports customers right to repair equipment . It even signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in 2023 that was supposed to make its software, tools and documentation available to farmers and independent repair shops. It doesnt look like that actually happened, as the suit alleges it continues to unlawfully withhold a fully functional repair tool from equipment owners. After a more than two-year investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Elon Musk over his delayed disclosure of the Twitter stock he amassed before announcing his intention to acquire the company in 2022. In a court filing, the SEC says that Musk filed paperwork with the SEC disclosing his purchase of Twitter shares 11 days after an SEC-mandated deadline to do so. (Federal law, as the SEC notes in its statement, requires investors to publicly report when they have acquired a more than 5 percent stake in a company.) This delay, according to the regulator, allowed Musk to buy up even more Twitter stock at a time when other investors were unaware of his involvement with the company. From the lawsuit: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During the period that Musk was required to publicly disclose his beneficial ownership but had failed to do so, he spent more than $500 million purchasing additional shares of Twitter common stock. Because Musk failed to timely disclose his beneficial ownership, he was able to make these purchases from the unsuspecting public at artificially low prices, which did not yet reflect the undisclosed material information of Musks beneficial ownership of more than five percent of Twitter common stock and investment purpose. In total, Musk underpaid Twitter investors by more than $150 million for his purchases of Twitter common stock during this period. Investors who sold Twitter common stock during this period did so at artificially low prices and thus suffered substantial economic harm. The regulator has been investigating Musk for years, and has long been at odds with the owner of X. At one point, the SEC accused Musk of attempting to stall and use gamesmanship to delay its investigation into his investment in Twitter. Last month, Musk shared a copy of a letter addressed to SEC Chair Gary Gensler in which Musks lawyer, Alex Spiro, accused the regulator of six years of harassment targeting Musk. The letter indicated that Musk refused a settlement offer from the SEC related to its Twitter investigation. Musk also faced a class action lawsuit from other Twitter investors and an FTC probe related to the delayed disclosure. However, as The New York Times notes , its unclear if the SECs latest action will amount to much, as Gensler is expected to step down following the inauguration of President Donald Trump. X didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement to The Times, Spiro called the SECs action a a single-count ticky-tack complaint," calling it an admission by the S.E.C. that they cannot bring an actual case." The United States, Japan and South Korea have issued a warning against North Korean threat actors, who are actively and aggressively targeting the cryptocurrency industry. In their joint advisory, the countries said threat actor groups affiliated with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to stage numerous cybercrime campaigns to steal cryptocurrency. Those bad actors including the Lazarus hacking group, which the US believes has been deploying cyber attacks all over the world since 2009 target "exchanges, digital asset custodians and individual users." And apparently, they stole $659 million in crypto assets in 2024 alone. North Korean hackers have been using "well-disguised social engineering attacks" to infiltrate their targets' systems, the countries said. They also warned that the actors could get access to systems owned by the private sector by posing as freelance IT workers. Back in 2022, the US issued guidelines on how to identify potential workers from North Korea, such as how they'd typically log in from multiple IP addresses, transfer money to accounts based in the People's Republic of China, ask for crypto payments, have inconsistencies with their background information and be unreachable at times during their supposed business hours. Once the bad actors are in, they then usually deploy malware, such as keyloggers and remote access tools, to be able to steal login credentials and, ultimately, virtual currency they can control and sell. As for where the stolen funds go: The UN issued a report in 2022, revealing its investigators' discovery that North Korea uses money stolen by affiliated threat actors for its missile programs. "Our three governments strive together to prevent thefts, including from private industry, by the DPRK and to recover stolen funds with the ultimate goal of denying the DPRK illicit revenue for its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," the US, Japan and South Korea said. Keke Palmer is opening up about her tumultuous relationship with ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson in a cover story for The Cut. The 31-year-old actress and musician spoke about the turning point that led her to leave Jackson, following a series of events that began when he publicly criticized a dress she wore to an Usher concert on social media. Allegations of domestic violence surfaced after their public fallout, and Palmer was granted a restraining order in 2024, claiming Jackson physically abused her multiple times during their two-year relationship. Reflecting on the experience and unwillingly becoming the face of domestic violence, she shared, "There's a sensationalization that happens with that word. But there really are often no other words to describe such a toxic dynamic." Palmer admitted that she often justified Jackson's behavior due to her tendency to be a people-pleaser. "You can say, 'I know you're not like that,' or 'I know it's not like this,' or 'I know you're a good person deep down,'" Palmer said. "You can make so many excuses for behavior that could have stopped." The birth of their son, Leo, in February 2023, was a pivotal moment for Palmer. She realized she needed to end the relationship "before it had the chance of becoming something that I had to survive." While navigating the public fallout, Palmer struggled with how the media coverage of her personal life affected her professional image. "I hated it," she admitted. "It was my personal junk. It didn't deserve a place in the center of something that I worked very hard to make encouraging and empowering." Despite the challenges, Palmer and Jackson have since reached a peaceful arrangement to co-parent their son. In her 2024 memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, Palmer described the breakup as "the hardest thing I ever had to go through." Justin Baldoni's legal team has issued a litigation hold letter to Disney and Marvel executives, demanding the preservation of all materials related to the controversial "Nicepool" character from 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. The letter, sent by attorney Bryan Freedman on January 7, requires Disney CEO Bob Iger and Marvel president Kevin Feige to maintain "any and all documents" connected to the development and portrayal of the Nicepool character. Read more: Ellen DeGeneres Debuts Natural Gray Hair After UK Move The legal document specifically calls for preservation of materials that might show "a deliberate attempt to mock, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or bully Baldoni." This legal maneuver comes as part of Baldoni's anticipated claims against Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively for "tortious interference with contract and civil extortion." The scope of the preservation request extends beyond just the Nicepool character, notably including documentation of complaints against Reynolds and former "Deadpool" director Tim Miller's departure from the franchise. During a recent appearance on 'The Megyn Kelly Show', Freedman explicitly connected the dots between Nicepool and his client, stating, "There's no question it relates to Justin. I mean, anybody that watched that hair bun." The attorney further questioned the appropriateness of using alleged sexual harassment as comedic material. While Marvel and Disney have declined to comment, this litigation hold letter suggests an imminent lawsuit, with Freedman publicly stating his intention to sue Reynolds and Lively "into oblivion." The dispute adds another layer to an already complex legal situation involving multiple lawsuits, including Baldoni's $250 million suit against the New York Times and related legal actions. A person close to Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson revealed the reason behind their split after 10 years of marriage. The main factor contributing to their separation is said to be "trust issues." "Jess and Eric had trust issues. They were no longer on the same page, and it drove a wedge between them," an informant told Page Six. The blonde bombshell has reportedly been dividing her time between Nashville and Los Angeles to work on new music. According to a PEOPLE insider in November, the ex-NFL player spends all of his time in Los Angeles where the children attend school, while Simpson works on music and alternates between Nashville and Los Angeles. They added, "Jess and Eric very much live separate lives." The former couple chose to live in different places last year as a "trial of sorts." Page Six's insider added, "Jess thought it would help if they spent some time apart, but it only made her realize she enjoyed her independence." Having just marked seven years of sobriety, Simpson is going through a mix of "good and bad days" since the separation. Still, overall, she is reportedly managing the situation "well, all things considered." The news comes amid Simpson and Johnson's decision to put their lavish multimillion-dollar estate in Hidden Hills, California, up for sale shortly before announcing their separation. This meticulously designed residence boasts seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms and spans 13,274 square feet. It was officially listed on January 11, 2025, at a price of $17.9 million but was initially listed for sale on September 19, 2023. It was taken down by August 2, 2024, coinciding with Simpson's alleged relocation to Nashville. Simpson released a statement that she and her ex-athlete husband had decided to live apart while making their kids, Maxwell, 12, Ace, 11, and Birdie, 5, their main priority. Blake Lively is in the middle of another controversy after a clip of her being "mean" to "Gossip Girl" co-star Leighton Meester suddenly resurfaced. The two starred on the show together from 2007 to 2012. The 37-year-old actress, who is presently involved in a contentious legal dispute with "It Ends with Us" director and co-star Justin Baldoni, can be seen making a jab at Meester's prison birth during an undated panel discussion. While seated next to Meester, 38, and other members of the "Gossip Girl" cast, Lively said Blake said, "Well, some of us started in a cage." Lively even went as far as to gesture to her co-star as she made the joke, which failed to amuse the crowd watching. This prompted Lively to say, "Come on, it was a joke! Lord have mercy." TikTok users now have a lot to say about this. One said, "Leighton described the set as high school. I see why." Another commented, "Making a joke at someone's expense is very telling that you have low class mentality." "I wish I knew she was like this while watching gossip girl in HS," said a commenter. "Leighton and nobodyyy deserves this." According to Hollywood Reporter, Meester's mother, Constance, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of narcotics trafficking. She gave birth to her daughter while still in prison. "The Roommate" actress was reared and raised by her grandmother until her mom was released from prison in 1995. Meester once said her mother truly had an impact on her upbringing, but in a positive way. "It makes me very nonjudgmental and open-minded. And I think it just makes me appreciate the things that I have now," Meester told Us Weekly in 2008. "She's always there for me no matter what. I swear, that woman knows everything," Meester said of her mother in the interview. Danny Trejo is calling out Hollywood stars, including Kim Kardashian, urging them to focus on helping wildfire victims rather than using the crisis to push personal agendas. Speaking to TMZ, Trejo voiced his frustration, saying now is not the time for celebrities to climb on their soapboxes. "We want to help the victims first," he emphasized, pointing out that many stars, like Kardashian, may have good intentions but are missing the mark by making the situation political. Trejo specifically addressed Kardashian's comments about low wages for incarcerated firefighters risking their lives on the frontlines. Kardashian had highlighted their heroic efforts and their meager compensation of $1 per hour, which has remained unchanged since 1984. She advocated for a pay increase, urging the California governor to take action. Trejo, who spent over a decade in prison for offenses including armed robbery and drug dealing, shared a perspective shaped by his own experiences. Speaking on the incarcerated firefighters, he said they are "fine" with the arrangement because "they're getting time off their sentences." He also urged others to shift their attention, adding, "Worry about the people that lost everything." For Trejo, the priority remains helping those devastated by the wildfires, rather than focusing on political debates about compensation during such a crisis. He explained that incarcerated firefighters are more focused on the time reductions they receive for their service. "A lot of that money goes to restitution," he said, adding that even if wages increased, inmates wouldn't see much of it. As someone who served time in prison and worked as a firefighter during his incarceration, Trejo has a unique perspective. He believes the reduced sentences are often more impactful for inmates than monetary compensation. Trejo also warned against arsonists, saying they would face extreme disdain in prison. "They'll be hated as much as child molesters," he cautioned, citing the senseless devastation caused by such crimes. Trejo's past experiences in prison, which he has spoken about openly, shaped his views on redemption and accountability. Having spent years behind bars before finding success in Hollywood, he understands both the struggles and the potential for rehabilitation among inmates. While Trejo supports advocating for prisoner rights, he insists the focus during these crises should remain on immediate relief for victims. Cuba began releasing people Wednesday who had been jailed for protesting against the regime under a deal that saw departing US President Joe Biden remove the communist island from a list of terrorism sponsors. Biden's eleventh-hour outreach to Cuba is part of a series of actions designed to cement his legacy before handing power next Monday to Donald Trump. The agreement brought joy to the families of Cubans held since 2021 for demonstrating over recurring power blackouts, food shortages and soaring prices. A first group of around 20 prisoners were released on Wednesday, their families and NGOs told AFP. The delisting paves the way for increased US investment in the Caribbean island, which has been under a US trade embargo for over six decades. But in a sign that the thaw may be short-lived, Trump's pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, suggested he could reverse Biden's decision. - 'Literally collapsing' - Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, who is vociferously opposed to Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, said Trump's incoming administration was not bound by Biden's policies. "Cuba is literally collapsing," Rubio told his US Senate confirmation hearing, calling it a "fourth-world country" run by "corrupt" and "inept" Marxists. "There is zero doubt in my mind that they meet all the qualifications for being a state sponsor of terrorism," he said. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez admitted that Biden's decision to undo the terror designation levied by Trump during the last days of his first presidency could be reversed. But he argued that the repeated addition and removal of Cuba to the list by successive US administrations had robbed it of its meaning, turning it into a "vulgar instrument of political coercion." - Families' joy - Under the deal brokered by the Vatican, Cuba promised to release 553 prisoners, which a senior US official said included "political prisoners" and others "detained unjustly." Vatican number two Cardinal Pietro Parolin said it was "significant" that Havana had responded to an appeal by Pope Francis for clemency. Social media in Cuba lit up on Wednesday morning with relatives and friends of prisoners confirming their loved ones had been released. "We received a call yesterday evening to go to the prison today," Rosabel Loreto, daughter-in-law of prisoner Donaida Perez Paseiro, told AFP. Perez Paseiro had been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for participating with thousands of others in the 2021 protests -- the biggest in Cuba since the revolution, which Havana accused Washington of orchestrating. In a video posted on social media, she vowed to continue to "fight for Cuba's freedom." In Havana, a woman who asked to remain anonymous said her husband remained behind bars for demonstrating against the government, but her daughter -- who had been arrested on the same charges -- was freed Wednesday. The Miami-based Cuban NGO Cubalex said it had confirmed the release of 20 people, all jailed. According to official Cuban figures, some 500 protesters were given sentences of up to 25 years in prison, but rights groups and the US Embassy say the figure is closer to 1,000. - 'Detained unjustly' - With authorities providing no list of those due for release, many prisoners' families were still anxiously waiting for news of their relatives. Liset Fonseca, mother of 41-year-old Roberto Perez, who is serving a 10-year jail term for joining the 2021 protests, said she had no news of his possible release. Havana on Tuesday had welcomed its removal from the terrorism sponsor listing as a step in the "right direction," but lamented that the trade embargo was still in place. Cuba blames the blockade for its worst economic crisis in decades, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people emigrate to the United States in the last two years, either legally or illegally, according to US figures. Trump's first presidential term from 2017 to 2021 saw a tightening of sanctions against Cuba that had been loosened during a period of detente under his predecessor Barack Obama. Before assuming office, Biden had promised changes in US policy towards the island, but held off after Havana's 2021 crackdown. jd-rd/cb/jgc UPDATE: January 15 at 3:32 p.m. Gallatin County coroner has released the identities of those who died in Saturday's crash. The driver was identified as 41-year-old Ramon Gilberto Morquecho Velazquez, and the deceased passenger was identified as 58-year-old Blanca Manzanares Ramirez, both residents of Arizona. Both people died from blunt force injuries, according to the sheriff's office. Original coverage: January 12 at 9:57 a.m. BOZEMAN, Mont. - A car crash occurred on Huffine Lane in Bozeman on Saturday night that left a 16-year-old injured and two people dead. According to Montana Highway Patrol, a 41-year-old man from Arizona and a female passenger whose age or location were not released were heading east on Huffine Lane at 8:07 p.m. Their Chevrolet Silverado crossed the center line into the westbound lanes, MHP said. A 16-year-old Bozeman boy was driving west in a Ford F250 at the same time. The trucks crashed in the westbound passing lane at about mile marker 84.5, MHP said. The man from Arizona and his passenger were pronounced dead on the scene and the teen was taken to Bozeman Deaconess. His current condition is unknown. MHP said everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt and troopers suspect alcohol and speed to have been factors in the crash. The roads were snowy and icy at the time, according to MHP's report. An industry group has called for the UK's meat inspection processes to be 'revolutionised' with the use of 'advanced, precise' artificial intelligence. The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) made the suggestion after the government pledged to advance AI across public services. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said AI was the 'defining opportunity' of the generation, as he set out Labour's plans to use the technology to boost growth. AIMS said the initiative presented a 'pivotal opportunity' to modernise meat inspection processes, in turn enhancing efficiency and accuracy within the industry. It said the integration of AI-driven technologies could replace 'traditional, costly, and often inefficient' human veterinary inspections with 'advanced, precise, and reliable systems'. Recent advancements in AI have demonstrated superior accuracy in detecting conditions on carcasses compared to human inspectors. For instance, AI systems have been shown to identify defects with a higher degree of precision, reducing the margin of error inherent in manual inspections. Dr Jason Aldiss, AIMS executive director, said AI could 'revolutionise' meat inspection protocols, ensuring consistent quality control while optimising operational efficiency. He urged Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to consider the benefits of AI integration in meat inspection processes. By embracing AI, FSA can adopt more effective and efficient systems, reducing reliance on human inspectors and empowering food business operators to oversee quality assurance directly. Implementing AI-driven systems will not only enhance the accuracy and efficiency of inspections but also position the UK as a leader in adopting innovative technologies within the food industry. AIMS said it was committed to supporting the industry through this transition, advocating for policies that promote technological advancement and operational autonomy for food business operators. Calls have been made for an immediate total ban on all personal imports of meat products to safeguard the UK livestock sector from numerous disease fronts. AIMS, formally known as the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, said there was a 'significant biosecurity risk' as personal meat imports can enter the UK unchecked. It urged the UK government to implement a 'comprehensive ban' on this amid 'imminent threats' posed by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF). The recent outbreak of FMD in water buffalo near Berlin has led to the UK banning imports of live animals and meat and dairy products from Germany. Last year, the government banned all personal imports of pork and pork products from the EEA (European Economic Area), the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland. However, products manufactured and packaged to EU commercial standards and weigh less than a maximum of 2kg are still allowed. Dr Jason Aldiss, executive director at AIMS, said it was urgent for the UK government to do more to 'protect our nation's livestock'. Personal imports of meat products continue to enter the country unchecked, particularly through our airports," he noted. This loophole presents a significant biosecurity risk, as both FMD and ASF viruses can survive in fresh and cured meat products for extended periods, remaining highly infectious." Dr Aldiss warned that UK airports had become critical points of vulnerability, as the lack of stringent controls allowed passengers to bring in meat products without adequate scrutiny. "A single discarded ham sandwich in areas like the New Forest or the Forest of Dean, where wild boar populations are prevalent, could trigger a catastrophic outbreak," he warned. The agri-livestock sector is a vital contributor to the UK's GDP, and an incursion of FMD or ASF would likely have devastating economic consequences. The 2001 FMD outbreak resulted in the slaughter of over six million animals and caused financial losses estimated at 8 billion. AIMS said more investment was also needed in robust screening and enforcement measures at all UK entry points, such as ports, the channel tunnel and airports, to prevent illegal meat imports. Dr Aldiss said the 'time for half measures has passed': "To safeguard our livestock industry and the broader economy, the UK must act decisively to eliminate the risk posed by personal meat imports. "We call on the government to prioritise this issue and implement the necessary measures without delay," he concluded. Cambodias exports of garments, footwear and travel goods (GFT) were worth $13.74 billion last yeara year-on-year (YoY) rise of 23.78 per cent, according to the countrys general department of customs and excise (GDCE). All segments of the sector performed well. The countrys total export earnings were worth $26.19 billion last year, out of which 52.46 per cent came from GFT goods. This trend is expected to continue this year as well. Cambodia's exports of garments, footwear and travel goods were worth $13.74 billion in 2024a YoY rise of 23.78 per cent. Its total export earnings were worth $26.19 billion last year; 52.46 per cent came from the sector. This trend is expected to continue this year. Export of knitted apparel articles and clothing accessories and non-knitted apparel earned $6.63 billion and $3.15 billion in 2024. The fear of US President-elect Donald Trump imposing additional tariffs on import of products originating in China has resulted in manufacturers currently based in China looking to move both investment and production bases to other countries, especially Southeast Asia. The European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) and the Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC) had in November last year predicted such a surge in exports. The GFT sector in the country made a turnaround last year after continuously declining for close to 18 months from mid-2022 till the end of 2023, a domestic newspaper reported. Export of knitted apparel articles and clothing accessories earned $6.63 billion in 2024a YoY growth of 21.2 per cent. Non-knitted apparel articles brought in $3.15 billiona YoY growth of 31.9 per cent. Articles of leather and travel goods brought in $2.05 billionan increase of 20.4 per cent YoY. Footwear exports earned another $1.68 billion last yeara growth of 23.1 per cent YoY. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Vietnamese ambassador to the United Kingdom Do Minh Hung and the latters minister of state for business and trade Douglas Alexander recently met in London and identified trade and investment cooperation as an important pillar of their strategic partnership. They agreed to step up measures to ramp up economic cooperation. The two sides agreed to speed up the implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) and closely coordinate to realise the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). Vietnamese envoy to the UK Do Minh Hung and UK minister of state for business and trade Douglas Alexander have agreed to ramp up economic cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing energy transition collaboration within the Just Energy Transition Partnership and agreed to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the CPTPP to promote bilateral trade and investment. Both sides agreed to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to promote bilateral trade and investment and among CPTPP member nations, contributing to regional economic integration, a Vietnamese news agency reported. They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing energy transition collaboration within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The United Kingdom promised to support Vietnam in setting up an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Borussia Dortmund's stock experienced significant volatility following the announcement of Donyell Malen's departure to Aston Villa. The share price declined by more than 5% in after-hours trading, settling at 2.99, despite showing a modest 0.6% gain to 3.12 during the previous XETRA trading session. The transfer agreement includes a base fee of approximately 25 million, with potential performance-based bonuses reaching up to 5 million. The 24-year-old Dutch forward, who contributed to 59 goals across 132 competitive matches since joining from PSV Eindhoven in 2021, leaves the club with immediate effect. Financial Outlook Despite recent market fluctuations, analysts maintain an optimistic stance on Borussia Dortmund's financial trajectory, setting an average price target of 6.00 per share. The company's latest quarterly results revealed a revenue increase of nearly 5% to 107.33 million, though earnings per share decreased from 0.47 to 0.01. Looking ahead, financial experts project a dividend increase from 0.060 to 0.070 per share for the current fiscal year, with earnings per share expected to reach 0.205 by 2025. Ad Fresh Borussia Dortmund GmbH information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Borussia Dortmund GmbH analysis... EQS Newswire / 15/01/2025 / 09:01 UTC+8 Ficus Technology Holdings Limited (8107.HK) Distributes Products from China Co-op 832 Platform Expand Product Offering, Enhance Margin, and Support Local Agricultural Products (Hong Kong - 14 January 2025) Innovative supply chain management service provider - Ficus Technology Holdings Limited ("Ficus Technology" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce that it has established a strategic business relationship with China Co-op E-Commerce Co., Limited (the "China Co-op"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Co-op Group Co., Ltd., and the e-commerce segment under the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (the "ACFSMC"). The Group will market and distribute the 832 Products on its e-commerce platform, Ficus Discovery (www.ficusdsc.com) ("Ficus Discovery"), and shall leverage its market resources and utilize international quality assurance certifications to facilitate the domestic and overseas distribution of 832 Products. It is the intention of the Group to cultivate a corporate client base and facilitate recurring bulk purchases through Ficus Discovery. China Co-op has been operating an e-commerce platform, www.fupin832.com (the ''832 Platform'') since January 2020. The 832 Platform aligns with the People's Republic of China (the ''PRC'') Government's mission to support the agricultural producers in 832 poverty alleviation regions (the ''832 Regions'') by marketing the products produced from the 832 Regions (the ''832 Products'') to organizations and individuals across the nation. Over 70 central enterprises and 3,000 state-owned enterprises place orders through the 832 Platform, aligning their objectives with the directives of the PRC Government. The 832 Platform has generated cumulative sales exceeding RMB50 billion since its inception in 2020, showcasing more than 400,000 selections of products. The ACFSMC is a joint organization of the national supply and marketing cooperatives of the PRC with total sales of RMB7.3 trillion and a year-on-year increase of 12.6% in 2023. For the purpose of implementing the scope of works under an existing framework cooperation agreement (the "China Co-op Agreement") between Liaoning Limeng Energy Trading Co., Limited* ("Limeng") and China Co-op, the Group has reached a supply chain management agreement with Limeng (the "Supply Chain Management Agreement"), for an exclusive term of ten years for providing services focusing on the distribution of the 832 Products from the 832 Regions. For the exclusive provision of supply chain management services rendered by the Group under the Supply Chan Management Agreement, the Group shall entitle to 95% of the gross profit after deduction of income tax and other direct cost of sales with respect to revenue of Limeng that generate from the China Co-op Agreement. As Limeng acquires the 832 Products directly from the 832 Platform, the supply chain management agreement will also bring a diverse array of more than 400,000 selections of products for Ficus Discovery to select from, further diversifying its current income streams while generating higher conversion and customer stickiness. By combining the Group's anti-counterfeit, traceability and marketing know-how, as well as extensive network of lottery kiosks and community service centers, the Group also reinforces its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), fostering the distribution of the 832 Products and support the economic development of the 832 Regions. About Limeng Established in 2022, Limeng is a mixed-ownership enterprise, with 40% of its equity interest indirectly owned by the state-controlled enterprise Liaoning Provincial Investment Group Co., Limited*. It primarily engages in a diverse range of activities including supply chain management, bulk commodity trading, internet-information technology, domestic and international trade agency services, and others. As a partner of China Co-op through the China Co-op Agreement, Limeng has been promoting and distributing 832 Products while also strives to support the domestic distributions and cross-border export of agricultural products from the 832 Regions. About Ficus Discovery Ficus Discovery is a comprehensive electronic commerce platform operated by the Group that offers distinctive properties including anti-counterfeit, traceability and marketing functions, which are able to boost customer confidence and reinforce the authenticity of the products. Along with its valuable connections with a number of lottery kiosks and local community service centres, the platform is well-positioned to be a trustworthy gateway for brands and manufacturers to access target customers. Mr. Chan Ting, Chairman and Executive Director of Ficus Technology Holdings Limited commented: "We are honour to be part of this collaboration, facilitating the distribution of the 832 Products while contributing towards poverty alleviation and creating a better community. The strategic move is not only expected to enrich our product offerings and generate new revenue streams, but by considering that over 70 central enterprises and 3,000 state-owned enterprises place orders through the 832 Platform, this should also greatly expand our market reach, allowing us to establish long-term business relationship with notable corporate clients that can offer recurring and sustainable bulk purchase demand." "The collaboration with the well-known 832 Platform should also further raise the profile of Ficus Discovery, attracting new traffic to the platform while improving existing customers stickiness and conversion. One of the key strength and objective of Ficus Discovery is to bring assured quality and authentic products to consumers, this latest business development opens up new exposures to the Group in attracting more strategic partners with the same believe and needs to jointly find the way to future e-commerce era where product quality, authenticity and consumer confidence are no longer the issues. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our network and product offerings through strategic collaborations, striving to create long-term values for our customers through authentic products." - END - About Ficus Technology Holdings Limited(8107.HK) Ficus Technology Holdings Limited is an innovative supply chain management service provider, mainly focusing on the sales of apparel products along with the provision of relevant supply chain management services. The Group's advanced supply chain management services include anti-counterfeit, traceability, and marketing functions, capable of protecting brand equity for both apparel and other products. 15/01/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com Volkswagen Group reported a notable decline in its global deliveries for 2024, with total vehicle sales dropping 2.3 percent to 9.03 million units. The automotive giant faced significant headwinds in China, its traditionally strongest market, where deliveries plunged nearly 10 percent amid intense price competition. However, the company demonstrated resilience in other key regions, achieving impressive growth of 15 percent in South America and a solid 6 percent increase in North America. Western European markets also showed modest improvement, with deliveries rising by 0.7 percent to 834,000 vehicles in the final quarter. Electric Vehicle Setback The company's electric vehicle segment experienced particular pressure, with EV deliveries declining by 3.4 percent to 744,800 units. This downturn was most pronounced in the United States, where electric vehicle sales plummeted by over 30 percent. The challenging performance in the EV sector meant that all-electric vehicles constituted only about one-twelfth of the group's total new vehicle sales, highlighting the ongoing hurdles in the transition to electric mobility. Despite these challenges, Volkswagen's stock showed resilience, gaining 1.3 percent to reach 92.06. Ad Fresh Volkswagen information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Volkswagen analysis... Newport Beach, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 14, 2025) - NB Tech Acquisitions ("NB Tech"), a leader in technology investment and incubation, is proud to reflect on a transformative year marked by strategic initiatives, key partnerships, and significant milestones that have strengthened its position in the tech industry. Strategic Acquisitions and Expansions In November, the company launched Thorion Defense Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on delivering state-of-the-art AI-powered cybersecurity solutions to the Department of Defense (DOD) and appointed Navy Captain Ron O'Rourke as President. Ecommerce Growth NBTA ECOM FUND 2 launched dedicated storefronts on Walmart.com and Target.com in December, significantly broadening its market reach. In August, NB Tech partnered with Rithum to expand ECOM Fund 2 by developing over 400 new ecommerce stores, diversifying its revenue streams and enhancing market presence. Leadership Enhancements The year saw strategic appointments to strengthen NB Tech's leadership: February: Eric Liboiron returned as Chief Executive Officer, bringing renewed vision to the company's strategic direction. November: Andrea Bouhwis was appointed Vice President of Cryptocurrency and Fund Manager of NBTA DX Fund 1, with Tiana Patterson joining as Project Coordinator, reinforcing the company's commitment to the cryptocurrency sector. August: Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dayton Loyd joined the Advisory Board, bringing over 40 years of military intelligence and cybersecurity expertise. Rounding out the team in August, Rachel Hunt joined as Lead Project Coordinator and Brooke Rhoden as Vice President of Investor Relations. July: Retired Navy Captain Ron O'Rourke was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board, contributing extensive experience in advanced naval technologies and nuclear systems. June: Savanna Spieckerman assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer, and Darin Mangum was appointed Head of Compliance and lead corporate counsel, enhancing financial management and regulatory adherence. Operational Milestones In October, NB Tech relocated its headquarters to a state-of-the-art office in Newport Beach's Fashion Island, supporting its growth strategy and expanding operational capabilities. In September, the company closed a $1,000,000 Seed A investment round and launched a $10,000,000 Round 1 Capital Raise to accelerate its vision of transforming industries through cutting-edge technologies. CEO's Reflection "Reflecting on 2024, NB Tech has achieved remarkable growth and innovation," said Eric Liboiron, Founder and acting CEO of NB Tech Acquisitions. "Our strategic acquisitions, expansion into new markets, and the strengthening of our leadership team have positioned us at the forefront of technological advancement. We are excited to build upon this momentum as we continue to drive transformative solutions and deliver exceptional value to our stakeholders." About NB Tech Acquisitions Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, NB Tech Acquisitions is a private holding company and technology incubator specializing in scaling innovative startups across sectors such as ecommerce, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Through strategic investments and groundbreaking solutions, NB Tech empowers transformation and delivers exceptional value to its stakeholders. SAFE HARBOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, NB Tech Acquisitions is hereby providing cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements (as defined in such act). Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "believes," and "projects") may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, our expectations concerning our ability to attract investors. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make, and investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237040 SOURCE: NB Tech Acquisitions Corp. Nvidia is reinforcing its position in the artificial intelligence market through a strategic collaboration with Samsung Electronics. The partnership comes at a crucial time as Samsung, which experienced a significant market value decline of $162 billion last year, realigns its memory chip production to capitalize on the ongoing AI boom. This strategic alliance is poised to benefit both companies substantially, with Nvidia maintaining its leadership in AI chips despite increasing competition in the technology sector. The partnership leverages Nvidia's specialized chip architecture and established market presence, creating new growth opportunities in the expanding AI landscape. Market Impact and Competition Despite growing competition from various tech giants investing heavily in AI development, Nvidia continues to maintain its competitive edge through its advanced chip architecture and strong market presence. The collaboration with Samsung is expected to further solidify Nvidia's market leadership, potentially opening new avenues for growth and innovation in the AI sector. The partnership demonstrates Nvidia's strategic approach to maintaining its dominant position in the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Ad Fresh Nvidia information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Nvidia analysis... TOKYO, Jan 15, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - EEJA Ltd. (Headquarter: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Akihiko Domae; hereafter "EEJA"), the main company operating TANAKA's plating business, announced today that it would exhibit at the 39th NEPCON JAPAN, the electronics development and packaging exhibition scheduled to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from January 22-24, 2025. EEJA will premiere a range of new products in the field of plating technologies and processes to help meet rising needs in the electronics industry, including automotive electronic components and semiconductors.Technologies in demand have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, with the primary usage domain for electronic components shifting from local to network usage. In contrast, the communications industry has shifted from 5G to 6G to support increased data volumes and faster communication speeds. The automotive industry has also changed, with the increased use of electronic components and semiconductors around the engine and demand for products able to pass testing in harsh environments in terms of characteristics such as heat and moisture resistance in particular.EEJA will exhibit several new plating technologies at NEPCON JAPAN, including PRECIOUSFAB Pd/Pt/Ru/Rh/Ir (a high hardness, wear-resistant platinum group plating process increasingly needed for in-vehicle electronic components), PRECIOUSFAB HG/GT/GS (a precious metal alloy plating process used as a means of reducing usage of precious metals that are becoming increasingly expensive, and to create further added value), MICROFAB series (a number of environment-friendly, non-cyanide processes), and SEADCAT (a direct patternable plating process that supports surface treatment of next-generation glass interposers that are essential for semiconductor packaging).Taking advantage of precious metals technologies acquired by TANAKA over many years in the industry, EEJA develops and provides the plating technologies and products that are essential in the electronics industry, from semiconductors to electronic components. With the demand for greater sophistication in the electronics industry, EEJA will continue contributing to technical innovations in the industry.Overview of EEJA's exhibition at 39th NEPCON JAPAN- Date and time: January 22-24, 2025 (10:00-17:00)- Venue: Tokyo Big Sight- Booth: E64-52, East Exhibition Halls- Main products on displayProduct name: PRECIOUSFAB Pd/Pt/Ru/Rh/Ir: High hardness, wear resistant platinum group plating processOverview: A plating process that achieves high reliability when used for contact parts of connectors, etc. that need durability and environment resistance, such as for in-vehicle applicationsProduct name: MICROFAB Au2108/Au2168: Part of the MICROFAB series of environment-friendly, non-cyanide gold electroplating processes with improved stability of hardness and appearance (New Product)Overview: A plating process that does not use cyanide compounds, so will not only help in semiconductor manufacturing processes, but will also improve the plating work environments, which is expected to increase further in demand going forward. It is expected to improve product yields and reliability through stable appearance and hardness when forming gold bumps on increasingly fine-pitch and high-density wafersProduct name: SEADCAT PRM200 series: Direct patterning plating technology (New Product)Overview: A plating technology that supports more material types than the SEADCAT100 seriesSEADCAT PRM200-MRG: Increased adhesiveness to LCPs and some fluororesins, with improved heat and moisture resistanceSEADCAT PRM200-MDI: Reduced copper diffusion through heat treatment after copper wire formation on polyimidesOptimization of primers has also enabled support for surface treatment of glass interposers.Refer to the following for detailed information on other plating processes and equipment.Plating Processeshttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/products/detail/plating-processes/Various plating processes are handled by EEJA Ltd.https://eeja.comPlating Equipmenthttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/products/detail/plating-equipment/Plating equipment is handled by group company Mitomo Semicon Engineering Co., Ltd.https://mitomo-semicon-eng.co.jp/en/home-2/EEJA Ltd.Headquarter: 2-6-6 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, TokyoEstablished: 1965CEO: Akihiko DomaeCapital: 100 million yenNet sales: 21.64333 billion yen (FY2023)Number of employees: 130 (including overseas sites) (as of December 31, 2023)Business activities: Development, manufacture, sales, and export of precious metal plating solutions and base metal plating solutions, additives, and surface treatment-related chemicalsHiratsuka Office: 5-50 Shinmachi, Hiratsuka-city, KanagawaOfficial Website: https://eeja.comAbout TANAKASince its foundation in 1885, TANAKA has built a portfolio of products to support a diversified range of business uses focused on precious metals. TANAKA is a leader in Japan regarding the volume of precious metals it handles. Over many years, TANAKA has manufactured and sold precious metal products for industry and provided precious metals in such forms as jewelry and assets. As precious metals specialists, all Group companies in Japan and worldwide collaborate on manufacturing, sales, and technology development to offer a full range of products and services. With 5,355 employees, the group's consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ending December, 2023, was 611.1 billion yen.Official Website: TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIEShttps://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/Product inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-on-industrial-products/Press inquiriesTANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.https://tanaka-preciousmetals.com/en/inquiries-for-media/Press Release: http://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/2025115_EN.pdfSource: TANAKA PRECIOUS METAL GROUP Co., Ltd.Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan 15, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted Eisai's Biologics License Application (BLA) for lecanemab-irmb (U.S. brand name: LEQEMBI) subcutaneous autoinjector (SC-AI) for weekly maintenance dosing. LEQEMBI is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease (collectively referred to as early AD). A Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date is set for August 31, 2025.The BLA is based on data from the Clarity AD (Study 301) open-label extension (OLE) and modeling of observed data. If LEQEMBI subcutaneous maintenance dosing is approved by the FDA, LEQEMBI will be the only treatment for AD that can be administered subcutaneously at home using an autoinjector (AI). The injection process is expected to take, on average, 15 seconds. As part of the SC-AI 360 mg weekly maintenance regimen, patients who have completed the biweekly intravenous (IV) initiation phase, exact period under discussion with the FDA, would receive weekly doses that are expected to maintain the clinical and biomarker benefits.AD is a progressive, relentless disease caused by a continuous underlying neurotoxic process that begins before and continues after plaque deposition.1,2,3 Only LEQEMBI works to fight AD in two ways by continuously clearing protofibrils and rapidly clearing plaque. With continuous administration, LEQEMBI clears highly toxic protofibrils* which can continue to cause neuronal injury even after amyloid-beta (Abeta) plaque has been cleared from the brain. Long-term three-year LEQEMBI data presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2024 suggest that early and continuing treatment may prolong the benefit of therapy even after plaque is cleared from the brain.4The SC-AI is expected to be simple and easy for patients and their care partners to use, and may reduce the need for hospital or infusion site visits and nursing care for IV administration, which will make it easier to continue maintenance administration and may contribute to further simplifying the treatment pathway for AD.LEQEMBI is approved in the U.S., Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Israel, UAE, Great Britain, Mexico, and Macau. In November 2024, the treatment received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommending approval. Eisai has submitted applications for approval of lecanemab in 17 countries and regions. The US FDA accepted Eisai's Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for monthly LEQEMBI IV maintenance dosing in June 2024 and set a PDUFA action date for January 25, 2025.Eisai serves as the lead for lecanemab's development and regulatory submissions globally with Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority.*Protofibrils are believed to contribute to the brain injury that occurs with AD and are considered to be the most toxic form of Abeta, having a primary role in the cognitive decline associated with this progressive, debilitating condition.5 Protofibrils cause injury to neurons in the brain, which in turn, can negatively impact cognitive function via multiple mechanisms, not only increasing the development of insoluble Abeta plaques but also increasing direct damage to brain cell membranes and the connections that transmit signals between nerve cells or nerve cells and other cells. It is believed the reduction of protofibrils may prevent the progression of AD by reducing damage to neurons in the brain and cognitive dysfunction.6INDICATIONLEQEMBI [(lecanemab-irmb) 100 mg/mL injection for intravenous use] is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Treatment with LEQEMBI should be initiated in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease, the population in which treatment was initiated in clinical trials.CONTRAINDICATIONLEQEMBI is contraindicated in patients with serious hypersensitivity to lecanemab-irmb or to any of the excipients of LEQEMBI. Reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis.WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONSAMYLOID-RELATED IMAGING ABNORMALITIESMedications in this class, including LEQEMBI, can cause ARIA-E, which can be observed on MRI as brain edema or sulcal effusions, and ARIA-H, which includes microhemorrhage and superficial siderosis. ARIA can occur spontaneously in patients with AD, particularly in patients with MRI findings suggestive of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), such as pretreatment microhemorrhage or superficial siderosis. ARIA-H generally occurs with ARIA-E. Reported ARIA symptoms may include headache, confusion, visual changes, dizziness, nausea, and gait difficulty. Focal neurologic deficits may also occur. Symptoms usually resolve over time.Incidence of ARIASymptomatic ARIA occurred in 3% and serious ARIA symptoms in 0.7% with LEQEMBI. Clinical ARIA symptoms resolved in 79% of patients during the period of observation. ARIA, including asymptomatic radiographic events, was observed: LEQEMBI, 21%; placebo, 9%. ARIA-E was observed: LEQEMBI, 13%; placebo, 2%. ARIA-H was observed: LEQEMBI, 17%; placebo, 9%. No increase in isolated ARIA-H was observed for LEQEMBI vs placebo.Incidence of ICHICH >1 cm in diameter was reported in 0.7% with LEQEMBI vs 0.1% with placebo. Fatal events of ICH in patients taking LEQEMBI have been observed.Risk Factors of ARIA and ICHApoE e4 Carrier StatusOf the patients taking LEQEMBI, 16% were ApoE e4 homozygotes, 53% were heterozygotes, and 31% were noncarriers. With LEQEMBI, ARIA was higher in ApoE e4 homozygotes (LEQEMBI: 45%; placebo: 22%) than in heterozygotes (LEQEMBI: 19%; placebo: 9%) and noncarriers (LEQEMBI: 13%; placebo: 4%). Symptomatic ARIA-E occurred in 9% of ApoE e4 homozygotes vs 2% of heterozygotes and 1% of noncarriers. Serious ARIA events occurred in 3% of ApoE e4 homozygotes and in ~1% of heterozygotes and noncarriers. The recommendations on management of ARIA do not differ between ApoE e4 carriers and noncarriers.Radiographic Findings of CAANeuroimaging findings that may indicate CAA include evidence of prior ICH, cerebral microhemorrhage, and cortical superficial siderosis. CAA has an increased risk for ICH. The presence of an ApoE e4 allele is also associated with CAA.The baseline presence of at least 2 microhemorrhages or the presence of at least 1 area of superficial siderosis on MRI, which may be suggestive of CAA, have been identified as risk factors for ARIA. Patients were excluded from Clarity AD for the presence of >4 microhemorrhages and additional findings suggestive of CAA (prior cerebral hemorrhage >1 cm in greatest diameter, superficial siderosis, vasogenic edema) or other lesions (aneurysm, vascular malformation) that could potentially increase the risk of ICH.Concomitant Antithrombotic or Thrombolytic MedicationIn Clarity AD, baseline use of antithrombotic medication (aspirin, other antiplatelets, or anticoagulants) was allowed if the patient was on a stable dose. Most exposures were to aspirin. Antithrombotic medications did not increase the risk of ARIA with LEQEMBI. The incidence of ICH: 0.9% in patients taking LEQEMBI with a concomitant antithrombotic medication vs 0.6% with no antithrombotic and 2.5% in patients taking LEQEMBI with an anticoagulant alone or with antiplatelet medication such as aspirin vs none in patients receiving placebo.Fatal cerebral hemorrhage has occurred in 1 patient taking an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody in the setting of focal neurologic symptoms of ARIA and the use of a thrombolytic agent.Additional caution should be exercised when considering the administration of antithrombotics or a thrombolytic agent (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator) to a patient already being treated with LEQEMBI. Because ARIA-E can cause focal neurologic deficits that can mimic an ischemic stroke, treating clinicians should consider whether such symptoms could be due to ARIA-E before giving thrombolytic therapy in a patient being treated with LEQEMBI.Caution should be exercised when considering the use of LEQEMBI in patients with factors that indicate an increased risk for ICH and, in particular, patients who need to be on anticoagulant therapy or patients with findings on MRI that are suggestive of CAA.Radiographic Severity With LEQEMBIMost ARIA-E radiographic events occurred within the first 7 doses, although ARIA can occur at any time, and patients can have >1 episode. Maximum radiographic severity of ARIA-E with LEQEMBI was mild in 4%, moderate in 7%, and severe in 1% of patients. Resolution on MRI occurred in 52% of ARIA-E patients by 12 weeks, 81% by 17 weeks, and 100% overall after detection. Maximum radiographic severity of ARIA-H microhemorrhage with LEQEMBI was mild in 9%, moderate in 2%, and severe in 3% of patients; superficial siderosis was mild in 4%, moderate in 1%, and severe in 0.4% of patients. With LEQEMBI, the rate of severe radiographic ARIA-E was highest in ApoE e4 homozygotes (5%) vs heterozygotes (0.4%) or noncarriers (0%). With LEQEMBI, the rate of severe radiographic ARIA-H was highest in ApoE e4 homozygotes (13.5%) vs heterozygotes (2.1%) or noncarriers (1.1%).Monitoring and Dose Management GuidelinesBaseline brain MRI and periodic monitoring with MRI are recommended. Enhanced clinical vigilance for ARIA is recommended during the first 14 weeks of treatment. Depending on ARIA-E and ARIA-H clinical symptoms and radiographic severity, use clinical judgment when considering whether to continue dosing or to temporarily or permanently discontinue LEQEMBI. If a patient experiences ARIA symptoms, clinical evaluation should be performed, including MRI if indicated. If ARIA is observed on MRI, careful clinical evaluation should be performed prior to continuing treatment.HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONSHypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis, have occurred with LEQEMBI. Promptly discontinue the infusion upon the first observation of any signs or symptoms consistent with a hypersensitivity reaction and initiate appropriate therapy.INFUSION-RELATED REACTIONS (IRRs)IRRs were observed LEQEMBI: 26%; placebo: 7% and most cases with LEQEMBI (75%) occurred with the first infusion. IRRs were mostly mild (69%) or moderate (28%). Symptoms included fever and flu-like symptoms (chills, generalized aches, feeling shaky, and joint pain), nausea, vomiting, hypotension, hypertension, and oxygen desaturation.In the event of an IRR, the infusion rate may be reduced or discontinued, and appropriate therapy initiated as clinically indicated. Consider prophylactic treatment prior to future infusions with antihistamines, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids.ADVERSE REACTIONSThe most common adverse reactions reported in >/= 5% with LEQEMBI and >/= 2% higher than placebo were IRRs (LEQEMBI: 26%; placebo: 7%), ARIA-H (LEQEMBI: 14%; placebo: 8%), ARIA-E (LEQEMBI: 13%; placebo: 2%), headache (LEQEMBI: 11%; placebo: 8%), superficial siderosis of central nervous system (LEQEMBI: 6%; placebo: 3%), rash (LEQEMBI: 6%; placebo: 4%), and nausea/vomiting (LEQEMBI: 6%; placebo: 4%).Source: EisaiCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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. EQS Newswire / 15/01/2025 / 04:40 CET/CEST HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 January 2025 - Around 3,600 policymakers, business leaders, investors and scholars from around the world are attending the 18th Asian Financial Forum (January 13-14) in Hong Kong, the region's first major finance event in 2025. Themed "Powering the Next Growth Engine", AFF features high-level discussions, deal-making and networking as well as insights from some 130 elite speakers on the latest developments in global financial markets and investment opportunities. With a focus on Middle East markets, this year's programme includes a new Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Chapter (January 14). Hong Kong SAR's Chief Executive Mr John Lee and representatives from around the globe attend the Asian Financial Forum. In his opening remarks, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)'s Chief Executive, John Lee, highlighted the city's status as an international financial centre. "Thanks to 'one country, two systems', we enjoy the strong support of our country China, while developing ever-expanding global ties, making Hong Kong the world's foremost 'super connector' and 'super value-adder'. Our established common law regime dovetails with the legal system of many major global financial hubs. Our professionals are proficient in both Chinese and English, and well-versed with the business practice of both China and the rest of the world," he said. The Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), Pan Gongsheng, said that, with strong support of the Central Government and the leadership of the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong has been actively enhancing its traditional advantages and grasping the new development opportunities, which has continuously stimulated great creativity and vitality, consolidating and bolstering its status as an international financial centre. To fully support Hong Kong's development as an international financial centre, Mr Pan said the PBOC would focus on four key directions: first, to support the development of Hong Kong's capital market and continuously deepen the mutual access between the financial markets of the two places; second, to expand and strengthen Hong Kong's position as an offshore Renminbi business hub; third, to enhance Hong Kong's functions as an international asset and wealth management centre; and fourth, to resolutely safeguard Hong Kong's financial stability and security. During the first Keynote Luncheon, Financial Secretary Paul Chan underlined the city's competitive edge, including a full range of funding options catering to the divergent needs of governments and enterprises at different development stages to fund their projects and scale up; and the innovative financial strategies to enhance product offerings such as securitisation of infrastructure loans and catastrophe bonds. Former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, Professor Justin Yifu Lin delivered the main Keynote Luncheon speech, sharing insights on the shifting global economic landscape, its impact on the international markets, and China's current trajectory and its evolving role in the world. Distinguished speakers from Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Luxembourg and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development participate in a plenary session themed "Innovation: The Solution to Unlock the Next Growth Engines". The debut GCC Chapter (January 14) was hailed as a significant milestone in financial services collaboration between Hong Kong and the GCC countries. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, identified green finance, securities market, Islamic finance and asset and wealth management as areas with enormous potential for bilateral co-operation. Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, emphasised the GCC's aspiration to enhance dialogue and co-operation to achieve mutual prosperity. Hashtag: hongkong brandhongkong asiasworldcity aff asianfinancialforum finance The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News Source: Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 15/01/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com Indianapolis, Indiana--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Rest In Power, a leader in affordable and customizable funeral products, is proud to announce the launch of its Camo Caskets collection. Designed to reflect the individuality and passions of the deceased, Camo Caskets offer families a meaningful and personalized way to honor their loved ones without exceeding their budget. Rest In Power Unveils Camo Caskets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/237111_0d14b331c4234b12_002full.jpg Crafted with care and precision, the Camo Caskets are available in a range of designs, from classic woodland patterns to modern takes on camouflage, ensuring there is an option for every personality. These caskets seamlessly balance elegance and durability, offering both aesthetic appeal and peace of mind. In addition to the Camo Caskets, Rest in Power is known for its budget-friendly Butler Caskets, designed to provide unmatched value, and its user-friendly "Create an Obituary" tool, which helps families craft heartfelt tributes. Each product reflects Rest in Power's commitment to making funerals more accessible and personal. Rest in Power's dedication to innovation and empathy sets it apart in the funeral industry. "We believe that every farewell should be as unique as the individual being honored," said Jeffers. "Our mission is to offer families options that reflect their loved one's life and passions while keeping costs manageable." Explore the Camo Caskets collection and other offerings at RestInPower.com. For inquiries, call (513) 273-0754. About Rest In Power Rest In Power is dedicated to transforming the funeral industry with affordable, customizable products that honor the individuality of every life. From caskets to memorial tools, Rest in Power empowers families to create meaningful goodbyes that resonate deeply. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237111 SOURCE: Plentisoft Australia's rooftop solar market finished 2024 on a high, with about 309 MW of monthly installations delivering one of the best December totals in recent years and putting the national trend back on the up. From pv magazine Australia The latest small-scale solar data from Australian industry analyst SunWiz shows that the market for rooftop PV installations of up to 100 kW rose by 14% in month-on-month volume, increasing 38 MW from 271 MW in November to 309 MW in December. SunWiz Managing Director Warwick Johnston said the result marked a positive end to the year, with the volume of rooftop solar ... 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. STOCKHOLM, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allurity is excited to announce the appointment of Wolf Richter as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). With a distinguished career and profound expertise in the cybersecurity field, Wolf will play a pivotal role in driving Allurity's growth and advancing its vision to create Europe's leading cybersecurity group. Formerly a partner at McKinsey, Wolf has built a stellar reputation as a strategist and innovator in cybersecurity. He co-founded McKinsey's European cybersecurity service line and was among the first to establish cybersecurity as a boardroom topic. He served blue-chip companies across Europe on cybersecurity and related technology topics. Wolf is an accomplished entrepreneur and was instrumental in establishing CyberCompare, now Germany's foremost cybersecurity marketplace. In his role at Allurity, Wolf will bring valuable expertise to further enhance the group's holistic cybersecurity services portfolio. Building on Allurity's strong foundation, he will contribute to developing innovative solutions and strategies that anticipate future challenges and strengthen the value delivered to clients in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Reporting to CEO Frida Westerberg, Wolf will ensure that Allurity continues to drive impactful results across Europe's cybersecurity landscape. "Cybersecurity has grown up. I don't know a single company without a robust cyber strategy. However, I also don't know a single company which is not struggling with accessing the talent they need to implement their cyber strategy," says Wolf Richter. Wolf's appointment strengthens Allurity's commitment to its overarching vision: to become the preferred partner for tech-enabled cybersecurity services in Europe. By addressing the cybersecurity skills gap, delivering robust solutions and supporting clients in combating cybercrime, Allurity is dedicated to making a positive societal impact while protecting businesses and individuals in the digital age. "We are delighted to welcome Wolf Richter to our amazing team," says Frida Westerberg, CEO of Allurity. "With his strategic mindset and deep expertise, Wolf will be a valuable contributor to our ambitious growth strategy - uniting exceptional companies and expanding our capabilities to address the growing cybersecurity threats and challenges. His leadership will further strengthen our ability to deliver innovative solutions, support our clients and drive positive societal impact." Wolf adds: "I am truly excited to join the team at Allurity. Allurity brings a refreshing perspective to the cyber market. Backed by an impact investor, Allurity is outcome-driven and laser-focused on improving the cyber posture of their clients. The breadth of talent assembled in the Allurity portfolio companies is overwhelming and allows us to stitch together the right composition of services for each client." About Allurity Allurity is a group of tech-enabled cybersecurity service providers with a common mission of enabling a safe digital world. Allurity comprises nine best-in-class cybersecurity brands across Europe, serving clients globally and leveraging the combined expertise of its members. The group offers a comprehensive range of services, from proactive to reactive solutions, to enhance data protection and mitigate the impact of cybercrime. Supported by Trill Impact, a pioneering Swedish impact investor, Allurity is dedicated to driving positive societal change through innovation and impactful initiatives. Read more at allurity.com For media enquiries, please contact: Maria Lorne, mediarelations@allurity.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/allurity/r/wolf-richter-joins-cybersecurity-group-allurity-as-chief-commercial-officer,c4091180 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/22251/4091180/3204202.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/allurity/i/wolf-richter,c3367847 Wolf Richter View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wolf-richter-joins-cybersecurity-group-allurity-as-chief-commercial-officer-302351523.html Review article in high impact journal outlines the evidence that neurodegenerative diseases -including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS and Huntington's - can be addressed by boosting mitophagy, the quality control system cells use to remove dysfunctional mitochondria Strong evidence has emerged that deficient mitophagy is an underlying cause of neurodegenerative disease Momentum is building, with the first selective mitophagy enhancers aimed at modifying the course of neurodegenerative diseases entering clinical trials in the last 12 months CAMBRIDGE, England, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Therapeutics ("Mission"), a clinical-stage biotech company developing first-in-class therapeutics targeting mitophagy, today announces the publication of a review article titled Targeting mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases in the journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. The peer-reviewed article can be viewed here. It outlines the progress scientists have made in identifying that mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease; how their understanding of the molecular pathways that underpin the mitophagy process has advanced; and the subsequent development of two molecular approaches - USP30 inhibition and PINK1 activation - which are now being tested in early-stage clinical trials. Dr Paul Thompson, Chief Scientific Officer at Mission Therapeutics, said: "Fresh scientific approaches are needed if we as a society are to address the growing burden of neurodegenerative diseases, which are becoming ever more common as populations age. This timely review outlines the significant potential that enhancing mitophagy has in tackling a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington's." Dr Laura Parton, Senior Director at Mission Therapeutics, said: "We now have a deep understanding of how the build-up of dysfunctional mitochondria can contribute to neurodegenerative diseases - and how we can go about addressing this problem with selective mitophagy enhancers, particularly those focussing on the USP30/PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway. After more than 30 years of research, the area is now coming to fruition, with three such drugs entering clinical trials in the last 12 months." The review was written by a team of renowned mitophagy experts from across industry and academia, including Mission scientists Dr Paul Thompson and Dr Laura Parton; Professor Miratul Muqit and Odetta Antico of Dundee University; and Dr Nicholas T. Hertz, co-founder of Mitokinin LLC. Mission Therapeutics is a global leader in discovering and developing innovative therapeutics that promote mitophagy, the quality control process cells use to remove dysfunctional mitochondria, thereby safeguarding their health and function. Effective mitophagy is particularly important for the ongoing health of neurons as, unlike most cells, they do not self-renew throughout an individual's lifetime. About Mission Therapeutics Mission Therapeutics is a world leader in discovering and developing novel therapeutics which promote the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, promoting cell health and function. Mitochondria are energy producing organelles which require lifetime quality control through a ubiquitin-mediated clearance mechanism known as mitophagy. In certain situations, such as cellular stress, cell injury, and/or defects of the mitophagy process, the mitochondria can become dysfunctional and damaging to the cell, leading to reduced energy production, oxidative stress, inflammation and potentially cell death. Dysfunctional mitochondria are significant drivers of disease pathophysiology in acute kidney injury (AKI), Parkinson's disease (PD), heart failure, Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, IPF, mitochondrial diseases and Alzheimer's. USP30 is a deubiquitylating enzyme that constantly removes ubiquitin from mitochondria, providing a potential brake on clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. Mission is currently developing two small molecule drugs, MTX652 (peripheral) and MTX325 (targeting the CNS) which, through inhibition of the mitochondrial DUB enzyme USP30, will promote clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria - consequently improving overall cellular health. Mission's USP30 inhibitors MTX652 and MTX325 could potentially be used to treat any disease or condition driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mission is backed by blue chip investors including Pfizer Venture Investments, Sofinnova Partners, Roche Venture Fund, SR One, IP Group and Rosetta Capital. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mission-therapeutics-announces-publication-in-nature-reviews-drug-discovery-of-article-highlighting-how-neurodegenerative-diseases-can-be-tackled-by-enhancing-mitophagy-302350811.html Commerzbank AG (London Branch) - Pre-Stabilisation - Sixt SE EUR500mil 5yr Senior PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, January 15 Pre-Stabilisation - Sixt SE EUR500mil 5yr Senior Pre-Stabilisation Notice January 15, 2025 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Sixt SE EUR 500mil Fixed Rate Notes due 22 January 2030 Issued pursuant to the Issuer's Debt Issuance Programme dated 05 June 2024, as supplemented on 13 January 2025. Commerzbank AG (contact: Ian Turner; telephone: +44-207-7475-1817) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: Sixt SE Guarantor (if any): none Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 500mil Description: EUR 500mil Fixed Rate Notes due 22 January 2030 Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: denoms 1k/1k, listing Luxembourg Stock Exchange Stabilisation: Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: Commerzbank AG BNP Paribas (B&D) Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft DZ Bank AG UniCredit Stabilisation period expected to start on: January 15, 2025 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilising Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities during the stabilisation period at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, stabilisation may not necessarily occur and any stabilisation action, if begun, may cease at any time Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. END MUMBAI, INDIA, Jan 15, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - SRKay Consulting Group announces the release of its latest whitepaper, "A Year in Review: The Success of Strategic Offshoring and New-Shoring," offering a comprehensive analysis of global business strategies in 2024. This whitepaper provides actionable insights for organizations leveraging offshoring and new-shoring to achieve innovation-driven, resilient operations.Context and Market Overview2024 marked a pivotal year for global offshoring strategies, shifting from cost-saving models to value-driven approaches emphasizing innovation and sustainability. India emerged as a leader in new shoring, supported by advancements in Global Capability Centers (GCCs), robust digital infrastructure, and an adaptable workforce. These trends underscore India's position as a critical hub for global businesses seeking long-term partnerships and operational excellence.Key Findings and Insights1. Advancements in New-ShoringCompanies accelerated R&D efforts, reducing time-to-market and aligning with ESG goals.Renewable energy and green infrastructure became central to operational strategies.2. Rise of Emerging CitiesTier-II and Tier-III cities like Visakhapatnam and Nagpur gained prominence as innovation hubs, offering 20-30% cost advantages.3. Sustainability Integration57% of organizations prioritized ESG goals, embedding sustainability into their operations and partnerships.Expert Insights"India's transformation into a global leader in offshoring and new-shoring is a testament to its adaptable workforce, digital infrastructure, and innovation-driven ecosystem. This whitepaper offers organizations a roadmap to leverage India's strategic advantages for sustainable growth and success," said Karunjit Kumar Dhir, CEO, SRKay Consulting Group.Detailed AnalysisThe report delves into India's unique advantages for global investors, including:Cost Efficiency: 63% of companies reported significant savings, redirecting resources to R&D and sustainability initiatives.Talent Access: With 65% of the workforce under 35, India's skilled professionals in AI, data analytics, and automation drove success for 43% of respondents.Innovation: Programs like Digital India propelled advancements in AI, IoT, and blockchain, enabling 88% of surveyed organizations to achieve improved efficiency.Market Adaptability: India's growing middle class and regional expansion opportunities supported faster time-to-market for customized solutions.Future OutlookIndia's strategic positioning as a hub for offshoring and new-shoring is expected to grow, with key trends including:Emerging Hubs: Tier-II/III cities like Nagpur and Coimbatore offer untapped potential and cost benefits. Technological Integration: AI, 5G, blockchain, and cloud technologies are reshaping operational efficiencies.Sustainability Focus: Green infrastructure and circular economy models are becoming central to business strategies.Call to Action (CTA)Download the Whitepaper and discover how strategic offshoring and new-shoring in India can drive your business's growth and innovation.About SRKay Consulting GroupOperating across eight countries, SRKay Consulting Group specializes in establishing efficient GCCs and offshore entities. With a focus on innovation, regulatory expertise, and operational precision, SRKay empowers businesses to unlock global opportunities and achieve sustainable growth.Contact Information:Komaldeep KaurEmail: Komal@mianext.comExplore More: www.srkay.comSource: SRKay Consulting GroupCopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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. Global bakery leader implements Blue Yonder transportation management solutions supported by BlueGistics to optimize supply chain operations across Europe Delivering frozen bakery products presents several challenges that can impact the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of the supply chain. To address these challenges, Europastry, a world leader in the frozen bakery industry, has selected Blue Yonder's transportation management solutions to evolve its supply processes and optimize its logistics operations. The transformational project was deployed by BlueGistics, a Blue Yonder partner and worldwide consulting company specializing in the implementation of Transportation Management Systems. With an ever-growing distribution network spanning more than 80 countries, Europastry sought to increase efficiency in its transportation processes, reduce costs, and continue delivering its wide range of bakery products efficiently. Blue Yonder's transportation management solutions provide Europastry a comprehensive offering with real-time visibility into transportation operations, enabling the company to better plan and execute its deliveries. The solutions integrate advanced analytics and machine learning to optimize routes, reduce transit times, and enhance overall efficiency. "Efficient transportation management is crucial to our ability to meet the high-quality standards our customers expect," said Andreu Venteo Casas, global supply chain director, Europastry. "With Blue Yonder's transportation management solutions, we will be able to streamline our logistics operations, ensuring that our products are delivered quickly and sustainably. This is a significant step towards optimizing our supply chain and reducing operational costs." As Europastry's supply chain expands, managing transportation routes and ensuring timely deliveries across multiple regions becomes increasingly complex. Thanks to Blue Yonder's transportation management solutions supported by BlueGistics, Europastry expects to achieve the following benefits: Increase customer service levels and satisfaction by reducing lead times. by reducing lead times. Improve profitability by reducing logistics costs. by reducing logistics costs. Support sustainability goals by optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering carbon emissions. by optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption, and lowering carbon emissions. Balance efficiency with supply chain agility and resilience to adapt to changing market conditions. "In today's complex supply chain environment, effective transportation management is more important than ever. We are thrilled to support Europastry in strategically transforming their supply chain operations," said Terry Turner, president, Global Manufacturing, Blue Yonder. "With our transportation management solutions deployed by BlueGistics, Europastry will not only reduce transportation costs but also improve service levels for its customers, driving both operational excellence and sustainability." "By optimizing routes and reducing transportation costs, we're empowering Europastry to meet growing customer demand while maintaining their commitment to sustainability. As Europastry continues its business expansion across Europe and beyond, we look forward to being a key partner in their journey, ensuring that their supply chain evolves alongside their success," said Adria Estanol, chief executive officer, BlueGistics. Additional Resources: Learn more about Blue Yonder's transportation management solutions About Europastry Europastry is a family business specialized in frozen bakery. At our core, we are bakers ready to transform baking as we know it. Respecting and honouring the tradition of artisan baking is, along with our curious spirit and our tireless pursuit of innovation, the basis of all our work. Today, Europastry is present in more than 80 countries, through our more than 5,000 bakers, 27 production plants and 30 commercial offices. Europastry We are bakers europastry.com About BlueGistics BlueGistics is a leading consulting firm specialized in Blue Yonder Transportation Management. As an official partner of Blue Yonder, we excel in delivering expert solutions for TMS implementation, support, rollouts, upgrades, migrations, and training. Our commitment to exceptional quality, service, and value ensures success in every project we undertake. BlueGistics Futuring the Transportation bluegistics.com About Blue Yonder Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain transformation. Retailers, manufacturers and logistics service providers worldwide rely on Blue Yonder to optimize and accelerate their supply chain from planning through fulfilment, delivery, and returns. Blue Yonder's AI-driven supply chain platform and multi-enterprise, multi-tier network enable more accurate forecasting and dynamic management of capacity, inventory and transport. Blue Yonder helps businesses navigate modern supply chain complexity and volatility with more resilient, sustainable supply chains to delight customers, scale profitably, and run flawlessly. www.blueyonder.com "Blue Yonder" is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name "Blue Yonder" is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115369518/en/ Contacts: Blue Yonder Corporate Communications: mediarelationsteam@blueyonder.com U.S.: +1 480-308-3037 EMEA: +39 335 7849149 LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The top 50 shortlist for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize has been announced today. They were selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 89 countries around the world. Now in its ninth year, the $1 million prize - the largest of its kind - is a Varkey Foundation initiative held in collaboration with UNESCO. It was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes who have transformed young people's lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world. Since its launch, the Global Teacher Prize has received over 100,000 applications and nominations from around the globe. The top 50 shortlisted for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize are: Africa Ali Alfred Mokgalaka (South Africa); Dominic Ming'ate Orina (Kenya); Faith Aku Dzakpasu (Ghana); Kayode Adewale (Nigeria); Mahamba Sebastian Ihonde (Tanzania); Stella Gyimaah Larbi (Ghana); Tionge Mtambo (Malawi). Asia Gayatri Narasimhan (Oman); Junmerth Jorta (Philippines); Mansour Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia); Mohammad Imran Khan Mewati (India); Moza Mohammed Rashid Saadan Al-Hafiti (UAE); Muhammad Akbar Rafsanzani (Indonesia); Muhammad Nazmi Bin Rosli (Malaysia); Rumeysa Cevlik (Turkey); Shinya Sanzen (Japan); Zainab Saeed Salman (Bahrain); Zakiah Al-Lahyani (Saudi Arabia). Australasia Brett Dascombe (Australia); Rosie Nicole Connelly (Australia); Subash Chandar K (New Zealand). Europe Andreja Pavlovic (Serbia); Angel Luis Gonzalez Serrano (Spain); Celine Haller (France); Danilo Kovac (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Giuseppe Fiamingo (Italy); Ile Mihajlovski (North Macedonia); Ioanna Zafeiriou (Greece); Lesia Pavliuk (Ukraine); Lucas Schildknecht (Luxembourg); Mairi Godley (UK); Marek Grzywna (Poland); Mohamed Al Hashoum (Austria). Latin America Hans Ariel Diaz Herrera (Chile); Helder Guastti da Silva (Brazil); Jesus Castaneda Rivera (Mexico); Jorge Patric Pena Guevara (Ecuador); Karina Alejandra Sarro (Argentina); Lucas Daniel Vogel (Argentina); Luciana Ortega (Chile); Maytee Guadalupe Gonzalez Reyna (Mexico); Melecio Tito Mamani (Peru); Ramon Maje Floriano (Colombia); Zamir Montero (Colombia). North America Ann Marie Vanneste (Canada); Carla Neely (US); Erick Hueck (US); Marilyn Pryle (US); Sequoyah Wharton (US); Tiffany Pace (US). Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize and Chairman of the Varkey Foundation, said: "The Global Teacher Prize was created to spotlight the critical role of education in addressing the major challenges of our time - from combating climate change to reducing inequality and navigating technological change. I congratulate all top 50 finalists, who are joining a global community of educators leading the way to build a better future." Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said:?? "UNESCO is proud to support the Global Teacher Prize, which honours the dedication and impact of teachers worldwide. In a time of global teacher shortages, challenging conditions and technological advances, recognising and investing in teachers is essential to building a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. Teachers matter as they shape not only the next generation but the future of our societies." Lisa Crausby, Chief Education Officer at GEMS Education, said: "At GEMS Education, we see first-hand the transformative impact that teachers have on the lives of young people worldwide. Every day, they inspire, uplift, and nurture the minds of future generations. We are deeply honoured to partner with the Global Teacher Prize, a remarkable initiative that recognises the dedication, passion, and resilience of teachers everywhere who are working tirelessly to build a brighter, more hopeful world." GEMS Education is the largest K-12 operator of private education in the world, which owns, operates, and manages schools globally, reaching an international student audience of over 130,000. It offers four world-class curricula and has 400,000 alumni. It believes in delivering a consistent, dynamic, high-quality education for every child - something in which teachers play a vital role. The prize is open to working teachers who teach children who are in compulsory schooling or are between the ages of five and 18. Teachers who educate children age 4+ in an Early Years government-recognised curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers working on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses. Teachers must spend at least 10 hours per week teaching and plan to remain in the profession for the next five years. It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world. Teachers applying for the Global Teacher Prize are assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession, and gain recognition from external bodies. Interested teachers were able to apply for the Global Teacher Prize at www.globalteacherprize.org before the December closing date. The prize will now be narrowed down to top 10 finalists, to be announced in late January, helping to raise the bar of respect for the teaching profession. The winner will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of prominent individuals, and will be announced at the World Governments Summit, taking place in Dubai from 11-13 February. When teachers are nominated, the person nominating them writes a brief description online explaining why. The teacher being nominated is then sent an email letting them know they have been nominated and inviting them to apply for the prize. Applicants could apply in English, Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. To join the conversation online, please follow @TeacherPrize. Notes to editors: 1. The Varkey Foundation believes every child deserves a vibrant, stimulating learning environment that awakens and supports their full potential. The foundation believes nothing is more important to achieving this than the passion and quality of teachers. They support global teaching capacity and seed excellence and innovation in the next generation of educators. They also founded the Global Teacher Prize to shine a spotlight on the incredible work teachers do all over the world. For further details: www.varkeyfoundation.org 2. GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest K-12 private education providers in the world and a trusted and highly regarded choice for quality education in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a company founded in the UAE in 1959, it holds an unparalleled track record of providing diverse curricula and educational choices to all socio-economic means. Having started with a single school run from a private home in Dubai, GEMS remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his son, Dino Varkey, who is Group Chief Executive Officer, are responsible for providing vision, insight, and strategy across the organisation. Every day, GEMS has the privilege of educating students from over 176 countries through its owned and managed schools globally. And through its growing network, as well as charitable contributions, it is fulfilling the GEMS vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner. Every year, students graduating from GEMS schools progress to the world's best universities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities and colleges in the UK. For further information about GEMS Education, visit www.gemseducation.com 3. UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2597927/5115738/GTP_GEMS_Logo_2025.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/top-50-shortlist-announced-for-1-million-gems-education-global-teacher-prize-302350852.html New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Rx2Go and Rx4Route, two pioneering platforms in the prescription delivery industry, have announced major updates aimed at redefining efficiency and cost-effectiveness for pharmacies and healthcare providers. These advancements, spearheaded by the companies' leadership, promise to deliver substantial operational improvements and financial benefits across the healthcare sector. Erkin Sattarov To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8871/234446_real_b54bd34b-5291-4e5a-87f1-a3c5697ec45b.jpg Significant Update for Rx2Go: Expanding Market Reach with AI Integration Rx2Go, known for its patient-centric prescription delivery solutions, has recently integrated artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance delivery accuracy and speed. This update enables pharmacies to handle a higher volume of orders with improved precision. Improved Accuracy: The AI-powered system reduces delivery errors by 35%, ensuring prescriptions reach patients on time and as prescribed. Expanded Reach: Rx2Go's latest technology upgrade allows pharmacies to serve rural and underserved areas, addressing healthcare inequities while boosting revenue streams. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Pharmacies report a 15% increase in patient satisfaction scores due to faster and more reliable service. "Rx2Go's AI integration is a game-changer," says Doniyor Sattarov, VP of Operations, Rx4Route. "This technology empowers pharmacies to meet growing patient demand while maintaining the highest standards of service." Rx4Route Introduces Real-Time Analytics for Better Business Decisions Rx4Route has also launched a new real-time analytics dashboard, giving pharmacies actionable insights to optimize operations and reduce costs. Operational Savings: Early adopters of the analytics tools report up to a 20% reduction in fuel costs through enhanced route optimization. Improved Team Productivity: Pharmacies using the updated platform have seen a 30% increase in delivery team efficiency, enabling them to process more orders without additional resources. Data-Driven Growth: The analytics dashboard identifies market trends and operational bottlenecks, empowering pharmacies to make informed decisions that improve profitability. "This update transforms Rx4Route into more than just a logistics platform," Sattarov explains. "It's a strategic tool that helps pharmacies achieve sustainable growth." Milestones and Future Outlook The updates come as Rx2Go and Rx4Route celebrate a combined milestone of facilitating over 10 million prescription deliveries. The companies have also announced plans to further integrate machine learning technologies in 2025, aiming to automate 80% of delivery operations and improve overall efficiency. About Rx2Go and Rx4Route Rx2Go and Rx4Route are leaders in prescription delivery technology, offering innovative solutions for pharmacies and healthcare providers. Their platforms focus on streamlining operations, reducing costs, and enhancing the patient experience. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the companies have transformed healthcare logistics and improved access to essential medications. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/234446 SOURCE: PRNews OU REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Carbon Registry (ICR), an innovative GHG program and a modern registry platform for high quality carbon credits, is excited to announce its partnership with Klappir, a leading sustainability management software provider. This strategic collaboration integrates ICR's portfolio of carbon credits into Klappir's platform, enabling corporate buyers to buy and offset their GHG emissions or contribute to future climate actions with unparalleled ease and transparency through Klappir's marketplace. In response to the growing demand for actionable, transparent, and impactful sustainability solutions, this collaboration empowers businesses to take responsibility for their carbon footprint by supporting climate actions outside their value chain. A Seamless Experience for Climate Action Corporate buyers using Klappir's platform can now: Offset Emissions Instantly: Access high quality verified carbon credits from registered projects with the ICR to compensate for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in real-time. Access high quality verified carbon credits from registered projects with the ICR to compensate for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in real-time. Contribute to Future Climate Solutions: Support innovative carbon removal and reduction projects with ex-ante carbon credits, funding the critical work of tomorrow, today. Support innovative carbon removal and reduction projects with ex-ante carbon credits, funding the critical work of tomorrow, today. Simplified Carbon Credit Bundles: Choose from pre-designed bundles or customize them to align with corporate sustainability goals, combining offsetting and contributions for a balanced climate impact strategy with direct links to the registry. Choose from pre-designed bundles or customize them to align with corporate sustainability goals, combining offsetting and contributions for a balanced climate impact strategy with direct links to the registry. All credits are delivered to the buyers account at carbonregistry.com for unparallel transparency of reporting emissions and responsible offsetting. With ICR's rigorous GHG program and validation and verification processes, corporate buyers are assured that every credit meets the highest international standards relying on integrity and assurance chain brought , including alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Why This Partnership Matters Ease of Access and Seamless Integration: The integration embeds ICR's carbon credit portfolio directly into Klappir's user interface, making it easier than ever for companies to act on their sustainability goals. Transparency and Trust of High-Integrity Credits: Buyers can track and verify their climate impact through detailed project information, certification, and reporting-ensuring clarity and accountability. Comprehensive Climate Solutions: Businesses can now balance immediate emissions reductions with investments in future-ready climate technologies, creating a dual approach to climate responsibility. Market Leadership: Adopting advanced solutions positions corporations as leaders in sustainability, creating competitive differentiation in an increasingly active market in climate and sustainability issues. Klappir has established itself as a trusted partner for companies seeking efficient and transparent sustainability reporting. Meanwhile, ICR is one of the few organizations globally that combines a robust GHG program with a fully integrated carbon registry platform built on public blockchain technology, ensuring transparency and full traceability. ICR sets a global benchmark for high-integrity carbon markets. Through its partnership, empower businesses to take measurable, verifiable climate action, supporting impactful projects both globally and in Iceland. This partnership offers a transformative solution for companies committed to addressing emissions and driving meaningful environmental change. Statements Jon Agust orsteinsson, CEO of Klappir: "At Klappir, we believe that technology is key to driving meaningful environmental action. This partnership with ICR enables us to provide businesses with a seamless way to manage their climate impact and support projects that will shape a sustainable future. It's about more than compliance, it's about building resilience and leading by example." Gumundur Sigbergsson, CEO of ICR: "Partnering with Klappir allows us to expand our mission of making high-integrity carbon credits accessible to a broader audience. Together, we're empowering businesses to make informed and impactful decisions about their sustainability efforts." Take Action Today Corporate buyers interested in offsetting their emissions or supporting future climate initiatives can explore these new options by visiting the Klappir platform. About Klappir Klappir is a sustainability software company headquartered in Iceland, providing innovative tools for businesses to measure, manage, and report their environmental impact. With a commitment to transparency and efficiency, Klappir supports organizations in achieving their sustainability goals. About International Carbon Registry Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Iceland, the International Carbon Registry (ICR) is a global leader in registration of climate projects relying on ISO standards and assurance. ICR provides a streamlined platform that accelerates the journey of climate projects from design to delivery via marketplace integrations, pioneering in integrating public blockchain technology ensuring transparency and traceability. ICR's team of experts is passionate about creating real, measurable impact and helping our clients achieve their sustainability goal while advancing its mission of leading the way to a sustainable future and being at the heart of climate innovation. For more information, visit ICR's website or follow ICR on LinkedIn. For media inquiries, contact: Alondra Silva Munoz Chief Marketing Officer at ICR alondra@carbonregistry.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/international-carbon-registry/r/klappir-and-international-carbon-registry--icr--announce-strategic-partnership,c4091558 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/international-carbon-registry/i/icr-and-klappir-s-team,c3368076 ICR and Klappir's Team https://news.cision.com/international-carbon-registry/i/ceos-icr-and-klappir,c3368078 CEOs ICR and Klappir View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/klappir-and-international-carbon-registry-icr-announce-strategic-partnership-302351587.html PRESS RELEASE Paris, 15 January 2025 La Poste SA announces the final results of its tender offer following the placement of a deeply subordinated notes issuance La Poste SA (the "Company") announces the final results of the tender offer (the "Tender Offer") on its 750,000,000 undated deeply subordinated fixed rate resettable notes issued in 2018 (all of which are currently outstanding) (ISIN: FR0013331949) and that are admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (the "Existing Notes"). This announcement follows the placement of its 750,000,000 undated non-call 6.5 year deeply subordinated fixed rate resettable notes issuance (the "New Notes"). This transaction, 2.9 times oversubscribed, was a great success both in France and internationally. Germany/Austria/Switzerland accounted for 30% of allocations, France 24%, UK/Ireland 18%, Southern Europe 12%, Belgium/the Netherlands/Luxembourg 6%, Southern Europe 12% and other countries 10%. The New Notes will be listed on Euronext Paris. On 7 January 2025, the Company announced the launch of the Tender Offer on its Existing Notes and its intention to issue the New Notes. On the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the tender offer memorandum dated 7 January 2025 (the "Tender Offer Memorandum"), the Company invited qualifying holders to tender their Existing Notes for purchase by the Company, up to a maximum acceptance amount which was set on 10 January 2025 at the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes, i.e., 750,000,000. The Tender Offer expired at 5.00 p.m. (CET) on 14 January 2025 (the "Expiration Deadline"). As of the Expiration Deadline, the Company received and accepted for purchase the Existing Notes validly tendered for an aggregate principal amount of 404,100,000. The settlement of the Tender Offer is expected to occur on 17 January 2025. Following the settlement of the Tender Offer and the cancellation of the relevant Existing Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, 345,900,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes will remain outstanding. The settlement of the Tender Offer remains subject to the successful settlement of the New Notes. Disclaimer This announcement does not constitute an invitation to participate in the Tender Offer or the issuance of New Notes in or from any jurisdiction in or from which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No offer to sell or solicitation of an order to sell or subscribe for a security may be made in a country or territory in which such an offer or solicitation would be contrary to the regulations in force or before its registration under securities law in force in such country or territory. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. Tenders of Existing Notes for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will not be accepted from qualifying holders in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Company does not make any recommendation as to whether or not qualifying holders should participate in the Tender Offer. United States Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The New Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. Person as defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act (each a "U.S. Person"). The Tender Offer is not being made and will not be made directly or indirectly in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone, email and other forms of electronic transmission) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national securities exchange of, the United States or to U.S. Persons and the Existing Notes may not be tendered in the Tender Offer by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility from or within the United States, by persons located or resident in the United States of America ("U.S. holders" within the meaning of Rule 800(h) under the Securities Act). Accordingly, any documents or materials related to the Tender Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise transmitted, distributed or forwarded (including, without limitation, by custodians, nominees or trustees) in or into the United States or to any such person. Any purported tender instruction in response to the Tender Offer resulting directly or indirectly from a violation of these restrictions will be invalid, and tender instructions made by a person located or resident in the United States of America or any agent, fiduciary or other intermediary acting on a non-discretionary basis for a principal giving instructions from within the United States will not be accepted. For the purposes of the above paragraph, United States means the United States of America, its territories and possessions (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the North Mariana Islands), any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. ______________________________ About La Poste Groupe La Poste is a state-owned public limited company, a subsidiary of Caisse des Depots and the French State. La Poste Groupe is divided into four business units: Services-Mail-Parcels, Retail Customers and Digital Services, Geopost and La Banque Postale, which, with its subsidiary CNP Assurances, is the 11th largest bancassurer in the eurozone. La Poste Groupe has four public service missions that shape its identity: universal postal service, regional development, banking accessibility, and press transport and delivery. Committed to its regional coverage, La Poste Groupe relies on its network of local, human and digital services, the largest in France. This network comprises 37,500 contact points, including 17,000 postal contact points (post offices, local postal agencies, retail pickup points) and more than 20,500 points of access to a postal service (pick-up points in retail outlets and lockers, and Espaces Pro areas). La Poste Groupe delivers yearly over 15 billion items worldwide (letters, printed advertising media and parcels), six days a week. In 2023, La Poste Groupe generated 34.1 billion in revenue, of which 44% were generated outside France, and had a headcount of 233,000, in more than 60 countries over 5 continents, of which more than 179,000 in France. As part of its strategic plan "La Poste 2030, committed for you", the public company has set itself the course for profitable and responsible growth in France and abroad, based on a robust multi-business model. As a mission-driven company since 2021 and a leader in environmental transition and sustainable finance, La Poste Groupe is committed to reaching "net zero emissions" by 2040. ______________________________ Financial Communication and Investors' Relations Olivier Gall +33 6 22 25 50 42 olivier.gall@laposte.fr Stephane Dalla Sartora +33 7 87 39 58 80 stephane.dalla-sartora@laposte.fr Annie Dupeyron +33 6 48 00 61 49 annie.dupeyron@laposte.fr Press relations +33 1 55 44 22 37 service.presse@laposte.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: xpxqZJhskmmXx5ptYsqWbpdsmGuVlpKdbGLJlmmeYpqdam9nyZtql5SaZnFqmmpp - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-89553-la-poste-_-to-results-pr-en.pdf China's REPT Battero has revealed plans to build a lithium-ion battery plant in Indonesia, targeting 8 GWh of annual production capacity in the first phase. From ESS News Hong Kong-listed REPT Battero has announced plans to invest in a new battery production facility in Indonesia. The company board approved the investment on Jan. 10, with operations to be handled by its Indonesian subsidiary. Although the company did not disclose the exact investment amount, it revealed that all shareholders of PT REPT BATTERO INDONESIA will inject a combined $139. 5 million into the subsidiary. REPT Battero's ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQB: DRYGF) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be participating in the upcoming Metals Investor Forum ("MIF") in Vancouver on Friday, January 17th and Saturday, January 18th at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. President, Maura Kolb, P. Geo, will be giving a 10-minute corporate presentation on Friday at 9:50am PT, followed by a short Q&A. Dryden Gold will be presenting as part of newsletter writer, Chen Lin's panel of companies. CEO Trey Wasser, VP Exploration, Anna Hicken, P. Geo. and Investor Relations Manager, Ashley Robinson will also be available to meet with investors and answer questions. The conference agenda can be found here. We welcome the opportunity for attendees to reach out to management with any questions and review our updated corporate presentation here. Investors can also find Management at AME Roundup ("Roundup") at the Core Shack #821 on Monday, January 20th and Tuesday, January 21st from 9am-4pm PT. METALS INVESTOR FORUM- VANCOUVER 2025 At MIF, top-tier companies are selected to attend by leading newsletter editors well before they hit mainstream markets giving investors actionable insights for 2025, all in an intimate, knowledge-packed environment. Legendary investor Rick Rule will be the keynote speaker, and 48 companies will be presenting over two days. Admission is free with an invite and pre-registration. AME ROUNDUP- VANCOUVER 2025 AME Roundup is where deals are made, talent is discovered, and trends are set. Thousands of geoscientists, prospectors, financiers, investors, suppliers, governments and Indigenous partners from around the world will connect and exchange knowledge in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. The event includes the Exhibit Hall, Core Shack, Project Generators Hub and Prospectors' Tent, Media Partnerships, speaking, training and volunteer opportunities. Registration is open to the public and pricing is available here. ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP. Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY") and on the OTCQB marketplace ("DRYGF"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communities and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the acquisition of the Property, receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, issuance of common shares; future development plans; future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the acquisition of the Property; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward--looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237248 SOURCE: Dryden Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) ("Group Eleven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the latest germanium assays from recent drilling at the Company's 100%-owned Ballywire zinc-lead-silver discovery ("Ballywire"), PG West Project ("PG West"), Republic of Ireland. New Germanium Assays Germanium (Ge) grades including 71.7 g/t, 41.2 g/t and 27.8 g/t returned from five (5) holes in northeastern portion of Ballywire discovery (Ge price is approx. US$75/oz or US$2.40/gram 1 ) Elevated Ge is now demonstrated over a strike length of 1.25km (from 890m previously) Highest Ge grades correlate well with the highest Zn grades (suggesting Ge occurs with sphalerite) Ge analyses over the other mineralized areas are ongoing, to be released periodically Drill Update After the Christmas break, drilling at Ballywire reconvened on January 6 th with two drill rigs In 2024, the Company drilled over 8,100m at Ballywire compared to 4,800m and 1,950m in 2023 and 2022, respectively In total, over 16,100m have been drilled at Ballywire by Group Eleven to the end of 2024, including six (6) holes (totalling over 1,520m ) expected to be released as assays become available At the Carrickittle West prospect, spanning the Stonepark and PG West Projects, drilling has been completed according to plan with results expected mid-late Q1 2025 "We are excited to start our third consecutive year of intensive exploration at Ballywire. Last year was transformative for us given the exceptional drill results attained, both in terms of grades and widths, as well as shallowing depths of high-grade massive sulphide horizons. The continuation of elevated germanium along the entire main trend of our discovery to date is also highly encouraging. Germanium is approx. 2.5x more valuable than silver and is a key metal for the highly competitive AI semiconductor industry. With 42 holes drilled and announced, plus robust mineralization pierced over a 2.6km long trend, we have a strong foundation from which to build further shareholder value at Ballywire in 2025. With two rigs turning for the foreseeable future, the key drill targets for Ballywire include the remainder of our 6km prospective trend, hypothesized mineralization parallel to the discovery trend and a deeper horizon highly prospective for copper and silver." Ongoing Drilling at Ballywire Discovery The Ballywire prospect at the Company's 100%-owned PG West Project in the Republic of Ireland, is a new zinc-lead-silver discovery (first announced Sept-2022). To date, 42 holes (totalling 14,549m) have been drilled and reported by Group Eleven. Exhibit 1. Plan Map Showing New and Previously Released Germanium Assays at Ballywire Note: Ge assays above denote the highest single Ge assay within each hole (see full assays in Exhibits 4 and 5 and Appendices); 'Other Mineralization' and 'Massive Sulphide Zone' denote robust Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/237261_002e448f9496eb30_001full.jpg Exhibit 2. Drill Hole Plan Map Showing Mineralized Intercepts and Pending Drill Holes To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/237261_002e448f9496eb30_002full.jpg In total, over 16,100m have been drilled at Ballywire by Group Eleven to the end of 2024, including six (6) holes (totalling over 1,520m) located in the northeastern portion of the discovery area (see G11-3552-24 to -29 in Exhibit 2). Results from these holes are expected to be released as assays become available. Exhibit 2 shows drilling to date across 1.25km of the overall 2.6km long trend (see Exhibit 1) of significantly mineralized drill intercepts (open in all directions). Germanium Analyses To attain accurate germanium (Ge) assays, the Company engages with ALS Global (Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland) to re-analyse previous sample pulps using an assay technique specifically suited for germanium, gallium and indium detection (lithium borate fusion). The process of re-analysing intervals which are well mineralized with zinc and lead is well advanced, however, still incomplete. Further Ge analyses are ongoing and will continue to be released periodically. Given re-sampling is focussed only on the highest-grade mineralized intervals, coverage is often non-continuous and hence difficult to compare between drill holes. Therefore, the approach taken in Exhibit 1 focusses on the highest grading single Ge sample from each hole as a preliminary illustration of the Ge distribution across the Ballywire discovery trend. Background Information on Germanium Due to its application in high-tech industries and its scarcity on the Earth's crust, the element germanium (Ge) has been on the European Union List of Critical Raw Materials since 2010. Other countries that designate Ge as a critical element include US, China, Australia and Canada. The American Physical Society categorizes Ge as one of the 'Energy Critical Elements'. China produces 60-80% of global supply of Ge and as of 2019, "no trade agreements existed between China and EU regarding germanium trade," according to the European Commission. The primary use of germanium is in fibre optics and high-end solar panel technologies, and increasingly, in high-end (AI capable) semiconductors (computer chips). Ge currently trades at approximately US$75/oz (US$2.40/gram), or about 2.5 times the price of silver (US$30/oz). Germanium prices are sourced from Trading Economics and converted from Chinese Yuan per kilogram (see Exhibit 3). Exhibit 3. Seven Year Chart of Germanium Prices (CNY/kg) Source: Trading Economics To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/237261_002e448f9496eb30_003full.jpg Globally, Ge does not occur as primary deposits, instead occurs only as a by-product in some zinc or coal deposits. According to the USGS2, the most significant carbonate-hosted zinc-lead-copper deposit that contains notable amounts of germanium is the Kipushi deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo. USGS states that Kipushi contains an average grade of 68 g/t Ge. This is in line with Ivanhoe's recent announcement on Kipushi noting its Mineral Resource Estimate (Measured & Indicated; dated June 14, 2018) hosting 11.8mt of 35.3% Zn, 0.80% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 23 g/t Ag, 13 g/t Co and 64 g/t Ge (see Ivanhoe Mines news release dated Feb 14, 2022). Similarly, the Ballywire results above rank as some of the highest grades of Ge within zinc deposits in Ireland. Exhibit 4. New Germanium Assays from G11-3552-12 From (m) To (m) Int (m) Zn % Pb % Zn+Pb % Ag g/t Ge g/t G11-3552-12 283.44 284.26 0.82 4.39 0.99 5.38 13.9 14.2 284.26 285.16 0.90 13.15 2.22 15.37 33.8 27.8 285.16 285.30 0.14 0.37 1.46 1.82 16.0 NYA 285.30 285.90 0.60 7.09 2.25 9.34 25.6 15.4 285.90 286.27 0.37 4.42 5.13 9.55 22.6 11.8 293.44 293.80 0.36 5.94 17.70 23.64 68.8 4.9 293.80 294.12 0.32 1.29 8.89 10.18 37.3 1.1 294.12 294.78 0.66 3.18 38.30 41.48 127.0 1.9 294.78 295.66 0.88 1.96 19.80 21.76 70.6 1.2 295.66 296.34 0.68 3.68 17.45 21.13 77.4 2.7 296.34 297.25 0.91 2.55 18.90 21.45 66.3 2.7 297.25 298.21 0.96 2.50 29.70 32.20 96.2 2.2 298.21 298.55 0.34 13.05 3.17 16.22 63.4 13.1 298.55 299.08 0.53 1.98 0.80 2.78 10.8 3.0 299.08 299.34 0.26 14.25 10.85 25.10 70.1 9.2 299.34 299.63 0.29 2.30 0.77 3.07 8.0 3.4 299.63 300.07 0.44 21.80 4.65 26.45 88.3 19.9 300.07 301.12 1.05 0.57 0.22 0.79 8.2 1.2 301.12 302.24 1.12 3.45 2.19 5.64 84.4 3.3 302.24 303.10 0.86 10.20 11.15 21.35 353.0 5.5 303.10 303.93 0.83 17.10 7.15 24.25 319.0 15.3 306.77 307.26 0.49 7.94 4.32 12.26 172.0 7.3 308.19 308.66 0.47 4.18 3.79 7.97 571.0 3.3 283.44 286.27 2.83 7.55 2.21 9.77 24.0 17.8 298.21 303.93 5.72 8.20 4.33 12.53 132.5 7.1 298.21 300.07 1.86 10.46 3.54 14.00 46.6 9.8 Note: continuous intervals shown as shaded meterage; 'NYA' means not yet assayed, assumed nil; all other data (Zn, Pb, Ag) previously announced Exhibit 5. New Germanium Assays from G11-3552-16, -17, -18 and -19 From (m) To (m) Int (m) Zn % Pb % Zn+Pb % Ag g/t Ge g/t G11-3552-16 255.52 256.16 0.64 28.00 5.96 33.96 106.0 22.9 G11-3552-17 144.46 145.04 0.58 23.70 4.70 28.40 209.0 15.2 150.15 150.39 0.24 19.55 5.09 24.64 257.0 71.7 151.85 152.81 0.96 27.10 2.49 29.59 326.0 25.5 167.78 168.11 0.33 28.90 5.40 34.30 147.0 66.1 210.02 210.44 0.42 14.15 0.12 14.27 35.5 21.4 210.44 211.38 0.94 14.35 0.12 14.47 25.5 8.4 211.38 212.33 0.95 11.90 0.06 11.96 28.9 NYA 212.33 213.31 0.98 19.40 2.88 22.28 33.5 34.1 210.02 213.31 3.29 15.12 0.92 16.05 30.1 15.3 G11-3552-18 255.59 255.82 0.23 18.55 8.59 27.14 48.1 41.2 257.50 258.56 1.06 17.85 18.25 36.10 218.0 17.5 258.84 259.26 0.42 19.25 14.00 33.25 188.0 22.7 263.22 263.45 0.23 27.10 5.23 32.33 110.0 38.9 G11-3552-19 199.69 200.40 0.71 13.95 1.65 15.60 31.6 25.3 200.40 201.15 0.75 5.32 0.14 5.46 26.0 4.9 201.15 201.73 0.58 5.35 0.31 5.66 18.6 12.0 201.73 202.55 0.82 20.50 0.53 21.03 60.4 25.1 202.55 203.46 0.91 21.00 6.32 27.32 62.1 14.2 203.46 204.38 0.92 20.70 11.75 32.45 83.1 14.2 204.38 205.33 0.95 19.35 7.31 26.66 91.9 12.8 205.33 206.23 0.90 29.60 7.77 37.37 95.7 12.2 206.23 206.90 0.67 32.20 2.59 34.79 80.1 22.1 206.90 207.72 0.82 16.05 7.19 23.24 121.0 19.6 207.72 208.38 0.66 17.45 6.22 23.67 269.0 6.0 199.69 208.38 8.69 18.78 5.08 23.86 85.0 15.3 Note: continuous intervals shown as shaded meterage; 'NYA' means not yet assayed, assumed nil; all other data (Zn, Pb, Ag) previously announced Exhibit 6. Regional Gravity at Ballywire Showing 6km Long Prospective Trend To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/237261_002e448f9496eb30_004full.jpg Notes to Exhibit 7: (a) Pallas Green MRE is owned by Glencore (see Glencore's Resources and Reserves Report dated December 31, 2023); (b) Stonepark MRE: see the 'NI 43-101 Independent Report on the Zinc-Lead Exploration Project at Stonepark, County Limerick, Ireland', by Gordon, Kelly and van Lente, with an effective date of April 26, 2018, as found on SEDAR; and (c) the historic estimate at Denison was reported by Westland Exploration Limited in 'Report on Prospecting Licence 464' by Dermot Hughes dated May, 1988; the historic estimate at Gortdrum was reported in 'The Geology and Genesis of the Gortdrum Cu-Ag-Hg Orebody' by G.M. Steed dated 1986; and the historic estimate at Tullacondra was first reported by Munster Base Metals Ltd in 'Report on Mallow Property' by David Wilbur, dated December 1973; and later summarized in 'Cu-Ag Mineralization at Tullacondra, Mallow, Co. Cork' by Wilbur and Carter in 1986; the above three historic estimates have not been verified as current mineral resources; none of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historic estimates were reported and no resource categories were used; significant data compilation, re-drilling and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person before the historic estimates can be verified and upgraded to be compliant with current NI 43-101 standards; a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify them as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historic estimates as current mineral resources. 'Rathdowney Trend' is the south-westerly projection of the Rathdowney Trend, hosting the historic Lisheen and Galmoy mines. Exhibit 7. Regional Map of PG West (100% Interest) and Stonepark (76.56% Interest) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5685/237261_002e448f9496eb30_005full.jpg Stonepark Joint Venture Prior to the start of the 2024 drill program at the Stonepark Project, Arkle Resources PLC (Group Eleven's joint venture partner on the project) elected not to finance their pro-rata share of program costs. As a result, Group Eleven's ownership in the Stonepark project is expected to increase from 76.56% to 77.64%. This increase is expected to be finalized later this year, upon payment of all program costs and subsequent proportional issuance of shares (of TILZ Minerals Limited, Group Eleven's subsidiary which wholly owns the Stonepark project) to Group Eleven. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been approved by Professor Garth Earls, Eur Geol, P.Geo, FSEG, geological consultant at IGS (International Geoscience Services) Limited, and independent 'Qualified Person' as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Information Group Eleven inserts certified reference materials ("CRMs" or "Standards") as well as blank material, to its sample stream as part of its industry-standard QA/QC programme. The QC results have been reviewed by the Qualified Person, who is satisfied that all the results are within acceptable parameters. The Qualified Person has validated the sampling and chain of custody protocols used by Group Eleven. About Group Eleven Resources Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration in the Republic of Ireland. Group Eleven announced the Ballywire discovery in September 2022. Key intercepts to date include: 10.8m of 10.0% Zn+Pb and 109 g/t Ag (G11-468-03) 10.1m of 8.6% Zn+Pb and 46 g/t Ag (G11-468-06) 10.5m of 14.7% Zn+Pb, 399 g/t Ag and 0.31% Cu (G11-468-12) 11.2m of 8.9% Zn+Pb and 83 g/t Ag (G11-3552-03) 29.6m of 10.6% Zn+Pb, 78 g/t Ag and 0.15% Cu (G11-3552-12) and 6.1m of 11.4% Zn+Pb, 85 g/t Ag (G11-3552-13) 5.6m of 13.1% Zn+Pb, 116 g/t Ag (G11-3552-17) 11.8m of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 48 g/t Ag (G11-3552-18) 8.7m of 23.9% Zn+Pb and 85 g/t Ag (G11-3552-19) The Company's two largest shareholders are Glencore Canada Corp. (17.1% interest) and Michael Gentile (16.5%). Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bart Jaworski, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. Appendix 1. Previously Released Germanium Assays from G11-468-01, -03, -06 From (m) To (m) Int (m) Zn % Pb % Zn+Pb % Ag g/t Ge g/t G11-468-01 312.70 313.50 0.80 13.55 3.27 16.82 67.8 40.9 313.50 314.10 0.60 5.90 1.21 7.11 31.1 16.2 314.10 314.85 0.75 4.46 0.54 5.00 22.3 14.5 314.85 315.25 0.40 20.10 5.35 25.45 92.2 38.5 315.25 315.55 0.30 13.20 4.47 17.67 59.5 33.1 315.55 315.80 0.25 2.91 0.41 3.32 18.7 7.4 315.80 316.00 0.20 14.50 2.56 17.06 52.2 35.0 312.70 316.00 3.30 10.11 2.38 12.48 48.3 26.5 G11-468-03 228.20 228.57 0.37 21.40 3.76 25.16 171.0 26.2 229.31 229.87 0.56 32.70 13.70 46.40 632.0 63.2 251.65 252.82 1.17 5.35 1.09 6.44 106.0 14.5 252.82 253.82 1.00 3.54 4.56 8.10 113.0 6.5 253.82 254.60 0.78 4.17 3.47 7.64 89.7 8.8 - - - - - - - - 256.45 257.00 0.55 32.70 19.70 52.40 540.0 55.1 257.00 257.81 0.81 32.10 10.40 42.50 339.0 38.4 257.81 258.10 0.29 44.30 3.35 47.65 496.0 79.2 258.10 258.50 0.40 14.35 2.00 16.35 183.0 33.9 268.88 269.72 0.84 17.35 1.99 19.34 55.2 23.2 251.65 254.60 2.95 4.42 2.89 7.32 104.1 10.3 256.45 258.50 2.05 30.52 10.26 40.78 384.7 47.8 G11-468-06 292.00 292.28 0.28 17.80 1.76 19.56 67.6 38.0 292.78 292.90 0.12 13.65 1.09 14.74 39.4 26.5 297.70 297.80 0.10 24.30 1.13 25.43 60.1 70.7 298.15 298.55 0.40 15.95 4.83 20.78 97.0 34.3 304.60 305.13 0.53 45.50 20.20 65.70 421.0 47.5 305.13 305.43 0.30 15.45 21.30 36.75 309.0 8.4 305.43 305.90 0.47 0.12 0.06 0.18 0.8 0.3 305.90 305.98 0.08 33.40 3.97 37.37 136.0 37.4 305.98 306.10 0.12 0.83 0.11 0.93 3.1 1.2 306.10 306.25 0.15 32.20 8.77 40.97 108.0 41.2 306.25 306.59 0.34 0.88 0.21 1.08 4.8 2.1 306.59 307.08 0.49 28.40 5.85 34.25 105.0 20.3 307.08 307.78 0.70 0.18 0.98 1.16 10.7 0.5 346.34 346.66 0.32 2.55 40.20 42.75 187.0 3.5 304.60 307.08 2.48 20.41 8.75 29.16 160.0 19.3 Note: continuous intervals shown as shaded meterage; '-' means sample gap; all other data (Zn, Pb, Ag) previously announced Appendix 2. Previously Released Ge Assays (G11-468-10 to -13, -15, G11-3552-03) From (m) To (m) Int (m) Zn % Pb % Zn+Pb % Ag g/t Ge g/t G11-468-10 400.17 400.46 0.29 3.07 2.40 5.47 83.0 1.7 G11-468-11 258.31 259.30 0.99 0.06 0.04 0.09 15.5 0.3 259.30 260.11 0.81 0.09 0.06 0.15 37.6 0.3 260.11 261.30 1.19 0.02 0.05 0.07 23.1 0.3 258.31 261.30 2.99 0.05 0.05 0.10 24.5 0.3 G11-468-12 266.36 267.13 0.77 9.14 1.60 10.74 40.9 24.4 267.13 268.10 0.97 1.16 0.02 1.18 3.2 2.0 268.10 269.00 0.90 0.57 0.04 0.61 4.3 2.4 269.00 269.57 0.57 13.95 1.70 15.65 45.8 25.1 269.57 270.10 0.53 2.19 0.40 2.59 8.0 6.8 270.10 270.68 0.58 10.95 19.35 30.30 990.0 22.1 - - - - - - - - 292.00 292.74 0.74 9.51 16.60 26.11 356.0 7.3 292.74 293.46 0.72 22.30 8.33 30.63 932.0 16.6 293.46 294.11 0.65 14.50 21.50 36.00 912.0 16.6 294.11 295.14 1.03 1.40 5.25 6.65 72.0 3.5 266.36 270.68 4.32 5.59 3.17 8.76 148.8 12.4 292.00 295.14 3.14 10.81 11.99 22.81 510.0 10.1 G11-468-13 264.45 265.20 0.75 11.25 2.43 13.68 57.6 15.8 272.05 272.80 0.75 10.05 11.65 21.70 112.0 6.0 272.80 273.27 0.47 11.65 11.25 22.90 101.0 9.6 281.08 281.60 0.52 15.05 0.99 16.04 63.2 6.6 272.05 273.27 1.22 10.67 11.50 22.16 107.8 7.4 G11-468-15 272.38 272.57 0.19 11.35 10.85 22.20 199.0 11.4 273.26 273.80 0.54 8.16 23.30 31.46 170.0 10.5 G11-3552-03 218.76 219.20 0.44 13.65 8.49 22.14 93.9 8.9 280.56 281.29 0.73 31.40 7.25 38.65 160.0 24.4 285.12 286.05 0.93 8.20 8.87 17.07 81.9 6.5 291.62 291.80 0.18 24.00 3.12 27.12 397.0 12.4 Note: continuous intervals shown as shaded meterage; '-' means sample gap; all other data (Zn, Pb, Ag) previously announced ________________________ 1 Derived from Trading Economics (tradingeconomics.com): CNY 16,950 per kg (13-Jan-2025) 2 US Geological Survey; Professional Paper 1802-I titled "Germanium and Indium" (Shanks III et al, 2017) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237261 SOURCE: Group Eleven Resources Corp. Led by Ventura Capital and joined by other investors including Aviva Ventures, the Gates Foundation and Horizons Ventures Funding will be used to accelerate commercialization and further clinical trials of Breath Biopsy diagnostic tests and point of care devices for lung cancer, liver disease, and digestive disease Owlstone Medical ("Owlstone"), the global leader in Breath Biopsyfor applications in early disease detection and precision medicine, today announced a first closing of $27 million (circa 22 million) in its Series E financing round. The fundraise was led by Ventura Capital, joined by Aviva Ventures, Horizons Ventures, and other existing investors. The close also saw completion of the investment from the Gates Foundation1 The funds will be used to support the ongoing development of Owlstone's proprietary Breath Biopsy platform and the development and commercialization of novel diagnostic tests and point of care devices. These include in-human clinical trials currently underway for a screening test for the early-stage detection of lung cancer2, the most common cancer killer in the world responsible for 1.8 million deaths each year3; further development and launch of the LIBRA test4 for the primary care and at-home diagnosis of chronic liver diseases, which account for over 2 million deaths worldwide annually5; and commercialization of the OMED Health Breath Analyzer6, a hand-held, low-cost medical device for the diagnosis and monitoring of digestive diseases that affect 1 billion people globally7 Mo El Husseiny, Founder and Managing Partner at Ventura Capital, commented: "The enormous potential of breath-based diagnostics is becoming clearer every day, with Owlstone as the main driver of progress in the space. Our initial thesis has been confirmed through Owlstone's recent partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defence8, the Gates Foundation, and the FDA9. We are pleased to support their ongoing development of Breath Biopsy, which has been proven by the first products approved in market in the US and UK." Tom Grant, Head of Venture Investments at Aviva Investors, said: "Owlstone has made tremendous progress since their last fundraise. This includes their proprietary Breath Biopsy platform and VOC Atlas database10, and in developing diagnostic solutions in high need clinical areas with products now reaching the market. Aviva Ventures has been an early investor in the business, and we remain confident in Owlstone and its future impact on healthcare." Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical, added: "Testament to the power of Breath Biopsy is the continued strong support we continue to enjoy from our investors. The funds closed will enable us to progress our business to the next stage, advancing clinical trials and supporting the launch and commercialization of our pipeline of unique breath tests." https://www.owlstonemedical.com/about/news/2024/apr/25/owlstonemedical-gatesfoundation/ https://www.owlstonemedical.com/breath-biopsy-tests/evolution/ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer https://www.owlstonemedical.com/libra-liverbreathanalysis/ https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/action/showPdf?pii=S0168-8278%2823%2900194-0 https://omedhealth.com/omed-health-breath-analyzer/ https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/ https://www.owlstonemedical.com/about/news/2023/mar/17/oml-wins-diu-contract/ https://www.owlstonemedical.com/about/news/2024/sep/30/owlstone-fda-research-collaboration-agreement-vocatlas/ https://www.owlstonemedical.com/science-technology/breath-biopsy-voc-atlas/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115746874/en/ Contacts: Dr Ben Rutter, Zyme Communications ben.rutter@zymecommications.com +44 (0) 7920-770935 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2025 / Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:ASM)(NYSE American:ASM)(FSE:GV6) a long-standing silver producer in Mexico, reports that underground development at its 100%-owned La Preciosa Property ("La Preciosa") has commenced following receipt of all required permits for mining operations. "This milestone achievement is a testament to the dedication and vision of the entire Avino team," said David Wolfin, President and CEO of Avino. "It underscores our firm commitment to responsible development and transformational growth. The receipt of all required permits marks the culmination of lengthy collaboration with Federal and State regulators, as well as meaningful engagement with community leaders. This step marks a significant milestone for Avino, as we move one of Mexico's largest undeveloped silver deposits forward. La Preciosa represents higher silver grades than currently being mined and processed at Avino. This, coupled with robust metal prices, is setting Avino up for a strong 2025 and beyond. We would like to thank our experienced and devoted team who completed the rigorous permit process culminating in this successful approval. Furthermore, we commend everyone involved for their role in advancing La Preciosa and all those who share our vision for a better future for local communities and stakeholders." With many of the necessary outbuildings completed, Avino has proactively prepared its mining fleet and is now advancing the development of a 350-metre mine access and haulage decline. This is designed to intercept the high-grade La Gloria and Abundancia veins, aligning with the Company's mine development plan. Beyond direct job creation, activities at La Preciosa are expected to drive local economic growth, including the generation of both direct and indirect employment opportunities among local suppliers, subcontractors, and community groups. Avino is committed to operating La Preciosa with a small environmental footprint and in an economically sustainable manner. Development for the first phase at La Preciosa is expected to be under $5M and will be funded from cash reserves. Avino had approximately $26 million in cash at the end of 2024 and remains debt-free, excluding operating equipment leases, demonstrating significant cash flow generation throughout Q4 2024. Our strong balance sheet and working capital will provide the foundation to support our transformational growth plans, which will be further outlined in our 2025 Outlook. About La Preciosa La Preciosa hosts one of the largest undeveloped primary silver resources in Mexico and is located approximately 19 kilometres from our Avino Mine operations, which has an operating 2,500 tpd mill processing facility and all the necessary infrastructure to allow for mineral processing from La Preciosa. La Preciosa's mineral resource inventory significantly increased Avino's consolidated National Instrument 43-101 mineral resources, which is currently 371 million silver equivalent ounces. The current Mineral Resources for La Preciosa are summarized below. These resources were previously disclosed and are reported in the most recent Technical Report effective February 5, 2024 and it is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and as well, the report can be viewed on the Avino website here. Table 1 - Mineral Resource Statement * Notes for Table 1 are summarized on the final page of this news release. Terms of the Acquisition of the La Preciosa property by Avino, which was completed on March 21, 2022, can be found here. Qualified Person Peter Latta, P. Eng, MBA, Avino's VP Technical Services, is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release. About Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. Avino is a silver producer from its wholly owned Avino Mine near Durango, Mexico. The Company's silver, gold and copper production remains unhedged. The Company intends to maintain long term sustainable and profitable mining operations to reward shareholders and the community alike through our growth at the historic Avino Property and the strategic acquisition of the adjacent La Preciosa which was finalized in Q1 2022. Avino currently controls mineral resources, as per NI 43-101, with a total mineral content of 371 million silver equivalent ounces, within our district-scale land package. Early in 2024, the pre-feasibility Study on the Oxide Tailings Project was completed. This study is a key milestone in our growth trajectory. As part of Avino's commitment to adopting sustainable practices, we have been operating a dry-stack tailings facility for more than one year now with excellent results. We are committed to managing all business activities in a safe, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate. We encourage you to connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) at @Avino_ASM and on LinkedIn at Avino Silver & Gold Mines. To view the Avino Mine VRIFY tour, please click here. For Further Information, Please Contact: Investor Relations Tel: 604-682-3701 Email: IR@avino.com This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the mineral resource estimate for the Company's Avino Property, including La Preciosa, located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Avino Property") with an effective date of October 16, 2023, and references to Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources, referred to in this press release. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated amount and grade of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the cut-off grade; (ii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of operating the mine, of sustaining capital, of strip ratios and the duration of financing payback periods; (iii) the estimated amount of future production, both ore processed and metal recovered and recovery rates; (iv) estimates of operating costs, life of mine costs, net cash flow, net present value (NPV) and economic returns from an operating mine; and (v) the completion of the full Technical Report, including a Preliminary Economic Assessment, and its timing. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources All reserve and resource estimates reported by Avino were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" and uses new definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" that are substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards. However, the CIM Definition Standards differ from the requirements applicable to US domestic issuers. US investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources," or "inferred mineral resources" that the Issuer reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade are estimated on the basis of limited geologic evidence and sampling. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Footnotes - Table 1: The stated mineral resources comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 43-101 and are classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards - For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves". Mineral resources for La Preciosa are estimated at a cut-off grade of 120 g/t AgEq. Mineral resources for La Preciosa are estimated using a long-term silver price of US$19.00/oz and a long-term gold price of US$1,750/oz. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Tonnage and metal content figures are expressed in thousands and may not add up due to rounding. SOURCE: Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The United States has removed Cuba from the list of nations it designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism.This decision was taken by President Joe Biden just few days before leaving his office.Biden transmitted a report to the Congress with respect to the proposed lifting of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.The Biden administration has also eased some economic restrictions imposed on Cuba during Donald Trump's first presidency as part of a deal to free political prisoners there.Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House has been informed by the Catholic Church that the Cuban government will soon begin releasing a substantial number of political prisoners.Biden rescinded the 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Cuba policy to eliminate the so-called 'restricted list' and the additional regulations on engagement between citizens and companies of the two countries.The Congress has also been notified that the President issued a waiver for Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, otherwise known as the Libertad Act, for a period of six months.Different from Trump's tough posture on Cuba, the Biden Administration' policy towards the Communist island nation has focused on reunifying Cuban families, strengthen cultural and educational ties between Cuba and the United States, enable remittances to flow more freely to the Cuban people, and increase support for independent Cuban entrepreneurs.Copyright(c) 2025 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. PLANO, Texas, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, a global leader in digital upskilling, has partnered with Imperial College Business School Executive Education to launch a new Data Strategy for Leaders programme (Induction: 22 January 2025 | Regular Classes: 22 January 2025 - 27 April 2025). This innovative 14-week course is designed to equip business leaders with the skills to harness data for strategic decision-making and drive organisational growth. The programme has been created to address the growing skills needed across global industries for senior-level professionals to become more data literate. A recent survey conducted at The Gartner Data & Analytics Summit revealed that over 65% of data leaders have prioritised data governance for 2024, and more than half of data leaders had increased budgets for data and analytics in 2024, indicating the growing importance of its role in organisational strategy and growth. Looking to the future, and with 54% of such leaders keen to explore the possibilities of generative AI for data and analytics, the new programme provides senior-level professionals with a timely opportunity to enhance their capabilities and gain a competitive edge in their industries. "Data is now the lifeblood of successful businesses. In today's competitive landscape, leveraging data is essential for driving growth and innovation. Organisations must prioritise data governance and strategy to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. At Simplilearn, we are dedicated to empowering leaders with the skills necessary to harness data's full potential, enabling them to unlock new opportunities and create a culture of innovation," said Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn. The curriculum will support leaders in developing and implementing effective data strategies that align with their business objectives, promoting a culture of innovation and data-driven transformation. Developed and delivered by Imperial College London faculty, the curriculum will cover critical topics such as data governance, privacy, security, GenAI applications, and data monetisation. Through business scenarios and case studies, learners can also test the practical applications of GenAI, AI, and ML technologies. The programme is delivered online for easy access and does not require learners to have prior tech expertise but is tailored for senior leaders, business heads, and aspiring C-level executives. Teaching will be delivered by Imperial faculty, data leaders, and global peers and supported by Simplilearn. "At Imperial, we recognise data as a transformative force in today's business environment. As organisations increasingly rely on data to drive strategic decisions, our partnership with Simplilearn will equip mid-senior level leaders with the essential skills to navigate this landscape. The Data Strategy for Leaders programme will empower participants to harness data effectively, ensuring they can innovate and lead their organisations to success," said David Brown, Director of Executive Education, Imperial College London. Upon completion, graduates will earn a prestigious certificate and gain Associate Alumni status from Imperial College Business School, underscoring their expertise as data leaders. Candidates interested in the programme can apply through the online application form. The admissions panel will review applications and extend offers to selected candidates. Admission is confirmed upon acceptance of the offer and payment of the programme fee. The first cohort for this cutting-edge programme by Imperial College Business School Executive Education begins in January. Click here to get more details about the programme. About Imperial College London We are Imperial - a world-leading university for science, technology, engineering, medicine and business (STEMB), where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact. As a global top ten university in London, we use science to try to understand more of the universe and improve the lives of more people in it. Across our nine campuses and throughout our Imperial Global network, our 22,000 students, 8,000 staff, and partners work together on scientific discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. Their work navigates some of the world's toughest challenges in global health, climate change, AI, business leadership and more. Founded in 1907, Imperial's future builds on a distinguished past, having pioneered penicillin, holography and fibre optics. Today, Imperial combines exceptional teaching, world-class facilities and a habit of interdisciplinary practice to unlock scientific imagination. About Simplilearn Founded in 2010 and based in Plano, Texas and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a world-leading digital skills provider, enabling learners across the globe. Simplilearn offers individuals and businesses worldwide access to world-class work-ready training. Simplilearn offers 1,500+ live online classes each month across 150+ countries, impacting over 8 million learners globally. The programmes are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognised, and globally relevant training programmes are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/4169121/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/simplilearn-and-imperial-launch-data-strategy-for-leaders-programme-302351707.html CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Wednesday.The U.S. dollar fell to a 9-day low of 156.71 against the yen, from an early high of 158.06.Against the euro and the Swiss franc, the greenback dropped to 6-day lows of 1.0316 and 0.9110 from early highs of 1.0287 and 0.9130, respectively.The greenback slipped to 1.2241 against the pound and 0.5626 against the NZ dollar, from early highs of 1.2161 and 0.5597, respectively.Against the Australia and the Canadian dollars, the greenback dropped to a 6-day low of 0.6212 and an 8-day low of 1.4329 from early highs of 0.6181 and 1.4364, respectively..If the greenback extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 155.00 against the yen, 1.04 against the euro, 0.90 against the franc, 1.25 against the pound, 0.58 against the kiwi, 0.63 against the aussie and 1.42 against the loonie.Copyright(c) 2025 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. Lauch of New AI tools Positioning Company For Rapid Growth in 2025 ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE:ARWY)(OTCQB:ARWYF)(FSE:E65), a leading innovator in augmented reality navigation (AR) and AI-powered event solutions, is pushing further into the events industry with the introduction of AI-driven tools and strategic growth initiatives. ARway continues to drive its mission of enhancing attendee engagement and streamlining event management through advanced AI technology. As a pure play software platform in 2024 the company generated about $1.1mill in revenue with a robust gross profit margin of about 95%. New Hires + New AI tools - Expected to lead to Growth and Rising Demand In 2025 the company is focusing on growing revenue with new AI products and new sales hires. To prepare for the growing demand driven by its AI integration, ARway has strategically expanded its salesforce with a goal of 10 dedicated sales people up from just two. This move reflects the company's dedication to scaling its operations and ensuring its technology reaches a broader audience. The expansion aligns with Nextech3D.ai's overarching commitment to maintaining its leadership in the rapidly evolving AI-powered technology landscape. "We are thrilled to introduce these new AI solutions to the events industry," said Evan Gappelberg- CEO of ARway. "Our partnerships with IAEE, TNSAE, and other influential organizations underscore our commitment to innovation, while our strategic growth initiatives position us to meet the increasing demand for AI-enhanced event management tools." AI-Powered Innovations in Event Management ARway is making inroads in the event management space by unveiling a suite of AI-powered solutions, starting with AI agents designed to elevate attendee engagement and improve event experiences. These intelligent agents can provide personalized recommendations, real-time assistance, and interactive features to enhance attendee satisfaction while simplifying event operations. In addition to AI agents, ARway is actively developing AI-powered event navigation tools to offer seamless integration for large venue platforms. These tools will help attendees navigate complex venues efficiently, improving overall event accessibility and satisfaction. Strategic Partnerships Bolster Industry Reach ARway's reach is further strengthened by strategic partnerships with prominent organizations in the events industry. Collaborations with the International Association of Exhibits & Exhibitors (IAEE) and the Tennessee Society of Association Executives (TNSAE) highlight ARway's commitment to building robust industry relationships. These partnerships aim to promote innovation and drive widespread adoption of ARway's solutions across a variety of event types and venues. About ARway ARway is a pioneering platform specializing in augmented reality (AR) and AI-driven solutions for event management, venue navigation, and attendee engagement. As a spinoff of Nextech3D.ai, ARway leverages cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the way events are managed and experienced, delivering seamless, interactive, and personalized solutions for attendees and organizers alike. About Nextech3D.ai Nextech3D.ai is a leading AI technology company dedicated to delivering innovative solutions across various industries. With a focus on augmented reality, 3D modeling, and AI-powered tools, Nextech3D.ai is committed to transforming how businesses operate and engage with their audiences. About MapD MapD is an intuitive, self-serve event management platform offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline event planning and execution. With its easy-to-use interface, MapD enables clients to manage floor space sales, exhibitor services, speaker schedules, and attendee communications all in real time. By automating event logistics, simplifying the sales process, and providing opportunities for new revenue streams, MapD empowers event organizers to focus on delivering exceptional experiences. Additionally, MapD's future updates include a native mobile app that will incorporate AR wayfinding features for in-person events or serve as a virtual venue for remote events. About ARway.ai ARway.ai is a cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) platform that empowers businesses to create immersive, interactive AR experiences for their customers. With a focus on enhancing real-world interactions through AI-powered AR, ARway provides solutions that bridge the gap between physical and digital environments, helping businesses enhance engagement, optimize space utilization, and drive innovation. For more information, please visit www.ARway.ai . For media inquiries: Contact: To learn more about Map D, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://mapdevents.com/ Sign up for Investor News - HERE To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai Nextech 3D.ai On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform, "ARitize3D" has contracts with; AMZN, KSS, CB2, Genuine Parts & many others. To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Contact investor.relations@arway.ai ARway.ai Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: ARway Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com Ms. Ginsberg's demonstrated leadership and extensive experience in consumer technology will support Flo's strategic growth LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flo Health ("Flo"), the #1 women's health app worldwide1 with 73 million monthly active users2 and the first European femtech to be valued at over one billion USD3, today announced the appointment of former Match Group CEO Mandy Ginsberg to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Ms. Ginsberg's extensive experience in consumer technology and her demonstrated leadership in scaling successful brands make her a valuable addition to Flo's Board of Directors as the company focuses on continued strategic expansion globally. Ms. Ginsberg brings over 20 years of experience building category-defining consumer brands in the technology sector to the Flo Board. Throughout her 14-year career at Match Group, she held several executive positions at the company in North America, ultimately serving as CEO from 2017 to 2020. During Ms. Ginsberg's tenure, Match Group expanded its portfolio from a single brand - Match.com - operating in North America, to more than 12 brands with users across every country in the world. As CEO, she managed renowned brands such as Hinge, Tinder, OkCupid and international brands including Meetic in Europe and Pairs in Japan. During her tenure as CEO, she drove subscriber and revenue growth and quadrupled Match Group's stock price. In her role on Flo's Board, Ms. Ginsberg will utilize her experience supporting technology companies through periods of expansion to prepare Flo for its next stage of business growth, with a focus on sustainable momentum, effective governance, and enhanced market visibility. Dmitry Gurski, CEO of Flo, expressed his enthusiasm for Ms. Ginsberg's appointment. "We couldn't be more excited to welcome Mandy to our Board. Her extensive experience in consumer technology and her demonstrated ability to scale businesses will be vital as we embark on our next phase of growth. We look forward to leveraging her expertise to help us further our mission of creating a better future for female health." "I am thrilled to join Flo Health's Board of Directors," said Ms. Ginsberg. "Flo's commitment to empowering women through health and wellness resonates deeply with me, especially as a mom of two daughters. The team at Flo has created an incredible product built on technology acumen, a growth mentality, and an expert medical team supporting a robust portfolio of interactive reproductive health content. I am thrilled to collaborate with Dmitry and the executive team at Flo to drive meaningful change in women's health." Jessie Cai, Principal at General Atlantic and member of Flo's Board, commented, "We are excited to welcome Mandy to the Flo Board of Directors. Mandy's personal passion for empowering women through health and wellness, combined with her track record in building and advising global consumer internet and subscription businesses, will support Flo in tackling the big opportunities ahead." Ms. Ginsberg is currently an operating partner at Advent International, a global private equity investment firm. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors at Uber Technologies, ThredUp, and Universal Music Group, and previously served as a director at Match Group, J.C. Penney Company, Care.com, and Noom. Ms. Ginsberg holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Dallas, TX with her family including two daughters - a high school student and a medical student at The University of Texas. Flo Health Flo Health is the leading app in the Health & Fitness category4; it is the #1 OB-GYN-recommended app5 for period and cycle tracking and is the first European femtech unicorn following a 230M investment from General Atlantic in July 2024. The company supports 73 million monthly active users (MAUs) and 6 million paid subscribers.6 With over 120 medical experts7, Flo is committed to supporting women at every stage of their health journey, from menstruation to conception, pregnancy, and menopause. It provides curated cycle and ovulation tracking, tailored health insights, daily bite-sized visual content, and a private community for users to share their questions and concerns. As part of its mission to build a better future for female health, Flo's Pass it on Project aims to improve health literacy by providing up to 1 billion women in need with free access to Flo Premium and has donated 20M subscriptions to date. Flo prioritizes safety and focuses on being the most trusted digital source for women's health information. Flo Health's Anonymous Mode feature was recognized as one of TIME's Best Inventions 2023 and also named a finalist for Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Awards in the Rapid Response category as part of the company's commitment to privacy. For more information, please visit https://flo.health . Media Contact: Flo Health Denae Thibault d_thibault@flo.health 1 Sensor Tower, December '24, iOS & Android, by downloads 2As of December 31, 2024 3"Flo Health Unicorn Raise News." Sifted, July 30, 2024. https://sifted.eu/articles/flo-health-unicorn-raise-news 4 Sensor Tower, December '24, iOS & Android, by downloads 5 Survey of 500 US OB-GYNs, DRG ('21) 6 As of December 31, 2024 7 As of December 31, 2024 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2598047/Flo_Health_UK_Limited__Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/former-match-group-ceo-mandy-ginsberg-joins-flo-healths-board-of-directors-302351078.html - Grand Challenges Canada, Science for Africa Foundation, Global Grand Challenges Network, and Geneva Learning Foundation launch global survey to collect insights on climate and health - TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), in partnership with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), the Global Grand Challenges Network, and The Geneva Learning Foundation, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking global survey to understand the health impacts of climate change. Supported by a robust network of dissemination partners, this initiative will prioritize the voices of community health workers, nurses, physicians, researchers, health policymakers, and other health professionals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Their input will offer local perspectives on the urgent and evolving health threats exacerbated by the climate crisis, such as heat-related illnesses, vector- and water-borne diseases, mental health challenges, and malnutrition. The quantitative data from the survey, along with qualitative insights from a global convening of healthcare workers, will be reviewed by a global panel of climate and health experts convened by Grand Challenges Canada. Together, these findings will shape a ranked list of the most critical climate and health challenges around the world, which will be made available as a public good publication and shared with policymakers, researchers, funders, and community leaders. The survey findings and expert panel insights will inform the development of a Climate and Health Grand Challenge, ensuring that global funding, research, and policy are strategically directed toward funding innovations that address the most urgent climate-sensitive health needs around the world. Dissemination partners for the survey include: Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Foundation S, Mastercard Foundation, Right Foundation, Grand Challenges Botswana, Grand Challenges Brazil, Grand Challenges India, Grand Challenges Malawi, Grand Challenges Nigeria, Grand Challenges South Africa (SAMRC), Grand Challenges Rwanda, LifeArc, Africa Frontline First, AMREF, Arm, AVPN, Bayer Foundation, BRAC, Bridgespan, Capita, Catalyst Fund, Clean Air Fund, Clinton Global Initiative, Community Health Impact Coalition, Financing Alliance for Health, Fondation Botnar, Forecasting Healthy Futures, Gates Ventures, The Global Fund, Global Health EDCTP3, Global Council for Science and the Environment, Global Innovation Fund, Grameen Foundation, HealthTech Hub, India Climate Collaborative, India Health Fund, Institute of Philanthropy, Integrate Health, Inter-American Development Bank, International Confederation of Midwives, Last Mile Health, the National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIS/NIEHS), Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Pasteur Network, PATH, Philanthropy Advisors, Rockefeller Foundation, Seed Global Health, Transform Health, The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), U.S. National Academy of Medicine, UNICEF, The World Bank, and World Meteorological Association. QUOTES: "We are grateful to the Government of Canada and Arm for supporting this work, and to our dissemination partners for their efforts to share the survey widely," said Dr. Karlee Silver, CEO of Grand Challenges Canada. "This survey will provide valuable insights to shape a Grand Challenge on Climate and Health, to support innovative approaches to address the needs of vulnerable populations and build a healthier, more resilient future for all." "Climate change is among the greatest health challenges of our time, and addressing it requires bold, evidence-based solutions," said Dr. Johanna Sanchez, Grand Challenges Canada's climate and health lead. "Just as locally led solutions are essential to overcoming global health challenges, local insights are critical in identifying the needs and priorities to be addressed. Together, we can ensure that the voices of those closest to the challenges are at the centre of our efforts to prioritize the most urgent health needs." "Africa stands at the nexus of climate vulnerability and health innovation. The survey is a timely initiative that will capture the lived experiences and expertise of African health professionals, who navigate these intersecting crises daily. By integrating their insights into global solutions, we can co-create strategies that not only address immediate challenges but also strengthen health systems to withstand future threats," said Dr. Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer, SFA Foundation. "Health workers are not just data points in this survey - they are knowledge creators who witness climate's impact on health firsthand in their communities," said Reda Sadki, Executive Director of The Geneva Learning Foundation. "Through our work connecting over 60,000 health practitioners across 137 countries, we have seen how their insights can bridge the critical gap between the emerging climate and health agenda and local community realities. We are honored to help amplify these voices through this important initiative." About Grand Challenges Canada: Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact. Funded by the Government of Canada and other partners, Grand Challenges Canada funds innovators in low- and middle-income countries and Canada. The bold ideas Grand Challenges Canada supports integrate science and technology, social and business innovation - known as Integrated Innovation. Grand Challenges Canada's climate and health programming is funded by the Government of Canada and Arm. One of the largest impact-first investors in the world, Grand Challenges Canada has supported a pipeline of over 1,700 innovations in more than 100 countries. Since 2010, innovations supported by Grand Challenges Canada have reached more than 80 million people with life-saving or life-improving initiatives who would otherwise not have had access. Learn more at www.grandchallenges.ca About the Science for Africa Foundation: The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) is a pan-African, non-profit, public charitable organisation created to support, strengthen, and promote science and innovation in Africa. www.scienceforafrica.foundation About the Global Grand Challenges Network Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Learn more about the Network: https://www.grandchallenges.org/about About The Geneva Learning Foundation The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) leads a peer learning platform (Teach to Reach) and a large global network of health workers from 137 countries. Together with Grand Challenges Canada, TGLF led the development of the global climate and health survey. Learn more at www.learning.foundation/ MEDIA CONTACT: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Aziz Froutan, Bilingual Manager, Media Relations and Communications, aziz.froutan@grandchallenges.ca, +1(437)-228-3166 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2598142/GRAND_CHALLENGES_CANADA___GRANDS_D_FIS_CANADA_New_Global_Survey.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-global-survey-seeks-insights-on-climate-and-health-302351229.html Realize the Dream, launched on MLK Day 2024, will create 100 million hours of community service by the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth in 2029 ATLANTA, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on the 96th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King announce the expansion ofRealize the Dream, a national initiative to foster unity and empower communities across America. Realize the Dream is a remarkable movement inspired by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision to create a society rooted in peace, justice, equality, and love for all. It will strengthen America through the transformative power of community service. As part of its expansion, Realize the Dream is setting a five-year goal of creating 100 million hours of service by what would have been Dr. King's 100th birthday in 2029. To help achieve that goal, Realize the Dream offers a trio of inspiring platforms: a robust slate of programs designed to empower individuals and communities to live their legacy today, theWhat is My Legacy?Book which came out yesterday, and the launch of the My Legacypodcast and radio show -each fostering a vision of connection, love, and fulfillment. Realize the Dream is a collaboration between the Martin Luther King III Foundation and Legacy+. "Realize the Dream is about honoring my father's legacy by fulfilling his vision of a just, equal, and compassionate society," said Martin Luther King III. "Through this initiative, we have the opportunity to collectively create a legacy defined by unity, community service, and love-one that will inspire generations to come. Together, we can cultivate the change our nation so deeply needs by building stronger communities, empowering individuals to act, and making service a shared purpose that bridges divides." Today, in advance of the 30th anniversary of MLK Day of Service, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King will participate in a service initiative at Food & Friends, a leading community-based organization in Washington, D.C, which delivers free of charge, medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy to neighbors living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, other serious and chronic illnesses. During their visit, the Kings will meet with staff and volunteers as well as join in the preparation of groceries for delivery. Through their service, they hope to inspire and motivate all Americans to join them in building community by answering Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's call to service. "This movement is a cultural shift," said Arndrea Waters King. "It's about uniting Americans in action, fostering empathy, and making service a cornerstone of our lives. Through service, we can break down barriers, create dialogue, and build a future rooted in connection and shared purpose." What is My Legacy is groundbreaking book by Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger which invites readers to redefine legacy not as something left behind, but as something we live each day. Released on January 14, 2025, the book challenges conventional notions of success and calls for a shift toward creating meaningful, inclusive, and transformative connections. All proceeds will support the Realize the Dream Initiative. A companion workbook, coming soon, will offer readers practical tools to deepen their journey. Hosted by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, the My Legacy podcast dives deep into the lives and legacies of extraordinary individuals from all walks of life. By exploring stories of courage, resilience, and transformation, the podcast challenges listeners to reflect on what legacy means to them and how to live a fulfilled life. A unique feature of the podcast is the 'plus-one' concept, encouraging each listener to bring someone new-a friend, family member, or colleague-into conversations about legacy, amplifying the message of connection. Syndicated on 100 iHeart radio stations and co-produced and distributed by iHeart, My Legacy will ignite conversations worldwide starting January 20. Since its beginnings in January 2024, Realize the Dream has focused on advancing its mission of service and action across the United States. Guided by three key pillars-Community Service, Movement Building, and Connections & Engagement-the initiative has already achieved significant milestones: Empowering Educators and Students: Realize the Dream has developed and distributed curricular resources for K-12 educators and students, focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Financial Literacy; Wellbeing and Mental Health; Social Entrepreneurship; STEM; and Community Service. These resources are being integrated into courses across a network of over 2 million educators and delivered through professional development workshops. Realize the Dream has developed and distributed curricular resources for K-12 educators and students, focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Financial Literacy; Wellbeing and Mental Health; Social Entrepreneurship; STEM; and Community Service. These resources are being integrated into courses across a network of over 2 million educators and delivered through professional development workshops. Youth Community Service Grants: Realize the Dream has launched grants to support and reward students leading impactful service projects, with a focus on under-resourced urban and rural areas. To date, grants have been awarded to schools in more than 30 states. Realize the Dream has launched grants to support and reward students leading impactful service projects, with a focus on under-resourced urban and rural areas. To date, grants have been awarded to schools in more than 30 states. National US Youth Council: Realize the Dream established a council of 33 students (Grades 5-12) to advise on programming, enhance resources, and lead service projects in their communities. Realize the Dream established a council of 33 students (Grades 5-12) to advise on programming, enhance resources, and lead service projects in their communities. MLK III Service Cohort: The initiative has introduced a six-month program for educators and school administrators from eight states and 14 markets nationwide. Culminating in an end-of-year showcase in May 2024, this cohort collectively completed over 25,000 hours of community service. To join Realize the Dream and contribute to 100 million hours of service visit realizethedream.org and for more information on What's My legacy? book and My Legacy podcast visit mylegacy.com. Stay connected on the latest news and updates: @realizethedream_org @mylegacymovment About the Martin Luther King III Foundation The Martin Luther King III Foundation is an organization dedicated to building up to a new culture of compassion, trust, dignity, acceptance and love through ideas, words and insights. Leading the way in representing the three values: justice, equity and peace. About Realize the Dream With the leadership of Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King, Realize the Dream seeks to inspire generational change and track 100 million hours of service by 2029, marking the 100th anniversary of Dr. King's birth. By uniting Americans through service, the initiative fosters connection, builds a culture of empathy, and drives collective action to achieve this historic milestone. To get involved and track your hours of service, visit realizethedream.org. About Legacy+ Legacy+ is a foundry of strategists, designers, creators, storytellers and innovators that brings purpose to life for companies, foundations and individuals by building real movements and legacy projects with life-changing impacts for people and communities around the world. They have partnered with globally renowned thought leaders, activists, CEOs, entertainers, athletes, celebrities and more to inspire millions of youths, educators, companies, and communities to give back through service. About My Legacy My Legacy is a vibrant global community that empowers individuals to live their best lives and lives larger than themselves. Our connection platform offers an array of tools, resources, education and inspiration designed to light a path toward the most sought- after yet elusive state of being: fulfillment. To learn more, visit mylegacy.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/martin-luther-king-iii-arndrea-waters-king-and-family-expand-the-realize-the-dream-movement-to-unite-america-through-community-service-302351240.html SHARJAH, UAE, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American University of Sharjah (AUS), invites outstanding international students to apply for the President's Scholarship for Fall 2025. Open to applicants who have completed their secondary education outside the UAE, this scholarship provides talented students with the opportunity to join a dynamic academic community that fosters innovation, collaboration and leadership. AUS is ranked among the top five universities in the UAE for its number of international students according to QS World University Rankings 2025 and third for its international student ratio in the Arab region according to QS Arab Region University Rankings 2024. With a campus that represents approximately 90 nationalities, AUS offers an inclusive and vibrant environment where diverse perspectives enrich academic and personal growth. The scholarship covers full tuition and lab fees, on-campus housing, student medical insurance and a monthly stipend to support living expenses. Recipients also benefit from three annual round-trip tickets during their studies. Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, underscored the significance of the scholarship, stating: "The President's Scholarship reflects our steadfast commitment to providing talented students from around the globe with access to an education that is both transformative and empowering." Students at AUS benefit from remarkable opportunities to engage in innovative research studies, thanks to the establishment of six cutting-edge research centers. These include the Artificial Intelligence, Smart Infrastructure and Robotics Research Center; the Materials Research Center; the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development; the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center; the Center for Arab Studies and Islamic Civilizations; and the Advanced Biosciences and Bioengineering Research Center. Located in Sharjah, the cultural capital of the UAE, AUS combines tradition with modernity on a campus that inspires exploration and discovery. AUS students are immersed in a thriving ecosystem of cultural heritage, entrepreneurship and technological advancement. The vibrant campus life offers opportunities for personal development and engagement through over 120 student-led organizations, including cultural clubs that celebrate global traditions, academic associations that drive professional excellence and interest-based clubs that cater to diverse passions and talents. The President's Scholarship is open for applications until Thursday, April 17, 2025, and renewable for students who continue to meet the scholarship's requirements. Prospective applicants can visit apply.aus.edu to learn more about the eligibility criteria and submit their applications. To know more about the scholarships and grants offered by AUS, visit www.aus.edu/scholarship. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2598699/American_University_Sharjah.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/aus-announces-presidents-scholarship-for-international-students-302351720.html HIGHLIGHTS An Airborne Mobile MagnetoTellurics (" MMT ") survey totaling 5,946-line kilometres was completed in September of 2024. The survey covers the northern half of the Angilak Project (Figure 1) - representing approximately 85% of the original project area, pre-2024 staking - inclusive of the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 mineralized trends (known as the " Lac 50 Deposit "), as well as the eastern, western, and northern margins of the Angikuni Basin More than 100 km of cumulative prospective conductors were identified The survey successfully achieved its four primary objectives 1. Determine the depth extent of prospective conductive horizons hosting uranium mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit 2. Determine the depth and lateral extent of prospective conductive horizons at regional high-grade uranium showings, such as the Nine-Iron Discovery 3. Mapping prospective conductors within the Angikuni sub-basin, representing high-priority Athabasca-style unconformity type targets 4. Identify new high-priority structural targets along the margins of the Angikuni Basin A 25 km conductive trend along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin - more conductive than Lac 50 and Nine Iron - has been identified. The Western Margin Trend ("WMT") shows substantial similarities with typical Athabasca Basin unconformity-style deposits and is coincidental with numerous historic uranium showings such as Rib and Yat The Rib Discovery consists of 30 diamond drill holes that intersected shallow mineralization (<25 m depth) with grades of up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 . Ribwasdrilled during the late 1970s andis situated within the western margin of the Angikuni Basin where drill holes intersecting Athabasca style unconformity alteration, structure, and lithologies associated with uranium mineralization . Importantly, as was typical of 1970 - 1980's Athabasca Basin exploration, the maximum depth of drilling at Rib is ~100 m, ending in what is now considered to be prospective alteration and lithologies. The 2024 MMT survey demonstrates that the prospective conductive horizon along the WMT extends from surface to depths of more than 1 km, within and along the margins of the Angikuni Basin The Lac 50 Deposit has a baseline 2024 Exploration Target Model ranging between 60.8M lbs U 3 O 8 and 98.2M lbs U 3 O 8 , with an average grade range of 0.37% U 3 O 8 and 0.48% U 3 O 8 (see November 25, 2024, NI-43-101 Technical Report) (Table 1). The 2024 Exploration Model was restricted to drill results with a maximum modelled depth extent of ~500 m.The MMT results demonstrate the prospective conductive horizons that host mineralization extend to depths greater than 1 km, significantly increasing the prospectivity of the mineralized envelop The Nine Iron Discovery consists of 5 diamond drill holes, all of which intersected uranium mineralization with grades of up to 1.25% U 3 O 8 . Nine Iron is located approximately 5.5 km southeast of the Lac 50 Deposit along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin and was not included in the 2024 Exploration Model. Drilling at Nine Iron has a maximum depth of ~150 m and results from the MMT survey indicate the prospective conductive horizons extend from surface to more than 800 m depth. Troy Boisjoli, CEO commented: "The results from our 2024 MMT survey represent a significant milestone in unlocking the full potential of the Angilak Project, and importantly, the Angikuni Basin as a whole. The confirmation of down-dip conductive horizons at the Lac 50 Deposit and Nine Iron Discovery, along with the newly identified 25 km conductive trend along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin, underscores the immense scale and prospectivity of this project. These findings reinforce our belief that Angilak has the potential to emerge as one of the most significant uranium districts globally, and we are excited to continue defining the potential of this project." Cliff Revering, VP Exploration added: "The 2024 exploration program was designed to demonstrate the potential scale and prospectivity of the Angilak Project, and the results of the 2024 MMT survey is yet another layer of evidence to support our thesis on this uranium district. In addition to the depth potential observed at the Lac 50 Deposit within the MMT data, the identification of large, regional scale conductive horizons within the Angikuni Basin corroborated by historical drilling at Nine-Iron and Rib, which intersected favorable geology, significant alteration, and uranium mineralization, continues to grow the discovery potential within the Angilak Uranium District." VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2025 / ATHA Energy Corp. ( TSX.V:SASK)(FRA:X5U)(OTCQB:SASKF) (" ATHA " or the " Company "), holder of the largest uranium exploration portfolio in two of the highest-grade uranium districts globally, is pleased to announce results from its Airborne Mobile MagnetoTellurics ("MMT") survey at its 100%-owned Angilak Uranium Project (the " Project ") in Nunavut, Canada. The MMT survey at Angilak was completed in September of 2024 by Expert Geophysics. The system combines the latest advances in electronics, airborne system design, and sophisticated signal processing techniques. The objectives of the MMT survey were to: Determine the depth extent of prospective conductive horizons hosting uranium mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit Determine the depth and lateral extent of prospective conductive horizons at regional high-grade uranium showings, such as the Nine-Iron Discovery Mapping prospective conductors within the Angikuni sub-basin, representing high-priority Athabasca-style unconformity type targets Identify new high-priority structural targets along the margins of the Angikuni Basin All objectives were successfully achieved with the identification of conductive lithological horizons hosting sulphides and graphite, which are known indicators for uranium mineralization across the Angilak Project - and are analogous to Athabasca Basin style uranium deposits. A total of 5,946-line kilometres were flown over the northern half of the Angilak Project, representing approximately 85% of the original project area, pre-2024 staking (Figure 1) - inclusive of the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 mineralized trends (known as the " Lac 50 Deposit "), as well as the eastern, western and northern margins of the Angikuni Basin. Results from the MMT survey confirm the depth extent of the prospective conductive horizons that host uranium mineralization at the Lac 50 Deposit and Nine Iron Discovery (Figure 1). At the Lac 50 Deposit, the survey indicates that the prospective conductive horizons extend to 1 km depth, while at Nine Iron Discovery, the prospective horizons extend to approximately 800 m depth. At both areas the results demonstrate the potential for mineralization to extend well beyond the current envelops of mineralization. Additionally, along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin, a 25 km conductive trend has been identified that is more conductive than Lac 50 and Nine Iron. During the late 1970's several rounds of exploration took place along the Western Margin Trend (" WMT "), inclusive of diamond drilling, trenching and soil sampling, which resulted in the discovery of numerous uranium showings, including Rib and Yat. At the Rib Discovery - located ~30 km southwest of the Lac 50 Deposit, situated along the western margin of the Angikuni Basin - early exploration programs were conducted by Noranda Exploration Company (" Noranda "). Between 1977 and 1979 Noranda completed 30 diamond drill holes at the Rib Discovery, intersecting Athabasca Basin-style unconformity alteration, structure, and lithologies associated with shallow (<25 m depth) uranium mineralization with grades of up to 5.6% U 3 O 8 hosted within graphitic mylonites. These historic drill results demonstrate that the Angikuni Basin has the potential to host Athabasca Basin-style, basement- and unconformity-type uranium mineralization. When the historic drill results are coupled with the 2024 MMT survey results at the Rib Discovery, the scale and potential of the WMT to host multiple additional unconformity and basement type uranium mineralized zones along the 25 km trend is high. Importantly, as was typical of 1970 - 1980s Athabasca Basin exploration, the maximum depth of drilling at Rib is ~100 m, ending in what is now considered to be prospective alteration and lithologies. The 2024 MMT survey demonstrates that the prospective conductive horizon along the WMT extends from surface to depths of more than 1 km, within and along the margins of the Angikuni Basin. ANGILAK PROJECT - NUNAVUT The Angilak Uranium Project is situated within the Angikuni Basin, approximately 225 km southwest of Baker Lake in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut (Figure 1). The Project notably hosts the Lac 50 Uranium Deposit, which has a historical mineral resource estimate of 43.3M lbsat an average grade of 0.69% U 3 O 8 . 1 and a 2024 Exploration Target for the Lac 50 Deposit ranging between 60.8M lbs U 3 O 8 and 98.2M lbs U 3 O 8 , with an average grade range between 0.37% U 3 O 8 and 0.48% U 3 O 8 (Table 1) - restricted to drill results from the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 mineralized trends. Additionally, numerous regional discoveries of uranium mineralization have been made outside of the Lac 50 Deposit area, both within the Angikuni Basin as well as along its rim - demonstrating many similarities to high-grade uranium discoveries in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. One such prominent regional discovery within the Angilak Project area is the Dipole Showing, located along the western rim of the Angikuni Basin 25 km to the southwest of the Lac 50 Corridor. Previous operators of the Project completed 24 diamond drill holes in the Dipole Showing and intersected grades of up to 5.53% U 3 O 8 over 0.5 m. Surficial mapping was completed as part of the 2024 Angilak Exploration Program (the " Mapping Program "), which also included expansion-focused diamond drilling and geophysics. The Mapping Program has successfully achieved its objective by discovering high-grade uranium mineralization on surface beyond the extents of the Lac 50 Deposit's exploration target model (the "Exploration Target Model") (Figure 3), as defined in the updated 2024 Technical Report in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the National Instrument NI 43-101. The Technical Report establishes a baseline exploration target for the Lac 50 Deposit ranging between 60.8M lbs U 3 O 8 and 98.2M lbs U 3 O 8 , with an average grade range between 0.37% U 3 O 8 and 0.48% U 3 O 8 (the " Exploration Target ") (Table 1) and is notably restricted to drill results from the Lac 48, 50, 52, and 54 mineralized trends (the "Lac 50 Deposit") (Figures 2a & 2b). Figure 1: Plan Map detailing Lac 50 Deposit location with the Angilak Uranium Project Table 1: Lac 50 Deposit Exploration Target Model *Notes - The stated potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, and there has not been sufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. **Significant digits have been rounded to the nearest decimal. ***The ranges were derived from a block model approach using interpreted vein wireframes, drill core assays, grade interpolation via Ordinary Kriging, and applied uncertainty bandwidths. Figure 2a: 2024 Lac 50 Deposit Planview Schematic Figure 2b: 2024 Lac 50 Deposit Long-section Schematic Figure 3: 2024 Lac 50 Deposit Area and Mapped Mineralized Outcrops NOVEMBER 2024 ANGILAK PROJECT TECHNICAL REPORT Understood Mineral Resources Ltd. (" UMR ") provided ATHA with ranges for potential uranium quantity and grade as a target for further exploration on Angilak's Lac 50 Deposit. The ranges were derived from a block model approach using interpreted vein wireframes, drill core assays, grade interpolation via Ordinary Kriging, and applied uncertainty bandwidths. The wireframes were modelled using a grade intercept limit equal to or greater than a minimum grade of 0.01% U 3 O 8 , although lower grades were incorporated in places to maintain continuity and represent the structural setting and continuity of the mineralized system. Extension distance for the mineralized wireframes was halfway to the next hole, or 200 m in areas of no drilling, representing the potential at the deposit. Assays were composited to 4 metre lengths within the mineralized boundaries, capped at 5% U 3 O 8 , and used for variography. The blocks within the wireframes were interpolated with grade values using the composites, variography, ordinary kriging (OK), and a High Yield Limit set at 2.5% U 3 O 8 (50% of search range). UMR applied an uncertainty bandwidth to define a range for potential uranium using the block model as the midpoint. The well-informed portions of the wireframes with < 50 m drill hole spacing used a bandwidth of 5% tonnes and 15% metal content. An uncertainty bandwidth of 10% tonnes and 30% metal content was used for the remaining wireframes with drill hole spacing greater than 50 m. The stated potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, and there has not been sufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Cliff Revering, P.Eng., Vice President, Exploration of ATHA, who is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects . The ranges for potential uranium quantity and grade for the Lac 50 Deposit were completed by Mr. Matthew Batty, MSc, P.Geo of Understood Mineral Resources Ltd. Mr. Batty is an independent Qualified Persons in accordance with the requirements of National Instrument (NI) 43-101 and he has approved the disclosure herein. About ATHA ATHA is a Canadian mineral company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium assets in the pursuit of a clean energy future. With a strategically balanced portfolio including three 100%-owned post discovery uranium projects (the Angilak Project located in Nunavut, and CMB Discoveries in Labrador hosting historical resource estimates of 43.3 million lbs and 14.5 million lbs U 3 O 8 respectively, and the newly discovered basement hosted GMZ high-grade uranium discovery located in the Athabasca Basin). In addition, the Company holds the largest cumulative prospective exploration land package (7.3 million acres) in two of the world's most prominent basins for uranium discoveries - ATHA is well positioned to drive value. ATHA also holds a 10% carried interest in key Athabasca Basin exploration projects operated by NexGen Energy Ltd. and IsoEnergy Ltd. For more information visit www.athaenergy.com. 1,2,3. About Understood Mineral Resources Ltd. Understood Mineral Resources Ltd. is a small, well-trained team with experience in numerous commodities and geologic environments, specializing in project development, geological modeling, deterministic and probabilistic mineral resource estimation, production reconciliation, grade control, and mine planning. UMR's academic training gives them the unique skills to generate probabilistic resource modelling products in conjunction with more conventional techniques such as ordinary kriging. UMR's primary objective is to bring high-quality, reliable, auditable resource models to all mining companies using the latest geostatistical techniques and strategies. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Troy Boisjoli, CEO, ATHA Energy Corp Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Prover (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, please contact: Troy Boisjoli Chief Executive Officer Email: info@athaenergy.com www.athaenergy.com Historical Mineral Resource Estimates All mineral resources estimates presented in this news release are considered to be "historical estimates" as defined under NI 43-101, and have been derived from the following (See notes below). In each instance, the historical estimate is reported using the categories of mineral resources and mineral reserves as defined by the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Reserves, and mineral reserves at that time, and these "historical estimates" are not considered by ATHA to be current. In each instance, the reliability of the historical estimate is considered reasonable, but a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and ATHA is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. The historical information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the properties but may not be representative of expected results. Notes on the Historical Mineral Resource Estimate for the Angilak Deposit: 1. This estimate is considered to be a "historical estimate" under NI 43-101 and is not considered by any of to be current. See below for further details regarding the historical mineral resource estimate for the Angilak Property. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing or other relevant issues. The quality and grade of the reported inferred resource in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured resource category. Contained value metals may not add due to rounding. A 0.2% U3O8 cut-off was used. The mineral resource estimate contained in this press release is considered to be "historical estimates" as defined under NI 43-101 and is not considered to be current. The "historical estimate" is derived from a Technical Report entitled "Technical Report and Resource Update For The Angilak Property, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada", prepared by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol. of APEX Geosciences, Robert Sim, B.Sc., P.Geo. of SIM Geological Inc. and Bruce Davis, Ph.D., FAusIMM of BD Resource Consulting Inc., dated March 1, 2013 for ValOre Metals Corp. As disclosed in the above noted technical report, the historical estimate was prepared under the direction of Robert Sim, P.Geo, with the assistance of Dr. Bruce Davis, FAusIMM, and consists of three-dimensional block models based on geostatistical applications using commercial mine planning software. The project limits area based in the UTM coordinate system (NAD83 Zone14) using nominal block sizes measuring 5x5x5m at Lac Cinquante and 5x3x3 m (LxWxH) at J4. Grade (assay) and geological information is derived from work conducted by Kivalliq during the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 field seasons. A thorough review of all the 2013 resource information and drill data by a Qualified Person, along with the incorporation of subsequent exploration work and results, which includes some drilling around the edges of the historical resource subsequent to the publication of the 2013 technical report, would be required in order to verify the Angilak Property historical estimate as a current mineral resource. The historical mineral resource estimate was calculated in accordance with NI 43-101 and CIM standards at the time of publication and predates the current CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May, 2014) and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines (November, 2019). A thorough review of all historical data performed by a Qualified Person, along with additional exploration work to confirm results would be required to produce a current mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. 2. Notes on the Historical Mineral Resource Estimate for the Moran Lake Deposit: Jeffrey A. Morgan, P.Geo. and Gary H. Giroux, P.Eng. completed a NI 43-101 technical report titled "Form 43-101F1 Technical Report on the Central Mineral Belt (CMB) Uranium Project, Labrador, Canada, Prepared for Crosshair Exploration & Mining Corp." and dated July 31, 2008, with an updated mineral resource estimate for the Moran Lake C-Zone along with initial mineral resources for the Armstrong and Area 1 deposits. They modelled three packages in the Moran Lake Upper C-Zone (the Upper C Main, Upper C Mylonite, and Upper C West), Moran Lake Lower C-Zone, two packages in Armstrong (Armstrong Z1 and Armstrong Z3), and Trout Pond. These mineral resources are based on 3D block models with ordinary kriging used to interpolate grades into 10 m x 10 m x 4 m blocks. A cut-off grade of 0.015% U3O8 was used for all zones other than the Lower C Zone which employed a cut-off grade of 0.035%. A thorough review of all historical data performed by a Qualified Person, along with additional exploration work to confirm results, would be required to produce a current mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards. 3. Notes on the Historical Mineral Resource Estimate for the Anna Lake Deposit: The mineral resource estimate contained in this table is considered to be a "historical estimate" as defined under NI 43-101, and is not considered to be current and is not being treated as such. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources. A qualified person would need to review and verify the scientific information and conduct an analysis and reconciliation of historical drill and geological data in order to verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Reported by Bayswater Uranium Corporation in a Technical Report entitled "Form 43-101 Technical Report on the Anna Lake Uranium Project, Central Mineral Belt, Labrador, Canada", prepared by R. Dean Fraser, P.Geo. and Gary H. Giroux, P.Eng., dated September 30, 2009. A 3-dimensional geologic model of the deposit was created for the purpose of the resource estimate using the Gemcom/Surpac modeling software. A solid model was created using a minimum grade x thickness cutoff of 3 meters grading 0.03% U3O8. Intersections not meeting this cutoff were generally not incorporated into the model. The shell of this modeled zone was then used to constrain the mineralization for the purpose of the block model. Assay composites 2.5 meters in length that honoured the mineralized domains were used to interpolate grades into blocks using ordinary kriging. An average specific gravity of 2.93 was used to convert volumes to tonnes. The specific gravity data was acquired in-house and consisted of an average of seventeen samples collected from the mineralised section of the core. The resource was classified into Measured, Indicated or Inferred using semi-variogram ranges applied to search ellipses. All resources estimated at Anna Lake fall under the "Inferred" category due to the wide spaced drill density. An exploration program would need to be conducted, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to verify the Anna Lake Project estimate as a current mineral resource. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to ATHA's proposed exploration program, including statements with respect to the expected benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from ATHA's proposed exploration program, the timing, scope, nature, breadth and other information related to ATHA's proposed exploration program, any results that may be derived from the diversification of ATHA's portfolio, the successful integration of the businesses of ATHA, Latitude Uranium and 92 Energy, the prospects of ATHA's projects, including mineral resources estimates and mineralization of each project, the prospects of ATHA's business plans and any expectations with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on any of ATHA's projects, and any expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other work that may be required to bring any of the projects into development or production. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that the anticipated benefits of ATHA's proposed exploration program will be realized, that no additional permit or licenses will be required in connection with ATHA's exploration programs, the ability of ATHA to complete its exploration activities as currently expected and on the current anticipated timelines, including ATHA's proposed exploration program, that ATHA will be able to execute on its current plans, that ATHA's proposed explorations will yield results as expected, the synergies between ATHA, 92 Energy and Latitude Uranium's assets, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although each of ATHA and 92E have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such statements represent the current view of ATHA with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by ATHA, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: inability of ATHA to realize the benefits anticipated from the exploration and drilling targets described herein or elsewhere; in ability of ATHA to complete current exploration plans as presently anticipated or at all; inability for ATHA to economically realize on the benefits, if any, derived from the exploration program; failure to complete business plans as it currently anticipated; overdiversification of ATHA's portfolio; failure to realize on benefits, if any, of a diversified portfolio; unanticipated changes in market price for ATHA shares; changes to ATHA's current and future business and exploration plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of the business of ATHA; any impacts of COVID-19 on the business of ATHA and the ability to advance the Company projects and its proposed exploration program; risks inherent in mineral exploration including risks related worker safety, weather and other natural occurrences, accidents, availability of personnel and equipment, and other factors; aboriginal title; failure to obtain regulatory and permitting approvals; no known mineral resources/reserves; reliance on key management and other personnel; competition; changes in laws and regulations; uninsurable risks; delays in governmental and other approvals, community relations; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions where ATHA conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the filings of ATHA with the Canadian securities regulators which are available on ATHA's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . ATHA does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: ATHA Energy Corp View the original press release on accesswire.com EQS Stimmrechtsmitteilung: Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft: Veroffentlichung gema 43 Abs. 1 WpHG mit dem Ziel der europaweiten Verbreitung 15.01.2025 / 13:30 CET/CEST Veroffentlichung einer Stimmrechtsmitteilung ubermittelt durch EQS News - ein Service der EQS Group. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich. Barclays PLC hat uns folgende Information gegeben: We are writing to inform you that on 07 January 2025, we have crossed the 10% threshold in relation to shares of Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft (Commerzbank). Specifically, as of this date, our holdings in Commerzbank include 7.72% in physical shares according to Sec. 33 of the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandeslgesetz - WpHG) and 8,33% in instruments according to Sec. 38 WpHG. This letter relates to our aggregate position and these positions are held by other entities in the same group as Barclays plc (and references in this letter to Barclays include such entities).that on 07 January 2025, we have crossed the 10% threshold in relation to shares of Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft (Commerzbank). Specifically, as of this date, our holdings in Commerzbank include 7.72% in physical shares according to Sec. 33 of the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandeslgesetz - WpHG) and 8,33% in instruments according to Sec. 38 WpHG. This letter relates to our aggregate position and these positions are held by other entities in the same group as Barclays plc (and references in this letter to Barclays include such entities). The details regarding the objectives pursued with the acquisition and the source of the funds used for the acquisition are as follows: 1. OBJECTIVES OF THE ACQUSISITON (SEC. 43(1) SENT. 1 AND 3 WPHG) (a) Barclays has acquired holdings in Commerzbank consisting of synthetic long positions as a result of entering into derivative transactions with market counterparties and physical long positions to hedge derivative transactions relating to Commerzbank. Barclays holdings relating to Commerzbank are not for the purposes of the implementation of any strategic aim of Barclays in relation to Commerzbank nor for the purpose of the attainment of trading profits from a financial investment in Commerzbank. (b) Barclays may need to adjust its hedge positions in respect of financial transactions referencing shares in Commerzbank and may enter into additional financial transactions from time to time in the ordinary course of its business - these activities may affect Barclays' overall position. (c) Barclays is not seeking to exercise influence on the appointment of members of the management and supervisory bodies of Commerzbank. (d) Barclays is not seeking a significant change to the capital structure of Commerzbank, in particular with respect to the ratio between equity and debt financing and the dividend policy. 2. SOURCE OF FUNDS USED FOR THE ACQUISTION (SEC. 43(1) SENT. 4 WPHG) Barclays positions are entered into using Barclays own funds. Note that financial transactions entered into by Barclays may be collateralised. 15.01.2025 CET/CEST Die EQS Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen. Medienarchiv unter https://eqs-news.com Sterling Metals Corp. (TSXV:SAG)(OTCQB:SAGGF) ("Sterling" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of its 3D induced polarization and resistivity survey (the "Survey") at the Copper Road Project (the "Project") in Ontario, Canada. This survey covered an expansive 5km by 3km area in the center of the Project, successfully pinpointing multiple high-priority, drill-ready targets. These findings are significant, highlighting both the potential of the near surface target zones as well as the Project's capacity to host a large-scale copper porphyry mineral system at depth (Figure 1). Highlights: The Survey has identified multiple chargeable bodies at or near surface, along with several resistivity low anomalies that correlate with copper found in historical drill holes or outcrops; Numerous areas of interest across the Survey appear interconnected, linking to what may be a large porphyry center at depth as mapped by the regional and deep looking ZTEM survey (see Figure 1). This interconnected "plumbing" system enhances the geological prospectivity of the area; The area for initial drill targeting has now been narrowed from the 5km x 3km Survey to the corresponding ZTEM anomaly that aligns with surface IP, resistivity lows and surface mineralization. This high-priority target is approximately 2.5km x 1.5km x 1.5km; and The Company is currently designing its initial drill campaign aimed to test the hypothesis of extensive near-surface copper zones connected to a larger porphyry center at depth. Additional targets identified during the Survey will be systematically reviewed and refined against surface, historical drilling, IP, resistivity and mag signatures. Jeremy Niemi, SVP Exploration and Evaluation, commented, "We are very happy with how our maiden exploration season has advanced at the Copper Road Project. We took a very purposeful approach to develop geologically rich evidence for a large-scale copper porphyry mineral system and to identify targets that have the potential to host significant volumes of copper and molybdenum. In just eight months, we have achieved this and set the stage for drilling very exciting targets." Figure 1: A long section demonstrating historical drill results as they apply to a +25mv chargeability shell when connecting to resistivity lows and the connection of this low to a larger potential porphyry core ("source") at depth1. Figure 2: Demonstrating the 2.5km length of the resistivity low as it crosses the section from Figure 1 (A-A')1. The primary objective of the survey was to identify sizeable chargeable anomalies within the priority area of the Project. Physical property testing on historical drill core has demonstrated that copper sulphide mineralization generates a strong and consistent chargeability response. The survey has identified numerous chargeability zones across the survey area which are hundreds of metres to over 1km in length and width. Zones isolated as the highest priority have favourable surface geology, scale, corresponding low resistivity signature, and apparent connectivity to deeper resistivity low bodies mapped by ZTEM airborne data. These deeper bodies may represent geologically important porphyry source chambers to deposit copper-molybdenum mineralization. The Survey results also highlight the possibility of multiple intrusive bodies, which may represent different geological events, near surface with connections to larger porphyry centers at depth. The presence of these potential deep sources enhances the geological setting and priority of the identified targets. Identifying earlier phases of the porphyry system, which may host multiple overlapping mineralizing events, is important due to the potential of enriching copper and molybdenum sulphide concentrations. The Company is actively working with the newly acquired data to design a drill program focused on testing the priority targets and closely examining secondary targets to build a robust exploration portfolio. Historical drilling, recent mapping, prospecting, systematic soil sampling, and property-wide airborne magnetics and Lidar surveys collectively support the potential for a large copper porphyry mineral system at Copper Road. The next step for the Company is to initiate drilling on the priority targets to seek significant accumulations of copper and molybdenum mineralization related to the porphyry system. Mathew Wilson, CEO and Director, commented, "One year ago, when we reviewed and acquired this Project, we recognized the immense potential it held, situated between two historical mines and in a Tier 1 jurisdiction. This last year has been an effort to determine if we could narrow our search radius to an area that was both explorable for a company of our size as well as hosting sufficient scale when compared to other porphyry targets around the world. We feel we have done both those things and look forward to the next phase of exploration as we continue to benefit from the second to none infrastructure and access of this copper porphyry exploration project." Qualified Person Jeremy Niemi, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration and Evaluation for Sterling Metals has reviewed and approved the technical information presented herein. About Sterling Metals Sterling Metals (TSXV: SAG and OTCQB: SAGGF) is a mineral exploration company focused on large scale and high-grade Canadian exploration opportunities. The Company is advancing the 25,000-hectare Copper Road Project in Ontario which has past production, and multiple breccia and porphyry targets strategically located near robust infrastructure and the 29,000-hectare Adeline Project in Labrador which covers an entire sediment-hosted copper belt with significant silver credits. Both opportunities have demonstrated potential for important new copper discoveries, underscoring Sterling's commitment to pioneering exploration in mineral rich Canada. For more information, please contact: Sterling Metals Corp. Mathew Wilson, CEO and Director Tel: (416) 643-3887 Email: info@sterlingmetals.ca Website: www.sterlingmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 1 Independent Technical Report entitled "Technical Report on the Copper Road Property", dated April 29, 2024, prepared by Kelly Malcolm, P.Geo., for Sterling Metals Corp. SOURCE: Sterling Metals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Drilling Focused on Expansion and Delineation of Ultra High-Grade Pike Zone Uranium Discovery Management Representatives Attending Vancouver Resource Investment Conference from January 19-20, 2025 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the start of drilling as part of the $12.5 million 2025 exploration program on the West McArthur Joint Venture project (the "Project") in the eastern Athabasca Basin. The 2025 West McArthur winter program will focus on continued expansion and delineation of the ultra high-grade Pike Zone uranium discovery. Three drills have been mobilized to the project site and drilling has begun on the Pike Zone with all three drills currently focused on delineation within and on strike of the current known high-grade zone. The West McArthur project, a Joint Venture with Cameco Corporation, is operated by CanAlaska that holds an estimated 85.79% ownership in the Project. CanAlaska is sole-funding the 2025 West McArthur program and will further increase its majority ownership in the Project as a result. Figure 1 - Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/237211_f43d8e6464f6eba4_002full.jpg 2025 West McArthur Winter Exploration Program The 2025 winter drill program on the West McArthur project will consist of three diamond drills operating to achieve an estimated 25 unconformity target intersections. To start the winter program, all three drill rigs will be active at the Pike Zone, focused on delineation and extension of the currently understood ultra high-grade zone (Figure 2). The Company will continue to use downhole mud-motor deviation technology for pilot holes and directional offcuts to increase drilling efficiency and target intercept accuracy. Figure 2 - Three Drill Rigs Mobilized to Pike Zone - January 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2864/237211_f43d8e6464f6eba4_004full.jpg Results from recently completed drill programs indicate that the Pike Zone already has a strike length of uranium mineralization along the unconformity target area of approximately 200 metres that remains open in all directions. Multiple drill fences within the unconformity target area define a high-grade core that remains open and extends for at least 100 metres. As the winter season progresses, the Company plans to continue step outs along the C10S corridor from the Pike Zone to evaluate for additional zones of high-grade uranium mineralization. To the west of the Pike Zone the C10S corridor remains untested for approximately 1,000 metres. As part of the 2025 exploration program, the Company has also started a ground-based electromagnetic survey to investigate the extension of the C10S corridor to the southwestern property boundary. Historical EM coverage will be replaced with modern Stepwise Moving Loop Time Domain Electromagnetics, utilizing the same survey design that led to the discovery of the Pike Zone. Along trend to the northeast, the C10 corridor is host to CanAlaska's 42 Zone discovery, as well as Cameco and Orano's high-grade Fox Lake uranium deposit (68.1 million pounds uranium at 7.99% U3O8 average grade1 (refer to "References" below)). The 15-kilometre-long C10S corridor is sparsely tested outside of Pike Zone and 42 Zone mineralization. Based on the recent positive results and the proven uranium endowment of the C10 and C10S corridors, the Company believes there is significant potential for discovery of additional unconformity-related high-grade zones of mineralization. The Company expects to complete the winter portion of the 2025 approved exploration program in April. As part of the approved 2025 exploration program and budget, a summer exploration program is planned for the West McArthur project. CanAlaska CEO, Cory Belyk, comments, "The start of the 2025 exploration program at West McArthur is an exciting milestone to reach and the CanAlaska team is looking forward to building on the incredible success achieved for our shareholders in 2024 at the Pike Zone discovery. As the three drills start turning, the need for new high-grade uranium discoveries to fuel growing western world clean energy demand has never been more clearly understood. The ongoing geopolitical risk in Kazakhstan and many other uranium production centers elsewhere in the world, and depleting reserve base at tier 1 deposits like Cigar Lake and McArthur River, is challenging the concept of existing and future stable clean energy fuel supply. The discovery of Pike Zone in the worlds best and most stable uranium producing district is well timed to counter this increasing supply risk dynamic." Other News The Company will be attending the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference ("VRIC") on January 19th and 20th in Vancouver, BC and will have representatives at booth #629. The Company will also be attending the AME Roundup Conference in Vancouver, BC and will have a corporate update presentation in the Critical and Base Metals Session on January 21st. The Company also announces that it has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,925,000 common shares of the Company pursuant to CanAlaska's omnibus equity incentive plan. These options are exercisable for a period of two years at a price of $0.77 per share. Pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange policies, 100,000 of these options granted to an investor relations consultant will vest as to 25% on each of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months from their date of grant. All other options are fully vested. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. References Refer to: https://www.cameco.com/invest/overview/reserves-resources/inferred or Cameco Corporation Annual MD&A (year ended December 31, 2015) published on SEDAR+ February 5th, 2016, for information on the Fox Lake uranium deposit. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQX: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7) is a Canadian based exploration company and holds interest in approximately 500,000 hectares (1,235,000 acres) in Canada's Athabasca Basin focused on exploration and discovery of high-grade unconformity uranium deposits. The Company is actively advancing the Pike Zone discovery - a new high-grade uranium discovery on its West McArthur Joint Venture project in the eastern Athabasca Basin. In addition, the Company has several other uranium-focused exploration programs. CanAlaska deploys a hybrid project generator model, focusing on the acquisition and sale of prospective projects, while also executing exploration programs on CanAlaska's most strategic land holdings. The Company's extensive portfolio has attracted international mining companies, including Cameco Corporation and Denison Mines as active partners. CanAlaska is led by an experienced team of professionals with a proven track record of discovery. The Company's head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with a satellite office in Vancouver, BC, Canada. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Nathan Bridge, MSc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration for CanAlaska Uranium Ltd., who has reviewed and approved its contents. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Cory Belyk" Cory Belyk, P.Geo., FGC CEO, President and Director CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and the Company cautions against placing undue reliance thereon. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237211 SOURCE: CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Andean Precious Metals Corp. (TSX: APM) (OTCQX: ANPMF) ("Andean", or the "Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Empresa Minera Manquiri S.A. ("Manquiri" and together with Andean, the "Andean Entities") have entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (the "SPA" or the "Agreement") of oxide material with Empresa Minera Trapiche S.R.L. ("Trapiche") a Bolivian company, from its Trapiche mining concession (the "Trapiche Concession"), located in the Municipality of San Pablo de Lipez, of the Department of Potosi, Bolivia with rights for prospecting, exploration, and commercialization. The Trapiche Concession is an undeveloped, epithermal silver and base metal deposit in Bolivia, located approximately 140 km northeast of the city of Uyuni and approximately 250 km southwest of Andean's San Bartolome mine and processing facilities near Potosi. Transaction Highlights: Volume: The agreement allows for up to 100,000 dry tonnes of oxide material Delivery Timelines: Initial delivery of 28,000 dry tonnes to be completed within 3 months Full volume to be delivered within 1 year Delivery Terms: Mineral will be delivered to the collection area at Trapiche's mining site Weight verification will be jointly conducted, with final sampling and grade determination performed at Manquiri's accredited laboratory Term of the Agreement: The Agreement shall remain in effect for 1 year or until the full delivery of the committed quantities has been completed or until explicitly terminated by the parties in accordance with its terms Financial Terms: The fixed purchase price that the Andean Entities shall pay is based on the silver grade of the oxidized mineral Quality and Compliance Manquiri reserves the right to reject material below the agreed upon minimum grade (180 grams/dry tonne). Both parties will adhere to national environmental and safety regulations. Trapiche has also committed to complying with international anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Alberto Morales, Chairman and CEO "Signing this exclusive agreement to purchase up to 100,000 tonnes of oxide material from Trapiche marks a step in the right direction in reinforcing our supply chain and addressing the production gap from recent challenges. This agreement demonstrates our proactive efforts to secure new sources of ore. With these strategic initiatives, we are well-positioned to ensure that our 2025 production will align with our historical averages." About Andean Precious Metals Andean is a growing precious metals producer focused on expanding into top-tier jurisdictions in the Americas. The Company owns and operates the San Bartolome processing facility in Potosi, Bolivia and the Soledad Mountain mine in Kern County, California, and is well-funded to act on future growth opportunities. Andean's leadership team is committed to creating value; fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations; and achieving our ambition to be a multi-asset, mid-tier precious metals producer. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and information in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding the dispute with Silver Elephant regarding the MSA and the sourcing of replacement tonnage from other suppliers. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the Company's ability to secure and to meet obligations under property and option agreements and other material agreements; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; that there is no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that contracted parties provide goods or services in a timely manner; that no unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and equipment function as anticipated and that there is no material adverse change in the price of silver, costs associated with production or recovery. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein. Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and conclusions of economic evaluations; results of initial feasibility, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks relating to possible variations in reserves, resources, grade, planned mining dilution and ore loss, or recovery rates and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the uncertainty of profitability based upon the cyclical nature of the industry in which the Company operates; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental or local community approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other factors contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, you are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that the Company has not identified. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237265 SOURCE: Andean Precious Metals Corp. Drilling at the Company's Saturday Night PGM Project commences this week. Transition Metals to attend both the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC), and the AME Roundup Conference (Roundup). Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company"), is pleased to announce that it has commenced its 2025 drilling program on its 100% owned Saturday Night Project located 25 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The 2025 drill program was previously announced on January 2, and 50% of the cost ($200,000) is expected to be funded through a matching grant under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) (see news release dated January 2, 2025). Two drill holes will be completed, totalling approximately 1,500 metres, to test the basal contact of the Saturday Night layered intrusion that is known to be mineralized. A hole completed in 2016 at Saturday Night returned 6.25 metres averaging 1.07g/t PGMs, including a higher grade section of 4.0 g/t PGM and 0.56% Cu over a core length of 0.30 metres near the interpreted base of a >200 metre thick sequence of early-rift intrusive rocks (see news release dated January 23, 2017). Commenting on the Saturday Night project, CEO Scott McLean stated, "The Saturday Night Project is interpreted to be an early Mid-Continental Rift (MCR) intrusion similar to other known mineralized intrusions in the geologic district include Eagle Mine in Michigan (Lundin Mining), the Tamarack development project in Minnesota (Talon Metals & Rio Tinto) and the Thunder Bay North advanced exploration project (Clean Air Metals). The objective of the program is to further evaluate the extent of the mineralization and the overall prospectiveness of the intrusion . To learn more about the project please review the short project showcase video available on the Company's YouTube channel." Transition to Attend VRIC and Roundup Company personnel, including CEO Scott McLean, COO Greg Collins, and Corporate Development Manager Bill Stormont will be attending both the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) and the AME Cordilleran Roundup Conference (Roundup). Company attendance at these conferences is for the purpose of developing relationships towards on-going and new business arrangements. The Company has numerous projects available for option, or purchase. Injuries to arrange meetings can be directed to Bill Stormont, Corporate Development Manager, by E-mail: bstormont@transitionmetalscorp.com, or by telephone: 778-868-9571. Next Steps The Company is currently drilling on it's Saturday Night project, undertaking approximately 1,500 metres of drilling, in a minimum of two holes. The drilling will test for extensions to the mineralization intersected in the 2016 discovery hole, and to more fully assess the prospectivity of the Saturday Night Intrusion. About the Saturday Night Project The Saturday Night Project, wholly owned by Transition Metals, comprises 63 staked mining claims situated in Fowler Township, that is located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario within the Robinson Superior Treaty area. The project has year-round road access to a main highway and is close to infrastructure. The exploration work to date has confirmed that a magnetic anomaly found on the Property is linked to an underlying mafic-ultramafic Saturday Night Intrusion (SNI), which is interpreted to have originated during the Proterozoic era and is associated with the renowned Midcontinental Rift (MCR). The MCR is a geological feature that extends over 2,000 kilometres across the heart of North America. It formed around 1.1 billion years ago as the North American craton began to rift. Notably, the early stages of this rift (referred to as 'early-rift') are associated with the presence of mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks that contain significant quantities of platinum group metals (PGMs). Nearby MCR related deposits include the Thunder Bay North and Sunday Lake deposit. The Sunday Lake deposit was discovered by Transition in partnership with Implats Platinum in 2013. Other rift related Ni-Cu and PGM bearing systems include the Eagle deposit located in Michigan, and the Tamarack and Duluth deposits located in Minnesota. The Saturday Night Project is currently in the early exploration phase, with ongoing assessments aimed at determining the potential of the Property to host PGM mineralization of interest. The Property is subject to an underlying 1.0% Net Smelter Return royalty (see company press releases dated September 8, 2020). Government Exploration Grant Program (OJEP) Transition Metals Corp. would like to acknowledge financial support from the 2024-25 Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP) for the Saturday Night Project, in Ontario. Through the OJEP program, Transition has been selected to receive up to $200,000 to cover 50% of eligible explorations costs on the project, aimed at facilitating the exploration of Critical Minerals within Ontario. The receipt of these grants represents a meaningful milestone, leveraging government support towards advancing the exploration of this magmatic PGM project. It's important to note that the opinions and views expressed in this announcement are those of Transition Metals Corp., and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario. Qualified Person The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Benjamin Williams, P.Geo. (PGO), Senior Geologist of Transition Metals Corp., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. About Transition Metals Corp. Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. Its award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237272 SOURCE: Transition Metals Corp. Mineral Exploration and Investment Banking veteran joins the ABM Board of Advisors American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC PINK:BLTH) ("ABM" or the "Company"), an environmentally responsible minerals exploration and development company focused on direct lithium extraction ("DLE") and other critical minerals, today announced the appointment of Joseph E. Mullin to its Advisory Board. Joseph Mullin brings more than 30 years of experience in mineral exploration and corporate finance to the Company. He currently serves as CEO of Pure Energy Minerals Ltd., where he oversees lithium brine projects in Nevada, and CEO of Rise Gold Corp., focused on a past-producing gold mine in California. His career also includes leadership roles at Virginia Energy Resources, Inc. and QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd. Mr. Mullin began his career in the Investment Banking division of Goldman Sachs, covering Latin America. David Graber, Chief Executive Officer of American Battery Materials, noted, "Joe is a terrific addition to our Advisory Board. His focus will be assisting with the company's ambitions for additional project acquisitions with a focus on Latin America." Joe Mullin stated, "The industry and the Company are at an inflection point. I am excited to join American Battery Materials and support the team. My focus will be to further the mission of developing energy independence in top-tier jurisdictions while working closely with management and the Board of Directors." About American Battery Materials, Inc. American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC PINK:BLTH) is a U.S.-based environmentally responsible critical minerals extraction company focused on direct lithium extraction (DLE), as well as other minerals for refining, processing, and distribution to support the country's urgent critical minerals need to bolster long-term energy transition and the electrification of the U.S. domestic and global economy. For more information, visit www.americanbatterymaterials.com. To receive American Battery Materials, Inc. company updates via email, visit the contact page of our website, www.americanbatterymaterials.com/contact. Forward-Looking Statements To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding the Company, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management. Words such as "believe," "goal," "plan," "feel," "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "target" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company, please see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to the discussion under "Risk Factors" therein, which the Company has filed with the SEC and may be viewed at http://www.sec.gov. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. For Further Information Chris Santa Cruz +1 800-998-7962 ir@americanbatterymaterials.com SOURCE: American Battery Materials View the original press release on accesswire.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2025 / Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. ("Quartz" or the "Company") (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is pleased to announce that, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, it has entered into a consulting services agreement (the "Agreement") with Acuity Advisory Corp. ("Acuity") to provide investor relations services to the Company. Acuity is based in Vancouver and provides corporate communications to Canadian and U.S. listed companies, with a specific focus on the junior mining and mineral exploration sectors. Acuity's founders and principals, Jeffrey Wilson and Roger Blair, have a combined fifty years of public markets experience, and bring to Quartz extensive contacts within the global mining and finance industries. Acuity's network encompasses North American and international institutional and retail investors, investment advisors, investment bankers, mining analysts, high net worth individuals and strategic investors. "Quartz is entering an exciting new growth stage as we advance the Maestro and Jake projects in British Columbia towards transactions," said Quartz Chairman Bob Dickinson. "The addition of Acuity to the Quartz team will help advance our capital markets program and provide greater reach as we tell this compelling story. High value, high demand projects like Maestro and Jake are vital to growing Canada's clean, modern economy and are potentially important major sources of gold, silver and copper. As an experienced investor relations team with strong industry experience, Acuity is well positioned to support our goal of creating Canada's next great mineral success story and substantial shareholder wealth." The Agreement with Acuity is dated January 15, 2025 and runs for an initial twelve (12) month term. Acuity will receive a monthly fee of $7,500, and incentive stock options ("Options") to purchase a total of 500,000 common shares of the Company exercisable at $0.435 which are subject to quarterly vesting of 25% starting 90 days after TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Acuity agreement. The options have a term to the earlier of 90 days after termination of the Acuity agreement and five years. Acuity and its principals have advised Quartz that they do not currently own any shares of the Company, nor do they have any right to purchase shares. Acuity and its principals are not restricted from buying or selling Quartz shares in the future, subject to applicable securities laws. In addition to informing investors of entering this consulting services agreement today, Quartz has also launched new social media and awareness initiatives including an updated Website (www.quartzmountainresources.com) and Corporate Presentation (https://www.quartzmountainresources.com/investors/presentation). Quartz will also be presenting Discovery Core from both Maestro and Jake at the upcoming Association of Mineral Explorationists' ("AME") Round Up on January 20 and 21 in booth #924 located in the Vancouver Convention Centre East. About Maestro Quartz's first ever drill test, on its Maestro Property, a maiden two-hole drill program at the Prodigy Zone, discovered exciting high-grade Au-Ag lodes, hosted within an extensive epithermal Au-Ag system. The lodes and the more disseminated precious metals, intersected by the drill holes are both hosted within a large and earlier deposited, Mo-Cu porphyry system. Quartz's second core hole, PR-23-02 intersected 102 m grading 2.22 g/t Au and 104 g/t Ag, including 12 m grading 1.23 g/t Au and 586 g/t Ag and also 36 m of 5.73 g/t Au and 87 g/t Ag. These results indicate high potential for both bulk tonnage and underground high-grade gold and silver mineralization. The next milestone towards a transaction will be delineation drilling of the new Prodigy discovery at Maestro, currently being planned to commence in HI 2025. About Jake Mineralization at Jake is situated within a prominent rusty coloured gossan measuring 3.5 km long by 1.5 km wide. The combination of extensive historical and recent exploration work has outlined a very expansive altered area at Jake hosting epithermal and porphyry-style sulphide disseminations and veinlets containing Cu-Au-Ag-Zn-Mo and Re. To delineate deposit targets within this large Jake mineral system for the maiden 2024 drilling program, a series of modern surface exploration programs were completed in the period 2018-2023. These surveys were designed to build on very compelling historical data on the Property developed by legendary porphyry copper explorers, including Kennco, Canadian Superior, Cities Service, Placer Development and Teck Corp. Taken together this comprehensive technical database defined a significant-scale porphyry copper-gold deposit target which Quartz tested with 3,418 metres in seven 7 holes during 2024. This maiden drill program successfully discovered a new porphyry copper-gold-silver system, wide open to expansion. Upon discovery, Quartz acquired a 100% interest in mineral tenures over an entire new BC porphyry copper-gold district surrounding the Jake Property. The next milestone towards a transaction will be delineation drilling of the new Jake discovery, currently being planned to commence after Maestro delineation drilling. About Quartz Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Quartz Mountain Resources (TSXV:QZM)(OTC PINK:QZMRF) is a well-structured public company whose successful mine-finding management is focused on discovering and transacting important-scale gold, silver and copper deposits in British Columbia. The company owns 100 per cent of the Maestro high grade gold-silver project and 100 per cent of the Jake porphyry copper-gold-silver project. Both projects are permitted by the British Columbia government for drilling activities with access to infrastructure and high potential for the development of substantial resources for significant future transactions. Quartz is associated with Hunter Dickinson Inc. (HDI), a company with over 35 years of successfully discovering, developing and transacting mineral projects in Canada and internationally. Former HDI projects in British Columbia included Mount Milligan, Kemess South and Gibraltar -- all of which are porphyry deposits with current-producing or former-producing mines. Other well-known projects with HDI involvement include Sisson and Prosperity in Canada, Pebble and Florence in the United States, and Xietongmen in China. Quartz is committed to the advancement of important-scale, critical and essential mining assets while following responsible mineral development principles, including a mandate to employ best-practice approaches in the engagement and involvement of local communities and meeting rigorous environmental standards. On behalf of the Board of Directors Robert Dickinson Chairman For further information, please contact: Bob Dickinson Email: robertdickinson@hdimining.com Ph: +1 604-684-6365 or: Jeff Wilson Email: jwilson@acuityadvisorycorp.com Ph:+1 604-837-5440 or: Roger Blair Email: rblair@acuityadvisorycorp.com Ph:+1 604-351-0025 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ?Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking-statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking-statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: the Company's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits, and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of the Company's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking-statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory personnel. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include variations in market prices, continuity of mineralization and exploration success, and potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories that may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, and which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings as www.sedarplus.ca and its 20F filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. SOURCE: Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Britvic announced that the Court has issued the Order sanctioning the Scheme regarding the acquisition by Carlsberg. On 8 July 2024, the boards of Britvic and Carlsberg UK Holdings announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by Carlsberg to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Britvic to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement. There has been no change to the expected timetable of principal events for the acquisition set out in the announcement on 17 December 2024.Applications have been made for the suspension of: trading in Britvic shares on the London Stock Exchange's main market; and the listing of Britvic shares on the Official List, and such suspensions are expected to take effect from 7:30 a.m. on 17 January 2025.Copyright(c) 2025 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. 72.4% are aware of the "significant" energy required to train or run AI models1, 49.8% are concerned about the growing power requirements of AI, but only 13.0% monitor the energy efficiency of AI systems a critical gap as Agentic AI pushes energy demands higher New research commissioned by SambaNova highlights a critical readiness gap as enterprises face escalating power demands with AI. While 49.8% of leaders are concerned about the energy and efficiency challenges posed by AI, only 13.0% monitor the power consumption of their AI systems. The survey exposes a lack of infrastructure preparedness amidst the rise in AI deployments across the United States and Europe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115588836/en/ New research commissioned by SambaNova highlights a critical readiness gap as enterprises face escalating power demands with AI (Graphic: Business Wire) "The findings reveal a stark reality: businesses are rushing to adopt AI, but aren't prepared to manage its energy impact," said Rodrigo Liang, CEO of SambaNova Systems. "Without a proactive approach to more efficient AI hardware and energy consumption, particularly in the face of increasing demand from AI workflows, we risk undermining the very progress AI promises to deliver. By 2027, my expectation is that more than 90% of leaders will be concerned about the power demands of AI and will monitor consumption as a KPI that corporate boards will track closely." Key findings from the research include: AI Inference Will Drive Power Demand Growth: While 70.0% of leaders recognize the energy-intensive nature of training large language models, only 59.7% are aware of the significant power demands of inference. This gap is critical as inference workloads are set to dominate AI usage with the scaling of Agentic AI. While 70.0% of leaders recognize the energy-intensive nature of training large language models, only 59.7% are aware of the significant power demands of inference. This gap is critical as inference workloads are set to dominate AI usage with the scaling of Agentic AI. Energy Efficiency is a Strategic Priority: Only 13.0% of organizations currently monitor AI power consumption, yet 56.5% acknowledge that energy efficiency will play a crucial role in future strategic planning. The need to address rising energy demands is being driven by both cost management imperatives and operational scalability concerns. Only 13.0% of organizations currently monitor AI power consumption, yet 56.5% acknowledge that energy efficiency will play a crucial role in future strategic planning. The need to address rising energy demands is being driven by both cost management imperatives and operational scalability concerns. Scaling Agentic AI Brings New Challenges: The roll-out of Agentic AI is amplifying power concerns for enterprises. For 20.3% of companies, rising power costs are a pressing issue. Furthermore, 37.2% are experiencing increasing stakeholder pressure to improve AI energy efficiency, with a further 42.0% expecting these demands to emerge soon. The roll-out of Agentic AI is amplifying power concerns for enterprises. For 20.3% of companies, rising power costs are a pressing issue. Furthermore, 37.2% are experiencing increasing stakeholder pressure to improve AI energy efficiency, with a further 42.0% expecting these demands to emerge soon. Few Enterprises Are Proactively Addressing AI's Energy Impact: Among organizations that have widely deployed AI2, 77.4% are actively seeking to reduce power usage. Popular approaches include hardware and software optimization (40.4%), adopting energy-efficient processors (39.3%), and investing in renewable energy (34.9%). However, these measures remain insufficient compared to the rapid pace of AI adoption and scaling. The rise of agentic AI marks a turning point for the industry. As businesses scale AI and deploy more advanced workflows, addressing energy demands will be crucial to managing costs and achieving efficiency goals. Bridging the awareness gap with education and strategic planning will be key to ensuring AI's growth remains both financially and commercially sustainable. The excessive power consumption and prohibitive costs associated with current GPU-based solutions are likely to compel many enterprises to seek more efficient alternatives. This shift will fundamentally change the landscape of AI hardware, favoring solutions that deliver high performance without unsustainable energy demands. "The rapid pace of AI adoption underscores a critical need for enterprises to align their strategies with the power requirements of AI deployment," stated Liang. "As businesses integrate AI, addressing energy efficiency and infrastructure readiness will be essential for long-term success. Customers are turning to SambaNova for help deploying energy efficient solutions." 1 The research included two questions: "Are you aware of the power required for AI inference workloads?" and, "Are you aware of the power needed to train large AI models (e.g., ChatGPT)?" Among the respondents, 72.4% indicated they were somewhat aware or well-informed about at least one or both of these aspects. Specifically, 70.0% were aware of the power needed for training, while 59.7% were aware of the power required for inference. 2 The research asked: "How widespread would you consider Generative AI adoption in your organization?" Among the respondents, 30.3% of organizations reported widespread use of AI. 53.8% are in the early stages or pilot phases of implementation, and only 15.8% of organizations report that they have not yet started their AI journey. Survey Methodology The survey was commissioned by SambaNova Systems to explore the state of AI adoption, the readiness of enterprises to address AI's energy demands, and sustainability considerations in AI deployment. Conducted between December 16 and December 27, 2024, the survey gathered insights from 2,012 business leaders, including 1,004 respondents in Europe and 1,008 in the United States. About SambaNova Systems Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities within the enterprise. Our purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, SambaNova Systems was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries, and hardware and software design experts from Sun/Oracle and Stanford University. Investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital, GV, Walden International, Temasek, GIC, Redline Capital, Atlantic Bridge Ventures, Celesta, and several others. Visit us at sambanova.ai or contact us at info@sambanova.ai. Follow SambaNova Systems on LinkedIn and on X. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115588836/en/ Contacts: Press Contact: Virginia Jamieson virginia.jamieson@sambanova.ai 650-279-8619 LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The U.K. Government has banned The import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease, following a case being confirmed in Germany.The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat.The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is also urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following a confirmed case of the disease in Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals.FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said his office remains in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of Foot and Mouth disease.Copyright(c) 2025 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. Recognitions Highlight the Company's Momentum Heading Into 2025 NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaSense , the leading market intelligence and search platform, today celebrated a landmark year of achievements in 2024, including record-breaking industry and individual award wins from prestigious organizations such as CNBC, Fast Company, Fortune, Inc., and more. The accolades underscore AlphaSense's leadership in AI-driven market intelligence and its commitment to empowering decision-makers worldwide. Trusted by 88% of the S&P 100 and 80% of the top asset management firms, AlphaSense's innovative AI search capabilities and vast content library are indispensable tools for confident and efficient decision-making. Top award wins in 2024 included: Inc.'s 2024 Best in Business list, which celebrates organizations and leaders for superior execution across all facets of entrepreneurial business list, which celebrates organizations and leaders for superior execution across all facets of entrepreneurial business Fortune's AI 50 Innovators annual list, highlighting the top companies driving the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies annual list, highlighting the top companies driving the adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech for its Generative Search tool for its Generative Search tool Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators list and a finalist for the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics list list and a finalist for the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics list 2024 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, awarded to the 50 fastest-growing and most innovative private companies disrupting their industries list, awarded to the 50 fastest-growing and most innovative private companies disrupting their industries 2024 Inc. Best Workplaces list, which recognized the company's workplace culture and opportunities for employees list, which recognized the company's workplace culture and opportunities for employees Three recognitions from WatersTechnology, including best artificial intelligence (AI) technology provider , best AI/machine learning data initiative and best AI technology , and Fintech Global's AI Fintech 100 , celebrating the world's most innovative AI solution providers for financial services "These recognitions are a testament to the transformative impact of AlphaSense's AI-driven search capabilities and our team's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible," said Heather Zynczak, Chief Marketing Officer at AlphaSense. "2024 was a pivotal year for us, not just in terms of awards but in our ability to deliver meaningful value to our customers. As we move into 2025, these achievements inspire us to continue innovating and scaling our solutions globally." The market intelligence leader also celebrates accolades for its leadership team: Heather Zynczak, Chief Marketing Officer: Chief Marketing Officer of the Year Award , Women in Tech Global Awards and Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year - Business Products (11 to 2,500 Employees) , The American Business Awards , Women in Tech Global Awards and , The American Business Awards Kiva Kolstein, President and Chief Revenue Officer: Pavilion GTM Award's 'CRO of the Year' , Gold Stevie Award for Worldwide Sales Executive of the Year , Stevie Awards For Sales & Customer Service, and The Modern Sale and Collective[i]'s Top 100 Global Sales Leaders of 2024 . , , Stevie Awards For Sales & Customer Service, and The Modern Sale and Collective[i]'s . Stephen Lynch, EVP of Product Development: Gold Stevie Award for Product Development/Management Executive of the Year , The American Business Awards Building on this momentum, AlphaSense is poised for another groundbreaking year in 2025. The company plans to further expand its content and data offerings, enhance its AI capabilities, and deepen its impact across industries and geographies, reaffirming its role as the trusted partner for AI-driven market intelligence. About AlphaSense The world's most sophisticated companies rely on AlphaSense to remove uncertainty from decision-making. With market intelligence and search built on proven AI, AlphaSense delivers insights that matter from content you can trust. Our universe of public and private content includes equity research, company filings, event transcripts, expert calls, news, trade journals, and clients' own research content. Founded in 2011, AlphaSense is headquartered in New York City with over 2,000 people across the globe and offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, India, Singapore, Canada, and Ireland. For more information, please visit www.alpha-sense.com . Media Contact: Remi Duhe Email: media@alpha-sense.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668932/AlphaSense_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/alphasense-reflects-on-record-award-wins-for-ai-innovation-in-2024-302351024.html As baby boomers retire and manufacturers continue to struggle with unfilled positions, digital technologies can alleviate the pressures LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In January 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that U.S. manufacturers had over six hundred thousand vacancies. Two factors affecting the number of vacancies include not enough young people seeking a career in manufacturing and the wave of baby boomers reaching retirement age. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts that the installed base of commercial and industrial robots globally will reach 16.3 million in 2030 as manufacturers attempt to offset the baby boomer exodus. "Companies that take a step back will view the demographic shifts as an opportunity to revamp processes and operations. It is not about technology filling former employees' roles but how technology augments people's working lives," says Michael Larner, Distinguished Analyst at ABI Research. "The nature of manufacturing work will change with roles for robot programmers and for developing models for machine learning tools coming to the fore." Staff will need to be more data-savvy, for example, in the role of technicians, who are concerned with avoiding unplanned downtime and improving the machine's overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Technicians will be utilizing data analytics to monitor asset performance and calculating OEE. This trend will benefit the likes of Mitsubishi Electric, Rockwell Automation, PTC, and Siemens, as well as smaller suppliers such as Crosser, Litmus, Machine Metrics, Seeq, Sight Machine, and Tulip. For manufacturers, one of the biggest concerns with baby boomers heading for retirement is the loss of tribal knowledge, i.e., the detailed knowledge of equipment, processes, and customers. According to Larner, "Manufacturers must capture that tribal knowledge as employees head for retirement as part of a workforce planning strategy. Improving mentoring and knowledge sharing processes are just as important as investments in digital technologies for manufacturers to thrive in the coming years." To make manufacturing a more desirable career path, manufacturers and technology firms need to work with education bodies to advocate for the industry to students and provide input so that recruits have the skills to fill the vacancies. These findings are from ABI Research's Handling the Baby Boomer Exodus in Manufacturing application analysis report. This report is part of the company's Industrial & Manufacturing Markets research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights. About ABI Research ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers. ABI Research?????????????,?????????,???????????????????????,??????????????,??????????????????????????,?????????? For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com. Contact Info: Global Deborah Petrara Tel: +1.516.624.2558 pr@abiresearch.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2309035/ABI_Research_2024.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/manufacturing-robot-installed-base-to-hit-16-3-million-by-2030-amid-baby-boomer-exodus-302351067.html North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to report record quarterly gold sales and gold production from the Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji for Q4 CY2024. Summary of Quarterly Results: 4,741 oz of gold sold 4,300 oz of gold recovered 29,525 tonnes milled Total revenue of C$17,993,020 72% increase in revenue compared to previous quarter Quarterly Production Results Lion One Metals sold approximately 4,741 oz of gold and 841 oz of silver during the three-month period ending December 31st, 2024. The average sale price for the quarter was C$3,787 per ounce of gold sold. Total revenue for the quarter was C$17,993,020, which represents a 72% increase in revenue compared to the previous quarter's revenue of C$10,470,518. Gold revenue for the quarter was enhanced by higher gold prices, improved gold grades and recoveries, and the addition of unsold gold from the previous quarter. Approximately 4,300 oz of gold was recovered during the quarter, compared to 3,638 oz from the previous quarter. This represents an 18% increase in quarter-over-quarter gold production and is a new record for the company. Table 1. Quarterly Production and Operations Summary Q4 CY2024 Q3 CY2024 Gold sold oz 4,741 3,129 Silver sold oz 841 1,093 Total Revenue C$ 17,993,020 10,470,518 Plant throughput tpd 321 341 Gold grade g/t 5.49 4.59 Gold recovery % 82.50 78.20 Gold produced oz 4,300 3,638 2024 was the first calendar year of production at Tuvatu. The company has achieved consistent quarter-over-quarter increases in gold production, gold recoveries, and gold grades since plant commissioning was complete in Q1 CY2024 (Figure 1). The company is currently in the 300 tpd pilot plant phase of operations, with expansion to the 600 tpd phase of operations anticipated in 2026. Lion One Chairman and CEO Walter Berukoff stated: "2024 was a pivotal year for Lion One Metals as we brought the Tuvatu mine in Fiji into production at the pilot plant level. We are delighted to have achieved consecutive increases in production every quarter throughout 2024, culminating in a record C$18.0M of quarterly revenue at the end of the year. As we continue to develop the mine and unlock the higher-grade portions of the deposit, we look forward to continuing this trend of increased production at Tuvatu, and ultimately doubling our plant capacity from 300 tpd to 600 tpd in 2026." Figure 1. Tuvatu Average Quarterly Gold Grade and Recovery, 2024. Gold grades and recovery have consistently increased quarter-over-quarter at Tuvatu since pilot plant commissioning was complete in Q1 CY2024. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2178/237264_1bcd9069a4be0830_001full.jpg Qualified Persons Statement In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), William J. Witte, P.Eng., Principal Advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and is responsible for the technical and scientific content of this news release. About Lion One Metals Limited Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Walter Berukoff, Chairman & CEO Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility or the adequacy or accuracy of this release This press release may contain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Lion One Metals Limited's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Lion One Metals Limited and on assumptions Lion One Metals Limited believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the actual results of exploration projects being equivalent to or better than estimated results in technical reports, assessment reports, and other geological reports or prior exploration results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Lion One Metals Limited or its subsidiaries to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the stage development of Lion One Metals Limited, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current research and development or operational activities; competition; uncertainty as to patent applications and intellectual property rights; product liability and lack of insurance; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting mining, timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; not realizing on the potential benefits of technology; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labor or loss of key individuals. Although Lion One Metals Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Lion One Metals Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237264 SOURCE: Lion One Metals Limited In a strategic move that underscores its commitment to innovation, EdgePoint Millennium Capital, a leading global financial technology and asset management firm, has acquired a groundbreaking AI-driven market prediction algorithm developed by Hyderabad-based Absolute Analysis. This algorithm, known for its unmatched accuracy in predicting market trends, is set to revolutionize trading strategies across multiple asset classes. The agreement enables EdgePoint to integrate this cutting-edge technology into its portfolio, significantly enhancing its data-driven investment strategies. Developed by a team of data scientists and market experts, the algorithm combines artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze global market data and generate precise predictions for asset classes such as Gold (XAUUSD) and Crude Oil. The Power Behind the Algorithm Absolute Analysis's AI-driven algorithm has earned widespread acclaim for its ability to deliver real-time, actionable insights. Its proven track record includes anticipating significant downturns in crude oil prices during 2024 due to oversupply and forecasting gold's sharp rise amidst geopolitical instability, helping traders position themselves advantageously in volatile markets. The algorithm's adaptability and accuracy have drawn the attention of global financial leaders like EdgePoint. Karthik P, Founder and Partner of Absolute Analysis and a key architect behind the development of the algorithm, emphasised its transformative potential. "This algorithm represents the culmination of years of meticulous research and development," said Karthik P. "We've designed it to generate real-time, actionable insights that allow hedge funds to stay ahead of the curve. The AI behind this algorithm adapts to changing market conditions, helping funds like EdgePoint gain an edge in an increasingly complex trading environment." A Strategic Vision for the Future EdgePoint Millennium Capital's acquisition marks a significant leap forward in its trading capabilities. Known for managing billions of dollars in assets across diverse portfolios, EdgePoint is committed to leveraging innovative technologies to enhance its decision-making processes. EdgePoint Millennium Capital expressed enthusiasm for integrating this world-class technology into its investment strategies, stating: 'This algorithm represents a leap forward in how we can use data to predict market behaviour. It allows us to harness the power of AI to make quicker, more accurate investment decisions, ultimately driving stronger returns for our investors. The algorithm will be seamlessly integrated into EdgePoint's existing research and trading systems, reinforcing its position as a leader in the financial technology space." Hyderabad: A Hub for Global Innovation The story of Absolute Analysis highlights the growing influence of Indian technology firms on the global financial stage. Founded in Hyderabad, one of India's thriving technology hubs, Absolute Analysis has combined local talent and expertise to create solutions that resonate worldwide. This acquisition also reflects a broader trend in the industry-AI and machine learning are becoming central to the evolution of financial markets, with Indian firms playing a pivotal role in this transformation. Media Contact Organization: EdgePoint Millennium Capital Contact Person Name: Thomas Stafford Website: https://edgepointwealth.com Email: info@edgepointmillennium.com Country: Canada SOURCE: EdgePoint Millennium Capital View the original press release on accesswire.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - New York manufacturing activity unexpectedly declined in the month of January, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Wednesday.The New York Fed said its general business conditions index slumped to a negative 12.6 in January from a positive 2.1 in December, with a negative reading indicating contraction. Economists had expected the index to inch up to a positive 3.0.Meanwhile, the New York Fed said firms grew more optimistic conditions would improve in the months ahead, with the index for future business activity jumping to 36.7 in January from 26.9 in December.Copyright(c) 2025 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. Shippeo's commitment to shipping data quality and innovation drives customer and revenue growth as it expands globally. Shippeo, a global leader in real-time multimodal transportation visibility, today announced a $30 million strategic funding round led by Woven Capital, Toyota's growth fund, with participation from existing investors: Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good, and Yamaha Motor Ventures. This new funding will support Shippeo's accelerated expansion across North America and APAC while driving enhancements to its industry-leading Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform. With this round, Shippeo's total funding exceeds $140 million. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250113725048/en/ Shippeo offers real-time shipment tracking across all transport modes, helping companies create sustainable, resilient supply chains. Its platform enables users to reduce logistics-related carbon emissions by making informed trade-offs between modes and carriers based on carbon footprint data. In response to years of global supply chain disruptions, Shippeo has prioritized transportation risk management as a core capability, with a strong emphasis on data quality and customer-focused innovation that distinguishes its solutions. "This fundraising round is a strong vote of confidence in our team and vision," says Pierre Khoury, CEO of Shippeo"We are thrilled to welcome Woven Capital alongside the unwavering support of our existing investors. This investment strengthens our financial position, already having one of the strongest balance sheets in our category, enabling us to deliver long-term value to our customers and partners while expanding our footprint in North America and APAC." Global supply chains are facing unprecedented complexity, and real-time transport visibility is essential for building resilience said Prashant Bothra, Principal at Woven Capital, who is joining the Shippeo board"Shippeo's platform empowers businesses to proactively address disruptions by transforming fragmented operations into streamlined, data-driven processes across all transport modes, offering precise tracking and predictive ETAs at scale-capabilities that would be resource-intensive to develop in-house. We are excited to support Shippeo's journey to accelerate digitization while enhancing cost efficiency, planning accuracy, and customer experience across the supply chain. Accelerating Global Growth Shippeo's platform is trusted by global brands across 150 countries, tracking more than 90 million shipments annually. Shippeo's North American expansion continues to gain momentum, driven by strategic partnerships with e2open, Google and SAP. The region has seen a 40% increase in customers, a 92% rise in shipments tracked, and 210% YoY revenue growth, with notable brands like Amazon, Lassonde Industries, and Yamaha Motor North America having joined Shippeo. As the U.S. visibility market matures, companies are increasingly looking to switch vendors, with data quality concerns being the primary driver. In APAC, Shippeo has grown its customer base by 53% YoY and shipments tracked by 64%. The company recently launched tracking capabilities in Mainland China, enabling robust tracking solutions in complex regions. Notable customers in the APAC region include Arlanxeo, Evonik, Fujifilm, and Philip Morris International. Market Leadership and Recognition Shippeo's platform is trusted by global brands across 150 countries, tracking more than 90 million shipments annually. The company has been named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms and recognized as a Customers' Choice in the most recent 2023 Gartner Voice of the Customer report, having received the highest customer recommendation rate on Gartner Peer Insights for four consecutive years. Shippeo was also featured as a Leader in G2's Winter 2024 Grid Report for Supply Chain Visibility for the thirteenth consecutive time. Disclaimer: Recommendation rate as of January 3rd, 2025 based on 331 reviews in the Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms market on Gartner Peer Insights. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant and Peer Insights are a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences with the vendors listed on the platform, should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms 2024" by Carly West, Oscar Sanchez Duran, and Nathan Lease, 26 March 2024. Gartner, "Voice of the Customer for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms", by Peer Contributors, 31 October 2023. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular Purpose. About Woven Capital Woven Capital is Toyota's growth fund dedicated to realizing the promise of mobility how people, goods, information and energy can move. Our global team of investors connects the world's most promising innovators with the world's most trusted automotive brand. Founded in 2021, we are investing nearly $800 million in startups that create new ways to connect cities, advance automation, harness and store energy, further electrification, and make our vehicles smarter. Learn more at woven.vc. About Shippeo Shippeo is a global leader in real-time multimodal transportation visibility, enabling leading shippers and logistics service providers to build more resilient, sustainable, and customer-centric supply chains. By enabling Transport Process Automation, Shippeo streamlines transportation processes, optimizes logistics costs, and enhances customer experience. Its network integrates with over 228,000 carriers and 1,100 TMS, telematics and ELD systems, offering instant access to real-time tracking for all transport modes via an intuitive platform. A machine learning algorithm ensures unmatched shipment ETA accuracy, allowing businesses to anticipate issues, proactively manage exceptions, collaborate efficiently, and reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. Hundreds of customers, including global brands such as Ahold Delhaize, AkzoNobel, Amazon, Barilla, Coca-Cola HBC, Heineken, Kuehne+Nagel, L'Oreal, LVMH, Renault Group, and Saint-Gobain, trust Shippeo to track more than 90 million shipments annually across 150 countries. For more information, visit www.shippeo.com. LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250113725048/en/ Contacts: For media enquiries: Daria Sainani Head of Marketing T: +33676203772 E:daria.sainani@shippeo.com AI-Powered Solutions to Combat Retail Challenges and Enhance In-Store Experiences x-hoppers, an industry leader in AI-powered retail communication, proudly announced the successful conclusion of its presence at NRF 2025: Retail's Big Show, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from January 12-14. This year's showcase emphasized x-hoppers' transformative role in addressing retail challenges, from combating shrinkage to empowering frontline teams and enhancing customer experiences. At the 2025 annual show, x-hoppers presented its innovative platform, capturing the interest of global retail leaders. Demonstrations unveiled how its solutions reduce losses, enhance team collaboration and transform in-store experiences. Features like AI-driven theft detection through AIVA (AI Video Alerts) and real-time communication tools demonstrated x-hoppers' commitment to revolutionizing retail operations. View our NRF 2025 highlights and photos here. "Retailers have a lot on their plates, from tackling theft to creating great experiences for shoppers and staff," said Ian Rowan, CEO, x-hoppers. "With x-hoppers, we're helping stores run smarter, stay safer and keep customers coming back. At NRF 2025, we showed how technology can solve real problems while keeping people at the heart of every solution." Key Highlights from NRF 2025: AIVA Technology in Action : Live demonstrations showcased how AIVA's advanced AI seamlessly integrates with CCTV systems to identify theft behaviors and customer assistance opportunities. Attendees witnessed how real-time alerts enable staff to act swiftly, contributing to a remarkable 60% reduction in shrinkage and fostering a safer, more secure shopping environment. : Live demonstrations showcased how AIVA's advanced AI seamlessly integrates with CCTV systems to identify theft behaviors and customer assistance opportunities. Attendees witnessed how real-time alerts enable staff to act swiftly, contributing to a remarkable 60% reduction in shrinkage and fostering a safer, more secure shopping environment. Empowering Teams : Hands-free wireless headsets paired with smart call points demonstrated how real-time communication can optimize task efficiency and boost team confidence. : Hands-free wireless headsets paired with smart call points demonstrated how real-time communication can optimize task efficiency and boost team confidence. Analytics: Live sessions highlighted x-hoppers' analytics capabilities, offering insights into frequently asked questions, knowledge gaps and theft hotspots. The platform provides actionable data for smarter management decisions, including store and agent-level reporting. Live sessions highlighted x-hoppers' analytics capabilities, offering insights into frequently asked questions, knowledge gaps and theft hotspots. The platform provides actionable data for smarter management decisions, including store and agent-level reporting. Streamlined Onboarding and Training: Attendees saw how x-hoppers accelerates staff onboarding with microlearning modules, knowledge-on-demand features and real-time performance insights, making it especially effective for new and lone workers. Attendees saw how x-hoppers accelerates staff onboarding with microlearning modules, knowledge-on-demand features and real-time performance insights, making it especially effective for new and lone workers. AI Voice Bots: x-hoppers introduced AI voice bots that handle common customer queries and task requests, enabling associates to focus on high-value interactions. Despite the rise of e-commerce, physical stores remain central to retail, accounting for 85% of U.S. sales (Capital One Shopping, 2024). Consumers increasingly value immersive, technology-driven experiences that blend efficiency with human connection. x-hoppers helps retailers meet these expectations by creating smarter, more responsive in-store environments that foster loyalty and operational excellence. "Since adopting x-hoppers, our team feels more supported and shrinkage has dropped significantly," said Fiona Malone, Store Director at Tenby Stores in the U.K. "It has transformed our approach to operations and customer care, making both staff and customers more confident." x-hoppers continues its journey as a pioneer in retail technology, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence. Following its successful participation at NRF, the company looks forward to expanding its footprint across North America and Europe in 2025 and beyond. For more information about x-hoppers' solutions, visit www.x-hoppers.com or connect with us at upcoming global retail events. About x-hoppers x-hoppers is a comprehensive retail communication solution designed to enhance customer experiences and streamline in-store operations. Launched in the U.K., U.S., and France in 2024, x-hoppers is set to expand across Europe in 2025, bringing its innovative solutions to even more retailers. Powered by Wildix, a leader in Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) with 20 years of industry expertise, x-hoppers integrates wireless headsets, AI-driven features and gesture recognition technology within a unified platform. With over 250 integrations, x-hoppers enables store teams to collaborate seamlessly, detect and prevent theft and deliver personalized service that builds loyalty and improves efficiency. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115055188/en/ Contacts: Deliah Mathieu Communication Specialist +1 949-241-0260 deliah.mathieu@wildix.com Gramercy Funds Management LLC ("Gramercy"), a $6 billion global emerging markets alternatives investment manager, is pleased to announce that Sara Schaefer Munoz has joined the firm in the newly created role of Managing Director, Head of Content and Communications. Ms. Munoz will be based in Gramercy's Greenwich office and will work closely with Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Robert Koenigsberger, Chair, Mohamed A. El-Erian and President, Tom Humphrey, as well as across the firm's investing groups, to develop content and enhance communications with key stakeholders. Mr. Koenigsberger stated: "We are excited to announce that Sara has joined Gramercy. She has extensive experience as an accomplished journalist and industry leader, and we are confident that she will contribute greatly to our communications efforts globally." Ms. Munoz brings more than 20 years of experience in international financial journalism and editorial leadership to Gramercy's team. She joins Gramercy following a career at The Wall Street Journal, where she most recently served as Deputy Global Coverage Chief in New York. In that role, she coordinated a worldwide team to deliver coverage of critical political and economic developments. Prior to that, she worked as a Finance Editor, directing news on asset management firms, debt markets and insurance. Ms. Munoz also spent many years overseas, writing on business, trade, investment and politics from WSJ bureaus in London, Canada and Latin America. "Gramercy has a truly unique approach to investing in emerging markets, and I'm excited to support the firm's strategy," said Ms. Munoz. "I look forward to further raising the firm's profile and showcasing the expertise and capabilities of its leadership team." Ms. Munoz holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs and a Master's Degree in Journalism, both from Columbia University. About Gramercy Funds Management Gramercy is a global emerging markets alternatives investment manager with offices in Greenwich, West Palm Beach, London, Buenos Aires, Miami and Mexico City, and dedicated lending platforms in Mexico, Turkey, Peru, Pan-Africa, Brazil, and Colombia. The $6 billion firm, founded in 1998, seeks to provide investors with a better approach to emerging markets, delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns supported by a transparent and robust institutional platform. Gramercy offers alternative and long-only strategies across emerging markets asset classes, including multi-asset, private credit, public credit, and special situations. Gramercy's mission is to positively impact the well-being of our clients, portfolio investments and team members. Gramercy is a Registered Investment Adviser with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a Signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and a Supporter of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Gramercy Ltd, an affiliate, is registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). www.gramercy.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115778360/en/ Contacts: Investors: Investor Relations Gramercy investorrelations@gramercy.com Media: Steve Bruce and Keely Gispan ASC Advisors 203-992-1230 sbruce@ascadvisors.com kgispan@ascadvisors.com Sara Schaefer Munoz Gramercy smunoz@gramercy.com Seventh Satellite Developed by SFL for Norway Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has confirmed the successful launch and deployment of Norway's NorSat-4 maritime monitoring microsatellite. The seventh spacecraft developed for the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) by SFL, NorSat-4 carries a fifth-generation Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship tracking receiver and a first-of-its-kind low-light imaging camera. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115650011/en/ NorSat-4 satellite final build at Space Flight Laboratory (SFL). (Photo credit: NOSA) Built on SFL's space-proven 35-kg DEFIANT microsatellite bus, NorSat-4 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard the SpaceX Transporter-12 rideshare mission on January 14. Ground control has confirmed communication with the spacecraft. The Norwegian satellite launched on the same SpaceX rideshare as the three-microsatellite Gray Jay Arctic surveillance demonstration mission developed by SFL for Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). "NorSat-4 maintains Norway's leadership in space-based maritime situational awareness with a cost-effective small satellite program," said SFL Director Dr. Robert E. Zee. "The addition of the low-light imaging camera on this mission continues the NOSA tradition of testing cutting-edge onboard technology." The low-light optical camera expands the Norwegian Coastal Administration's ability to detect and track vessels in its Arctic territorial waters by supplementing the AIS receiver aboard the satellite. Some ships at sea deactivate their AIS transmitters or spoof the signals with incorrect location/identity data for nefarious reasons. Safran Reosc of France built the camera under contract with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment to optically detect vessels longer than 30 meters in Arctic darkness. The camera is a demanding payload because it requires active thermal control to maintain low-light image quality and also needs extremely precise attitude control for accurate image geolocation. Additionally, SFL designed and manufactured a very compact mechanical iris shutter for the camera aperture, protecting the device from direct sun exposure in orbit. SFL has a long history of supporting Norway's leadership in space-based maritime traffic monitoring beginning with the 7-kg AISSat-1 nanosatellite in 2010. This mission proved that AIS signals could be detected from space. The AISSat-2 nanosatellite followed in 2014. AISSat-1 and -2 far exceeded their design expectations, operating for 12 and nine years, respectively. Norway expanded its small satellite program to include a series of larger satellites named "NorSat" to accommodate larger instruments and more elaborate missions, launching NorSat-1 and -2 in 2017 and NorSat-3 in 2021. Each carried successively improved AIS receivers developed by Kongsberg Seatex along with experimental payloads. Among the most important technological successes achieved during this period was a foldable high-gain VHF Yagi antenna, designed and built by SFL, that could be deployed in orbit after launch. Another standout mission for NOSA and SFL has been the NorSat-TD (Technology Demonsration) microsatellite launched in April 2023. In addition to its primary mission of AIS ship tracking, NorSat-TD carries multiple experimental payloads including a laser communications device called SmallCAT. This Dutch-built instrument was among the first ever to transfer data from a microsatellite to a ground station by optical link. This accomplishment was made possible by precise attitude control and fine steering technology developed and refined by SFL for low-mass spacecraft. Established in 1998, SFL has developed 86 operationally successful smaller satellite missions totaling more than 360 cumulative years in orbit. Another 21 missions are now under development by SFL, which offers a complete suite of nano-, micro- and small satellites including high-performance, low-cost CubeSats that satisfy the needs of a broad range of mission types from 3 to 500 kilograms. For a comprehensive list of SFL high-performance satellite platforms, please visit https://www.utias-sfl.net/satellite-platforms/overview/. About Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) (www.utias-sfl.net) SFL generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. We build quality small satellites at low cost that work the first time and enable NewSpace companies to mass produce through our Flex Production program. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. SFL arranges launches globally and maintains a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL is a key enabler to tomorrow's cost-aggressive satellites and constellations. (www.utias-sfl.net) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115650011/en/ Contacts: Dr. Robert E. Zee SFL Director 1-416-667-7400 info@utias-sfl.net Follow SFL Twitter X @SFL_SmallerSats Instagram at sfl.smallersats Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Torr Metals Inc. (TSXV: TMET), a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC), hosted by Cambridge House International. The conference is scheduled for January 19-20, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference has been an industry pillar for over 30 years. Over 5,000 investors, 200+ mining companies, and 120 global experts come together during the two-day event, making it a key platform for networking and discussing the future of resource development. Keynote speakers include Robert Kiyosaki, Frank Giustra, Rick Rule, Ross Beaty, Adrian Day, and more. Torr Metals is focused on advancing its diversified copper-gold project portfolio, which includes a focus on its 100% owned Kolos Copper-Gold Project in south-central British Columbia and Filion Gold Project in northern Ontario . Event Details: Location: Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC. Dates: January 19-20, 2025 Complimentary Registration: www.cambridgehouse.com . Torr Metals will provide updates on its recent exploration activities, including: Filion Gold Project: Recently completed a 12.5 km ground magnetic-VLF geophysical survey and surface sampling of 1,092 soils and 44 rock grabs, targeting high-priority anomalies along an underexplored 7 km gold-rich structural corridor with the potential for significant grassroots gold discoveries along the Trans-Canada Highway 11. Kolos Copper-Gold Project: Recent exploration has focused on the newly discovered Sonic Zone, revealing high-grade copper-gold porphyry mineralization in outcrop and highlighting the potential for two significant undrilled alkalic porphyry clusters along Highway 5; with geological characteristics, grade, and scale comparable to the nearby Copper Mountain and New Afton deposits. Malcolm Dorsey, President and CEO of Torr Metals, commented, "We are excited to participate in VRIC 2025 and share our recent progress with the investment community. Our projects are strategically located in prolific mining regions with excellent infrastructure, and we believe they offer significant potential for major new gold and copper discoveries." About Torr Metals: Torr Metals, based in Vancouver, BC, is committed to advancing its 100% owned, district-scale copper-gold porphyry and orogenic gold projects in highly accessible regions across Canada. Each project benefits from excellent access to provincial and regional mining infrastructure, enabling cost-effective development and year-round exploration potential. The 240 km Kolos Copper-Gold Project, located in the prolific Quesnel Terrane, sits just 30 km southeast of Canada's largest open-pit copper mine at Highland Valley and 40 km south of Kamloops along Highway 5. The 261 km Filion Gold Project lies in northern Ontario adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway 11, approximately 42 km northwest of Kapuskasing. Filion encompasses an unexplored greenstone belt with high-grade gold potential just 202 km by highway from the world-class Hollinger, McIntyre, and Dome mines of the Timmins mining camp. For more information, visit Torr Metals' website or view documents on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237241 SOURCE: Cambridge House International Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV: BSK) (OTCQB: BKUCF) would like to cordially invite you to visit us at Booth #212 at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) to be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West (1055 Canada Place, Vancouver) on Sunday January 19 - Monday January 20, 2025. The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference 2025 will feature over 120 expert speakers, including globally respected economists, legendary money managers, and investors. This year's conference promises an array of exceptional opportunities, including exclusive keynote sessions featuring 120 renowned speakers, unparalleled networking with over 5,000 industry professionals and investors, and interactive exhibits showcasing groundbreaking innovations across the resource sector. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the commodities landscape, exploring emerging trends in precious metals, energy, critical minerals, and beyond. For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://cambridgehouse.com/vancouver-resource-investment-conference. We look forward to seeing you there. About the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference: The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference has been the epicenter of junior mining investment in Canada for 25 years and attracts over 5000 mining investors annually. Previous years have been attended by former Prime Minister Stephan Harper and former President of Mexico Felipe Calderon. The VRIC will include a marketplace of over 300 investment opportunities in the mining industry, spanning early-stage exploration to advanced producing mines. For further information: SOURCE: Cambridge House International Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Equity Metals Corporation (TSXV: EQTY) ("Equity") reports final 2024 assay results from the No.3 North target on its 100% owned Silver Queen Au-Ag project, British Columbia. Sixteen core holes totaling 5,952 metres were completed on the No. 3 North Target from two setups as part of the Fall '24 drill program, which had the goal of extending No. 3 mineralization along strike. Assay highlights from these final eight holes on this target include: A 2.7 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 0.3g/t Au , 174g/t Ag , 1.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb and 3.8% Zn (507g/t AgEq or 7.1g/t AuEq) including a 0.6 metre (est. TT) interval averaging 0.5g/t Au, 362g/t Ag, 3.0% Cu, 0.4% Pb and 7.7% Zn (1,089g/t AgEq or 15.2g/t AuEq) from SQ24-141; A 3.6 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 0.4g/t Au , 68g/t Ag , 0.1% Cu, 1.1% Pb and 5.3% Zn (386g/t AgEq or 5.4g/t AuEq) including a 1.6 metre (est. TT) interval averaging 0.7g/t Au, 119g/t Ag, 0.1% Cu, 2.0% Pb and 10.3% Zn (713g/t AgEq or 10.0g/t AuEq) from SQ24-140; and A 0.7 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 6.4g/t Au, 720g/t Ag, 2.3% Cu. 0.5% Pb and 3.6% Zn (1,609g/t AgEq or 22.5g/t AuEq) from SQ24-142. These results continue to confirm both grade and tenor of mineralization beyond the northern end of the No. 3 Vein resource model, extending the projections of the No. 3 and No. 2 veins along an additional 400 metres northwest of the previously modelled mineralization. The No. 2 vein is intersected in multiple drill holes and occurs in the footwall of the No. 3 Vein at a slightly oblique orientation. The No. 3 vein was tested to over 250 metres below surface while the No. 2 Vein was tested to over 400 metres below surface. Both structures remain open laterally and to depth and will be further tested as part of the 2025 drilling program. VP Exploration Rob Macdonald, commented, "The Fall '24 drill program on the Silver Queen Property has successfully extended mineralization on the No. 3 Vein set, which still remains open along strike and at depth for further testing in 2025. This is a new target area for the Company, and with continued success, will be accretive to the existing mineral resources identified in the four known deposits currently delineated on the property. Mineralization remains open both laterally and at depth and is immediately adjacent to, and down dip from, existing historic underground workings, which would likely reduce development costs in an underground mining scenario." President Joe Kizis, added, "We are pleased with the results of our 2024 program which outlined mineralization that will expand the Silver Queen resource. No. 3 North was identified as an area that has geologic similarities to the strongest part of the No. 3 resource farther south, where higher grades and vein thicknesses occur. Exploration plans for 2025 are fully funded, and we will continue the process of resource expansion both laterally and down dip of the modelled mineral resources as well as test new geologically attractive areas, such as where a blind vein was discovered in one hole at the North Camp target during 2024." Figure 1: Plan of Silver Queen project area To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/237228_6826498df4aa19c4_002full.jpg Figure 2: No.3 North Longitudinal Section showing historical and 2024 drill intercepts. Historical Intercepts are semi-transparent. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/237228_6826498df4aa19c4_003full.jpg Table 1: Select Composites from 2024 Drilling on the No. 3 North Target Hole # From (m) To (m) Interval (m) ETT (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) AuEq (g/t) AgEq (g/t) Comments No. 3 North SQ24-137 227.9 228.2 0.3 0.2 8.3 185 0.4 0.1 0.3 11.7 834 HW Vein SQ24-137 240.8 241.4 0.6 0.4 0.8 423 1.8 0.6 10.0 16.1 1155 HW Vein SQ24-137 270.4 278.2 7.8 5.5 0.5 27 0.1 0.5 2.8 3.0 212 No. 3 Vein; 33.3% Dilution inc. 271.4 272.5 1.1 0.7 1.5 63 0.1 1.1 8.7 8.6 618 SQ24-137 282.0 282.9 0.9 0.6 1.3 27 0.1 0.3 2.2 3.4 245 No. 2 Veiin SQ24-138 217.5 218.5 1.0 0.8 0.3 20 0.0 0.4 0.9 1.4 98 No. 3 Vein SQ24-138 254.6 256.4 1.8 1.4 0.2 10 0.0 0.8 1.0 1.3 92 SQ24-139 285.4 286.6 1.2 0.8 1.2 177 0.9 0.3 2.1 6.4 461 No. 3 Vein SQ24-139 389.6 390.2 0.7 0.5 0.2 42 0.0 1.4 2.9 3.2 231 No. 2 Vein SQ24-140 240.6 241.9 1.3 1.1 1.7 206 1.1 0.3 7.0 10.7 767 No. 3 Vein inc. 240.6 241.5 0.9 0.8 2.3 262 1.0 0.4 9.8 14.0 1001 SQ24-140 281.0 285.2 4.2 3.6 0.4 68 0.1 1.1 5.3 5.4 386 No. 2 Vein inc. 283.3 285.2 1.9 1.6 0.7 119 0.1 2.0 10.3 10.0 713 SQ24-141 189.2 190.2 1.0 0.9 0.4 133 0.2 0.1 3.1 4.5 323 SQ24-141 198.6 201.6 3.0 2.7 0.3 174 1.2 0.2 3.8 7.1 507 No. 3 Vein inc. 200.9 201.6 0.7 0.6 0.5 362 3.0 0.4 7.7 15.2 1089 SQ24-141 260.6 261.6 1.0 0.9 0.2 16 0.0 0.0 1.3 1.2 88 SQ24-141 266.4 269.2 2.8 2.5 0.5 40 0.1 1.7 6.1 5.7 411 No. 2 Vein inc. 268.9 269.2 0.4 0.3 0.7 144 0.2 10.5 30.8 27.0 1934 SQ24-142 271.0 271.9 1.0 0.7 6.4 720 2.3 0.5 3.6 22.5 1609 No. 3 Vein inc 271.0 271.3 0.3 0.2 18.6 2059 5.9 0.7 1.4 57.5 4116 SQ24-142 358.0 358.3 0.3 0.2 0.6 24 0.1 0.2 7.8 6.2 446 SQ24-142 363.5 369.4 6.0 4.4 0.2 54 0.0 1.1 5.0 4.6 332 No. 2 Vein; 30.2% Dilution inc. 367.0 368.0 1.0 0.7 0.1 224 0.1 4.9 21.2 18.9 1352 SQ24-142 382.5 383.1 0.7 0.5 0.2 167 0.7 0.2 0.3 3.8 274 SQ24-143 322.5 325.0 2.6 1.8 0.2 15 0.0 0.5 1.5 1.6 111 HW Vein SQ24-143 329.0 332.6 3.6 2.5 0.7 12 0.1 0.1 1.3 1.9 135 No. 2 Vein inc. 332.1 332.6 0.5 0.3 1.1 27 0.1 0.4 6.9 6.2 445 SQ24-144 283.4 284.4 1.0 0.6 0.2 63 0.7 0.1 0.5 2.4 175 No. 3 Vein SQ24-144 407.2 412.7 5.4 3.0 0.5 63 0.1 1.0 4.3 4.6 330 No. 2 Vein inc. 409.0 411.8 2.8 1.5 0.6 84 0.1 1.3 6.3 6.5 462 SQ24-144 424.0 425.7 1.8 1.0 0.2 150 0.1 0.8 1.7 3.9 281 FW Vein inc. 424.0 424.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 359 0.2 0.4 0.9 6.2 442 Camp Vein SQ24-145 NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV NSV SQ24-146 217.4 218.0 0.6 0.4 0.4 37 0.1 0.4 2.2 2.6 187 Notes: drill core samples were analyzed by FA/AAS for gold and 48 element ICP-MS by MS Analytical, Langley, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP-ES analysis, High silver overlimits (>1000g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. Silver >10,000g/t re-assayed by concentrate analysis, where a FA-Grav analysis is performed in triplicate and a weighed average reported. Downhole composites calculated using a 80g/t AgEq (1g/t AuEq) cut-off and <20% internal dilution, except where noted. Accuracy of results is tested through the systematic inclusion of QA/QC standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream. AuEq and AgEq were calculated using prices of $1,800/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, $3.50/lb Cu, $0.95/lb Pb and $1.30/lb Zn. AuEq and AgEq calculations utilized relative metallurgical recoveries of Au 70%, Ag 80%, Cu 80%, Pb 81% and Zn 90%. 2024 Drilling Forty-two core holes totalling 17,209 metres were completed as part of Equity's 2024 exploration program. Drilling resulted in the delineation of a 550-metre strike-length for mineralization in the George Lake target and a 400-metre strike-length for mineralization in the No. 3 North target, as well as several extensions of earlier identified veins in the Camp Deposit and a new discovery in the Camp North target. Work in 2025 will continue to incorporate the 2024 drill data into revised exploration and resource models toward a Mineral Resource update to be prepared in 2025, as well as continued, further exploration drilling on the property-wide and ever-expanding Silver Queen vein systems. The No. 3 Vein is the single largest deposit currently identified on the Silver Queen property and with its southern extension, the NG-3 Vein, account for 65% of the currently modelled mineral resources on a AgEq basis. Any extensions to the No. 3 Vein will be highly accretive to the current mineral resource. The updated NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate with effective date December 1st, 2022 is detailed in a News Release issued on Jan 16, 2023, which can be found by clicking here and the full Technical Report can be found on SEDAR and the Company's website. About Silver Queen Project The Silver Queen Project is a premier gold-silver property with over 100 years of historic exploration and development and is located adjacent to power, roads and rail with significant mining infrastructure that was developed under previous operators Bradina JV (Bralorne Mines) and Houston Metals Corp. (a Hunt Brothers company). The property contains an historic decline into the No. 3 Vein and the George Lake Vein, camp infrastructure, and a maintained Tailings Facility. The Silver Queen Property consists of 46 mineral claims, 17 crown grants, and two surface crown grants totalling 18,871ha with no underlying royalties. Mineralization is hosted by a series of epithermal veins distributed over a 6 sq km area. More than 20 different veins have been identified on the property, forming an extensive network of zoned Cretaceous- to Tertiary-age epithermal veins. The property remains largely under-explored. About Equity Metals Corporation Equity Metals Corporation is a member of the Malaspina-Manex Group. The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest (57.49%) in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines. As well, the Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Arlington Property, located within the Boundary District of south-central British Columbia where 2025 exploration work is planned, consisting of geophysics and diamond drilling designed to identify and delineate an apparent gold system. The Company is fully funded to undertake proposed 2025 exploration and development at Silver Queen and Arlington. Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is VP Exploration of Equity Metals Corporation and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. He is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Silver Queen project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr." Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr., P.Geo President, Director, Equity Metals Corporation Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237228 SOURCE: Equity Metals Corporation WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, Wednesday announced the signing of a long-term, multi-billion dollar supply agreement for EV battery-grade anode graphite with General Motors Co. (GM).The agreement covers the development of large-scale manufacturing capacity and supply of synthetic anode graphite towards 2033.As per the agreement, the high-performance anode graphite will be shipped from Vianode's plant in North America, with production starting in 2027. The material will be used by Ultium Cells LLC, GM's battery cell manufacturing joint venture with LG Energy Solution for next-generation EV batteriesVianode said it targets to supply advanced materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030.Copyright(c) 2025 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. TIC Holding Schweiz AG, a Buy, Build and Technologize platform funded by Winterberg Investment X and managed by Winterberg Advisory GmbH, has acquired Metron Measurement SA based in Quartino, Switzerland BAAR, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TIC Holding Schweiz has successfully completed the acquisition of Metron Measurement SA, an SCS-accredited laboratory specialized in calibrating measurement equipment in the field of Length, Force, Torque, Humidity, Pressure and Electrical quantities. Metron further offers active administration and handling of all the equipment of their customers and can even perform its services onsite. TIC (Testing, Inspection, and Certification) services have been a focus for private equity groups for decades, particularly in Europe, driven by the sector's non-cyclical nature and high levels of recurring revenues. Winterberg has explored this sector in Switzerland for more than three years before making its first acquisition and is currently pursuing further live transactions. Lorenzo Tencati, Board Member at TIC Holding Schweiz and Partner in Winterberg, states: "After being in the M&A market in TIC in Switzerland for a long time, we have finally found the nucleus of our new platform. Metron has strong processes, and impressive growth and a highly motivated team to deliver its services at the highest standards, to the utmost satisfaction of its customers. We are also very happy that Alessandro Capone stays with us as CEO of Metron with a significant shareholding in TIC Holding Schweiz. Together with my partner Fabian Kroeher and the Winterberg team we are all up for an exciting journey to build a Swiss market leader in the next 5 to 7 years." Alessandro Capone, CEO of Metron Measurement, adds: "From the first meeting, we were convinced that Winterberg will be the right partner to take Metron to the next level. We have been growing our services and team every year and really look forward to now be able to strategically invest and grow by acquisition in addition. We are also extremely grateful to our first investor Brutsch Ruegger Tools and especially to its CEO Martin Wirth for their support and trust in us during the last 10 years of activity, since 2015. We want to ensure that our collaboration in the market remains at its current level and that we continue to best meet our customers' needs." Martin Wirth, CEO of Brutsch Ruegger Tools, affirms: "We are pleased to transfer our stake in Metron to an investor poised to further develop the company strategically and to expand the group into new sectors beyond our current scope. We are confident they will successfully drive Metron's continued growth and build on its strong momentum. Metron is and remains our reliable exclusive partner for testing and calibration services - a long-standing partnership that will continue. We will keep providing our customers with calibration services and process-integrated calibration solutions based on Metron's comprehensive portfolio of expertise and solutions." About TIC Holding Schweiz AG TIC Holding Schweiz aims at becoming one of Switzerland's leading customer-centric groups with a strong commitment to quality, excellence and diversity. The holding is actively seeking to acquire small and medium enterprises in accredited Testing, Inspection and Certification Services, preferably in succession situations. By fostering an entrepreneurial culture and benefiting from latest technologies in all corporate functions, it aspires to generate above-market growth and returns. TIC Holding Schweiz is based in Baar, Switzerland and its first group company Metron Measurement SA is located in Quartino, Switzerland. About Winterberg Advisory GmbH and Winterberg Group AG Based in Gruenwald, Germany, Winterberg Advisory GmbH manages private equity investment funds, mainly concentrating on small- and mid-cap successions, creating Buy, Build and Technologize platforms such as TIC Holding Schweiz AG and Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG. Winterberg Group AG, located in Zug, Switzerland, is an independent family office that invests in private equity, along with selective ventures in real estate and other asset classes. Note to Editors: Please credit Winterberg Group for all references to provided quotes and information. For further information about TIC Holding Schweiz AG, please visit www.tic-holding.ch. For further information about Metron Measurement SA, please visit www.metron-labo.ch. For further information about Winterberg Advisory GmbH and Winterberg Group AG, please visit www.winterberg.group. Winterberg's Swiss healthcare platform Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG can be found under www.healthcare-holding.ch. This press release is prepared and distributed by Winterberg Advisory GmbH on behalf of TIC Holding Schweiz AG. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2598759/TIC_Holding_Schweiz_AG.jpg For media inquiries, please contact: Kaja Funke presse@tic-holding.ch +4915118859825 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tic-holding-schweiz--winterberg-acquire-metron-measurement-sa-302351890.html REDDING, Calif., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled 'Harvester Market by Type (Combine Harvester, Forage Harvester, Potato Harvester, Reapers), Mode of Operation (Automatic), Propulsion Type (Electric), Power (Below 150 HP), and Crop Type - Global (Analysis, Outlook, Leaders, Report, Trends, Forecast, Segmentation, Growth, Value) Forecast to 2031. The harvester market is projected to reach $42.51 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period 2024-2031. Download FREE PDF Brochure Of Harvester Market - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=6076 A harvester is a machine used in agriculture to collect crops once they are ripe for harvesting. It is a key piece of equipment that helps farmers efficiently gather crops such as wheat, corn, rice, and other grains. The use of harvesters greatly enhances productivity, reduces labor costs, and helps ensure that crops are collected at the optimal time to prevent losses. The growth of the harvester market is primarily driven by the increasing global demand for food, rising crop production, increasing agricultural mechanization, and the growing adoption of advanced harvesting technologies. However, the high initial investment required for purchasing harvesters may restrain market growth. Additionally, innovations in smart agriculture and the expansion of emerging markets are expected to create growth opportunities for stakeholders in this sector. However, the shortage of skilled workers to operate advanced harvesters remains a significant challenge to the market's growth. Furthermore, the growing integration of automation and robotics in harvesting equipment, along with the increasing demand for sustainable farming practices, are key trends in the harvester market. Get Insightful Data On Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, And Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures And More) - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-sample-report/cp_id=6076 The harvester market is segmented based on type (combine harvester, forage harvester, sugarbeet harvester, potato harvester, wine grape harvester, reapers, and other harvesters), mode of operation (semi-automatic, harvesters automatic harvesters manual harvesters), propulsion type (non-electric-powered harvesters, electric-powered harvesters), power (Below 150 HP, 150-300 HP, 300-450 HP, Above 450 HP), and crop type (cereals and grains, fruits & vegetables, oilseed & pulses sugarcane other crop types). The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the harvester market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Key Findings in the Harvester Market By Type: In 2024, the Combine Harvester Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market In 2024, the Combine Harvester Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market By Mode of Operation: In 2024, the Semi-automatic Harvester Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market In 2024, the Semi-automatic Harvester Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market By Propulsion Type: In 2024, the Non-electric-Powered Harvesters Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market In 2024, the Non-electric-Powered Harvesters Segment is Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market By Power: In 2024, the Below 150 HP Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Harvester Market In 2024, the Below 150 HP Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Harvester Market By Crop Type: In 2024, the Cereals & Grains Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Harvester Market In 2024, the Cereals & Grains Segment is Expected to Account for the Largest Share of the Harvester Market By Geography: Asia-Pacific Expected to Dominate the Harvester Market in 2024 Have Specific Research Needs? Request a Customized Research Report - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=6076 Based on type, the combine harvester segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing demand for modern combine harvesters equipped with GPS, sensors, and automation, the integration of combine harvesters with precision farming technologies, and the increasing development of fully autonomous combine harvesters are expected to drive the segment's growth. Based on mode of operation, the automatic harvester segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Continuous advancements in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, along with the increasing need for higher efficiency and productivity in large-scale farming and the integration of harvesters into smart farming ecosystems, are expected to support this segment's growth. Based on propulsion type, the electric-powered harvester segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The increasing focus on sustainability and the rising demand for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly harvesters are expected to fuel this segment's growth. Based on power, the below 150 HP segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The benefits offered by 150 HP harvesters, such as cost-effectiveness, low maintenance, optimal power for medium-sized farms, and greater flexibility and adaptability, are expected to drive the growth of this segment. Based on crop type, the cereals & grains segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rising global population and food demand, the need for specialized harvesters to handle various types of cereals and grains, and the increasing popularity of organic cereals and grains are expected to drive the segment's growth. Based on geography, the market in North America is slated to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this regional market is driven by factors such as the rising demand for advanced agricultural technologies, the widespread adoption of precision farming, the increasing need for high-yield crops, and the growing popularity of electric and hybrid harvesters. The key players operating in the harvester market are CLAAS KGaA mbH (Germany), CNH Industries N.V. (U.K.), Deere & Company (U.S.), Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), KUBOTA Corporation (Japan), Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (India), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (India), AGCO Corporation (U.S.), ISEKI & Co., Ltd. (Japan), SDF S.p.A. (Italy), Harvest Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Preet Group (India), and KZ Rostselmash LLC (Russia). Harvester Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players In December 2023, Swaraj, a division of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (India), launched next-gen Swaraj 8200 smart harvester for Indian farmers. In addition, the company has established a dedicated harvester plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, India to cater the growing demand for harvesters. In November 2022, CLAAS KGaA mbH (Germany) invested USD 46.4 million (EUR 44 million) to increase its combine harvester production at the Harsewinkel site. In August 2022, AGCO Corporation (U.S.) launched an 800hp+ forage harvester, Fendt Katana 850, to optimize performance in large crops. In August 2022, AGCO Corporation (U.S.) launched the Fendt CORUS 500, a straw walker combine harvester, for flexible use in different crops. In July 2022, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (India) acquired Sampo Rosenlew Oy (Finland), a combine harvester manufacturer, to offer a broader product portfolio of harvesters to address the needs of farmers around the world. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY AVAILABLE | BUY THIS RESEARCH REPORT (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More)- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/28259930 Scope of the Report: Harvester Market Assessment-by Type Combine Harvester Self-propelled Harvester Tractor-pulled Combine Harvester PTO- powered Combine Harvester Forage Harvester Trailed Silage Harvester Self-propelled Forage Harvester Trailed Forage Harvester Other Forage Harvesters Sugarbeet Harvester Potato Harvester Wine Grape Harvester Reapers and Other Harvesters Harvester Market Assessment-by Mode of Operation Semi-automatic Harvesters Automatic Harvesters Manual Harvesters Harvester Market Assessment-by Propulsion Type Non-electric-powered Harvesters Electric-Powered Harvesters Harvester Market Assessment-by Power Below 150 HP 150-300 HP 300-450 HP Above 450 HP Harvester Market Assessment-by Crops Type Cereals and Grains Maize/corn Wheat Rice Other Cereals & Grains Fruits & Vegetables Grapes Apples Citrus Fruits Potato Sugarbeet Other Fruits & vegetables Oilseed & Pulses Sugarcane Other Crop Types Harvester Market Assessment-by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Spain Italy Netherlands Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Indonesia Malaysia Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Mexico Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Related Reports Agriculture Equipment Market by Type (Tractors, Harvesting Equipment, Irrigation Equipment), Mode of Operation (Manual, Automatic), Power Source (Electric Equipment), Application (Sowing, Crop Protection, Harvesting, Irrigation) - 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Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agricultural-biologicals-market-5314 Agricultural Microbials Market by Microorganism Type (Bacteria, Fungi, Virus), Product Functionality (Soil Amendments, Crop Protection), Formulation, Mode of Application (Foliar Spray, Soil Treatment, Seed Treatment), Crop Type - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agricultural-microbials-market-5783 Agricultural Films Market by Type (Greenhouse Films, Mulching Films, Silage Films), Raw Material (Conventional Plastics {LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE}, Biodegradable Plastics {Thermoplastic Starch, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, Polylactic Acid}) - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agricultural-films-market-5799 Agriculture Drones Market by Offering (Hardware, Software), Payload (Less than 10 kg, 10 kg to 30 kg, More than 30 kg), Application (Precision Agriculture, Livestock Monitoring, Precision Fish Farming), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2030 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agriculture-drone-market-4986 Agriculture Equipment Market by Type (Tractors, Harvesting Equipment, Irrigation Equipment), Mode of Operation (Manual, Automatic), Power Source (Electric Equipment), Application (Sowing, Crop Protection, Harvesting, Irrigation) - Global Forecast to 2030 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agriculture-equipment-market-5374 Agriculture Robots Market by Offering (Hardware, Software), Deployment (Indoor, Outdoor), Automation Type (Automated, Semi-automated), and End Use (Crop Farming, Livestock, Forestry, Fishery), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/agriculture-robots-market-5616 Irrigation Equipment Market by Component (Tubing, Sprinklers, Emitter, Drippers, Pumping, Filters, Connectors, Sensors, Regulators), Irrigation Type (Drip, Sprinkler, Pivot Irrigation), Application (Agricultural, Non-agricultural) - Global Forecast to 2031 - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/irrigation-equipment-market-5378 Harvester Market Research Summary Particulars Details Number of Pages 270 Format PDF Forecast Period 2024-2031 Base Year 2024 CAGR (Value) 4.9 % Market Size in 2024 (Value) USD 30.49 Billion by 2024 Market Size in 2031 (Value) USD 42.51 Billion by 2031 Segments Covered By Type Combine Harvester Self-propelled Harvester Tractor-pulled Combine Harvester PTO-powered Combine Harvester Forage Harvester Trailed Silage Harvester Self-propelled Forage Harvester Trailed Forage Harvester Other Forage Harvesters Sugarbeet Harvester Potato Harvester Wine Grape Harvester Reapers and Other Harvesters By Mode of Operation Semi-automatic Harvesters Automatic Harvesters Manual Harvesters By Propulsion Type Non-electric-Powered Harvesters Electric-Powered Harvesters By Power Below 150 HP 150-300 HP 300-450 HP Above 450 HP By Crop Type Cereals and Grains Maize/Corn Wheat Rice Other Cereals & Grains Fruits & Vegetables Grapes Apples Citrus Fruits Potato Sugarbeet Other Fruits & Vegetables Oilseed & Pulses Sugarcane Other Crop Types Countries Covered North America (U.S., Canada), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America), and the Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa). Key Companies CLAAS KGaA mbH (Germany), CNH Industries N.V. (U.K.), Deere & Company (U.S.), Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), KUBOTA Corporation (Japan), Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (India), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (India), AGCO Corporation (U.S.), ISEKI & Co., Ltd. (Japan), SDF S.p.A. (Italy), Harvest Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Preet Group (India), and KZ Rostselmash LLC (Russia) About Meticulous Research Pvt. Ltd. We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutions-including syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market. With a strong focus on problem-solving for complex business challenges, our research enables organizations to navigate change with assertion, aligning it with strategic pathways for sustainable growth. By identifying innovative and effective solutions, we empower leaders to make impactful decisions that drive operational excellence and fuel innovation. We are committed to crafting insights that enhance business performance and help our clients unlock new revenue opportunities, positioning them for long-term success in the competitive global marketplace. Contact: Meticulous Market Research Pvt.Ltd. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe: +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Meticulousblog.org | Top Market Research Reports Blog - https://meticulousblog.org/ Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/1312/harvester-market Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757980/Meticulous_Research_Logo_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/harvester-market-to-be-worth-42-51-billion-by-2031---exclusive-report-by-meticulous-research-302351473.html Franklin, Ohio--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Modula Inc., a leading manufacturer of automated storage and retrieval solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Orfeo Finocchi as its new CEO, effective January 1, 2025. Orfeo Finocchi as CEO of Modula North America To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/237291_c4a2dcff04861850_001full.jpg Based at Modula's North American facility in Franklin, Ohio, Orfeo will focus on strengthening the company's commitment to operational excellence and innovation while driving expansion in key geographical areas to meet the evolving demands of the intralogistics market and support Modula's continued growth in the United States. Orfeo brings over 20 years of global leadership experience in business strategy, sales development, and corporate management. His history with Modula is well-established, having previously served as General Manager of System China, a subsidiary of System S.p.A. originally focused on the ceramics industry. During this time, when Modula was still part of the System group, Orfeo was responsible for expanding sales networks for Modula across China and for ceramics across the broader Asian region, including Japan, India, and Thailand. Following the strategic decision to separate the Modula business unit from System China, Orfeo was appointed General Manager of Modula China. He successfully led the spin-off and the creation of a new legal entity and independent manufacturing facility. Under his leadership, Modula China built a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. His leadership significantly contributed to expanding Modula's market presence in China and establishing the brand as a recognized name in the region. Reflecting on his return to Modula, Orfeo shared: "I am honored to return to Modula and lead the next phase of growth. I have always shared with Mr. Franco Stefani a deep commitment to excellence and continuous innovation in production and manufacturing processes. I look forward to collaborating with the exceptional teams in North America and beyond to deliver innovative solutions and expand our market presence." With Orfeo's leadership, Modula aims to continue its mission of providing advanced automated storage solutions that improve warehouse efficiency, safety, and productivity across diverse industrial sectors. About Modula Modula is a leading manufacturer of automated storage solutions, designed to optimize space and improve picking and storage operations for any industrial sector or environment. Modula vertical lift module (VLM) line maximizes the storage potential of high-ceiling facilities, securing items in enclosed units up to 54 feet tall. Our horizontal carousels are ideal for low-ceiling environments, as well as those seeking maximum throughput. For both solutions, automated delivery dramatically increases productivity and saves operators from unnecessary bending, walking, and reaching for parts. Today, Modula counts on more than 30,000 customers around the world and 4 production plants in Italy, the US (Lewiston, Maine & Franklin, Ohio), and China. In addition, Modula has a network of twelve subsidiaries (located in France, UK, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, India, Singapore, Australia, Colombia, and Mexico) and more than 100 authorized dealers worldwide. This guarantees a local presence to clients, allowing the company to serve all markets in a personal and timely manner. For more information please visit the official website: http://www.modula.us/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237291 SOURCE: Digital Silk WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - New York manufacturing activity unexpectedly declined in the month of January, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Wednesday.The New York Fed said its general business conditions index tumbled to a negative 12.6 in January from a positive 2.1 in December, with a negative reading indicating contraction. Economists had expected the index to inch up to a positive 3.0.The unexpected slump by the headline index partly reflected a notable downturn by new orders, as the new orders index plunged to a negative 8.6 in January from a positive 4.3 in December.The shipments index also slid to a negative 1.7 in January from a positive 9.1 in December, although the number of employees index climbed to a positive 1.2 in January from a negative 6.6 in December.The report also said both input and selling price increases picked up. The price paid index jumped to 29.1 in January from 21.1 in December, while the prices received index rose to 9.3 in January from 4.2 in December.Meanwhile, the New York Fed said firms grew more optimistic conditions would improve in the months ahead, with the index for future business activity jumping to 36.7 in January from 26.9 in December.The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is scheduled to release its report on regional manufacturing activity in the month of January on Thursday.The Philly Fed's diffusion index for current general activity is expected to increase to a negative 5.0 in January from a negative 16.4 in December, although a negative reading would still indicate contraction.Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) Market is Segmented by Type (C Language, Java), by Application (Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail). BANGALORE, India, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) Market was estimated to be worth USD 1025 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 3478.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. Claim Your Free Sample Now: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-9Q10786/Global_Tiny_Machine_Learning_TinyML_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of TinyML Market: The Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) market is poised for substantial growth, driven by the increasing demand for intelligent and efficient ML solutions that operate on edge devices. The proliferation of IoT devices, wearable technology, and smart sensors across various industries creates a vast opportunity for TinyML applications, enabling real-time data processing and decision-making without the need for cloud-based computing. Advances in low-power hardware, optimized ML algorithms, and robust software frameworks enhance the capabilities and performance of TinyML systems, making them more versatile and reliable. As businesses and consumers continue to seek innovative and sustainable ML solutions, the TinyML market is set to achieve significant milestones, supported by continuous innovation and expanding applications worldwide. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-9Q10786/global-tiny-machine-learning-tinyml TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF TINY MACHINE LEARNING (TinyML) MARKET: TinyML applications often run on microcontrollers and embedded systems with limited processing power and memory. C's ability to deliver optimized performance and minimal overhead makes it ideal for developing lightweight ML algorithms that can operate within these constraints. Additionally, the widespread use of C in hardware programming ensures seamless integration with various sensors and actuators, enhancing the functionality of TinyML solutions. The robustness and portability of C also facilitate the deployment of TinyML models across diverse hardware platforms, thereby expanding the market reach and adoption of TinyML technologies. Java's extensive libraries and frameworks support the development of sophisticated ML models that can be efficiently deployed on a wide range of embedded devices. Its object-oriented nature allows developers to create modular and scalable TinyML applications, which can be easily maintained and updated. Moreover, Java's strong community support and continuous advancements in performance optimization contribute to the reliability and efficiency of TinyML solutions. The ability to integrate Java-based TinyML models with enterprise systems and IoT platforms further enhances their applicability, fostering greater adoption and growth in the TinyML market. The healthcare sector is a major driver of the Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) market, leveraging TinyML technologies to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. TinyML enables the development of portable and wearable medical devices that can monitor vital signs in real-time, providing continuous health assessments without the need for bulky equipment. These devices can perform on-device data processing, reducing latency and ensuring timely interventions. Additionally, TinyML applications in healthcare facilitate predictive analytics for early disease detection, personalized treatment plans, and remote patient monitoring, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. The increasing demand for smart healthcare solutions and the integration of TinyML into medical technologies significantly propel the growth of the TinyML market. TinyML algorithms are designed to perform complex computations with minimal power consumption, extending the battery life of IoT devices and wearable technologies. This efficiency is essential for applications such as remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and portable health devices, where frequent recharging is impractical. Advances in low-power hardware and optimized ML models further enhance energy efficiency, making. The emphasis on energy-efficient technologies aligns with global sustainability goals, driving the adoption and expansion of the TinyML market across various industries. Cost-effectiveness is a significant driver of the Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) market, as businesses and consumers seek affordable solutions without compromising on functionality. TinyML reduces the need for expensive cloud-based processing by enabling on-device data analysis, which lowers operational costs and reduces reliance on continuous internet connectivity. This is particularly beneficial for applications in remote areas and developing regions where infrastructure may be limited. Additionally, the compact and integrated nature of TinyML devices minimizes material and manufacturing costs, making them accessible to a broader market. The ability to deploy cost-effective ML solutions without sacrificing performance encourages widespread adoption, thereby accelerating the growth of the TinyML market. TinyML frameworks support the deployment of scalable ML models that can be customized to meet specific needs, whether in smart homes, industrial automation, or consumer electronics. The modular architecture of TinyML systems enables easy integration and upgrading, facilitating the expansion of functionalities as demand evolves. This flexibility ensures that TinyML solutions can cater to diverse use cases, from simple data monitoring to complex decision-making processes. Buy Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-9Q10786&lic=single-user TINY MACHINE LEARNING (TinyML) MARKET SHARE: North America leads the market, driven by its advanced technology sector, strong presence of key players, and substantial investments in AI and IoT technologies. Europe follows closely, with significant growth fueled by robust industrial automation, smart manufacturing initiatives, and supportive government policies promoting AI and ML adoption. The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by the burgeoning electronics industry, increasing smartphone penetration, and rising investments in smart cities and IoT applications in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Key Companies: GOOGLE INC Microsoft ARM STMicroelectronics Cartesian Ltd. Meta Platforms/Facebook EdgeImpulse Inc. 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DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! - Small Language Model market was valued at USD 5180 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 17180 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 17.8% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Machine Learning market was valued at USD 15460 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 140610 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 37.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - AI & Machine Learning Market - Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) market is projected to grow from USD 1117.7 Million in 2024 to USD 9066.7 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 41.8% during the forecast period. - AI and Machine Learning in Microscopy Market was estimated to be worth USD 564.7 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1109 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - AI & Machine Learning Operationalization Software Market - Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mining Market was estimated to be worth USD 814 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1674 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 11.0% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Artificial Neural Networks market is projected to grow from USD 203.3 Million in 2024 to USD 542.3 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.8% during the forecast period. - Corporate M-learning market was valued at USD 26950 Million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 69390 Million by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period 2024-2030. - Corporate Learning Management System (LMS) Market - Learning Analytics Market DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! 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GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-tiny-machine-learning-tinyml-market-to-reach-usd-3-4-billion-by-2030--key-drivers-and-opportunities--valuates-reports-302351969.html China steps up efforts to build digital twin systems in water conservancy sector 15:58, January 15, 2025 By Wang Hao ( People's Daily Photo shows a corn field that adopts intelligent irrigation methods in northwest China's Gansu province. (Photo from the New Gansu app) In a farm in northwest China's Gansu province, sensors are inserted into the soil to monitor humidity, while a miniature weather station tracks wind and light conditions. "Last year, the sunflower yield per mu (about 667 square meters) exceeded 280 kilograms, an increase of 15 percent," said Zou Changsheng, head of the project department of the farm. With the use of smart irrigation, bountiful harvests were guaranteed, and the water usage per mu has decreased from 650 cubic meters to 300 cubic meters, Zou added. The irrigation water comes from the Shule River, which flows through the desert, nurturing oasis along its path. The Shule River provides irrigation water for a total of 1.34 million mu of farmland spreading across 22 townships in Yumen city, and Guazhou county, as well as six farms. The Shule River basin receives less than 70 millimeters of precipitation annually, while the evaporation is as high as 2,800 millimeters. How can this water-deficient river achieve intensive water conservation while ensuring proper irrigation? "We have 'digitized' the Shule River," said Zhang Farong, deputy director of the planning department of the Shule River basin water resources utilization center in Gansu province. By leveraging geographic information systems and building information modeling, a virtual model has been constructed to simulate the river channel, canal system, reservoirs, and water gates in equal proportion, creating a "digital twin" of the river, Zhang explained. Photo shows the digital twin information center of Shule River irrigation area in northwest China's Gansu province. (Photo from the New Gansu app) Through large model simulation, water resource scheduling plans have been continuously optimized. Manual gate operations have been automated, enabling precise water release based on demand. The construction of high-standard farmland is advancing in sync, with integrated water and fertilizer technologies such as drip irrigation and precision fertilization, saving both labor and water. By combining data, algorithms, and computing power, the Shule River irrigation area is gradually becoming a leading example of water conservation. These efforts to use digital technology to promote water-saving agriculture in the Shule River basin reflect China's rapid progress in developing a digital twin system for water resources management. "In simple terms, digital twin water resources management refers to the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, and large models to virtually replicate natural water systems and hydraulic engineering structures on the internet. This enables the simulation of interactions between physical and virtual objects, facilitating precise forecasting, early warnings, rapid scenario simulations, and the development of contingency plans," said Sun Chunpeng, director of the hydrological information forecasting center at China's Ministry of Water Resources. In recent years, China's water resources sector has completed 94 construction tasks of digital twin for water resource management. The construction of a comprehensive water monitoring system covering the Yangtze River basin has commenced, accelerating the formation of a prototype digital twin of the Yangtze River. A digital twin Yellow River project is advancing in an orderly manner, which aims at promoting the deep integration of the real-world Yellow River, Yellow River models, and a digital twin of the Yellow River. In the development of digital twin water networks, a framework for constructing a national backbone water network digital twin has been completed. Progress has been made in the preliminary establishment of a digital twin for the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project's central route, and 10 provincial-level pilot areas have achieved practical results in building their digital twin water networks. Efforts are also underway to advance the construction of digital twin water networks at the municipal and county levels. Photo shows an intelligent digital twin flood control system for the Shule River basin. (Photo provided by the Shule River basin water resources utilization center) Regarding digital twin projects, continuous iterative optimization is being carried out for key sites such as the Three Gorges Dam, Xiaolangdi Dam, Danjiangkou Reservoir, and Yuecheng Reservoir. From 2023 to 2025, 49 digital twin irrigation areas are scheduled to be piloted. Besides, by 2025, large and key medium-sized water conservancy projects newly constructed will launch information infrastructure, digital twin platforms, and business application systems. Digital twin in water conservancy enables more targeted management of rivers and lakes. China's Ministry of Water Resources has established a national key rivers and lakes ecological flow monitoring and early warning platform. This platform gathers monitoring data such as water levels and flow rates from 283 ecological flow sections of key rivers and lakes. It enables real-time monitoring and early warning for 235 ecological flow control sections across 165 key rivers and lakes, as well as 65 water allocation sections. A national water use management platform has been set up, allowing for dynamic monitoring of violations such as excessive water use, exceeding control limits, and lack of measurement for water users with permits. Up to now, 131,000 online monitoring points and 551,500 offline monitoring points nationwide have been connected to the platform. Digital twin in water conservancy enables more science-based management of water conservancy projects. In water conservancy engineering construction management system, information from over 40,000 enterprises, more than 1.07 million professionals, and over 420,000 project performance records and credit evaluations in the water resources industry have been consolidated. In the water resources project operation management information system, electronic archives of over 90,000 reservoirs across nine industries, including water conservancy, energy, and transportation, have been shared. In the rural water resources and hydropower information management system, basic and operational information for 520,000 centralized water supply projects, 42,000 small hydropower stations, and 7,326 large and medium-sized irrigation areas are updated annually, with a daily average of over 3,000 visits. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Phenom Resources Corp. (TSXV: PHNM) (OTCQX: PHNMF) (FSE: 1PY0) ("Phenom" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that new soil sampling results, with previously reported soil results, and geologic mapping together have further defined a mineral system characteristic of a Carlin-type gold deposit. The system anomaly is now at least 2.1 kilometres long (1.3 miles) and 200 meters (660 feet) or more, wide. Dave Mathewson, Company director and Geological advisor states, "This is a sizable significant Carlin-style gold system that has potential of multiple associated gold deposits and in my view represents one of the best undrilled gold prospects in Nevada, if not the best." The recently completed soil sampling program focused on a 600m x 200m (1980 ft x 660 ft) area with the objective of extending the length of gold system to the southwest from previous sampling. The new soil and mapping results successfully demonstrated continuity of the gold system for an impressive +2.1 km long and the "strength and quality of system" by virtue of the strength of values and persistent distribution of gold and associated pathfinder elements. Highlights of the entire system to date follow. Arsenic and zinc are the strongest continuous pathfinder elements along the entire 2.1km trend as seen in Figures 1 and 2, accompanied by more localized anomalous values of mercury, antimony and thallium. This assemblage of gold with pathfinder elements is indicative of Carlin gold systems. Within and along the 2.1km trend are four sizeable higher concentrated arsenic-zinc zones or plumes. It is important to note that arsenic is the single most important associated pathfinder to gold in prolific Carlin-type gold systems. Robust gold values in soils persist for 1.3km along the trend suggesting strong gold-bearing parts of the system are at surface in this area (see Figure 3). Further to the southwest for 800m, gold is still present in lower but important values as two linears, expressing leakage from below and along the outer edges of the 200m wide system. Elevated arsenic-zinc zones usually form a wider halo around gold cores, which in this segment of the system suggests stronger gold mineralization to be present at depth. Phenom plans additional mapping and rock chip sampling to further refine the structural and stratigraphic setting. Our geological and structural understanding of the system has also been improved significantly over the months of detailed surface mapping and prospecting. The anomaly and gold system is within and associated with altered lower to middle Roberts Mountains Formation, important hosts for many Carlin-type gold deposits in central and northern Nevada. Typical Carlin-type alteration assemblages such as jasperoid and decalcification are present. Decalcified and silicified float has returned gold assays up to 1.29 g/t Au. The anomalous gold zone is likely controlled by high-angle northeast-southwest trending structures cutting folded to gently dipping Roberts Mountains Formation carbonates. Subparallel-oriented argillized intrusive dyke swarms are present from subcroppings and from chromium anomalies in soil within and along the northeast trending system. Dykes are commonly important ore controls in Carlin-type systems. Dave Mathewson, continues, "There are further commentaries for readers to appreciate the magnitude of the Dobbin opportunity. What has been described and seen with these figures and results is very substantial, yet only the two-dimensional look at a big system. The 3rd dimensional context adds real insight and potential size. Multiple favourable stratigraphic host rocks are present at surface and at depth on the property such as the middle and lower Roberts Mountains Formation (more than 200m (660') thick in this area) and Antelope Formation (known to be up to 418m (1373') thick in the Monitor Range and a major host in the Eureka Mining District to the north). Where the subvertical feeder structures feed this gold system and cut these specific rock formations, gold can be deposited as multiple brecciated and stacked mineralized zones at various depths, somewhat reminiscent of tree branches off a tree truck. And since the stratigraphy on the property is shallow dipping, gold tends to spread outward flanking from the structure along the favourable shallow dipping stratigraphy. In additional, all Carlin-type gold deposits have high-grade cores that can have dramatic positive economic impacts. This gold system would be no exception. A cross-sectional gold target model showing these potential sizable depth opportunities will be available on the Company website." Figure 1: Dobbin Arsenic Soil Anomaly defined by 25m x 25m detailed soil grid sampling To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3372/237297_eba4c8431455ebef_002full.jpg Figure 2: Dobbin Zinc Soil Anomaly defined by 25m x 25m detailed soil grid sampling To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3372/237297_eba4c8431455ebef_003full.jpg Figure 3: Dobbin Gold Soil Anomaly defined by 25m x 25m detailed soil grid sampling To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3372/237297_eba4c8431455ebef_004full.jpg Phenom is permitting a comprehensive trenching and drilling campaign to explore the anomalous zone. Technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dave Mathewson, Director and Geological Consultant of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operations and activities of Phenom, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans, including ongoing mapping and sampling, future assay results and the impact thereof. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Phenom, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Phenom does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237297 SOURCE: Phenom Resources Corp. Shenzhen, China--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - At CES 2025, the world's premier technology showcase, Kaadas Group, a global leader in the smart lock industry, captivated audiences with its cutting-edge innovations and reaffirmed its position as a leading brand in the global smart lock market. As the largest and most influential consumer electronics exhibition, CES attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and tech industry experts every year. This year, Kaadas not only unveiled its flagship product, the Legendary Master K70 smart lock, but also showcased a series of breakthrough technologies and solutions that demonstrate its deep expertise and forward-thinking vision in the smart lock industry. Image from Kaadas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/236984_abe1d6a9b4f84b76_001full.jpg Image from Kaadas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/236984_figure1.jpg Kaadas places special emphasis on the integration of AI technology in its products. The Legendary Master K70 smart lock incorporates industry-leading AI technology, achieving breakthroughs in four key application scenarios: AI cat-eye monitoring, AI biometric recognition, AI trajectory mapping, and AI dynamic detection. These features elevate the product's intelligence and security, providing users with an unprecedented smart home experience. The Legendary Master K70 smart lock emerged as the star product of the show, garnering attention for its advanced technology, top-tier security features, and ease of use. The K70 offers a variety of unlocking methods, including 3D facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, password entry, and card access, all backed by Kaadas' proprietary SuperShield intelligent security system for all-around user protection. Additionally, the K70 comes with enhanced features such as auto-lock, peephole door viewer, and auto-lockout function for failed attempts, elevating both security and convenience for the user. Image from Kaadas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/236984_abe1d6a9b4f84b76_003full.jpg In recent years, Kaadas Group has been aggressively expanding its global footprint. Its smart lock products are now sold in 36 countries, including the United States and Singapore, with more than 10 million units sold worldwide. Kaadas was also recently named to the 2024 Forbes China "Top 30 Globalization Leading Brands," becoming the only smart lock brand to be included in the list. This recognition highlights the company's leadership in the global smart lock market and underscores the global rise of Chinese smart lock brands. Kaadas continues to invest heavily in research and development, featuring R&D centers in Los Angeles, Shenzhen, and Changsha, complemented by a global team of over 400 engineers across Silicon Valley and other key locations.. With manufacturing bases in Ouhai of Zhejiang Province, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan, Kaadas is building the world's largest smart security tech industrial park, positioning itself for long-term growth with a production capacity of millions of smart locks annually. Image from Kaadas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8846/236984_abe1d6a9b4f84b76_004full.jpg Participation in CES is not just about showcasing Kaadas' latest innovations; it is also an opportunity to engage with global tech leaders and explore future technological trends. Moving forward, Kaadas will continue to lead the global smart lock industry, delivering even more secure, convenient, and innovative solutions for consumers from all over the world. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236984 SOURCE: Media Feature PHYRAGO Represents the First and Only Improved Version of SPRYCEL That Can Be Safely Co-administered With Gastric Acid-Reducing Agents TAIPEI, TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / January 15, 2025 / Handa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Handa") (6620.TWO) announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Handa Therapeutics, LLC (the "Company"), has acquired PHYRAGO (dasatinib) tablets, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved chronic myeloid leukemia treatment that was developed by Nanocopoeia, LLC. PHYRAGO is the first and only dasatinib product that can be co-administered with gastric acid-reducing agents. An estimated one-third of patients who require SPRYCEL treatment may also take gastric acid-reducing agents1, which can reduce dasatinib's drug exposure by more than 40% when taken with a proton pump inhibitor and more than 60% when taken with an H2 receptor antagonist2. PHYRAGO was granted Orphan-Drug Designation and has received three (3) years of data exclusivity that will expire December 5, 2026. Should PHYRAGO be granted Orphan-Drug Exclusivity, it may be eligible for seven (7) years of exclusivity, until December 5, 2030. PHYRAGO is protected by several issued patents, including those listed in the FDA's Approved Drugs and Therapeutic Equivalents publication (the "Orange Book") that expire January 22, 2041. The Company is in the process of selecting a U.S. commercialization partner and expects PHYRAGO to be available to patients in Q1-2025. PHYRAGO is indicated for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase and adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) who no longer benefit from, or did not tolerate, other treatments. "PHYRAGO represents a novel dasatinib formulation that delivers equivalent efficacy to SPRYCEL, with the additional benefit of allowing patients to take dasatinib with gastric acid-reducing agents", said Bill Liu, Chairman and CEO of Handa. "Unlike SPRYCEL, PHYRAGO allows concomitant use with a proton pump inhibitor or H2 receptor antagonist." The effect of co-administration of gastric acid-reducing agents on SPRYCEL is significant. The SPRYCEL label warns that the "co-administration of SPRYCEL with a gastric acid-reducing agent may decrease the concentration of dasatinib. Decreased dasatinib concentrations may reduce efficacy. Do not administer H2 agonists or proton pump inhibitors with SPRYCEL."3 The FDA approved PHYRAGO with a label that allows co-administration with gastric acid-reducing agents, stating that "No clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of PHYRAGO were observed following concomitant use with omeprazole (proton pump inhibitor) or famotidine (H2 receptor antagonist)."4 and "Avoid concomitant use of PHYRAGO with antacids. If concomitant use of an antacid cannot be avoided, administer the antacid at least 2 hours prior to or 2 hours after the dose of PHYRAGO."5 According to Bristol Myers Squibb's annual report, net sales of SPRYCEL in 2023 totaled $1.44 billion. For full prescribing information about PHYRAGO, please visit www.phyrago.com. About Handa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Handa is a specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing high-quality medications that address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and neurology. Handa's leadership has a proven track record of building effective teams, high quality product portfolios and successful pharmaceutical businesses. For more information, please visit www.handapharma.com. Media Contact: Stephen D. Cary Senior Vice President stephen.cary@handapharma.com Tel: +1 510 354 3188 Sources: IQVIA longitudinal prescription and medical claims data, January 2013-March 2021, identified 7,419 patients receiving dasatinib treatment of which 31.8% were concomitantly prescribed a proton pump inhibitor and/or H2 receptor antagonist SPRYCEL Prescribing Information (Rev. 7/2024), Section 12.3, Pharmacokinetics - Drug Interaction Studies - Gastric Acid Reducing Agents SPRYCEL Prescribing Information (Rev. 7/2024), Section 7.1, Drug Interactions - Effect of Other Drugs on Dasatinib - Gastric Acid Reducing Agents PHYRAGO Prescribing Information (Rev. 12/2024), Section 12.3, Pharmacokinetics - Drug Interaction Studies - Gastric Acid Reducing Agents PHYRAGO Prescribing Information (Rev. 12/2024), Section 2.2, Dosage Modifications - Antacids SOURCE: Handa Therapeutics, LLC. View the original press release on accesswire.com Saving for college is an important step for any child's future. While it may seem early, every small contribution adds up over time, providing a head start on rising education costs. Whether parents are exploring the best college savings plans or looking for ways to teach their children about finances, starting now can make all the difference. Here are some key reasons why it's never too early to start saving for college. It Gives Time for Money to Grow One of the most useful aspects of saving early is that it gives time for the money invested in a student's education account to grow as time goes on. By starting early, students and parents can take advantage of compound interest. This allows them to get more "bang for their buck" when they need to put that money to use for tuition, books, and other college costs. It Encourages Students to Invest in Their Future By involving students in their college savings, parents can help build their children's active interest in their future, how they envision it, and how they will eventually be able to pay for it. Parents can encourage their children by allowing them to: Contribute money from summer jobs or allowance Regularly reviewing their college savings accounts together Continuing to have open conversations about the financial aspect of college By bringing students in early on the savings planning, they can become active and engaged, working to build their ideal future. It Helps Build a Solid Understanding of Borrowing From a practical standpoint, saving early for college can help students gain a better understanding of money overall so they will not find themselves stumped by questions like "How do student loans work?" Instead, when students actively participate in the college savings process, they can learn how loans work for education, which can set them up to understand how other types of loans (like mortgages or personal loans) work if they decide to take them out. It Allows Families to Explore Different Savings Options Just like a healthy mix of investments can be great for an investor, committing to saving early enables families to explore different savings options to help pay for college. From 529 plans to educational savings accounts and Roth IRAs, there are loads of options available that can help families save for education in impactful ways. Consider exploring these, either independently or through a trusted financial advisor, to make the most of the different avenues for savings that are available. It Teaches Healthy Financial Habits Finally, by instilling an understanding of saving for something as important as an education, students can learn from their parents and families about how vital it is to keep healthy financial habits overall. From this one instance of saving for college, students can then learn about things like budgeting, making a financial plan, and working towards realizing their goals in life with the everyday use of those healthy financial habits. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI. Contact: Don Klein, 1-800-323-7033 SOURCE: Northwestern Mutual View the original press release on accesswire.com PUNE, India, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Market Size Overview of Underground Mining Equipment The Global Underground Mining Equipment Market is set to experience substantial growth, projected to increase from USD 39,782.13 million in 2023 to an estimated USD 61,451.15 million by 2032. This growth reflects the rising demand for minerals and metals, driven by expanding construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors worldwide. Advancements in mining technologies, coupled with increasing investments in resource exploration, are expected to further fuel market expansion. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations promoting sustainable mining practices contribute to the adoption of modern equipment, enhancing efficiency and safety in underground operations. This robust growth underscores the market's pivotal role in global industrial activities. Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/underground-mining-equipment-market Underground Mining Equipment Market Drivers Increasing Demand for Minerals and Metals The growing demand for minerals and metals, driven by rapid urbanization, industrialization, and technological advancements, serves as a primary driver for the underground mining equipment market. Key industries such as construction, automotive, and renewable energy heavily rely on mined materials like coal, copper, and rare earth elements. For instance, the global demand for lithium surged by 30% in 2023. The global shift towards clean energy further amplifies the demand for critical minerals, including lithium and cobalt, essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. This rising demand is pushing mining companies to enhance extraction processes and invest in advanced underground equipment, ensuring efficient and continuous mineral production. Advancements in Mining Technologies Technological advancements are revolutionizing the underground mining equipment market by improving efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Innovations such as automation, remote monitoring, and AI-driven systems are reducing human intervention in hazardous environments, minimizing risks, and boosting productivity. For example, AI and robotics are transforming exploration and extraction processes. Electric and battery-powered mining equipment are gaining traction as they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, advanced drilling and excavation technologies are enabling deeper and more precise mineral extraction, addressing challenges in hard-to-reach deposits. These innovations are encouraging mining operators to replace outdated equipment with state-of-the-art solutions, driving market growth. Increasing Focus on Sustainability Stringent environmental regulations and a global push for sustainable practices are reshaping the underground mining industry. Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are emphasizing the adoption of environmentally friendly equipment and methods to reduce the carbon footprint of mining activities. For example, the mining sector in India is regulated by a range of laws to ensure environmental safeguards. Companies are investing in low-emission machinery and green mining technologies to comply with these regulations while maintaining profitability. The rising awareness of sustainable practices is fostering the adoption of energy-efficient underground mining equipment, supporting the industry's transition toward eco-friendly operations and boosting market growth. Expanding Mining Activities in Emerging Economies Emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa are witnessing a surge in mining activities, driven by the growing need for natural resources to fuel economic development. These regions offer abundant untapped mineral reserves and favorable government policies to attract foreign investments in mining projects. For instance, Chile has the largest lithium reserves in the world at 9.3 million tons. The increased mining exploration and development activities are creating a substantial demand for underground mining equipment. Furthermore, infrastructure development and urbanization in these regions are accelerating the need for minerals and metals, fostering growth opportunities for market players operating in these economies. Underground Mining Equipment Market Restraints The underground mining equipment market faces several restraints that could hinder its growth. High initial costs associated with advanced mining equipment and technologies pose a significant challenge, especially for small and mid-sized mining operators. Additionally, the volatile prices of minerals and metals can impact mining investments, leading to reduced demand for new equipment. Stringent environmental regulations and compliance requirements also add to operational costs, making it difficult for companies to balance profitability with sustainability. Another critical restraint is the shortage of skilled labor to operate and maintain advanced equipment, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased downtime. Geopolitical uncertainties and trade restrictions further exacerbate supply chain disruptions, affecting the availability and cost of mining equipment components. Lastly, the environmental impact of mining activities continues to draw public scrutiny, potentially leading to stricter regulations and operational constraints for underground mining companies. Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/underground-mining-equipment-market Growth Opportunities in the Underground Mining Equipment Market Adoption of Automation and Digitalization The integration of automation, robotics, and digital technologies in underground mining presents significant growth opportunities. Automated drilling and hauling systems, coupled with real-time monitoring and AI-driven analytics, enhance operational efficiency and safety. For instance, Rio Tinto's Perth operations centre controls 50 autonomous trucks remotely, improving efficiency and safety. These advancements allow mining companies to optimize resource extraction, reduce costs, and mitigate risks in hazardous underground environments. The growing demand for smart mining solutions is expected to accelerate the adoption of such technologies, creating opportunities for equipment manufacturers. According to a 2024 report, over 60% of surveyed mining professionals confirmed the deployment of automation technologies. Expansion in Emerging Markets Emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America offer untapped potential for underground mining equipment manufacturers. These regions boast vast mineral reserves and are witnessing increased mining activities to support infrastructure development and industrial growth. Favorable government policies and investments in mining projects provide lucrative opportunities for equipment suppliers to expand their footprint in these high-growth markets. Focus on Sustainable Mining Practices The global emphasis on sustainability is driving demand for eco-friendly mining equipment. Electric and battery-powered machinery, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, is gaining traction. For example, the adoption of electric mining equipment is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance operational efficiency. Manufacturers focusing on developing energy-efficient and low-emission equipment are well-positioned to capitalize on this growing trend, aligning with global sustainability goals. The International Institute for Sustainable Development highlights the importance of sustainable mining practices to mitigate environmental impacts and promote social progress. Rising Demand for Critical Minerals The surge in demand for critical minerals, essential for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle production, is creating opportunities for the underground mining equipment market. For example, the demand for lithium, a key component in electric vehicle batteries, is projected to increase by over 500% by 2030. Mining companies are investing in advanced equipment to efficiently extract minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements from challenging deposits. This demand aligns with the global transition to clean energy, further driving market growth. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that the demand for critical minerals has doubled in the past five years. Partnerships and Technological Collaboration Collaborations between mining companies and equipment manufacturers are fostering innovation and product development. For instance, joint ventures in the mining sector have proven economically advantageous, enabling companies to share both risks and costs associated with mineral exploration. Partnerships focused on research and development, customization, and the integration of advanced technologies enable companies to address specific mining challenges, unlocking new market opportunities. These strategic alliances are enhancing resource discovery and management, as well as promoting the adoption of cutting-edge solutions such as AI-driven resource analysis and drone surveying techniques. Underground Mining Equipment Market Segmentation Analysis Segments Based on Product Type Mining Loaders : These machines are essential for scooping and transporting extracted material in underground mines. Their demand is driven by their efficiency in confined spaces and adaptability to varying mining conditions. : These machines are essential for scooping and transporting extracted material in underground mines. Their demand is driven by their efficiency in confined spaces and adaptability to varying mining conditions. Mining Trucks : Critical for hauling large volumes of mined materials, mining trucks are designed for durability and high-capacity operations in underground settings. : Critical for hauling large volumes of mined materials, mining trucks are designed for durability and high-capacity operations in underground settings. Mining Drills : Widely used for creating access points and extracting resources, mining drills are integral for both exploration and operational phases. : Widely used for creating access points and extracting resources, mining drills are integral for both exploration and operational phases. Mining Bolters : These are specialized for ground support in underground mines, helping stabilize rock formations to ensure worker safety and structural integrity. : These are specialized for ground support in underground mines, helping stabilize rock formations to ensure worker safety and structural integrity. Mining Shearer: Primarily used in longwall mining operations, mining shearers are vital for continuous cutting and extraction of minerals, especially in coal mining. Segments Based on Mining Technique Soft Rock Mining : This technique involves the extraction of materials such as coal and evaporites. It typically requires specialized equipment tailored for lower hardness materials. : This technique involves the extraction of materials such as coal and evaporites. It typically requires specialized equipment tailored for lower hardness materials. Hard Rock Mining: Focused on extracting ores like gold, copper, and nickel, hard rock mining employs robust equipment capable of handling extreme conditions and higher material hardness. Segments Based on End User Mining Operators : These are the primary purchasers of underground mining equipment, utilizing advanced machinery to improve efficiency and ensure safety in mining operations. : These are the primary purchasers of underground mining equipment, utilizing advanced machinery to improve efficiency and ensure safety in mining operations. Rental Service Providers: These entities offer equipment leasing solutions to smaller mining operators or short-term projects, making high-cost equipment accessible without significant capital investment. Segmentation of Global Underground Mining Equipment Market- Based on Product Type Mining Loaders Mining Trucks Mining Drills Mining Bolters Mining Shearer Based on Mining Technique Soft Rock Mining Hard Rock Mining Based on End User Mining Operators Rental Service Providers Based on Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-east Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of the Middle East and Africa Tailor the report to align with your specific business needs and gain targeted insights. Request customization now - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/underground-mining-equipment-market Regional Analysis of the Underground Mining Equipment Market North America North America holds a significant share of the underground mining equipment market, driven by well-established mining industries in the United States and Canada. The region's demand is fueled by increased exploration activities for minerals like gold, copper, and coal. For instance, Canada produced 194.5 tons of gold in 2022, ranking third globally. Advanced mining technologies and stringent safety regulations encourage the adoption of modern equipment. Additionally, government initiatives supporting sustainable mining practices and the transition to electric mining machinery further propel market growth. The North American mining equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.58% from 2025 to 2030. Europe Europe's underground mining equipment market is bolstered by growing demand for minerals to support industrial and technological advancements. Countries like Germany, Russia, and Poland dominate the market due to their extensive mining operations, particularly in coal and metal extraction. Europe accounted for more than 6% of the global mineral output in 2022. The region emphasizes adopting eco-friendly equipment to align with strict environmental regulations, fostering innovation in low-emission and energy-efficient mining machinery. The European mining industry generated a net turnover of 101.9 billion in 2021. Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific represents the largest and fastest-growing market for underground mining equipment, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development in countries like China, India, and Australia. The region's vast mineral reserves and significant investments in mining projects create substantial demand for advanced mining equipment. The Asia-Pacific mining equipment market is expected to reach USD 21.38 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.20% from 2025 to 2030. Government support for mining activities and the increasing need for critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements contribute to market expansion. Latin America Latin America is a key player in the underground mining equipment market due to its rich mineral reserves, including copper, silver, and gold. Countries like Chile, Brazil, and Peru lead mining activities, attracting foreign investments to modernize mining operations. For example, Chile produced 56.25 million tonnes of copper in 2021, accounting for 26.5% of global copper production. The adoption of advanced technologies to improve efficiency and safety in challenging mining environments is driving the market in this region. Middle East and Africa The Middle East and Africa region offers significant growth potential, supported by abundant untapped mineral resources. South Africa is a major contributor, with extensive mining of gold, diamonds, and platinum. Over 30% of the world's global mineral reserves are found in Africa. Growing investments in mining infrastructure and the adoption of modern equipment to optimize resource extraction are key drivers. Political and economic challenges remain barriers but present opportunities for localized solutions. Top Companies - AB Volvo (Volvo Construction Equipment) Caterpillar Inc. Deere & Company Doosan Corporation Atlas Copco AB (Epiroc AB) Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.) Komatsu Ltd. Liebherr-International AG Metso Corporation Sandvik AB Latest Developments: January 2024 Caterpillar: Introduced its first battery-electric prototype underground mining vehicle, the R1700 XE battery electric loader. This vehicle expands Caterpillar's offerings in battery-electric and semi-autonomous technologies, providing a fully electric underground load and haul solution. November 2023 Epiroc AB: Partnered with Byrnecut Mining Pty Ltd, a contract mining company, to develop a future electric-drive, low-emission, automated underground loader. July 2023 Glencore International AG and Pan American Silver Corp.: Announced a deal where Glencore would acquire a 56.25% stake in the MARA Project in Argentina's Catamarca province from Pan American Silver Corp. June 2023 3D-P and Epiroc Integration: 3D-P, powered by Epiroc, intensified collaboration and consumer communication by adopting a new logotype and removing the tagline "Technology Connected." The company holds a strong presence in South America. March 2023 Volvo Trucks and Boliden: Collaborated to introduce battery-electric trucks for heavy underground transport in Boliden's Kankberg mine. This initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions by over 25%, promoting sustainable mining practices. April 2023 Alcoa: Expanded its EcoSource low-carbon alumina brand to include specific grades of non-metallurgical alumina, enhancing its sustainable product offerings. December 2022 Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Launched the DD322i drill, a compact, automated, twin-boom drill for tunneling and underground development. It is cost-effective and designed for smart tunneling and mining applications. November 2022 Miller Technology Incorporated: Introduced a new electric grader for underground mining applications, powered by Ionic drive systems and retrofitted with HBM Novas 110 M. August 2022 Volvo Trucks and Boliden: Partnered to introduce battery-electric trucks for underground transport in Boliden's Kankberg mine, reducing CO2 emissions by over 25% and enhancing sustainability efforts. Reasons to Purchase this Report: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the market through qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering both economic and non-economic factors, with segmentation and sub-segmentation details provided in terms of market value (USD Billion). Identify regions and segments expected to experience the fastest growth or dominate the market, with a detailed analysis of geographic consumption patterns and the factors driving or hindering market performance in each region. Stay informed about the competitive environment, with rankings of major players, recent product and service launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions from the past five years. Access detailed profiles of major market players, including company overviews, insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis, to understand competitive advantages and market positioning. Explore the present and forecasted market landscape, with insights into growth opportunities, market drivers, challenges, and constraints for both developed and emerging regions. Benefit from Porter's Five Forces analysis and Value Chain insights to evaluate various market perspectives and competitive dynamics. Understand the evolving market scenario, including potential growth opportunities and trends expected in the coming years. Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/underground-mining-equipment-market Discover additional reports tailored to your industry needs Australia Underground Mining Equipment Market- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/australia-underground-mining-equipment-market UK Underground Mining Equipment Market-https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/uk-underground-mining-equipment-market North America Underground Mining Equipment Market- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/north-america-underground-mining-equipment-market Middle East and Africa Underground Mining Equipment Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/middle-east-and-africa-underground-mining-equipment-market India Underground Mining Equipment Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/india-underground-mining-equipment-market Europe Underground Mining Equipment Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/europe-underground-mining-equipment-market U.S. Underground Mining Equipment Market- https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/us-underground-mining-equipment-market Mining Excavators Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/mining-excavators-market Aluminum Forging Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/aluminum-forging-market Mine Clearance System Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/mine-clearance-system-market Water Well Drilling Equipment Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/water-well-drilling-equipment-market Surface Mining Equipment Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/surface-mining-equipment-market Lignite Coal Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/lignite-coal-market Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/credenceresearch/ https://x.com/CredenceResearc https://www.facebook.com/CredenceResearch MRAAS Consulting - https://www.mraasconsulting.com/ About Us: Credence Research is a viable intelligence and market research platform that provides quantitative B2B research to more than 2000 clients worldwide and is built on the Give principle. The company is a market research and consulting firm serving governments, non-legislative associations, non-profit organizations, and various organizations worldwide. We help our clients improve their execution in a lasting way and understand their most imperative objectives. Contact Us Mitul Dean Tower C-1105 , S 25, Akash Tower, Vishal Nahar, Pimple Nilakh, Haveli, Pune - 411027, India sales@credenceresearch.com www.credenceresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2562161/Credence_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/underground-mining-equipment-market-to-surge-from-usd-39-782-13-million-in-2023-to-usd-61-451-15-million-by-2032--driven-by-rising-demand-and-technological-advancements--credence-research-inc-302352065.html Reopening of the offer from 17 to 30 January 2025 Esker: Esker's shareholders show strong support for the Offer by tendering their shares in large numbers during the initial Offer period. Boreal Bidco will hold 74.62% of the share capital and at least 74.49% of the voting rights of Esker at the end of the first Offer period. The Offer has a positive outcome. Settlement-delivery of the initial Offer on 24 January 2025. The Offer will be reopened from 17 to 30 January 2025 under the same terms, at a price of 262 per share, to enable the minority shareholders who have not tendered their shares to the Offer to do so during the reopened Offer. Offer results 4,187,880 shares of Esker were tendered to the public tender offer initiated by Boreal Bidco SAS ("Boreal Bidco" or the "Offeror") for the shares of Esker (the "Offer"), representing 68.79% of the shares and at least 64.83% of the voting rights of the company. In total, taking into account the shares tendered to the Offer and the Esker shares assimilated to shares held by the Offeror in accordance with applicable regulations, the (effective and assimilated) holding of Boreal Bidco is of 74.62% of the share capital and at least 74.49%1of the voting rights of Esker at the end of the first Offer period. At the settlement-delivery of this initial Offer period, Boreal Bidco is expected to hold, taking into account notably the contribution in kind of 23,419 shares by the Group's executives, the loss of double voting rights attached to the shares contributed in kind by the members of the concert, and the assimilation of the 143,474 treasury shares held by Esker, 77.36% of the capital and at least 76.37% of the voting rights of Esker. The conditions related to reaching the mandatory acceptance threshold and the voluntary waiver threshold are met, and the Offer has a positive outcome. The notice of results (avis de resultat) published by the AMF on 14 January 2025 is available on the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). The settlement-delivery of the Offer will take place on 24 January 2025. Reopening of the Offer In accordance with the provisions of Article 232-4 of the AMF's general regulation, the Offer will be reopened from 17 January to 30 January 2025 under the same terms as those set out in the offer document that received the AMF's visa no. 24-495 on 22 November 2024, specifically an Offer price of 262 per Esker share to enable the minority shareholders who have not yet tendered their shares to the Offer to do so during the reopened Offer. This price reflects a 30.1% premium over the unaffected share price of 201.40 on 8 August 2024 (i.e. the date prior to publications on a possible transaction), and premiums of 37.2%, 43.6% and 62.4%, respectively, over the volume-weighted average share prices over the 3, 6 and 12 month periods prior to that date. If the legal conditions are met at the end of the reopened Offer, the Offeror will request the implementation of a squeeze-out procedure. In connection with the reopened Offer, the Offeror will bear the brokerage fee and related VAT incurred by shareholders tendering their shares, if any, up to a limit of 0.3% (excluding VAT) of the amount of the order, with a maximum of 100 (including VAT) per request. Holders of bearer shares or administered registered shares are invited to contact their financial intermediary (bank, broker, life insurer, etc.) to obtain an Offer response form for the reopened Offer (also sent by post). It is also possible that the concerned financial intermediaries will accept orders to tender to the reopened Offer via the Internet or by telephone. Pure registered shareholders should have received an Offer response form from Uptevia, Esker's pure registered share manager, which should be returned by email at ost.optionnelles.registre@uptevia.com. Registered shareholders who have not received the response form may contact Uptevia by email at the same address, or by telephone (from France: 08 00 00 75 35 (toll-free number); from abroad: +33 1 49 37 82 36). The tender procedure and the centralization of the reopened Offer will be identical to those applicable to the Offer, it being specified, however, that orders to tender to the reopened Offer will be irrevocable. D.F. King Ltd acts as information agent for Esker's institutional shareholders (contact: Mr. David Chase Lopes, Managing Director, EMEA, david.chaselopes@dfkingltd.co.uk). Information and documentation relating to the Offer are available free of charge on the websites of Esker (www.esker.fr), Bridgepoint (www.bridgepoint.eu/shareholders/Sep-2024-microsite) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org). ABOUT ESKER Esker is the global authority in AI-powered business solutions for the Office of the CFO. Leveraging the latest in automation technologies, Esker's Source-to-Pay and Order-to-Cash solutions optimize working capital and cashflow, enhance decision-making, and drive better collaboration and human-to-human relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France, and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. Listed on Euronext Growth in Paris (ISIN code FR0000035818), the company generated sales of 178.6 million in 2023, more than 2/3 of which outside France. ABOUT BRIDGEPOINT Bridgepoint, listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a leading alternative asset manager specializing in private equity, infrastructure and private credit. With over 67 billion in assets under management and more than 200 investment professionals located in Europe, North America and Asia, Bridgepoint combines global scale with local market knowledge and sector expertise. Bridgepoint invests in companies operating in resilient growth sectors, managed by ambitious teams. The group has been present in France for over 35 years, where it has one of the largest investment teams and a track record of landmark technology deals, with Cast, Sinari, Brevo, Kyriba, Calypso, eFront and more recently LumApps. Bridgepoint also recently acquired the Property Management business of Nexity, a Euronext-listed company. www.bridgepoint.eu ABOUT GENERAL ATLANTIC General Atlantic is a leading global growth investor with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 520 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980, General Atlantic continues to be the dedicated partner to visionary founders and investors seeking to build dynamic businesses and create long-term value. Guided by the conviction that entrepreneurs can be incredible agents of transformational change, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector-specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with and scale innovative businesses around the world. The firm leverages its patient capital, operational expertise, and global platform to support a diversified investment platform spanning Growth Equity, Credit, Climate, and Sustainable Infrastructure strategies. General Atlantic manages approximately $100 billion in assets under management, inclusive of all strategies, as of 1 October 2024, with more than 900 professionals in 20 countries across five regions. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit: www.generalatlantic.com. WARNING This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase securities. Any decision regarding the Offer must be based exclusively on the information contained in the Offer documents. This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. The distribution of this press release, the Offer and its acceptance may be subject to specific regulation or restrictions in certain countries. The Offer is not intended for persons subject to such restrictions. Consequently, persons in possession of this press release are required to inquire about any local restrictions that may apply and to comply with them. Bridgepoint, General Atlantic and Esker assume no responsibility for any violation of these restrictions by anyone. It is intended that the Offer will be open in the United States in accordance with Section 14(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act"), including Regulation 14E after application of the exemptions provided by rule 14d-1(d) of the U.S. Exchange Act (the "Tier II" exemption) and the requirements of French law. 1The indicated percentage of voting rights takes into account the double voting rights attached to the 280,400 shares of Mr. Jean-Michel Berard, Mr. Emmanuel Olivier, and Mr. Jean-Jacques Berard, who are acting in concert and will be contributed in kind on the settlement-delivery of the Offer. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115657412/en/ Contacts: Esker Media contacts: Esker - Emmanuel Olivier emmanuel.olivier@esker.com +33472834646 News - Helene de Watteville hdewatteville@actus.fr +331536736 33 Bridgepoint Media contacts: Charlotte Le Barbier clebarbier@image7.fr +33678372760 General Atlantic Media contacts: Emily Japlon and Sara Widmann media@generalatlantic.com Regulatory News: AFYREN (Paris:ALAFY), a greentech company offering manufacturers biobased, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a circular model, announces today its financial calendar for 2025. Indicative financial calendar1 Events Dates 2024 Full-Year Results Thursday March 27, 2025 Annual General Meeting Tuesday June 17, 2025 2025 Half-Year Results Thursday September 25, 2025 About AFYREN AFYREN is a French greentech company launched in 2012 to meet the challenge of decarbonizing industrial supplies. Its natural, innovative and proprietary fermentation technology valorizes local biomass from non-food agricultural co-products, in order to replace petro-sourced ingredients typically used in many product formulations. AFYREN's 100% biobased, low-carbon and sustainable solutions can meet decarbonization challenges in a wide variety of strategic sectors: human and animal nutrition, flavors and fragrances, life sciences and materials, and lubricants and technical fluids. AFYREN's plug-and-play, circular technology combines sustainability and competitiveness, with no need for manufacturers to change their production processes. The Group's first French plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrance's SPI fund, located in the Grand-Est region of France, at Saint Avold, serves mainly the European market. AFYREN is also pursuing a project in Thailand with a world leader in the sugar industry, and is developing its presence in the Americas, following up on previously signed distribution agreements. At the end of 2024, the AFYREN Group employed about 130 people in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling Saint-Avold. The company invests 20% of its annual budget in R&D to further develop the range of sustainable solutions. AFYREN is listed on the Paris Euronext Growth exchange since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, Ticker symbol: ALAFY). Find out more: www.afyren.com 1 Information subject to change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115361298/en/ Contacts: AFYREN Director for ESG, Communications and Public Affairs Caroline Petigny caroline.petigny@afyren.com Investor Relations Mark Reinhard investisseurs@afyren.com NewCap Investor Relations Theo Martin Mathilde Bohin Tel: 01 44 71 94 94 afyren@newcap.eu Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau Gaelle Fromaigeat Tel: 01 44 71 94 98 afyren@newcap.eu MC Services AG (international) Investor Relations Bettina Ellinghorst Media Relations Shaun Brown, Dr. Johanna Kobler Tel: +49 89 210 228 0 afyren@mc-services.eu TAIPEI, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GEEKOM, the Green Mini PC Global Leader, is going to release a new model named the A6 on January 17th, 2025. This mini PC is already available for pre-order on GEEKOM's official website. Priced at $449, it may just be the new best mini PC under $500. According to the official information, the GEEKOM A6 mini PC employs a well-ventilated aluminum chassis which measures only 0.47 liter, but it packs enormous power under the hood, thanks to the perfect combination of a beefy processor, high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM, and a fast PCIe Gen4 SSD. At the heart of the GEEKOM A6 is the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor. With 8 powerful Zen3+ cores, 16 threads and 16MB L3 cache, this mobile chip is on par with the latest mainstream desktop CPUs in processing speed, allowing the GEEKOM A6 to handle complex computing duties like multimedia editing, code writing and data-intensive analysis with ease. The integrated Radeon 680M GPU also matches entry-level discrete graphics cards in gaming performance, giving the A6 enough oomph to run modern AAA titles smoothly at 1080P resolution. In addition, the A6 comes with Windows 11 OS, so buyers can use the mini PC right out of the box. When it comes to heat dissipation, the mini PC features GEEKOM's super-efficient IceBlast cooling technology. With air being actively redirected to different layers of the system, and pushed out through the rear of the chassis, key internal components can stay cool and stable even when tasks are loaded. Besides its superb performance, the GEEKOM A6 is also perfectly reliable. It is built with premium material and has undergone rigorous testing before mass production, including 120 hours of high and low temperature test, 90 minutes of vibration test, 15000 cycles of I/O plug-unplug durability test, strict EMI radiation test and more. As a result, the A6's lifespan is expected to be twice as long as that of mini PCs from other brands. Also, each GEEKOM mini PC is covered by a 3-year limited warranty, and the company offers 24/7 after-sale services for its users. The A6's launch event will be streamed live on GEEKOM's official YouTube channel on January 17th, 2025. During the launch event, GEEKOM will randomly give viewers promo codes to get the A6 at a discounted price. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/geekom-announces-the-best--cost-effective-mini-pc--geekom-a6-302351698.html The groundbreaking collaboration aims to enhance scalability and patient access to life-saving treatments, addressing global needs in the CGT market. CGT Global and Cellex Cell Professionals are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership to address the pressing global needs in the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. With over 40 years of combined experience and complementary capabilities, the companies aim to transform a market struggling with scalability and patient access to life-saving treatments. CGT Global, a US leader in human cell collection, expansion and preservation, operates medical clinics and laboratories in the US providing R&D and GMP clinical collection and manufacturing for top pharmaceutical companies, CROs and CDMOs worldwide. Founder and CEO, Cate Dyer Spears started her company in 2010 with an unwavering vision to create better outcomes for patients through the development and delivery of drug therapies, devices and cures to serve patients in the US. She has grown the company organically and remains the sole owner of CGT Global. Cellex Cell Professionals, headquartered in Germany, was founded in 2001 by Prof. Gerhard Ehninger, a renowned hematologist and oncologist. Cellex pioneered peripheral stem cell collection in Dresden and Cologne, Germany, for G-CSF mobilized unrelated allogeneic donors for patients worldwide and enabled over 50,000 transplants. Cellex began CAR-T manufacturing in 2015 for some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, contributing to the advancement of cancer therapy development even before the FDA approved the first CAR-T therapy in the US in 2017. Serving patients across Europe and Middle East, as owner and CEO, Prof. Ehninger has grown the company without outside investors to an end-to-end cell therapy manufacturer, and Cellex is a growing leader across Europe and Middle East in cell-based therapeutics. The company currently serves six customers and is involved in the manufacturing of three of the six commercial CAR-T products marketed in Europe. This first-of-its-kind global partnership addresses the provision of cells from healthy donors to support the development of cell and gene therapy products and from patients with specific diseases to advance research and deepen understanding of various medical conditions. By streamlining development, manufacturing, and distribution, the collaboration enables cost-effective treatments for devastating diseases like cancer, which claimed 40 million lives between 2020 and 2024. In comparison, COVID claimed 7 million lives in the same period. During COVID, CGT Global leveraged its cutting-edge US laboratories to scale a pandemic response, assuming testing responsibilities from the National Guard, numerous hospitals, hundreds of nursing homes, tribal communities, organ donor organizations (OPOs), electric utility companies, school systems, counties, cities, and public health systems. This experience, coupled with its robust and growing infrastructure and healthcare network, positions CGT Global to enhance Cellex's US presence and accelerate therapy delivery. CGT Global Founder and CEO Cate Spears commented on the collaboration with Cellex, stating, "As Cellex's partner, we're reinforcing our shared commitment to accelerating cell and gene therapy manufacturing to help streamline the commercialization of treatments. This collaboration combines our strengths and expertise, enabling us to significantly increase global patient access to these life-changing remedies." Prof. Gerhard Ehninger, MD, Founder of Cellex Cell Professionals, emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, "This relationship marks a crucial milestone in expanding our cell and gene therapy manufacturing pipeline in the US. Working with CGT Global's expansive clinics, healthcare partnerships and GMP facilities will allow us to accelerate the path to commercialization for the pharma clients we currently support. It also allows us the quickest path forward to a global footprint. We have built a strong partnership with CGT Global and look forward to expanding it with this new partnership." ABOUT CGT GLOBAL Since its founding in 2010, CGT Global has been on a mission to transform healthcare by accelerating cell and gene therapy research and clinical trials, streamlining the commercialization of new treatments, and traversing the last mile to patient access. By innovating each stage in the cycle development, commercialization, and delivery, we reduce the overall cost of care and multiply access points so that millions can receive cutting-edge, life-saving cell and gene therapies. ABOUT CELLEX CELL PROFESSIONALS: Cellex Cell Professionals is a world leader in manufacturing hematopoietic blood stem cell products and a leading European manufacturer for CAR-T cell products, co-operating with several major pharma and biotech companies in this innovative field. Cellex's extensive, highly experienced collection centers combined with its automated, audited and inspected state-of-the-art GMP facility for cell and gene therapy manufacturing ensures efficient support for the distribution of cell products. For more information about CGT Global, visit www.cgt.global For more information about CELLEX, visit www.cellex.me View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115958689/en/ Contacts: CGT Global Sharon Jacobson Franz, Chief Marketing Officer 1-833-431-4400 press@cgt.global KBRA releases a commentary exploring aspects of the subscription line market, including why this space has seen a sizable increase in ratings in recent years. KBRA has been active in rating subscription lines/capital call facilities for over six years. The article discusses the various use cases for ratings, specifically the nuances when bank lenders request ratings for capital management purposes. In recent years, banks, mostly non-US, have come under increased scrutiny for the capital consumed by their fund finance businesses, and they are starting to be subjected to the same rigour as other forms of corporate lending. Ratings assist with the distribution of risk in the subline space, which allows banks to recycle their capital and balance sheet capacity more effectively. Ratings also appeal to other banks outside the initial syndicate, as well as insurance companies, which may employ ratings for the calculation of capital consumption. Click here to view the report. About KBRA KBRA, one of the major credit rating agencies, is registered in the U.S., EU, and the UK. KBRA is recognized as a Qualified Rating Agency in Taiwan, and is also a Designated Rating Organization for structured finance ratings in Canada. As a full-service credit rating agency, investors can use KBRA ratings for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions. Doc ID: 1007602 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115820603/en/ Contacts: Mauricio Noe, Co-Head of Europe +44 20 8148 1010 mauricio.noe@kbra.com Media Contact Adam Tempkin, Director of Communications +1 646-731-1347 adam.tempkin@kbra.com NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- J.F. Lehman & Company ("JFLCO"), a leading middle-market private investment firm focused exclusively on the aerospace, defense, maritime, government and environmental sectors, is pleased to announce several promotions and team additions. Promotions include Karina Perelmuter to Managing Director, Megan E. Kanefsky to Director, Bridget A. Harding to Vice President and Bailee D. Glass to Associate. "Our latest promotions highlight the exceptional contributions by these individuals as well as our established track record cultivating career progression," said Louis N. Mintz, Partner. "Their dedication and impact across our own organization and our portfolio companies illustrates our commitment to excellence and fostering sustained success." The firm also recently welcomed several new investment professionals including Sandra Wong, Jack R. Chandler, Yosef W. Medhin, Jack R. Smith and Emily O. Strambi. JFLCO's functional capabilities were augmented with the addition of Isabel R. Grabel and Jessica S. Godt in Investor Relations, Miguel Zhindon in Technology and Grace Xu in Finance & Accounting. "We continue to attract outstanding new talent following the successful closing of our latest buyout fund," said Glenn M. Shor, Partner. "These new team members further enhance the firm's capacity and capabilities." Recent Promotions Karina Perelmuter, Managing Director, Marketing & Investor Relations. Prior to joining the firm in 2019, Ms. Perelmuter served as a Vice President in Lazard's Private Capital Advisory practice, a member of the Investor Relations team at Tiger Global and a Fund Accountant at Mount Kellett. She began her career in Assurance at Ernst & Young. Ms. Perelmuter graduated magna cum laude from American University, where she earned a B.S. in finance and accounting. Megan E. Kanefsky, Director, Human Capital. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Kanefsky spent 15 years in the Human Resources Group at Blackstone, where she focused on recruiting, benefits administration, performance evaluation and organizational development. Ms. Kanefsky earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in industrial and organizational psychology from Baruch College. Bridget A. Harding, Vice President. Prior to joining the firm in 2020, Ms. Harding began her career as an Investment Banking Analyst in Goldman Sachs' Global Industrials Group. Ms. Harding graduated summa cum laude from Lehigh University, where she earned a B.S. in accounting and finance. Bailee D. Glass, Associate. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Ms. Glass began her career as an Alternative Investments Research Analyst in BlackRock's hedge fund solutions group. Ms. Glass graduated from the University of Chicago, where she earned a B.A. in economics. Investment Team Additions Sandra Wong, Vice President, Credit. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Wong served as Vice President on the U.S. Investment Team at Strategic Value Partners, where she focused on distressed and special situations opportunities. She began her career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Credit Suisse, where she later transitioned to the Private Equity Group. Ms. Wong earned a B.A. in business economics as well as a minor in accounting from UCLA and an M.B.A from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Jack R. Chandler, Associate. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Chandler began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Grace Matthews. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a B.B.A. in finance and applied computational mathematics and statistics. Yosef W. Medhin, Associate. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Medhin was an Investment Banking Analyst in Citi's Industrials Group and began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Deutsche Bank. He graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he earned a B.S. in business administration. Jack R. Smith, Associate. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Smith began his career at Morgan Stanley in the Private Equity Solutions group. He graduated summa cum laude from Drexel University, where he earned a B.S. in finance. Emily O. Strambi, Analyst. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Strambi began her career as an Equity Trading Analyst at the Royal Bank of Canada, where she covered the healthcare and consumer sectors. She graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.S. in economics with concentrations in finance and business analytics as well as a minor in legal studies and history. Other Team Additions Isabel R. Grabel, Marketing & Investor Relations. Prior to joining the firm as a Senior Associate, Ms. Grabel was a Senior Associate at Harvest Partners, where she focused on private equity investments in industrials, healthcare, business services and consumer products. She began her career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Jefferies. Ms. Grabel graduated from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where she earned a B.B.A. with a concentration in finance and financial management services. Jessica S. Godt, Marketing & Investor Relations. Ms. Godt joined JFLCO in 2024 to support and consult on the firm's marketing and fundraising efforts across private equity and credit strategies. Previously, Ms. Godt served as Vice President of Investor Relations at Warwick Investment Group and began her career in Lazard's Private Capital Advisory practice. She earned a B.S. in commerce with concentrations in finance and management and a minor in business analytics from the University of Virginia. Miguel Zhindon, Enterprise Technology. Prior to joining the firm as a Vice President, Mr. Zhindon served as a Senior Technology Consultant at iCorps Technologies, tailoring IT strategies, training and technical support for JFLCO and other clients. Previously, Mr. Zhindon held various roles in network administration and telecommunications. He began his career in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Pace University, where he earned an M.S. in information systems and assurance. Grace Xu, Finance & Accounting. Prior to joining the firm as an Assistant Controller, Ms. Xu served as a Business Unit Controller at Millennium Management. Previously, Ms. Xu worked as a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the financial services group. Ms. Xu earned a B.S. in accounting from Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Xu is a Certified Public Accountant. About J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc. Founded in 1992, J.F. Lehman & Company focuses exclusively on investing in the aerospace, defense, maritime, government and environmental industries. The firm has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. http://www.jflpartners.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/349934/j_f__lehman___company_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jf-lehman--company-announces-promotions-and-team-additions-302352309.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Mogotes Metals Inc. (TSXV: MOG) (FSE: OY4) ("Mogotes", or the "Company") announces an arm's length option for the acquisition of mineral claims in Chile that secures an additional 1303 Hectares of the Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District. The claims adjoin Filo Corp.'s property and the Company's Filo Sur project affording Mogotes control of the southern projection of the prolific Filo Del Sol copper-gold-silver trend. Mogotes is proud to be working with Compania Minera del Pacifico ("CMP") on this option agreement. a) Option signed on January 15, 2025 to acquire claims in Chile totaling 1303 Hectares in the Vicuna Copper-Gold-Silver District b) Claims adjoin the Filo Corp. leases 1.2 km south of their recently announced drill intersection from FSDH116 reporting 610.0m at 0.39 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu and 2.2 g/t Ag from 22.0m*, and are contiguous with the Company's Filo Sur project into Argentina c) These claims secure extensions of Mogotes' high priority Meseta and Cumbre copper-gold targets that have never been systematically explored, have not been drill tested and will be a focus of future exploration efforts by the Company d) Mogotes now controls approximately 10,000 Ha of claims within the Miocene age section of the Vicuna Metallogenic Belt and controls the southern projection of the Filo Del Sol Copper-Gold-Silver Trend CEO, Allen Sabet, stated: "This is a coup for Mogotes, we have just secured the direct strike projection of the Filo Del Sol trend. The land package subject to the Option agreement adjoins the property boundary with Filo Corp.'s Filo Del Sol (FDS) project which was the subject of a recent C$4.5B acquisition bid by BHP and Lundin Mining and where Filo recently announced results of drill hole FDSH116 located only 1.2 km north of our property boundary on a new gold-copper prospect. This grants us a consolidated set of targets and allows us to redouble our focus on extensions of our high priority Meseta and Cumbre High Sulfidation Epithermal (HSE) and Porphyry Copper (PCD) targets into Chile. Exploration into these prospective target areas has been delayed awaiting completion of our ongoing consolidation efforts. Now with this key area of the Filo Del Sol Trend consolidated we are invigorated and ready to explore full steam ahead in these priority target areas!" Readers are cautioned that the information set out above with respect to Filo Corp.'s Filo del Sol Property in this release, was extracted from information that is publicly available. The Company has not completed sufficient work to verify the information on those adjacent properties. Information with respect to those adjacent properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Filo Sur Project and should not be relied upon. Visit link below for 3d fly through video showing the new optioned claims package: https://vimeo.com/1046798665/2db8fe83cc Figure 1: Option Agreement over CMP properties and extensive alteration To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/237342_mogotesfig1.jpg Technical Summary With the signing of the Option over the CMP claims in Chile, Mogotes now controls approximately 10,000 Ha of claims at its Filo Sur Project straddling a north - south section of the late Oligocene to Miocene age Volcanic Arc, known as the Vicuna Metallogenic Belt1 along the Chile - Argentine border region (Figure 1). The 25 to 30 km long Vicuna section of the Belt, that is predominantly controlled by NGEx Minerals and Filo Corp. is the epicenter of recent large copper-gold-silver discoveries containing a string of middle Miocene age (approx. 13 to 17 Ma1) PCD and HSE copper-gold-Silver epithermal deposits at Los Helados, Lunanhuasi and Filo Del Sol deposits. Just 5 kms to the east into Argentina the Vicuna district also hosts the slightly older late Oligocene to early Miocene age (24.9 Ma2), BHP - Lundin Mining, Josemaria porphyry copper-gold development project. Over the past 2 years Mogotes has systematically consolidated and optioned approximately 10,000 Ha claims package at Filo Sur that hosts the southern projection of the Vicuna Belt, potentially also hosting the projection of both the middle Miocene and the late Oligocene to early Miocene mineral belts. The CMP Option deal secures a key segment of the Middle Miocene age Vicuna Belt that hosts the direct southerly projection of the Filo Del Sol copper-gold-silver trend and the intersection with the large transorogen Mucho Muerto Fault zone that management believe may play an important role in localizing mineralization along the Belt (Figure 2). Recent Filo Corp. drilling demonstrates that the Filo Del Sol mineralization remains open to the south on their claims with the recently announced drill hole FSDH116 reporting 610.0m at 0.39 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu and 2.2 g/t Ag from 22.0m3. This drill hole is located only 1.2 km north of Mogotes Filo Sur property boundary and the Company's priority Meseta and Cumbre Targets. Mogotes has previously reported that the Companies Worldview3 satellite alteration processing that management believes demonstrates advanced argillic / phyllic alteration patterns and large-scale copper in soil anomalies at the Filo Sur project and appear to be continuous with those seen in the adjoining Filo Del Sol trend (TSXV: MOG) (July 8, 2024. Vicuna Exploration Update: Filo Sur Project - positive initial results from the New Filon Alunita and Rincon prospects). At the priority Meseta target, located on the Mogotes - Filo Corp. property boundary, the Company has previously reported reconnaissance rock chip sampling assays of up to 1.48 g/t Au and 3.6 g/t Ag from vuggy silica structures and breccias, indicative of HSE precious metal mineralization (TSXV: MOG) (July 8, 2024. Vicuna Exploration Update: Filo Sur Project - positive initial results from the New Filon Alunita and Rincon prospects). Mogotes geophysics has also outlined large scale IP and MT anomalies at both Meseta and Cumbre that may be indicative of concealed HSE and PCD style mineralization (TSXV: MOG) (July 8, 2024. Vicuna Exploration Update: Filo Sur Project - positive initial results from the New Filon Alunita and Rincon prospects). In both targets the geophysical anomalies with associated surface alteration and geochemistry remain open to the west into Chile, potentially extending into the CMP Claims that have been secured as part of this Option deal (Figure 3). Mogotes is now looking forward to being able to systematically explore both the Argentine and Chilean extension of Meseta and Cumbre targets this season. 1 Perello, et al., 2023. Geology of Porphyry Cu-Au and Epithermal Cu-Au-Ag Mineralization at Filo del Sol, Argentina-Chile: Extreme Telescoping During Andean Uplift 2 Sillitoe, et al., 2019. Geology of the Josemaria Porphyry Copper-Gold Deposit, Argentina: Formation, Exhumation, and Burial in Two Million Years 3 TSX: FIL. Nov 21, 2024. Filo Drills 1,270m at 0.92% CuEq in Aurora and 529m at 0.97% CuEq in Bonita Figure 2: Geophysics, Alteration and Geochemical Responses Over New Optioned CMP Claims To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/237342_b161648ca4b06927_006full.jpg Figure 3: Geophysics and Drill Hole Assays Section View To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10597/237342_b161648ca4b06927_008full.jpg About Compania Minera del Pacifico S.A Mogotes is proud to be working with Compania Minera del Pacifico ("CMP"). CMP is an iron ore and pellets producer with mine-to-port operations across the Valleys of Copiapo, Huasco and Elqui in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions of Chile. CMP is a leading player in the high-grade iron products market globally, with an annual production over 17 million tons averaging 66% Fe grade mainly in the form of magnetite pellet feed and pellets, and with potential to more than double its current capacity and further upgrade its product quality to meet direct reduction specifications. As a long-standing operator in Chile, CMP brings substantial local expertise, stakeholder relationships and regulatory understanding. CMP's shareholders are CAP S.A., a publicly listed Chilean industrial conglomerate, and MC Inversiones Ltda., a Chilean subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation. CMP's blend of operational excellence, strategic vision, and commitment to sustainable practices drives its pursuit of opportunities in copper and gold, enhancing its portfolio and meeting global demand. Francisco Carvajal CEO of Compania Minera del Pacifico stated: "This agreement marks a milestone for mining in the region, not only for the extension of mineral potential but also for the positive impact on the development of large-scale projects, strengthens our commitment to sustainable mining while contributing to Chile's global positioning as a leader in the mining industry." Transaction term summary CMP grants Mogotes Metals Chile SpA ("Mogotes Chile"), a subsidiary of Mogotes, an option to acquire up to an 80% ownership in a special purpose company ("SPV") that will hold the mining properties (the "Optioned Claims"), by satisfying the following: 1) On signing of the option agreement: a) US$150,000 Cash b) 10,674,815 common shares in the capital of Mogotes (each, a "Common Share") 2) Within 12 months of the signing of the option agreement: a) US$100,000 Cash b) US$500,000 of value in Common Shares (using the closing price of the Common Shares on the day prior to the issuance, subject to a minimum price of $0.1125 per Common Share for a maximum of 6,550,454 Common Shares) 3) Within 60 months of the signing of the option agreement: a) US$50,000 Cash b) US$500,000 of value in Common Shares (using the closing price of the Common Shares on the day prior to the issuance, subject to a minimum price of $0.1125 per Common Share for a maximum of 6,550,454 Common Shares) 4) Exploration commitments: a) Incurring US$1,000,000 per year in exploration expenditure on the Optioned Claims to maintain the option b) Incurring a total of US$5,000,000 in aggregate over 5 years c) Reimbursement of payment of all mining patent costs during the option period At the conclusion of the 5 year option period, Mogotes Chile must prepare a mineral resource in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and contribute all mining information into the SPV and will be a 70% equity shareholder of the SPV and will solely fund exploration from this point forward. Mogotes Chile may earn an additional 10% equity interest in the SPV (for a total equity interest of 80% in the SPV) by delivering (at its sole cost) a Preliminary Economic Assessment with a minimum internal rate of return (IRR) of 15% within a period of 12 months from the exercise of the option, or up to 48 months if it pays an additional penalty. From the date that Mogotes Chile's equity interest in the SPV increases to 80 percent, CMP and Mogotes will contribute their pro rata share to ongoing project funding requirements. Any party that does not contribute will be subject to standard dilution. If a party's equity interest falls below 10% their equity stake in the SPV will be replaced by a 2% Net Smelter Return royalty on all products produced from the Optioned Claims (except for Iron Ore). CMP will retain rights to Iron Ore throughout this option agreement including after exercise. About Mogotes Metals Inc. Mogotes Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company exploring for copper and gold in the prospective Vicuna district of Argentina and Chile. Mogotes flagship project, Filo Sur, adjoins the large Filo del Sol copper-gold-silver discovery, and is along the N-S trending belt with the Filo Del Sol - Aurora and NGEx Minerals Lunahuasi and Los Helados copper-gold deposits. About Mogotes Metals Inc. Mogotes Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company exploring for copper and gold in the prospective Vicuna district of Argentina and Chile. Mogotes flagship project, Filo Sur, adjoins the Filo del Sol copper-gold-silver discovery, and is along a N-S trending belt with the Filo Del Sol - Aurora and NGEx Minerals Lunahuasi and Los Helados copper-gold deposits. Follow Us Twitter: https://x.com/mogotesmetals Additional Information The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination, but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical disclosure for the Filo Sur project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Stephen Nano who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Nano is a Director and Technical Advisor for the Company. Mogotes applies industry standard exploration sampling methodologies and techniques. All geochemical soil, stream, rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of the company's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2008 accredited laboratory in Argentina for analysis. Assay results from drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface rock, channel, trench samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "budgets", "targets" "assumes", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "potential", "possible", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that this information will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this news release should not be relied upon. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, geology, grade, geochemistry, potential implications of geophysics interpretations, and continuity of mineral deposits; expectations regarding access and demand for equipment, skilled labour and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; and that activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by exploration, development, operating, regulatory, political, community, economic, environmental and/or healthy and safety risks. In addition, this news release may contain forward-looking statements or information pertaining to: potential exploration upside at the Filo Sur Project, including the extent and significance of the porphyry copper-gold system and the prospectivity of exploration targets; exploration plans and expenditures,; the ability of the Company to conduct its field programs as planned; the success of future exploration activities; potential for resource expansion; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to its Mineral Reserves or Resources through exploration; ability to execute planned work programs; plans or ability to mobilize or add additional drill rigs; timing or anticipated results of laboratory results; government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; and other risks and uncertainties. While the Company anticipates continuing its exploration program until May, it may encounter unexpected logistics, drilling and other challenges, costs, or delays that could prevent the Company from completing the program on the expected timeline or at all. Any drilling is dependent on pending results from this year's program and the Company securing additional funding. This program could be delayed or not be carried out at all. Although The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are based on assumptions that are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since The Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, as well as among other things: general business, economic and mining industry conditions; foreign exchange rates; geological conditions; the supply and demand for commodities; that financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms and that the Company will not experience any material labour dispute, accident, or failure of plant or equipment; the stability and predictability of the political environments and legal and regulatory frameworks; the ability of the Company to obtain, maintain, renew and/or extend required permits, licences, authorizations and/or approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities; that contractual counterparties perform as agreed; and the ability of the Company to continue to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost- efficient manner to meet its needs. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Although the company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. These factors are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions that the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237342 SOURCE: Mogotes Metals Inc. Arras Minerals Corp. (TSXV:ARK)(OTCQB:ARRKF) ("Arras" or "Arras Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to provide initial results for the first 3 drillholes from the initial drill program on its Elemes project in Northeast Kazakhstan. All three holes were drilled at the Bereszki Central target and all holes intersected porphyry-style copper-gold mineralization starting from the surface. The Berezski Central target is located on the south part of the >8km long soil copper, molybdenum, arsenic anomaly centered on a zone of extensive intermediate argillic alteration hosted in altered diorites and andesites. The Elemes project is located in the Bozshakol-Chingiz Magmatic arc and is 61 kilometres Southeast of Kaz Mineral's Bozshakol Copper Mine ("Bozshakol"). The Bozshakol mine commenced operations in 2016 and in FY2023 produced 105,000t Cu & 115,000 oz Au per annum at US$0.95/lb Cu (net) cash costs. Reported reserves are 1.003Bt @ 0.33% Cu & 0.13 g/t Au. Highlights EL24001: 261 m of mineralization grading 0.64% copper-equivalent ("CuEq") (0.39 g/t gold ("Au"), 0.24 % copper ("Cu") starting from the 22 m. Including: 69 m grading 0.85% CuEq (0.39g/t Au, 0.42% Cu) starting at 22 m & 48 m grading 1.00 % CuEq (0.77g/t Au, 0.25% Cu) starting at 157 m Drill-hole ended in mineralization EL24002: returned 102 m of mineralization grading 0.45g/t gold-equivalent ("AuEq") (0.31 g/t gold("Au"), 0.11 % copper ("Cu")) starting at 2 m. Including: 34 m grading 0.60 g/t AuEq (0.32g/t Au, 0.13% Cu) starting at 2 m. EL24003: 264 m of mineralization grading 0.30g/t gold-equivalent ("AuEq") (0.17 g/t gold("Au"), 0.09 % copper ("Cu")) starting from 41 m. Including: 30 m grading 0.46g/t AuEq (0.25g/t Au, 0.16% Cu) starting at 263 m. Tim Barry, CEO of Arras Minerals noted,"We're excited by these initial holes at the Berezski Central target at Elemes. The drill holes are mineralized over their entire lengths, and logging indicates mineralization is predominantly hosted in argillic and phyllic altered diorites, suggesting that these holes have drilled the large pyrite halo peripheral to the core of a large porphyry system. Starting at approximately 50-100m depth, we are also starting to intersect A-, B- and D-type veins, which are generally found to increase towards the center of porphyry copper deposit." Figure 1. Arras Minerals Elemes Project & additional project portfolio located in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan Darren Klinck, President of Arras Minerals commented," Results from the first 3 holes at Berezski Central are a great indication for the potential that exists at the Elemes Project. Kazakhstan is one of the lowest cost jurisdictions globally for mining. Head-grades of approximately 0.5% CuEq at nearby large-scale operations underpin strong profitability and some of the lowest operating cash costs in the world. This is the first of seven separate target areas being tested up to a depth of approximately 550 m across the 8.8 km Berezski soil anomaly. We will be expecting to release additional results from this program throughout Q1 2025 as they become available." Table 1. Summary table for drill-holes EL24001, EL24002 and EL24003 Notes: Copper Equivalent ("CuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: CuEq % = Copper (%) + (Gold (g/t) x 0.8264) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0107) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 3.3333). Gold Equivalent ("AuEq") grades reported for the drill holes at Elemes were calculated using the following formula: AuEq g/t = Gold (g/t) + (Copper (%) x 1.2100) + (Silver (g/t) x 0.0129) + (Molybdenum (ppm) x 4.0334). Assumptions used for the copper and gold equivalent calculations were metal prices of US$3.50/lb. Copper, US$2,200/oz Gold, US$24/oz Silver, US$15/lb. Molybdenum, and metallurgical recoveries were assumed to be 100%. Table 2. Location of the drill holes Drill-Hole Summaries EL24001 was designed to test the core of the soil Mo-Cu-As anomalies, with a coincident moderate magnetic and chargeability lows. It was completed at 476.5m depth. The hole started in strong argillic altered andesite tuffs before passing into strongly silicified and faulted diorites at 90.0m depth. Mineralization is represented by quartz - pyrite chalcopyrite veins and disseminated pyrite. Molybdenite and supergene enrichment (chalcocite) is observed occasionally in the first 35 m of the drill-hole. The drill-hole ended in mineralization. EL24002 was aimed to follow-up hole EL24001 and test the extensive soil Mo anomaly. Unfortunately, the hole was lost at 221.7m due to drill failure. The hole was collared in strongly argillic altered andesite tuff up to 60.0m depth, before passing into medium grained diorites to the end of the drill-hole. Mineralization consists of quartz - pyrite chalcopyrite veins and pyrite dissemination. Supergene enrichment chalcocite is observed in the first 40 meters of the drill-hole, and the hole intersected several narrow hydrothermal breccias containing clasts of quartz - pyrite - chalcopyrite veins, suggesting the drill-hole was drilled peripheral to the core of a porphyry system. EL24003 was drilled on the southern edge of the large Mo-Cu soil anomaly. The hole also targeted a large IP Chargeability high and was drilled to 350m depth. The hole was collared in strongly argillic altered andesite tuffs, before passing into diorites at 15m depth. The diorite is strongly argillic altered to 114.0m where it transitions into phyllic dominant alteration. The Diorites hosts D-type quartz-pyrite veins with rare quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins. Disseminated pyrite is found throughout the drill-hole (up to 2% pyrite in areas). In addition, the hole intersected several small intervals of clast supported polymictic hydrothermal breccias. Figure 2. Cross-section looking NW showing key intercepts in drill-holes EL24001, EL24002 and EL24003. The cross-section demonstrates a strong porphyry-epithermal style of alteration hosting widely spread, consistent mineralization. Figure 3. Berezski Target showing 8.8 km long soil copper anomalies and location of drill-holes EL24001, EL24002 and EL24003 Figure 4. Photos of core from EL24001, EL24002 and EL24003 showing intercepted style of mineralization and alteration. Elemes Project Drilling commenced in September and the Phase 1 program was completed in late December. This program of approximately 4000 metres of diamond drilling has generally focused on priority targets at Berezski Central, Berezski East, Q-Gorka and K-Ozek targets. These targets were identified following two field seasons of comprehensive exploration work at the Elemes Project, including airborne magnetic and Pole-Dipole Induced Polarization geophysical surveys, as well as extensive soil sampling and mapping. In addition, some historical drill holes from the Berezski East and Q-Gorka targets were re-assayed with those results reported in January 2024 (see Arras new releases January 8 & 22, 2024). Webinar - Thursday January 16th @ 11:00am (EST) The Company will host a webinar to discuss the initial drill results from the Berezski Target - Elemes Project on Thursday January 16th @11:00am (EST). To register for the webinar, please visit: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4d62360a-cf13-45c1-9611-3e2b11e52edc@65460009-607b-4527-a5ed-e0577d0552a5 Please contact the company at info@arrasminerals.com for further information. A replay of the webinar will be made available on the Company website. QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALIFIED PERSON Lengths are drill intersections and not necessarily true widths. True widths cannot be calculated at this time due to the unknown geometry of the mineralization. Drill intersections have been independently selected by Arras Minerals. Drill composites have been independently calculated by Arras Minerals. The geological interpretations in this news release are solely those of the Company. The locations and distances highlighted on all maps in this news release are approximate. The scientific and technical disclosure for this news release has been prepared under supervision of and approved by Matthew Booth, Vice President of Exploration, of Arras Minerals Corp., a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Booth has over 19 years of mineral exploration experience and is a Qualified Person member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (CPG 12044). On behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Barry" Tim Barry, MAusIMM CP(Geo) Chief Executive Officer and Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: +1 604 687 5800 info@arrasminerals.com Further information can be found on: the Company's website https://www.arrasminerals.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arrasminerals or follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/arrasminerals About Arras Minerals Corp. Arras Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in northeastern Kazakhstan, including the Option Agreement on the Beskauga copper and gold project. The Company has established the third-largest license package in the country prospective for copper and gold (behind Rio Tinto and Fortescue). In December 2023, the Company entered into a strategic alliance with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") in which Teck may sole fund a US$5 million generative exploration program over a portion of the Arras Minerals license package in 2024-2025. The Company's shares are listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol "ARK" and on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "ARRKF". Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources: This press release uses the terms "measured resources", "indicated resources", and "inferred resources" which are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101. The Company advises U.S. investors that these terms are not recognized by the SEC. The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that measured and indicated mineral resources will be converted into reserves. The estimation of inferred resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of resources. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations, however the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, the information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies that are not subject NI 43-101. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and Arras Minerals' future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act, and applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans and expectations of the exploration program Arras Minerals is in the process of undertaking, including the expansion of the Mineral Resource, and other aspects of the Mineral Resource estimates for the Beskauga project. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about Arras Minerals' exploration projects, the industry in which Arras Minerals operates and the beliefs and assumptions of Arras Minerals' management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "may," variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond management's control, including undertaking further exploration activities, the results of such exploration activities and that such results support continued exploration activities, unexpected variations in ore grade, types and metallurgy, volatility and level of commodity prices, the availability of sufficient future financing, and other matters discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Management Discussion and Analysis filed on the Company's profile on SEDAR on February 28, 2024 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on February 28, 2024 available on www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. SOURCE: Arras Minerals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Zedcor Inc. (TSXV: ZDC) (the "Company" or "Zedcor") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Beacon Securities Limited ("Beacon"), on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (together with Beacon, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a bought deal basis, with a right to arrange for substitute purchasers, 5,980,000 common shares (the "Offered Shares") of the Company at a price of $3.35 per Offered Share (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $20,033,000 (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, the Company has granted the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from time to time for up to 30 days following the Closing Date (as defined below), to purchase up to an additional number of Offered Shares (the "Additional Shares") equal to 15% of the number of Offered Shares sold pursuant to the Offering at a price per Additional Share equal to the Issue Price to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes. The Offered Shares will be offered (i) in Canada by way of a short form prospectus to be filed in each of the Provinces of Canada, other than Quebec; and (ii) to eligible purchasers by way of available prospectus exemptions in certain jurisdictions outside of Canada. The Offered Shares may also be offered and sold in the United States to Qualified Institutional Buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act")) and to a limited number of "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the 1933 Act, in each case by way of private placement pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and pursuant to any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the accelerated expansion of its service platform across the United States and Canada, increased sales and marketing efforts, growth of its fleet of MobileyeZTM security towers to meet strong demand from its US operations, other capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about February 5, 2025 (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Zedcor Inc. Zedcor Inc. is disrupting the traditional physical security industry through its proprietary MobileyeZ security towers by providing turnkey and customized mobile surveillance and live monitoring solutions to blue-chip customers across North America. The Company continues to expand its established platform of over 1,300 MobileyeZ towers in Canada and the United States, with emphasis on industry leading service levels, data-supported efficiency outcomes, and continued innovation. Zedcor services the Canadian market through equipment and service centers currently located in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. The Company continues to advance its U.S. expansion which now has the capacity to service markets throughout the Midwest with locations throughout Texas and in Denver, Colorado, with a location in Phoenix, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia anticipated in the first half of 2025. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements or information can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "budget", "should", "project", "may be", or similar words (including negative or grammatical variations) suggesting future outcomes or expectations. In particular, forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to: the use of the net proceeds of the Offering; the terms of the Offering; the timing and completion of the Offering; the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option; the expansion of the Company's service offering to other geographic regions; and the receipt of regulatory, stock exchange and other required approvals in connection with the Offering. Although the Company believes that the expectations implied in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements or information because the Company can give no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of assumptions about the future and uncertainties, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals; current forecasts and anticipated utilization rates; the availability of debt and equity financing; the ability of the Company to obtain an adequate supply of the equipment required to construct towers; the availability of skilled personnel; and the level of competition in the marketplaces and industries in which the Company operates. Although management of the Company believes these expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements or information to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will be proved to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. For this purpose, any statements or information contained herein that are not statements or information of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements or information and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new contrary information, future events or any other reason, unless the Company is required by any applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237350 SOURCE: Zedcor Inc. ReActiv8 Restorative Neurostimulation TM demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful superiority vs. standard of care in all primary and secondary measures of disability, pain and quality of life Safety profile consistent with prior ReActiv8 clinical trials and favourable to other neuromodulation procedures ReActiv8 is now supported by the most complete and robust set of clinical evidence of any neuromodulation therapy for axial back pain globally. Mainstay Medical Holdings plc today announced the publication of positive one-year primary assessment results of the RESTORE randomized clinical trial of ReActiv8 for the treatment of intractable chronic low back pain. The data show that the addition of ReActiv8 Restorative Neurostimulation therapy to current standard of care results in superior improvements in back pain-related disability, pain and quality of life compared to standard of care treatments alone. The results were published in Pain and Therapy, a leading peer-reviewed journal, and the article is available free of charge here: doi.org/10.1007/s40122-024-00689-0. The study included 203 patients, with 99 randomized into the treatment arm and 104 randomized into the control arm. Key results from the study include: The primary endpoint of the mean improvement in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score between the treatment and control arms at the one-year follow-up visit (using mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) for missing data) was statistically significant (p<0.001), with a clinically meaningful mean change in the ReActiv8 group compared to the control arm: ODI -19.7 1.4 for the ReActiv8 group vs. -2.9 1.4 for the control group. All secondary endpoints showed statistically significant differences between the ReActiv8 and control arms (using MMRM for missing data), as well as clinically meaningful improvements for the ReActiv8 arm, at one year, including: Mean improvement in back pain measured using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS): -3.6 0.2 for the ReActiv8 group vs. -0.6 0.2 for the control group (p<0.001); and Mean improvement in healthcare related quality of life measured using the EQ-5D-5L assessment: +0.155 0.012 for the ReActiv8 group vs. +0.008 0.012 for the control group (p<0.001). The improvement in the ReActiv8 group resulted in a mean quality of life score approaching the average quality of life score from the overall US population. The proportion of patients who reached the composite endpoint of =15-point ODI improvement and/or =50% NRS improvement and no worsening in either measure at one year was 72% in the ReActiv8 group and 11% in the control group (p< 0.001). Pain remission, defined as NRS of =3 at one year, was observed in 52% of patients in the ReActiv8 group and in 6% of those in the control group. The profile of related adverse events was similar to previously reported ReActiv8 studies and favourable to other neuromodulation treatment procedures. "This patient population has historically had extremely limited options beyond temporary palliative treatments and drugs. The results in this study demonstrated that ReActiv8 Restorative Neurostimulation provided superior improvements to the lives of patients above and beyond what is currently used to treat them," said the steering committee of the RESTORE study, Dr. Frank Schwab, Dr. Chris Gilligan, Dr. Nagy Mekhail, and Dr. Kiran Patel. "These exciting results further validate ReActiv8's restorative mechanism of action treating multifidus dysfunction, a primary underlying cause of mechanical chronic lower back pain in certain patients. Combining these impressive results with the newly-issued ICD-10 code for multifidus dysfunction, this study further demonstrates the ability of clinicians to confidently select and treat patients with chronic mechanical low back pain who were previously very difficult to treat." "These high-quality data showing the treatment benefit of ReActiv8 compared to the current standard of care meaningfully add to the growing body of clinical evidence regarding ReActiv8 and firmly establishes the critical role of this therapy in treating intractable mechanical low back pain patients. We are proud to have the only commercially available device with a strong safety profile and long-term, peer-reviewed evidence supporting the rehabilitation of this severely affected patient population," said Jason Hannon, CEO of Mainstay Medical. "We look forward to leveraging these data, along with the compelling results from our ReActiv8-B clinical trial and our numerous other studies, to further engage payers in the United States to expand commercial insurance access to this transformational therapy, which has the potential to deliver significant reductions in overall healthcare costs. I would like to thank Drs. Frank Schwab, Chris Gilligan, Nagy Mekhail and Kiran Patel for acting as our steering committee for this important study, as well as each of the enrolling sites, investigators and all of the participating patients." About the RESTORE Clinical Study and the Steering Committee The RESTORE (ReActiv8 Stimulation Therapy vs Optimal Medical Management: A Randomized Evaluation) clinical study is a multi-center, prospective, randomized trial with one-way cross-over. A total of 203 patients were randomized and followed in the study at 23 leading centers in the U.S. Eligible patients were randomized to either optimized medical management or ReActiv8 Restorative Neurostimulation therapy plus optimal medical management. Patient-reported outcomes were collected at regular intervals out to the one-year primary endpoint assessment, at which time the patients in the control arm were offered implantation with the ReActiv8 system. Assessment of the patients will continue for an additional year. The steering committee for the study consists of Dr. Frank Schwab, Chair of Orthopedic Spine Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and Chief of Orthopedic Spine Surgery for Northwell Health System; Dr. Chris Gilligan, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer Senior Vice President of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; Dr. Nagy Mekhail, Professor and Director of Evidence-Based Pain Management Research, Cleveland Clinic, and Professor of Anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University; and Dr. Kiran Patel, Director of Pain Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital and Founder CEO, NYC Neuromodulation Center of Excellence. About ReActiv8 ReActiv8 is an implantable medical device designed to treat adults with intractable chronic low back pain (CLBP) associated with multifidus muscle dysfunction, which may be evidenced by imaging or physiological testing. Candidates for ReActiv8 are patients with multifidus muscle dysfunction who have failed other forms of therapy (including pain medication and physical therapy) and are not candidates for spine surgery. ReActiv8 has received regulatory approval in several geographic areas, and is commercially available in the European Economic Area, Australia, the UK, and the US. About Mainstay Medical Mainstay Medical is a medical device company focused on commercializing its innovative implantable Restorative NeurostimulationTM system, ReActiv8, for people with disabling mechanical CLBP. Mainstay Medical is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and has subsidiaries operating in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands. Further information can be found at www.mainstaymedical.com. Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this announcement other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding the company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the company's research studies and results, commercial efforts and performance, financial position, financing strategies, product design and development, regulatory applications and approvals, and reimbursement arrangements. Forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those described in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements herein, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties included in the company's Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023, which should be read in conjunction with the company's public disclosures (available on the company's website (www.mainstaymedical.com)). The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date of this announcement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115632571/en/ Contacts: PR and IR Enquiries: LifeSci Advisors, LLC Brian Ritchie Tel: 1 (212) 915-2578 Email: britchie@lifesciadvisors.com FTI Consulting (for Ireland) Jonathan Neilan or Patrick Berkery Tel.: +353 1 765 0886 Email: mainstay@fticonsulting.com Mainstay Medical Corporate Communications Email: Media@mainstaymedical.com abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC (TSX:FAP) (UEN:T21VC0235H) (the "Company"), a closed-end investment company trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, announced today details of the 2025 voluntary cash redemption and upcoming special meeting of shareholders. 2025 Voluntary Conditional 10% Annual Cash Redemption The redemption date for the Company's annual voluntary cash redemption will be March 31, 2025. Shareholders are entitled to redeem shares of the Company at a price equal to 100% of the Average Net Asset Value (NAV) of the three trading days preceding the March 31, 2025 redemption date, less direct costs. Direct costs are expected to be less than 1%. If all redemption requests exceed 10% of the aggregate outstanding units of the Company on March 10, 2025, the final day to submit shares for redemption, the Company will process redemptions to this maximum on a pro-rata basis based on the total number of shares tendered. Payment for shares that have been tendered and accepted for redemption will be made on or before April 17, 2025. Shareholders wishing to redeem their shares must provide notice of their intent to do so with their investment advisor or brokerage office no later than 5 pm Eastern time on March 10, 2025. Please note that investment firms may impose an earlier deadline in order to facilitate the processing of redemption requests. Shareholders are strongly urged to consult their investment advisor or brokerage office directly to confirm their internal deadlines. Registered shareholders (those who hold a physical share certificate in their name) should contact the Company's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada, at 1-800-564-6253 to redeem their shares. Shares that have been submitted for redemption will remain eligible for the March 2025 distribution, which will be paid in March 2025. Key Dates February 3-March 10, 2025 Shareholders may tender shares for redemption March 26-28, 2025 Redemption price determined based on average NAV of these trading days March 31, 2025 Redemption date April 17, 2025 Payment of redemption proceeds on or before this date Special Shareholder Meeting Proposal to Amend the Company's VCC Constitution The Company is also announcing that it will hold a Special Meeting of shareholders on March 7, 2025 at 8 am Singapore time . At the meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider an ordinary resolution to approve certain amendments to the VCC Constitution (the "Proposed Amendments") to (i) eliminate the current 10% cap on the annual redemption so that shareholders would be permitted to tender for redemption, when redemption conditions are met, up to 100% of the outstanding shares commencing in 2026; and (ii) provide the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), abrdn Canada Limited and abrdn Asia Limited with the discretion to terminate and wind-up the Company if, in the opinion of the Board, it is no longer economically practical to continue the Company or it would be in the best interest of the Company and the shareholders to terminate the Company. Proposed Amendments The current annual redemption feature provides that if the volume weighted average trading price of the shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange during the 12 month period ending on the last business day of December of each year represents a discount to the average daily NAV per share during such period that is greater than the 12% trading discount redemption trigger percentage, up to 10% of the aggregate issued and outstanding shares of the Company may be surrendered for redemption. If the number of shares tendered for redemption exceeds the 10% cap, the number of shares to be redeemed is limited to the 10% cap and shares tendered for redemption are redeemed from the holdings of each redeeming shareholder on a pro rata basis based on the total number of shares tendered. Under the amendment to the annual redemption (the "Redemption Amendment"), if approved by shareholders, the 10% cap would be eliminated so that shareholders would be permitted to tender for redemption when the redemption conditions are met, all of the issued and outstanding shares. If the Redemption Amendment is approved and the redemption conditions are met, the first annual redemption without the 10% cap would be in 2026. The timing and redemption price calculation procedures of the redemption provisions would not change. In light of the proposed Redemption Amendment, and the possibility of significant redemptions which could result in the Company no longer being economically practical to continue, the Company is also seeking approval to amend the VCC Constitution to provide the Board with the discretion to terminate and wind up the Company, subject to providing the required notice by way of a press release and compliance with all relevant laws (the "Termination Amendment"). In accordance with National Instrument 81-102 Investment Funds of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the Company will issue a press release that discloses the termination not less than 15 days and not earlier than 90 days prior to the effective date of the termination of the Company (as the same may be extended, the "Termination Date"). If the Termination Amendment is adopted and, following the announcement of an annual redemption, a notice of termination is provided by way of a press release issued not less than 15 days prior to a redemption date, the redemption would not proceed and the Company would proceed with a liquidation.If the Board determines to terminate the Company, no further monthly distributions would be announced or paid by the Company and after all liabilities are satisfied or provided for, the net assets of the Company would be distributed in cash to shareholders on a pro rata basis on or about the termination date. Additional details regarding the proposals will be included in the Company's Management Information Circular being mailed to all shareholders. Important Information Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal will fluctuate and shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. NAV returned data includes investment management fees, custodial charges, bank loan expenses and administrative fees (such as Director and legal fees) and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. The Company is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of principal. Total return based on net asset value reflects changes in the Company's net asset value during each period. Total return based on market price reflects changes in market value. abrdn is the registered marketing name in Canada for the following entities: abrdn Canada Limited, abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Luxembourg S.A., and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited. abrdn Canada Limited ("abrdn") is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the Company. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. www.abrdn.com/en-ca/canadaclosedend For More Information Contact: abrdn Inc. Investor Relations 1-800-992-6341 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund VCC View the original press release on accesswire.com Battery X Metals Inc. (CSE:BATX)(OTCQB:BATXD)(FSE:R0W, WKN:A3EMJB) ("Battery X Metals" or the "Company") a clean energy technology and resource exploration company, announces the engagement of Carsten Schmider Media Relations Publishing ("Schmider Media") to execute a strategic corporate branding and awareness initiative. The engagement includes the placement and management of banner ads as part of a European native advertising campaign targeting new subscribers via the Triple-A Report. The services by Schmider Media are limited to the management, scheduling, and placement of banner ads, with creative content provided by the Company. The engagement term is 45 days, commencing on January 23, 2025, with banner ads to be scheduled for a total of 21 days within this period. The Company has advanced 140,000 (CAD$206,000) for these digital marketing services. The principal of Schmider Media is Carsten Schmider, Marie Curie Str. 3, 50321 Bruhl, Germany; Phone: +49 (0) 17670244313; Email: carstenschmider1972@gmail.com. Schmider Media and its principals are arm's length to the Company. No stock options are being granted to Schmider Media under the terms of the engagement. To the knowledge of the Company, at the time of entering into the agreement, Schmider Media and its principals, directly or indirectly, do not own any common shares or securities of the Company. The Company announces that it will not proceed with the previously disclosed digital marketing agreement with Atkiencheck.de AG ("Atkiencheck"), originally announced on February 22, 2024. The Company previously agreed to a two-month European investor awareness program, including editorial write-ups, email campaigns, search engine marketing, and a German social media campaign in the total amount of approximately $73,890 which was previously paid. However, no digital marketing services were provided by Atkiencheck to the Company under the agreement. The Company will be reimbursed for the $73,890 paid under the agreement, with monthly payments of $4,926 over a 15 month period. About Battery X Metals Inc. Battery X Metals (CSE:BATX) (OTCQB:BATXD) (FSE:R0W, WKN:A3EMJB) is committed to advancing the global clean energy transition through the development of proprietary technologies and domestic battery and critical metal resource exploration. The Company focuses on extending the lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, through its portfolio company, LIBRT1, recovering battery grade metals from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, and the acquisition and exploration of battery and critical metals resources. For more information, visit batteryxmetals.com. 1 49% owned Portfolio Company On Behalf of the Board of Directors Massimo Bellini Bressi, Director For further information, please contact: Massimo Bellini Bressi Chief Executive Officer Email: mbellini@batteryxmetals.com Tel: (604) 741-0444 Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's objectives, business strategies, and future plans, including the execution and completion of the corporate awareness initiative with Schmider Media, reimbursement of amounts advanced to Atkiencheck, and the Company's ongoing efforts to advance clean energy technologies and battery metal resource exploration. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks include, but are not limited to, changes in market conditions, reliance on third-party service providers, regulatory compliance risks, potential delays in execution of marketing or investor awareness initiatives, risks associated with the Company's ability to finance obligations under the agreements and operations generally, and the risk factors set forth in the Company's filings on SEDAR+. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and Battery X Metals disclaims any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Battery X Metals View the original press release on accesswire.com NEURA Robotics, cognitive robotics pioneer and the only humanoid robotics company in Germany, today announced it has raised 120 million in a Series B funding round. This substantial investment underscores NEURA Robotics' key role in cognitive robotics, showing how it is uniquely positioned to lead the European robotics industry and become a major force in the global robotics landscape, alongside strong players in the US and China. The round was led by Lingotto Investment Management, with participation from BlueCrest Capital Management, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, InterAlpen Partners, Vsquared Ventures, HV Capital, Delta Electronics, C4 Ventures, L-Bank, founder David Reger, and others. Founded in 2019, NEURA Robotics has quickly become a global leader in cognitive and humanoid robotics, creating robots designed to work seamlessly with humans in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. With its unique sensor technology and AI integration, NEURA Robotics has the world's first cognitive cobot in the market and is now leading the way in the development of market-ready humanoid robots. In the last year alone the NEURA team doubled its number of employees to over 300 people and achieved a remarkable 10x revenue growth. Under the leadership of founder and CEO David Reger, NEURA Robotics has already secured an impressive 1 billion order book. David Reger, founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics: "Cognitive robotics is expected to become bigger than the smartphone. I am proud that NEURA is the first one to ship a commercially-viable cognitive robot and remains the only humanoid robotics company in Germany. This investment shows the confidence our investors have in my team and in pioneering advanced robotics in Europe." Nikhil Srinivasan, Managing Partner of Lingotto Horizon: "We are proud to invest in NEURA Robotics and its visionary founder, David Reger. NEURA's exceptional technological expertise and groundbreaking innovation are transforming both industrial and consumer robotics. With phenomenal AI capabilities, an extraordinary growth trajectory, and a billion-dollar order book, NEURA is on track to potentially becoming a multi-billion-dollar company and one of the most prominent robotics companies in the world." Full-text press release for download at: https://neura-robotics.com/neura-robotics-secures-euro-120-million-series-b Download press images at: https://neurarobotics.px.media/share/1721375791F4a2Z37ppl6LHi About NEURA Robotics www.neura-robotics.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115046478/en/ Contacts: Miriam Graf miriam.graf@frauwenk.de VIOR INC. (" Vior " or the " Corporation ") (TSXV:VIO)(OTCQB:VIORF)(FRA:VL51) is pleased to announce the voting results of its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (" Meeting ") held earlier today. Voting at the meeting represented a total of 115,899,644 common shares of the Corporation, representing 46.20% of the 250,841,116 common shares, issued and outstanding. All matters presented for approval at the Meeting were duly authorized and approved, as follows: Mark Fedosiewich, Andre Le Bel, Marian Moroney, Donald Njegovan, Mathieu Savard and Charles-Olivier Tarte were elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation to serve for the ensuing year or until their successors are duly elected or appointed; Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP was appointed as Auditor of the Corporation for the ensuing year, and the Board of Directors of the Corporation was authorized to fix their remuneration; and the Corporation's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (" Omnibus Plan "), as described in Vior's Management Information Circular dated December 12, 2024, was ratified, approved and confirmed. Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan The purpose of the Omnibus Plan is to provide the Corporation with a share-related mechanism to attract, retain and motivate qualified Directors, Officers, Employees, Management Company Employees and Consultants (" Eligible Persons "), and to align the goals of such Eligible Persons with the interests of Shareholders and the long-term goals of the Corporation, as well as to encourage such Eligible Persons to acquire common shares as long-term investments and proprietary interests in Vior. The Omnibus Plan constitutes as an amendment to and restatement of the Corporation's Stock Option Plan and includes (i) a 10% "rolling" option plan, that shall not exceed 10% of the Corporation's total issued and outstanding common shares from time to time; and (ii) a fixed plan permitting 25,000,000 common shares to be reserved for grants of restricted share units and deferred share units. For more information, the Omnibus Plan in its entirety, is attached as Schedule "B" to the 2024 Management Information Circular, available on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ) under the Corporation's issuer profile, and on the Corporation's website at https://www.vior.ca/investors/documents/ . Grant of Stock Options Following the approval of the Omnibus Plan by the shareholders of the Corporation at the Meeting, the Corporation is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved today a grant of an aggregate of 3,500,000 stock options (" Options ") to certain directors, officers and key employees of the Corporation, in accordance with the Omnibus Plan. Grants are subject to a three-year vesting period and a seven-year term at an exercise price of $0.23 per common share. All the forgoing Options are subject to the terms of the Omnibus Plan, the applicable grant agreement, and the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Vior Inc. Vior is a junior mineral exploration corporation based in the province of Quebec, Canada, whose corporate strategy is to generate, explore, and develop high-quality mineral projects in the proven and favourable mining jurisdiction of Quebec. Through the years, Vior's management and technical teams have demonstrated their ability to discover several gold deposits and many high-quality mineral projects. Vior is rapidly advancing its flagship Belleterre Gold Project with the strategic support of Windfall Mining Group Inc. The Belleterre Gold Project is a promising district-scale project that includes Quebec's past-producing high-grade Belleterre gold mine. Vior has conducted extensive surface and compilation exploration at Belleterre and is currently executing on a?+60,000-metre drill program. Vior is also actively developing its promising Skyfall Project in partnership with SOQUEM Inc., and has several other projects with multi-mineral potential. For further information, please contact: Mathieu Savard President and Chief Executive Officer 418-670-1448 msavard@vior.ca www.vior.ca SEDAR+: Vior Inc. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, the planned exploration program on the Belleterre project, the expected positive exploration results, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Corporation to continue with the exploration program, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration program, and the approval from the Ministere des Ressources naturelles et des Forets ("MRNF") for the request for abandonment of the two mining concessions originally filed by 9293-0122 Quebec Inc. (the previous owner of the two mining concessions). Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Corporation's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Corporation to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Corporation's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks, the refusal by the MRNF to approve the request for abandonment of the two mining concessions held by the Corporation, as well as those risks identified in the Corporation's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and those risks set out in the Corporation's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Corporation does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law. SOURCE: Vior, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 15, 2025) - Quetzal Copper Corp. (TSXV: Q) ("Quetzal" or the "Company") announces that further to its news releases dated December 13, 2024 and December 27, 2024, the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") has granted the Company an extension to complete its previously announced non-flow-through portion of its non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the "Units"), at a price of C$0.15 per Unit (the "Offering"). The Company now has until February 17, 2025 to complete the Financing. The Offering up to 6,666,666 Units at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,000,000 from the sale of Units; and up to 11,764,705 flow through units of the Company (the "FT Units") at a price of C$0.17 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$2,000,000 from the sale of FT Units. Each FT Share will be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each Unit and FT Unit issued under the Offering shall consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.25 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering (the "Closing"). A cash commission and finder's warrants may be paid to arm's length finders on a portion of the Offering. The Company closed the first tranche of the Offering consisting of 11,284,853 FT Units for gross proceeds of C$1,918,425 on December 27, 2024. The Company paid cash finder's fees in the amount of C$82,000 and issued an aggregate of 482,353 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") in connection with the First Tranche. The Finder's Warrants are non-transferable and are exercisable at $0.25 per share for 24 months from the issuance date. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for exploration and development activities and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's Princeton and Dot projects in British Columbia, Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2024. All securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory four (4) month and one (1) day hold period and regulatory approval. About Quetzal Copper Quetzal is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in British Columbia and Mexico. Quetzal currently has a portfolio of three properties located in British Columbia, Canada and one in Mexico. The Company's principal project, Princeton Copper, is located adjacent to Hudbay's Copper Mountain mine in southern British Columbia. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to exploration and development of the Company's properties. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated, accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/237364 SOURCE: Quetzal Copper Limited Trustup, a Liege, Belgium-based company connecting individuals with certified construction and renovation professionals, raised 5M in funding. Backers included Rise PropTech Fund, Brick & Mortar Ventures, Noshaq and InvestSud, along with private investors. The company intends to use the funds to recruit an additional 50 employees in Belgium to support its international growth, with a priority focus on strengthening its presence in Flanders. Launched in 2017 by CEO Sebastien Remacle, Trustup is a company operating in the renovation and construction sector, providing a platform that connects individuals with selected construction professionals, enhancing contract security and customer satisfaction. It also offers a software solution designed to meet the needs of independent professionals in the construction industry, helping them streamline administration (quotes, invoicing) and manage project tracking efficiently. The company employs over 55 people. FinSMEs 15/01/2025 In addition to international stars, KLF will highlight the vibrant local cultural heritage of Kerala, including traditional art forms, dance, and performances that are deeply rooted in the regions history read more The 8th edition of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Asias largest literary gathering, will bring together some of the most celebrated figures from the worlds of literature, music, film, and art. This years event will feature iconic personalities including flute maestro Hariprasad Chaurasia, award-winning director Mani Ratnam, and the God of Indian Violin L. Subramaniam. Renowned Bollywood veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, acclaimed actor Prakash Raj, YouTube sensation Prajakta Kohli, and many other eminent figures will also grace the occasion. Their presence will create a unique blend of culture, creativity, and intellectual dialogue, making it an unmissable event for art and literature enthusiasts alike. Advertisement Alongside these legends, KLF will showcase a remarkable array of talent, including Booker Prize winners, Nobel laureates, award-winning authors, directors, and historians. The festival promises a rich and diverse lineup with renowned personalities like Parvathy Thiruvoth, Mir Mukhtyar Ali, Vidya Shah, Methil Devika, Fred Nevche, Rajashree Warrier, Harish Sivaramakrishnan, Stephen Devassy and Monica de la Fuente. These celebrated artists will engage in thought-provoking discussions and performances, amplifying the festivals cultural significance. In addition to international stars, KLF will highlight the vibrant local cultural heritage of Kerala, including traditional art forms, dance, and performances that are deeply rooted in the regions history. These local performances will be complemented by an array of cultural acts, fostering a harmonious blending of global and local expressions. The 8th edition of KLF also spotlights France as the Guest Nation, fostering cultural exchange through French cultural performances alongside traditional Kerala art forms. The festival will be graced by distinguished French guests including Fred Nevche, Alfred Lionel Papagalli, whose contributions will enrich the exchange of artistic ideas. This years festival will seamlessly blend literature, art, music, and culture, making it a global celebration of creativity and intellectual dialogue. Ravi Deecee, Chief Facilitator of the Kerala Literature Festival, shared his excitement about the upcoming event: We are thrilled to bring together such a distinguished line-up of artists, writers, and intellectuals for this years festival. The fusion of global cultures, including French and Kerala traditions, will offer a unique platform for cross-cultural engagement. It is a celebration of the diverse ways in which art and literature bring people together, breaking boundaries and fostering a universal dialogue. The 8th edition of KLF is set to attract an estimated 6 lakh footfall, as Kozhikode, recognized as Indias UNESCO City of Literature, plays host to a rich tapestry of artistic expressions. The festival, running from January 23rd to 26th, promises to bring together a global audience, from all corners of the world, to engage in intellectual discourse and celebrate the power of art and literature. Advertisement A recent survey reveals that employees in India are set to receive a notable salary hike of an average of 9.4 per cent this year. The Total Remuneration Survey (TRS), conducted by HR consulting firm Mercer, involved over 1,550 companies from diverse sectors such as technology, life sciences, consumer goods, financial services, manufacturing, automotive, and engineering read more Mercers Total Remuneration Survey (TRS) saw participation from over 1,550 companies across various sectors. Image courtesy: PTI/Representational With the start of a new year, there is one thing many working people eagerly anticipate: appraisals. A recent survey has shown that employees in India can expect a significant salary increase this year. ALSO READ | Expect better salary hike in 2025 than you got last year: Survey Reports already indicate that Infosys Ltd is set to implement its annual pay hikes starting in February, with those at job level 5 (JL5) likely to receive theirs first. Advertisement This years Total Remuneration Survey (TRS), conducted by HR consulting firm Mercer, saw participation from over 1,550 companies across various sectors, including technology, life sciences, consumer goods, financial services, manufacturing, automotive, and engineering. How much pay hike can you expect? Employees across industries in India can expect an average salary increase of 9.4 per cent this year, indicating strong economic growth and the growing demand for skilled talent, according to the report. A recent survey says that employees can expect a significant salary increase this year. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representational Over the past five years, salary increments have shown consistent growth, climbing from 8 per cent in 2020 to an expected 9.4 per cent in 2025, as per Mercers Total Remuneration Survey (TRS). The automotive sector is leading the trend, with expected increments rising from 8.8 per cent to 10 per cent. This growth is due to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles and the governments Make in India initiative. Similarly, the manufacturing and engineering sectors are seeing a jump from 8 per cent to 9.7 per cent, reflecting renewed energy in the manufacturing domain. As per the survey, 37 per cent of organisations plan to increase their workforce by 2025, reflecting demand for talent across various industries. Voluntary attrition is projected to stabilise at 11.9 per cent, with Agriculture and Chemical (13.6 per cent) and Shared Services Organisations (13 per cent) registering the highest attrition rates, indicating fierce competition for skilled workers. Advertisement Mansee Singhal, India Careers Leader at Mercer, was quoted as saying by PTI, Indias talent landscape is experiencing a remarkable transformation. Pay premiums are also reshaping the workforce, additionally, the increased adoption of performance-linked pay plans by more than 75 per cent of organisations, signifies a holistic shift towards performance orientation, both in the short term and long term. She added, Companies that prioritise these trends will be better positioned to attract and retain talent in a competitive market. ALSO READ | Will Union Budget 2025 deliver on financial sector reforms? How AI can impact talent management this year The survey also explored the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital transformation on Indias talent market. Advertisement India has positioned itself as a global leader in AI adoption, with 55 per cent of organisations actively incorporating AI into their operations, News18 reported. CEOs in India view AI as a critical factor for driving future growth and productivity, as per the survey. Malathi KS, Mercers Rewards Consulting Leader for India, said From adopting AI-driven solutions for personalised rewards to redefining the Employee Value Proposition with flexibility and wellness at its core, businesses in India are prioritising value-driven approaches. These trends reflect a transformative era for the workforce, positioning India as a talent hub. Infosys salary hike According to The Economic Times, Infosys plans to begin its annual pay hike rollout in February, in line with its prior announcement. Employees at job level five (JL5) will receive their letters in February, with the increment being effective from January 1. Advertisement ALSO READ | Why has Infosys deferred salary hikes? The firm last gave employees a pay hike in November 2023. Image source: Infosys For those at JL6 and above, letters will follow in March, with hikes effective from April. The raises will be a part of the appraisal period from September 2022 to October 2023, with eligible employees having received their ratings in December 2023. Typically, employees would have received hike letters in June for increments effective from July, but this did not happen in 2024, sources told ET. The most recent pay hike was effective from November 1, 2023. What happened in 2024? According to Aons Annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey 2023-24 for India, employees were projected to receive a 9.5 per cent salary increase in 2024. This marked a slight decline from the 9.7 per cent hike recorded in 2023. Advertisement As per the survey, 37 per cent of organisations plan to increase their workforce by 2025. Image courtesy: Pixabay/Representational The survey, which analysed data from 1,414 companies across nearly 45 industries, indicated that the manufacturing sector would lead with an anticipated salary rise of 10.1 per cent in 2024. Following closely, the life sciences and financial services sectors were expected to see a 9.9 per cent increase, while Global Capability Centres ranked third, with a predicted 9.8 per cent salary hike. Roopank Chaudhary, partner and chief commercial officer for Talent Solutions at Aon India, commented: The projected increase in salaries in the Indian formal sector indicates a strategic adjustment in response to the evolving economic landscape. Despite a conservative global sentiment, industries such as infrastructure and manufacturing continue to project robust growth, indicating the need for targeted investments in certain sectors. With inputs from agencies Smriti Irani, who lost the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi, is reportedly being considered as the BJPs candidate from the Greater Kailash Assembly constituency. The AAP has fielded three-time MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj from the seat read more Smriti Irani could be fielded by the BJP in Delhi Assembly polls. File Photo/PTI The Delhi Assembly elections will witness a high-stakes battle among the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The three parties are putting their all in for an election that is likely to shape national politics. The BJP, which has been out of power in Delhi since 1998, is aggressively taking on the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP to prevent it from securing another term in the National Capital. From fielding strong contenders against the AAP bigwigs to trying to corner it over alleged corruption, the BJP is pulling out all the stops to best Kejriwals party. Advertisement After pitting former West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma against Kejriwal in the New Delhi seat and ex-MP Ramesh Bidhuri against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi in Kalkaji, reports have come to light that the BJP is considering giving a ticket to former Union minister Smriti Irani against AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. Lets take a closer look. Delhi polls: Smriti Irani vs Saurabh Bharadwaj? Smriti Iranis name has reportedly come up within the BJP to field as a candidate from the Greater Kailash Assembly seat in the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj is fighting from the GK constituency. He is a three-time AAP MLA from Greater Kailash and one of the seniormost members of the party. As per an Indian Express report, noting Bharadwajs popularity in the GK seat, the BJP is seeking a strong contender to challenge him. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj speaks during a press conference, in New Delhi, on August 28, 2024. File Photo/PTI Irani is among the three women leaders who are being considered against the AAP MLA. The other names making the rounds are former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, ex-mayor Arti Mehra and Shikha Rai, a sitting councillor from the GK ward. The GK seat has emerged as a very important constituency during our poll discussions. The BJPs Delhi election in-charge, Baijayant Panda, was himself deputed by the Central Election Committee last Friday to seek the assent of the candidates being considered, including a former Delhi MP, a BJP source told the newspaper. Advertisement According to the report, the Delhi Core Committee held an hourslong meeting with the senior leadership on Monday (January 13) to finalise the remaining names for the polls, where it was suggested by the Delhi BJP unit to field a strong candidate like Irani. However, sources close to Irani have trashed the reports, telling Indian Express she was not in the race. The other women leaders have, however, expressed interest in contesting from the GK seat. The BJP has announced 59 candidates for the 70-member Delhi Assembly elections so far. Meanwhile, some BJP politicians have also warned against parachuting leaders from outside after projecting former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as the saffron partys CM face in Delhi in 2015 and losing the polls. Advertisement Rise and rise of Smriti Irani As the spotlight has again turned to Smriti Irani, we will take a look at her meteoric rise and downfall in the BJP. A popular Television star, Irani joined the BJP in 2003 and made her electoral debut a year later. Born and raised in Delhi, she contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Chandni Chowk in Delhi, against the Congress Kapil Sibal. The then-Congress leader trounced Irani by a margin of more than 80,000 votes. The BJP had hoped to cash in on Iranis popularity as the lead in one of the most-watched soap operas in India. Despite her defeat, Irani continued to rise within the BJP. The election campaign helped showcase her oratory, and the real value of her celebrity status, Delhi-based businessman Sudhanshu Mittal told The Caravan in 2016. Advertisement In 2004, Irani upset the BJP leadership by declaring that she would undertake fast unto death if Narendra Modi did not step down as Gujarat chief minister. Her public retraction of the statement and a meeting with Modi helped her save her political career. She rose through the party ranks, even becoming the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha in 2010. A year later, she was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. In 2014, Irani contested the general elections from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi Lok Sabha seat against Congress Rahul Gandhi. While she lost the polls, the BJP leader reduced Gandhis victory margin from 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh votes, as per an India Today report. Advertisement Irani was rewarded and appointed to head the high-profile human resource development (HRD) ministry, now known as the Ministry of Education. However, in a Cabinet reshuffle in 2016, she was removed from the HRD ministry and shifted to the textiles ministry in the first Modi government. Her public spats with opposition leaders and differences with senior BJP leaders and Cabinet colleagues were seen to be her undoing, reported Economic Times (ET). Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani addresses a press conference, at BJP HQ in New Delhi, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. File Photo/PTI The development had come a year after she was dropped from the BJPs national executive. Irani emerged as a giant killer in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, defeating Rahul Gandhi in the Amethi Lok Sabha seat. With this, Gandhi became the first Congress president from the Nehru-Gandhi family to lose a Lok Sabha election. Iranis feat was recognised by the party and she was retained in the Modi 2.0. Along with textiles, Irani was given the key portfolio of women and child development. Amethi lost, but Delhi next? Irani remained in the public glare after she defeated Congress heavyweight Rahul Gandhi from his family pocket borough of Amethi in 2019. Confident of her victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi, Irani had scoffed at reports of Rahul Gandhi or his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, fighting against her, saying whoever comes will be defeated surely. However, the Congress fielded KL Sharma, a Gandhi family loyalist, from Amethi. In a major setback, the BJP failed to secure a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Irani was among the bigwig BJP leaders who lost the polls. Accepting her defeat, Irani had said in a tweet at the time, Such is life A decade of my life going from one village to another, building lives, nurturing hope & aspirations, working on infrastructure - roads, naali, khadanja, bypass, medical college and more. To those who stood by me through loss and victory, I am forever grateful. To those celebrating today, congratulations. And to those asking, Hows the josh? I say- its still high, Sir. She did not make it as a minister in the third Modi government. However, Irani continues to be in the public eye and takes on the opposition. After her Lok Sabha beating, the former Union minister has increasingly been involved in the BJPs activities in Delhi, raising speculations about her role in the partys city unit. BJP insiders believe Irani could counter ex-Delhi CM Kejriwal, bridging the gap in the saffron partys ranks of a charismatic leader, reported Indian Express. The BJP is yet to reveal its cards when it comes to its plans, if any, for Irani in the Delhi elections. With inputs from agencies Billionaire Steve Witkoff, nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump as the Middle East envoy, has been central to the high-stakes ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. With blunt diplomacy and Trumps backing, Witkoffs unconventional methods have reportedly applied intense pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu read more American business person Steve Witkoff makes remarks next to US President-elect Donald Trump, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, US, January 7, 2025. File Image/Reuters Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer and United States President-elect Donald Trumps Middle East envoy, has come to the forefront as a crucial figure in the delicate negotiations between Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. Despite his lack of prior diplomatic or experience in the region, Witkoffs unorthodox approach and close relationship with Trump have played a critical role in pressuring key stakeholders to move toward an agreement. Advertisement Witkoff travelled to Israel on Saturday to meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his negotiating team, despite it being the Sabbath, reported The Telegraph. Witkoff conveyed Trumps urgency to finalise the deal before the January 20 inauguration, stating there would be hell to pay in the Middle East if Hamas failed to release hostages by that date. His message was described as blunt and forceful, reflecting Trumps high-stakes diplomacy. Israeli officials have credited Witkoff with narrowing the gaps in negotiations, although significant challenges remain. Witkoff is playing a crucial role in the negotiations right now, applying pressure from Trump, a senior Israeli official was quoted by Axios. His insistence on progress led to Netanyahu dispatching top intelligence officials, including Mossad Director David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, to Doha to push forward the discussions. A high-stakes diplomatic push The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aim to secure the release of approximately 98 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including seven Americans. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposed deal also includes a six- to seven-week ceasefire, a significant step toward de-escalation after months of conflict that has left over 46,000 dead in Gaza and much of the territory in ruins. Behind the scenes, Witkoffs aggressive style has drawn both praise and criticism. According to Haaretz, Israeli officials noted his lack of adherence to diplomatic niceties. One diplomat told Haaretz, Witkoff isnt a diplomat. He doesnt talk like a diplomat. Hes a businessman who wants to reach a deal quickly and charges ahead unusually aggressively. Advertisement It is my honor to work for President @realDonaldTrump and the USA in the most worthy endeavor of my life. President Trumps strength and leadership will be a signal to all to bring the hostages home and peace to the region. Thank God for his election. @EricTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/ql0XJrjr8b Steve Witkoff (@SteveWitkoff) January 8, 2025 Witkoffs involvement has added urgency to the talks, with Trumps upcoming inauguration serving as a de facto deadline. Biden administration officials, including Brett McGurk, have coordinated efforts with Witkoff to ensure continuity between administrations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Witkoffs participation has been critical in keeping Trumps team aligned with the proposed deal. Progress amid challenges While gaps in the negotiations persist, US officials are optimistic. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the talks as being at a pivotal point, with both sides right on the cusp of a deal. CIA Director Bill Burns highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, urging leaders to act. Enough is enough. Perfect is rarely on the menu in the Middle East, and its time to make a deal, he told NPR. The deals first phase could see the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has insisted on a permanent end to the conflict and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel demands the complete dismantling of Hamas. These opposing positions have repeatedly stalled progress over the past year. Advertisement Witkoff as Trumps Middle East Envoy Witkoffs appointment as Trumps envoy raised eyebrows due to his lack of diplomatic experience. However, his deep personal connection with Trump and his reputation as a decisive businessman have made him an effective negotiator. Witkoffs presence in the talks signals Trumps determination to secure a major diplomatic victory before taking office. Witkoffs approach also reflects a broader trend in Trumps foreign policy, which prioritises transactional diplomacy and bold, last-minute maneuvers. Some critics argue that this style may risk leaving critical long-term issues unresolved, while others view it as a necessary break from traditional bureaucratic inertia in dealing with complex conflicts. The outcome of these negotiations will likely have far-reaching consequences beyond Israel and Hamas. A successful deal could bolster Qatar and Egypts standing as mediators in the region, while also reshaping US influence under the incoming Trump administration. Advertisement Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure domestically to deliver results after months of escalating violence and criticism of his governments handling of the conflict. Analysts also warn that even if the ceasefire and hostage exchange are achieved, the underlying tensions between Israelis and Palestinians remain unresolved. Violence persisted in Gaza on Monday, with residents in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, reporting multiple explosions that struck homes and roads. According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 40 Palestinians and left dozens injured. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed the deaths of five soldiers in clashes in northern Gaza, raising the total number of troops killed since Saturday to nine. With inputs from agencies Taiwans military is facing a severe manpower crisis, with the number of active volunteer soldiers plunging from 164,000 in 2021 to 152,885 in mid-2024. Early discharges have surged, rising from 401 in 2020 to 1,565 in 2024. This crisis comes as the island nation grapples with its most dangerous security challenges yet with cross-strait tensions with China escalating read more Soldiers take part in the first day of the annual Han Kuang military drills at an abandoned amusement park in Taoyuan, Taiwan, July 22, 2024. File Image/Reuters Taiwans military is facing a critical shortage of personnel, a challenge exacerbated by growing cross-strait tensions with mainland China. Legislative data reveals a troubling rise in early discharges among volunteer soldiers and officers, with 1,565 personnel opting to leave the service in 2024, compared to just 401 in 2020. Despite the financial penalties imposed on those leaving early, this trend continues to gain momentum, raising serious concerns about Taiwans defence readiness. Volunteer soldiers form the backbone of Taiwans armed forces, receiving more extensive training compared to conscripts who serve only one year. The steady decline in these trained professionals has left Taiwans military operating at just 78.6 per cent of its capacity in 2024, significantly below the generally accepted minimum operational standard of 85 per cent. Advertisement KMT legislator Wan Mei-ling described the situation as alarming, warning that Taiwans defences are increasingly vulnerable amid escalating military threats from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). What is contributing to this crisis? The Taiwanese defence ministry attributes the personnel shortfall to multiple factors, including a declining birth rate, a competitive civilian job market, and insufficient benefits for military service members. Observers also point to heightened operational pressures stemming from near-constant PLA fly-bys and drills, which have fuelled resignations among service members. The ministry has announced several measures to address these challenges, such as relaxing management policies, easing recruitment restrictions, and increasing salaries. However, these efforts may not be enough to reverse the downward trend. Between 2022 and mid-2024, the number of volunteer personnel shrank by 12,000, reaching a six-year low of 152,885 in June 2024. Professor Alexander Huang of Tamkang University was quoted by The Eurasian Times who highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that the legislative budget centre projected Taiwans active-duty force could drop to approximately 145,000 troops in 2025 if current trends persist. This would represent a significant reduction from the 164,000 personnel recorded in 2021. What could be the solution? In light of these challenges, Taiwan is exploring unconventional strategies to bolster its military ranks. One such proposal involves creating a foreign legion to enlist foreign nationals, drawing inspiration from similar models in other countries. KMT legislator and retired Admiral Richard Chen Yeong-kang suggested that foreign volunteers could be granted citizenship after completing a designated period of service, reported The Eurasian Times. Advertisement However, this idea remains in its infancy, with lawmakers and security experts stating the need for thorough discussions at multiple levels of government. Taiwan is home to approximately 950,000 foreign residents, including 750,000 foreign workers, predominantly from Southeast Asia. If implemented, the proposal could help address the manpower shortage, but its feasibility and public acceptance are yet to be determined. Why is this crisis coming at a bad time? Taiwans military challenges come at a time of heightened tensions with China. The PLA has intensified its activities around the island, conducting a record number of military drills and fly-bys in 2024. These actions are widely viewed as preparations for a potential invasion, a threat that Chinese President Xi Jinping has not ruled out. Former Taiwanese armed forces head Admiral Lee Hsi-min categorised the PLAs strategies into four escalating phases: intimidation through gray-zone warfare, coercive blockades, punitive missile attacks, and full-scale invasion. Advertisement In recent years, Taiwan has experienced daily incursions into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ), with over 3,000 PLA aircraft entering the zone in 2024 alone. Adding to the islands vulnerabilities, Chinese ships have allegedly damaged undersea communication cables vital for Taiwans connectivity. Such tactics are expected to be a precursor to any major offensive, aimed at disrupting communication and coordination. What next for Taiwan and its military? To strengthen its defence capabilities, Taiwan has already extended mandatory military service from four months to one year and increased its defence spending. The island has also drawn lessons from Ukraines response to Russias invasion, enhancing its civil defence efforts. Despite these measures, experts caution that more comprehensive and immediate actions are necessary to address the evolving security environment. KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin highlighted another critical issue unmet expectations among recruits. Many recruits feel misled about the benefits of volunteer service. After three or four months, they realise the reality does not match the promises and decide to leave, she said. Advertisement Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Amid the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, some social media users are pointing fingers at OpenAIs ChatGPT. The fires, which have burned over 17,200 acres, displaced tens of thousands and sparked heated discussions on climate policies and water management, have unexpectedly brought ChatGPT into the spotlight. But why has it become part of the debate? read more The city of Los Angeles has been facing with a series of devastating wildfires that have resulted in the loss of 25 lives, the destruction of more than 12,000 structures, and the evacuation of nearly 100,000 residents from their homes. With more than 17,200 acres, the fires have displaced tens of thousands and sparked intense debates about climate policies and water management, shifting conversations on Californias environmental and infrastructure priorities. ALSO READ | California wildfires: Are millionaires in Los Angeles paying Rs 1.7 lakh per hour to private firefighters? Advertisement Why is ChatGPT being linked to discussions about the wildfires? You may be curious about how ChatGPT has found itself at the centre of this debate. Lets break it down: Why ChatGPT is being blamed for Los Angeles wildfires Did you know that online activities, including AI models like ChatGPT, consume significant amounts of energy that are primarily sourced from fossil fuels? A report by Goldman Sachs revealed that a single ChatGPT query uses 2.9 watt-hours of electricity compared to 0.3 watt-hours for a Google search. FACT: every time you prompt chatgpt, it starts another wildfire in california gdl (@gdelujo) January 10, 2025 This contributes to the massive carbon footprint of AI systems, which, according to Mashable, leads to climate change. Drier conditions and rising temperatures caused by climate change create an environment leading to wildfires, especially when strong winds are present. Since LA is on fire and part of the south is frozen, I think its a good time to remind everyone or tell for the first time that ChatGPT and other forms for AI are contributing to the rapid warming of our planet. Its All Connected. (@clarichawrites) January 8, 2025 Advertisement Shaolei Ren, an associate professor at UC Riverside, found that writing one email with ChatGPT consumes 17 ounces of water. When multiplied across the frequent and various uses of AI chatbots, the impact becomes much higher. ALSO READ | Was it arson or Sean Diddy Combs? The conspiracy theories spreading like the LA wildfires In 2023, Microsoft reported a 29% increase in emissions and 23% higher water use due to new technologies, including generative AI, while Google revealed a 48% surge in emissions over five years, largely due to AI-powered data centres, according to PC Magazine. Advertisement Goldman Sachs revealed that a single ChatGPT query uses 2.9 watt-hours of electricity. Reuters/File Photo Ren stated that the majority of the growth is due to AI, including investments in generative AI and OpenAI partnerships. He estimates that a ChatGPT session involving 5 to 50 prompts uses approximately 500 millilitres of water, depending on the server location and season. This includes unmeasured water use for cooling power plants that supply electricity to data centres. How does ChatGPT use water? Building a large language model like ChatGPT involves analysing patterns in massive amounts of human-written text. This process requires massive computing power, which generates extreme heat. To prevent overheating, data centres rely on cooling systems, often using water pumped to cooling towers outside their warehouse-sized facilities, according to an Associated Press report. Advertisement Microsoft told AP that it is investing in research to measure AIs energy and carbon footprint while exploring ways to make large systems more efficient during both training and application. HP Newquist, an artificial intelligence historian, explained to HuffPost that densely packed computers and chipsets in servers generate immense heat. Running complex AI applications like ChatGPT requires immense amounts of computing power, which generates lots of heat 24 hours a day, he said. ALSO READ | Why are the California wildfires unstoppable? Cooling systems, often relying on water, are essential to regulate data centre temperatures and prevent server crashes. Mia Montoya Hammersley, an environmental law expert, told the publication that water is frequently used to cool AI servers physically. Advertisement Notably, OpenAI has acknowledged the issue of water consumption and has committed to improving energy efficiency in the development and operation of large language models. So, did ChatGPT cause the LA wildfires? No, ChatGPT did not cause the wildfires in Los Angeles, nor is it the reason the city ran out of water. However, its environmental impact, as part of a broader conversation about AIs role in climate change, makes it indirectly relevant to discussions about the fires. Firefighters spray down an apartment complex after a flare-up, California, US. Reuters Martin Adams, former general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told the Los Angeles Times, The [water] system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community. Firefighters faced water shortages because the system was not equipped to pump such large amounts over extended periods, not because data centres diverted water, he said. The online debate linking ChatGPT to the wildfires was not meant to blame AI models of starting fires. Instead, it pointed out the growing environmental concerns tied to AIs energy and water consumption. Mia Montoya Hammersley told HuffPost: With California already experiencing an ongoing drought, the water necessary to fight these fires is further straining the states water supply. According to a report by The Cut publication, the hydrants in Pacific Palisades ran dry due to high demand and not because of AI-related water usage. Municipal systems simply were not designed to handle the fast-moving, widespread nature of these fires. ALSO READ | Los Angeles wildfires: How a $9 million mansion became the last house standing in Malibu Forecasters said that winds were below dangerous levels on Tuesday evening but warned they would strengthen overnight, potentially spreading the fires further. Red flag warnings were issued from Central California to the Mexican border, lasting until late Wednesday afternoon. A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire burns in Mandeville Canyon. Reuters Nearly 90,000 households lost electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new fires. Residents remained on high alert, ready to evacuate at a moments notice. Police reported around 50 arrests for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfews, and other offences, as weary and anxious communities kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. With inputs from agencies The Maha Kumbh Mela, being held from January 13 to February 26 in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj, saw its first Amrit Snan occasion of Makar Sankranti on Tuesday. This holy dip is led by sadhus or seers from akharas, or religious sects, after an elaborate procession to the Triveni Sangam read more Sadhus or Hindu holy men from Panchayati Bada Udasin Akhara take part in a religious procession during 'Peshwai' or the arrival of the members of an akhara or sect of sadhus ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, January 12, 2025. Reuters Millions of devotees have taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam since the Maha Kumbh Mela kickstarted on Monday (January 13) in Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj. The 45-day religious gathering, concluding on February 26, has attracted a sea of devotees from India and across the world. On Tuesday, the Maha Kumbh Mela witnessed its first Amrit Snan on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, with seers from several akharas taking a dip in the sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj. As per PTI, Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani and Shri Shambhu Panchayati Atal Akhara were the first to participate in the Amrit Snan, earlier known as Shahi Snan. Advertisement Akharas, or warrior-saint sects or groups, hold a special importance in Hinduism and at the Kumbh Mela. Sadhus or seers from the akharas take the first dip at the Kumbh Mela after an elaborate procession to the sangam. Lets take a closer look. Origin of akharas Akharas are believed to have been established by the eighth-century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. The word akhara means a wrestling arena, and it was started as a group of monks and seers belonging to a warrior class who could fight for Hinduism against foreign invaders, as per Indian Express. There are 13 recognised akharas, which are divided by their belief systems. The Sanyasi sect has seven akharas Juna Akhara, Awahan Akhara, Agni Akhara, Niranjani Akhara, Anand Akhara, Nirvani Akhara and Atal Akhara. These akharas primarily worship Lord Shiva. The Vaishnav sampradaya, followers of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations, consists of three akharas: Nirmohi Akhara, Digambar Akhara and Nirvani Ani Akhara. The remaining three akharas, namely Bada Udasin Akhara, Naya Udasin Akhara and Nirmal Akhara, worship Guru Nanak Dev. In 2019, the Kinnar Akhara, comprising 15-20 transgender saints were added to the Shahi Snan order. First recognised by the Juna Akhara, they have since become a part of the Kumbh celebrations, reflecting the inclusivity of the religious congregation. Members of Kinnar Akhara take a holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Makar Sankranti during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, January 14, 2025. PTI The 13 akharas Juna Akhara: It is the largest akhara, which aligns with the Dashnami sect. Niranjani Akhara: Headed by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Kailashanandji Maharaj, it is the second largest akhara. It is known for its focus on education, along with spiritualism. Atal Akhara: Founded in 646 AD, it is among the oldest religious sects. Its seers are famous for their extreme discipline, as per Times of India (TOI) report. Advertisement Mahanirvani: This akhara spread the concept of Mahamandaleshwar or spiritual head. It was also the first to pick a woman mahamandaleshwar. Awahan: It is believed to have introduced Naga Sadhus, ascetics who cover their naked body with ashes and carry weapons like tridents, swords, etc. Anand Akhara: Founded in 1856 AD, the akhara promotes discipline and nationalist cause, noted TOI. Agni Akhara: This akhara is committed to social causes like free education and serving cows. Digambar Ani: The naga sadhus of this akhara wear only white and are always prepared to fight for the religion. Nirvani Ani: It places importance on wrestling and its seers have been a part of national-level wrestling competitions. Advertisement Nirmohi Akhara: Linked to the Ram Temple movement, this akhara has six lakh seers across the country. Bada Udasin: The akhara, which believes in devotion, knowledge and renunciation, played a role in Indias freedom struggle. Naya Udasin: Led by Mahant Jagtar Muni, the akhara believes in serving society, including by distributing free food. Nirmala Akhara: Home to Nihang Sikhs, the akhara is associated with Sikhism, especially Khalsa Sikhs. ALSO READ: Explained: Maha Kumbh and the multi-crore mela economy Akharas lead Shahi Snan Ascetics from the Akharas, usually headed by a Mahant or Acharya, take the holy dip at a certain time on auspicious days at the Kumbh Mela. Led by the Naga Sadhus, the saints and monks from these akharas participate in traditional processions to the holy river for a royal bath or shahi snan. The Mahamandaleshwars (chief monks) of the akharas sit on chariots, palanquins, elephants, or horses to lead the shahi snan, now known as the amrit snan, on special days, according to The Hindu report. Advertisement Hindu holy men arrive in a procession at an akhara where they will stay during the 45-day-long Maha Kumbh festival beginning on January 13, at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, in Prayagraj, January 12, 2025. AP From the ninth to 18th Centuries, the month-long Kumbh Mela was organised by akharas, with the order for the Shahi Snan triggering a rift. The akharas have engaged in violent clashes over this hierarchy even resulting in deaths. Today, the order is still decided by akharas but has been institutionalised by authorities, the newspaper noted. The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the highest governing body of Hindu saints and seers, was established in 1954 to organise and oversee the Kumbh Mela, as well as settle disputes between the multiple akharas. Importance of akharas Akharas and the sadhus heading them are highly revered by Hindu devotees. For centuries, these religious groups have played a key role in preserving Hindu rituals. The seers from these akharas contribute to promoting various Hindu religious events, festivals, and pilgrimages. Advertisement The akharas also have the power to shape public opinion on social issues. They have been involved in martial training to prepare their members to defend Hinduism. The heads of the akharas reportedly deliver spiritual teachings during the Kumbh celebrations, fostering devotion and self-realisation. With inputs from agencies US President-elect Donald Trumps plan to buy Greenland has now taken a legal turn. Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives are rallying behind a bill that seeks to allow negotiations for acquiring Greenland. This bill is titled the Make Greenland Great Again Act read more If passed, the bill would authorise the President to start negotiations with Denmark on January 20, when Trump officially takes office. Reuters/File Photo Greenland. Panama Canal. Canada. The America First policy of US President-elect Donald Trump appears to have an expansionist agenda. ALSO READ | Trump wants to take Greenland but what will it cost? Recently, he has made several statements about his interest in gaining control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, alongside his plan of making Canada the 51st state of the United States. Now, his intention to acquire Greenland has entered a serious legal phase. Advertisement Republican supporters of the President-elect in the US House of Representatives are working to build support for a bill that would allow negotiations for the purchase of Greenland. The bill is called Make Greenland Great Again Act. What do we know about Make Greenland Great Again Act? On Monday, House Republicans introduced a bill enabling President-elect Donald Trump to initiate negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland. The offices of Republican representatives Andy Ogles, who is leading the bill, and Diana Harshbarger told Reuters that it has been named the Make Greenland Great Again Act. A draft copy of the bill, first reported by Fox News Digital, had secured 10 co-sponsors by Monday morning. ALSO READ | Why Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland This development reflects that Donald Trump, set to assume the US presidency next week, is determined to pursue Greenlands acquisition. Trump has repeatedly mentioned this plan in recent weeks. He had also asked his advisers back in 2019, during his previous term, how such an acquisition could be achieved. US President-elect Donald Trump speaks after a meeting with Republicans in Congress in Washington, US. Reuters/File Photo If passed, the bill would authorise the President to start negotiations with Denmark on January 20, when Trump officially takes office. According to a report by Reuters, the draft of the bill states: Congress hereby authorises the President, beginning at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 20, 2025, to seek to enter into negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark to secure the acquisition of Greenland by the United States. Advertisement It further reads: Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark relating to the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the agreement, including all related materials and annexes. Trump has also indicated that under his leadership, the US would not hesitate to employ military and economic pressure to persuade Denmark and Greenland if they decline the option of a buyout. Following his victory in the November 5 US presidential election, Donald Trumps Republican Party now holds a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it easier for him to carry out his plans with fewer challenges. Advertisement Why does Trump want Greenland? Greenland, with its population of 57,000, is a vast territory rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, and rare earth elements. These resources are becoming increasingly accessible due to the melting of ice caused by climate change. Its strategic location in the Arctic also makes it highly valuable, especially as nations like Russia and China expand their presence in the region. ALSO READ | How much will Greenland cost Donald Trump? How much has US paid for territories in the past? Donald Trump has shown interest in acquiring Greenland since his first term in office. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a founding NATO member and a longstanding US ally. Advertisement Icebergs are seen at the Disko Bay close to Ilulissat, Greenland, on September 14, 2021. Reuters/File Photo While Denmark oversees Greenlands foreign affairs and defence, the US plays a key role in its defence, operating an air force base there under a 1951 treaty. Notably, Greenland, the worlds largest island, lies closer to the North American mainland than Denmark. The island is home to valuable rare earth minerals used in telecommunications, uranium, and vast untapped reserves of oil and natural gas, some of which were previously inaccessible but are becoming more reachable as the ice melts. Much of the rare earth supply is currently dominated by China, making Greenland an attractive prospect for the US, Geoff Dabelko, a professor of security and environment at Ohio University, told AP. In 2019, the Danish government suspended oil development off Greenlands shores. Advertisement Greenlands ice reserves are so significant that their complete melting would cause sea levels to rise by 24 feet (7.4 meters). The island also plays a role in regulating key ocean currents that impact global climate, including influencing hurricane and winter storm activity. Moreover, Greenland is strategically important for US national security. The island is home to a large US military base, and experts believe its location is important for defending against potential Russian aggression. As Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told CNN, The US is keen to ensure no hostile great powers control Greenland because it can be a foothold for attacking the US. China, too, has expressed interest in Arctic routes, and last November, China and Russia agreed to work together on developing Arctic shipping lanes. Some analysts view Trumps push to acquire Greenland as a show of strength, especially as rivals like China and Russia increase their presence in the region. What is Greenlands stance on Trumps buyout plan? Greenlands Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has made it clear that the islands residents do not want to become Americans. Egede, who has been calling for Greenlands independence, has repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale and that its people have the right to determine their future. ALSO READ | Amid Trumps call to purchase Greenland, islands leader pushes for independence Greenlands flag flies in Igaliku settlement, Greenland. Reuters/File Photo That said, Egede acknowledged that he understands why Donald Trump is interested in Greenland, given its strategic importance. The islands leader added that he is open to strengthening cooperation with the United States. He said that Greenland is part of the North American continent, and a place that the Americans see as part of their world. Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions, he stated. At a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, Egede firmly said, Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic. With inputs from agencies Former US president Barack Obama went solo to Donald Trumps inauguration ceremony on Monday. Last week, his wife and ex-first lady Michelle Obama declared her intentions to skip the event. But what was behind her choice? read more Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. The inaugural ceremony held indoors in a packed Capitol Rotunda on Monday (January 20) saw the presence of several bigwigs. From former presidents and their spouses to business elites and celebrities, many prominent figures were at the US Capitol to watch Trumps return to the White House. Former President Barack Obama was among those attending the inaugural ceremony. However, his wife and former First Lady, Michelle Obama, was missing in action (MIA), sparking curiosity about her whereabouts. Advertisement Last week, the former US First Ladys office announced that Michelle would be skipping the January 20 event. However, no official reason was provided for her absence. Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration, the brief statement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama said. Michelles decision to skip Trumps inauguration was an unusual break from traditional protocol, in which former presidents and their spouses typically attend presidential inaugurations regardless of party affiliations. Lets take a closer look at why Michelle chose to skip the presidential inaugural. Michelles out, Clintons and others in Michelle Obama announced earlier that she will be skipping the January 20 event. However, her husband, former US President Barack Obama, was in attendance for the inauguration. This came even as both of them had heavily campaigned for outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential elections, who eventually lost out to Donald Trump. Former US President Barack Obama walks as he attends Donald Trumps inauguration as the next President of the United States in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, US, January 20, 2025. Reuters This was the first time that Michelle was not present at the inauguration since her husband left the White House. She attended Trumps first inauguration when he succeeded Obama in 2017 and also Joe Bidens in 2021. Former US President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. While Michelle is skipping the January 20 event, Barack along with other former US presidents will attend. File image/Reuters Apart from Barack Obama, former US President George W Bush and Laura Bush attended the inauguration, along with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Notably, this was the second big event that Michelle Obama is giving a miss. She was absent from the memorial service held last week for former US President Jimmy Carter. It was said that she wasnt in attendance owing to a scheduling conflict. However, Barack Obama attended the service at the National Cathedral in Washington, sitting next to Trump and engaging in animated conversation with him as the programme was getting underway. Other former first ladies, including Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, both attended the Carter event. Advertisement Her absence from the service also aroused great curiosity among the people in the United States. According to Google Trends data, the search volume for where is Michelle Obama was well over 100,000. Its important to note here that while a lot of buzz has been created about Michelles decision to skip Trumps inauguration, Trump, himself, had chosen to not attend Joe Bidens inauguration in 2021 after falsely claiming that the election was stolen from him. Former US President Barack Obama and US President-elect Donald Trump speak during the state funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral in Washington. Again, Michelle Obama skipped the event, with many speculating the reason for it. File image/Reuters Michelles animosity towards Trump While neither Michelle nor her office provided any reason for her not attending Trumps inauguration, many have already begun speculating the reasons. The biggest reason that many believe she stayed away from the Capitol next week is her candid and open disdain for Trump. Who can forget her troubled expressions, which then became viral, at Trumps inauguration in 2017? In fact, as late-night US TV presenter Trevor Noah noted in The Daily Show, Throughout the day, Mrs. Obamas face was the barometer for most of Americas feelings. Advertisement Outgoing US First Lady Michelle Obama makes a face as incoming President Donald Trump speaks during the inauguration ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in 2017. File image/Reuters In 2018, in her best-selling memoir Becoming, she addressed those expressions and even opened up about Donald Trump. I stopped even trying to smile, she said, even though the optics might not have looked great. Someone from Baracks administration might have said that the optics there were bad, that what the public saw didnt reflect the presidents reality or ideals, she explained in the book. But in this case, maybe it did. Today, the whole world is Michelle Obama's facial expression. We can't even. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/WvSb2RDgrp iPaulie (@iPaulie) January 20, 2017 Advertisement In 2023, she once again referred to her expressions at the Trump inauguration during a podcast, saying she was uncontrollably sobbing by the end of the day. Many people took pictures of me and theyre like, You werent in a good mood? No, I was not! But you had to hold it together like you do for eight years. Apart from this, Michelle has also spoken of Trumps birther conspiracy in her memoir, saying she would never forgive Trump for it. The whole [birther] thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia hardly. But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks, Obama wrote in the book. What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if that person went looking for our girls? Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my familys safety at risk. And for this, Id never forgive him. Advertisement For those who dont remember, Trump strongly pushed the theory that Barack Obama wasnt born in the US and hence, ineligible to serve as president, in 2011 as he floated the possibility of a presidential run. Trump even went further to add a religious connotation to the conspiracy, saying that Obama wasnt showing his birth certificate because maybe it says hes a Muslim. Michelle even openly criticised Trump while campaigning for Kamala Harris in the US presidential elections. In her August 2024 Democratic National Convention speech, the former first lady called out Trump. In her passionate speech, she said: Unfortunately, we know what comes next. We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth. My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who also happened to be Black. Former US first lady Michelle Obama and Democratic presidential nominee US Vice President Kamala Harris appear on stage during a campaign event at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. File image/Reuters Later, in October, at a rally to drum up support for Harris in Michigan, she warned Americans that womens lives would be at risk if Donald Trump returned to the White House. If we dont get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage, Obama said. So are you as men prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children you love and tell them you supported this assault on our safety? She later added, Do not buy into the lies that we do not know who Kamala is or what she stands for. This is somebody who understands you, all of you. I am asking yall from the core of my being to take our lives seriously, Obama pleaded. Her comments irked Trump, who later said that Michelle Obama had made a big mistake by criticising him. She was nasty, Trump said, adding, That was a big mistake that she made. While we still dont know the real reason why Michelle missed the inauguration, we definitely missed her meme-worthy expressions. With inputs from agencies Reports suggest North Korean soldiers in Ukraine are employing extreme tactics, including suicide bombings, to evade capture. With over 11,000 troops reportedly deployed to support Russia, mounting casualties and intercepted communications reveal a brutal strategy aimed at preserving loyalty to Kim Jong-un read more Military members salute during a military demonstration involving tank units, guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (not pictured), in North Korea, March 13, 2024 in this picture released on March 14, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. File Image/KCNA via Reuters Reports from Ukraine suggest that North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia are resorting to suicide tactics to avoid capture. Ukrainian Special Operations Forces recently reported an incident in the Kursk region where a North Korean soldier detonated a grenade, killing himself to evade being taken prisoner. According to Ukrainian and Western intelligence, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russia in its fight against Ukraine, with over 3,000 reportedly killed or injured. Advertisement The deployment marks North Koreas most significant military involvement in an international conflict since the Korean War (1950-53). The soldiers, operating in Russias western Kursk region, are believed to have been instructed to prioritise suicide over capture, a tactic that aligns with North Koreas military doctrine and propaganda. Are North Korean soldiers being brainwashed? Witnesses and defectors have shed light on the psychological conditioning of North Korean soldiers, many of whom are indoctrinated to view capture as treason. Self-detonation and suicides: thats the reality about North Korea, Kim, a 32-year-old former North Korean soldier who defected to South Korea in 2022, told Reuters. Kim explained that soldiers are taught to sacrifice themselves for leader Kim Jong-un and to view capture as a betrayal of their country and family. Watch how Ukraines SOF repel North Korean troops assault in russias Kursk region. The special forces eliminated 17 DPRK soldiers. One North Korean soldier had set an unsuccessful trap for the rangers of the 6th Regiment and blew himself up with a grenade. pic.twitter.com/nObBOMnusI SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) January 13, 2025 One South Korean intelligence report detailed a chilling incident where a North Korean soldier, upon realising he was about to be captured, shouted General Kim Jong-un before attempting to detonate a grenade. Memos retrieved from slain North Korean soldiers show a preference for self-destruction over surrender. Such tactics not only demonstrate loyalty to the regime but also serve to protect their families from potential persecution back home. How has North Korea helped Russia? North Koreas military deployment to Russia signifies a major shift in its international military engagement. Historically, Pyongyangs involvement in foreign conflicts has been limited, with smaller contingents sent to the Vietnam War and the Syrian Civil War. However, its contribution to Russias war effort in Ukraine reportedly sanctioned under an agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang has been substantial. Despite initial denials, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean officials have since implied that the deployment is legitimate. The soldiers are said to operate alongside Russian units, often wearing Russian military uniforms and carrying fake IDs. Advertisement Also Watch: Intercepted communications reveal their North Korean origins, with troops reportedly using their own weapons and adapting to modern warfare tactics, including drone countermeasures. With over 380 square miles of Russian territory in the Kursk region under Ukrainian control, the strategic importance of the area remains high. Analysts believe that the influx of North Korean troops has been crucial to Russias efforts to hold the line in Kursk, but their heavy casualties reportedly exceeding 3,000 highlight the costs of this strategy. What does the Russia-North Korea partnership in Ukraine mean? The involvement of North Korean troops in Ukraine poses significant geopolitical risks. Analysts warn that the combat experience gained by these soldiers could strengthen North Koreas military capabilities, potentially escalating regional tensions in East Asia. Dorothy Camille Shea, the US deputy ambassador to the United Nations, has cautioned that the war in Ukraine is providing Pyongyang with valuable battlefield knowledge and military technology, which could be leveraged to enhance its own arsenal or sold internationally. Advertisement Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the brutality of the tactics employed by North Korean and Russian forces. In one instance, Zelenskyy claimed that wounded North Korean soldiers were executed by their own comrades to prevent capture. Communication between captured North Korean soldiers and Ukrainian investigators continues. We are establishing the facts. We are verifying all the details. The world will learn the full truth about how Russia is exploiting such guys, who grew up in a complete information vacuum, pic.twitter.com/CWcssQjr94 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2025 Ukraine has captured only two North Korean soldiers so far, one of whom reportedly expressed a desire to stay in Ukraine rather than return to Pyongyang. As the war grinds on, the use of North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder raises troubling questions about the lengths to which both Moscow and Pyongyang are willing to go to achieve their objectives. With inputs from agencies A post from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) created an uproar on social media after an advertisement showed a plane headed towards the famed Eiffel Tower in France with the caption Paris, were coming today. The post quickly went viral and racked up millions of views with many pointing out that the imagery seemed more akin to a threat than an advertisement read more The Pakistan International Airlines put up the advertisement on social media on January 10. Image courtesy: X The Prime Minister of Pakistan has ordered a probe into an advertisement. This comes after a post from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) created an uproar on social media. But what do we know about the advert? Why did it create such a stir? And why did the Pakistani prime minister get involved? Lets take a closer look: What do we know? The PIA put up the advertisement on social media on January 10. The post was put up to announce that flights from Pakistan to Europe were resuming after a four-year break. Advertisement The advertisement had the image of a plane headed towards the famed Eiffel Tower in France. The post was accompanied with the caption, Paris, were coming today. A far tinier caption noted the flights from Islamabad to Paris and back had resumed. As per Business Today, it was accompanied by a soundtrack from Bruno Mars on Instagram. The post quickly went viral racking up millions of views. But it wasnt good news. The overwhelming majority on social media quickly pointed out that the imagery seemed downright inappropriate more akin to a threat than an actual advertisement. Others said it reminded them of the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda which left nearly 3,000 dead and claimed that the company lacked sensitivity. Pakistan air needs a new graphic designer, Ian Bremmer, a political scientist and author, wrote on Threads. Newspaper columnist Omar R Quraishi wrote on X, Do they not know about the 9/11 tragedy which used planes to attack buildings. People also drew unfavourable comparisons to a similar advertisement the PIA had made in the 1970s. The advertisement also drew comparisons to the PIA ad in the 1970s. Image courtesy: X That advertisement, believe it or not, showed the shadow of a Boeing 747 on New Yorks Twin Towers. Advertisement The backlash from the advertisement also revived conversation about Osama Bin Laden the former leader of Al-Qaeda during the 9/11 attacks who was found hiding in Pakistans Abbottabad in 2011. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who reportedly masterminded the attacks, was also arrested in Pakistan in 2003. As per Economic Times, the PIA is yet to release a statement addressing the controversy. However, that hasnt stopped the government from jumping in. Why did the Pakistani PM get involved? This comes as a result of the fierce backlash from the post. News18 quoted Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Shehbaz Sharif directed a probe into the post. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Prime Minister has directed [authorities] to investigate who conceived this ad. It is stupidity, Dar was quoted as saying. Advertisement Meanwhile, PIAs first flight to Europe went off without a hitch. The flight landed at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. As per Economic Times, the PIA has flights twice a week to Europe on Friday and Sunday. The airline had been banned by the European Union after a spate of crashes including a 2020 plane crash in Karachi that left 97 dead. A pilot licensing scandal that showed that a third of Pakistans pilots held fraudulent licences also damaged the airlines reputation. However, the airline is still not allowed to operate in the United States and the United Kingdom. As per Business Standard, the PIA has faced several controversies over the years. Advertisement In 2017, the airline came for a torrent of criticism after its staff sacrificed a goat on the tarmac for good luck. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commissioned three ships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer into service at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai today (January 15). But what do we know about these ships? Why are they special? read more INS Surat is an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a guided-missile destroyer. Indias Navy has just got a major upgrade today (January 15). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commissioned three ships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer into service at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Speaking just before the big moment, PM Modi said that the frontline naval combatants will strengthen Indias efforts towards being a global leader in defence and augment its quest towards self-reliance. He even wrote on X on Tuesday, Tomorrow, January 15, is going to be a special day as far as our naval capacities are concerned. Advertisement All three ships have been built at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The combined commissioning of Nilgiri, Surat, and Vaghsheer demonstrates Indias unparalleled progress in defense self-reliance and indigenous shipbuilding, the government said in a press release. The Centre added that these ships include specific accommodations to support a sizeable complement of women officers and sailors, aligning with the Navys progressive steps toward gender-inclusion in frontline combat roles. But what we know about the ships? Why are they special? Lets take a closer look: INS Surat As per MSN, INS Surat is an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a guided-missile destroyer. The fourth and last ship in the Project 15B stealth destroyer class, INS Surat is a successor to the Kolkata-class (Project 15A) destroyers. INS Surat has a displacement of 7,400 tons and is 164 meters long. It comes with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It has a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion set with four gas turbines. The ship during trials hit speeds above 30 knots (56 kilometres per hour). INS Surat will also be the Indian Navys first AI enabled warship. Its indigenously developed Al greatly increases its operational efficiency. Finished in 31 months, INS Surat is the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built. It is the first warship to be named after a city of Gujarat. Advertisement It has an indigenous content of 75 per cent. It allows for the operation of a vast range of helicopters including Chetak, ALH, Sea King, and the MH-60R. Both day and night operations can be conducted on the INS Surat. INS Surats keel was laid on November 7, 2019 and the ship was launched on May 17, 2022. Finished in 31 months, INS Surat is the fastest indigenous destroyer ever built. Its trials began on June 15, 2024 and ended on November 25, 2024, within an unprecedented record time of just six months, as per MSN. INS Nilgiri INS Nilgiri is also an indigenously constructed frontline warship and a stealth frigate. As per The Week, INS Nilgiri is the first vessel from the P17A Stealth Frigate Project. Advertisement INS Nilgiri was designed by the Indian Navys Warship Design Bureau. It has advanced features that increase its stealth, survivability and seakeeping. As per Times Now, INS Nilgiri has a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes. INS Nilgiri comes with advanced weaponry and systems including eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, a vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, a 76-milimetre gun and an AK-630 close-in weapon system. MDL says INS Nilgiri measures up to the finest ships in a similar class anywhere else in the world. It can take on enemy submarines, surface warship, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircraft. INS Nilgiri has a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes. As per Times Now, the INS Nilgiri comes equipped with the MF-STAR radar. Advertisement Like the INS Surat, it allows a wide variety of helicopters including the MH-60R Seahawks to function from it. It also has Rail-Less Helicopter Traversing System and Visual Aid and Landing System that allow operations to be run both during the day and at night. As per Mint, Nilgiris keel was laid on December 28, 2017 and the ship was put into water on September 28, 2019. The ship underwent her maiden sea trials in August. As per Mint, Nilgiri is capable of operating in a blue water environment and dealing with both conventional and non-conventional threats in the area of Indias Maritime Interests. Nilgiri is enabled to operate independently without supporting vessels, and also to function as the flagship of Naval task force, MDL said in a release. Advertisement INS Vaghsheer INS Vaghsheer is a diesel-electric submarine. As per MSN, INS Vaghsheer is the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine under the Kalvari-class Project 75. As per Drishti IAS, Project-75 (India) is aimed at constructing 18 conventional submarines and six nuclear-powered submarines for the Indian Navy. It is said to be among the most noiseless and adaptable diesel-electric submarines in the world. As per Times Now, INS Vaghsheer has a displacement of 1,565 tonnes. INS Vaghsheer is said to be among the most quiet and adaptable diesel-electric submarines in the world. INS Vaghsheer can carry out a variety of missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations. It is equipped with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems. It also has modular construction which allows for future upgrades like Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology to be easily integrated. The INS Vaghsheers advanced stealth capabilities includes a hydrodynamic shape that minimises noise and magnetic signatures, as per Times Now. What do experts say? That this is a giant step forward for Indias maritime abilities. As per Deccan Herald, this is the first time that two warships and a submarine are being commissioned together. A piece in Times Now said the development reaffirms the sea change in Indias indigenous shipbuilding industry. Over the past decade, state-run shipyards like Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) have significantly enhanced their efficiency, delivering world-class platforms like the Kolkata/Visakhapatnam-class destroyers and Kalvari-class submarines. MDLs ability to produce combat-ready warships and submarines reflects Indias evolving technological and industrial prowess, the piece argued. It also said that the ships improve Indias maritime capabilities and allow it to safeguard its interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited says INS Nilgiri measures up to the finest ships in a similar class anywhere else in the world. This historic event highlights Indias ability to meet the challenges of a contested geopolitical environment, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and position itself as a key maritime power. The simultaneous commissioning of INS Nilgiri, INS Surat, and INS Vaghsheer is a defining moment in Indias maritime history. It reflects decades of investment, innovation, and determination, setting the stage for India to emerge as a leader in the global maritime domain, the piece argued. An article in Financial Express said that India had made a statement with the commissioning of these three vessels at the same time. It underscores Indias growing maritime influence and its commitment to securing not only its own waters but also ensuring stability across the Indian Ocean and the broader Indo-Pacific region. In the face of rising tensions and increased naval activity in these watersparticularly from ChinaIndias enhanced naval capabilities will play a crucial role in ensuring the freedom of navigation and countering potential maritime threats, the piece stated. It also contended that these vessels reflect the Indian Navys broader strategy of self-sufficiency. As the country increasingly turns to indigenous solutions, it is making significant strides in its defence ecosystem. The successful construction of these platforms, built primarily with Indian technology, helps foster greater defence innovation and industrial growth while contributing to Indias Make in India initiative, the piece argued. The article called the commissioning of the ships a transformative moment for the Indian Navy. It said that these vessels increase Indias ability to project its strength, defend itself and protect its interests. The vessels are also a symbol of Indias self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the piece argued. As the world watches India bolster its maritime capabilities, the commissioning of these ships and submarines is a clear signal of the Navys readiness to defend the countrys strategic interests while ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. Indias naval future has never looked stronger, and the impact of this historic event will reverberate for years to come, the piece concluded. With inputs from agencies The Indian Army at the parade on Wednesday put on display its first batch of robotic Multi-Utility Legged Equipment (MULES). These robot dogs are designed to operate across different terrain, reduce risk to soldiers and improve their efficiency. They are said to be able to ascend and descend stairs, steep inclines and navigate area filled with debris and can operate in extreme temperatures read more Robotic Multi-Utility Legged Equipment (MULES) at the 77th Army Day Parade in Pune. ANI Robot dogs have stolen the show at the Indian Army Day parade. The Indian Army at the parade on Wednesday put on display its first batch of robotic Multi-Utility Legged Equipment (MULES). The MULES were showcased at the Southern Command Investiture Ceremony at the BEG & Centre Parade Ground in Khadki. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, GOC-in-C Southern Command, supervised the ceremony. But what do we know about these robot dogs? Lets take a closer look: As per The Times of India, the ARCV MULES put on display were designed by AeroArc. Advertisement This New Delhi-based firm is a subsidiary of Arc Ventures (ARCV). They can perform various duties such as perimeter security, asset protection, handling hazardous materials (CBRNE), bomb disposal, and intelligence gathering. They can operate autonomously or be guided via remote control. They comprise a computer, battery, front and rear sensors, and legs for mobility. The MULES weigh 51 kilo and have a top speed of three metres per second. They have a battery life of 20 hours and work on the NVIDIA Xavier processor. They can carry a load of up to 12 kilos. They can be set up within 15 minutes. The Indian Army received 100 of these MULES in June. A defence source told The Print that the Indian Army ordered these mules under emergency procurement in September 2023. The scheme allows the army to negitate contracts up to Rs 300 crore. They are designed to operate across different terrain, reduce risk to soldiers and improve their efficiency. The MULES are said to be able to ascend and descend stairs, steep inclines and navigate area filled with debris. They are designed to operate in for extreme temperatures from -40C to 55C) and are said to be dustproof and water-resistant. Advertisement Sources told The Print these MULES come with thermal cameras and other sensors that can help them carry out surveillance. They can also be equipped with small arms that allow them to confront the enemy without putting our soldiers lives at risk. The MULES can also carry payloads to soldiers serving on the front lines. The Indian Army ordered these mules under emergency procurement in September 2023. The MULES are basically for surveillance in mountainous terrain or when it is suspected that some terrorists are holding up. Risking a human life or that of a canine soldier does not make sense, the source said. These machines can also carry small arms and can engage with the enemy as and when needed, the source added. Advertisement According to The Times UK, these robot dogs are meant to replace actual mules which deliver ammunition, food and medicines to remote areas. News18 previously reported that the MULES will be able to self-recover and avoid obstacles. They will be assigned a route and be tracked via a command station at least a hundred kilometres away. They could even be deployed by special forces. Army Day Parade The Army Day Parade, which is traditonally held in New Delhi, was for the first time held in Pune. The theme for the 77th Army Day celebrations was Samarth Bharat, Saksham Sena. The focus this time was on demonstrating the capabilities of the army contributing to a stronger nation. Advertisement The Army Day Parade commemorated Field Marshal KM Cariappas appointment as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949, symbolizing Indias post-independence military leadership. All-female Agniveer contingent, an all-female marching group from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), and the Nepal Army band marched during the parade. The Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, Madras Regiment, Mechanised Infantry, Regiment of Artillery, Bombay Engineer Group, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps also participated in the parade. The parade also featured various weapons including the K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer, BMP-2 Sarath infantry combat vehicle, Sarvatra bridging system, T-90 tanks, Swathi weapon locating radar, ATOR N1200 all-terrain vehicle, multi-barrel rocket system, drone jamming systems, and mobile communication nodes. Advertisement Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday said the situation along the northern border is sensitive but stable while asserting that his force is fully ready and capable of dealing with any situation. In his address at the 77th Army Day celebrations here, he also said the ceasefire is maintained along the Line of Control (LoC) but attempts to infiltrate continue. He said the situation along the northern border is sensitive but stable. Our Army is fully ready and capable to deal with any situation, the Army chief said. He also underlined that special attention has been given to developing modern equipment and critical infrastructure at the northern border. We will continue on the path to make the Indian Army a modern, agile, adaptable, technology-enabled force, he asserted. The army chief said the 77th Army Day Parade taking place in Pune holds special significance as it has been a place of valour since the Maratha rule. With inputs from agencies Ryanair, Europes biggest airline, has called on the European Union to enforce a two-drink limit per passenger at airports. The move by the Irish carrier comes as the problem of drunk travellers onboard flights has seen a jump. Last year, an unruly passenger forced a Ryanair flight to divert to Portugal, leading to significant disruption for over 160 passengers and financial losses to the airline read more Ryanair's bid stems from a civil lawsuit it recently announced against a former passenger who caused chaos on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in Spain last year. File image/Reuters In a bid to tackle the growing problem of drunk passengers onboard flights, Europes largest airline, Ryanair has called for the sale of alcohol to be limited at European airports. It called on the European Union to enforce a two-drink limit per passenger at airports, imposing it by using their boarding pass(es) in exactly the same way they limit duty free sales, an airline spokesperson said in a statement. What led Ryanair to make this request? Heres a closer look. Advertisement The mid-air mess The Ireland-based budget airlines bid stems from a civil lawsuit it recently announced against a former passenger who caused chaos on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in Spain last year. It said that the drunk passengers inexcusable behaviour forced this flight to divert to Porto [Portugal] where it was delayed overnight, causing 160 passengers to face unnecessary disruption and also forced the airline to bear substantial costs. In response, Ryanair sued the unidentified passenger for 15,000 (13.36 lakh) in damages. Ryanair pointed out that while airlines already limit alcohol sales onboard, passengers are still able to consume excessive amounts of alcohol at airports before boarding, especially during delays, without facing similar restrictions. Image for Representation. AP The airline pointed out that while airlines already limit alcohol sales onboard, passengers are still able to consume excessive amounts of alcohol at airports before boarding, especially during delays, without facing similar restrictions. We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks, as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe," Ryanair said in its statement on Monday. What is the financial cost of diverting a plane? Ryanair has revealed the significant financial costs incurred after a disruptive passenger caused a flight to be diverted. Over 160 passengers and six crew members were forced to stay overnight at Porto airport, delaying their onward journey to Lanzarote the following day. Additionally, Ryanair had to provide an extra aircraft and crew to operate the delayed return flight from Lanzarote to Dublin. In its legal case against the passenger, which is currently being heard in Irish courts, the airline is seeking 7,000 (Rs 6.23 lakh) for hotel expenses for the passengers and crew, 2,500 (Rs 2.22 lakh) for landing and handling fees at the Portuguese airport, and 1,800 (Rs 1.6 lakh) to cover the cost of replacing the crew due to restrictions on flying hours. Advertisement Ryanair has revealed the significant financial costs incurred after a disruptive passenger caused a flight to be diverted. Over 160 passengers and six crew members were forced to stay overnight at Porto airport, delaying their onward journey to Lanzarote the following day. Image for Representation. AFP Ryanair is also demanding 800 (71,800) for excess fuel costs, 750 (Rs 66,731) in lost inflight sales, and 2,500 (Rs 2.22 lakh) for Portuguese legal fees. The airline stated, None of these costs could have been incurred if this disruptive passenger had not forced a diversion to Porto. The rising cases of unruly passengers While still uncommon, incidents involving unruly passengers on planes have been steadily increasing in recent years. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has noted that, although it couldnt provide specific data, both the number and severity of incidents have risen in Europe since 2020. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 2,102 incidents of unruly passengers in 2023, leading to $7.5 million (7.3 million) in fines. Though this was a 1% rise from the previous year, it is still significantly lower than the 2021 peak of 5,973 incidents. Advertisement The rise in unruly behaviour incidents is also being observed in India, with the most frequent cases of non-compliance, verbal abuse, and intoxication. Also read: Bad Air Days: Pee-gate, mid-air fist fights and other horror stories from airlines in India Globally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) found that there was one disruptive incident for every 480 flights in 2023, based on over 24,500 reports from 50 operators worldwide. This marked an increase from one incident per 568 flights in 2022. Conrad Clifford, the IATA Deputy Director General commented, No one wants to stop people having a good time when they go on a holiday, but we all have a responsibility to behave with respect for other passengers and the crew. Advertisement He added, For the sake of the majority, we make no apology for seeking to crack down on the bad behaviour of a tiny number of travellers who can make a flight very uncomfortable for everyone else. With input from agencies In the streets of Pakistans Sahiwal district, a man, identified as Saleem Bagga, has gone viral while he sells kheer. Why? Hes a lookalike of US President-elect Donald Trump read more Talk about sweet news. In a busy market in Pakistans eastern Punjab province, a food vendor has made headlines. Not for the kheer (rice pudding) he sells, but for his uncanny resemblance to none other than US President-elect Donald Trump. Whats going on? Heres what we know. Saleem Bagga, the Trump lookalike The Trump lookalike, who has made headlines in recent days, has been identified as Saleem Bagga, who sells puddings in Pakistans eastern Punjab province. Bagga sells pudding in a bustling market in Punjabs Sahiwal. And his USP - his uncanny resemblance to the US president-elect Donald Trump. More often, people visit his stall just to get a look at him or take pictures with him. Advertisement We feel as if Trump has come here to sell kheer (pudding), said Mohammad Yaseen, a local resident who prefers to buy the dessert from Saleem Bagga, the look-alike vendor who also sings to draw customers. Saleem Bagga, seen by some as a lookalike of US President-elect Donald Trump. He remains unfazed by the stream of attention and cameras that follow him throughout the market. Reuters Baggas most distinctive feature is blond quiff which is a result of his albinism. My face resembles Donald Trump, that is why people take selfies with meI feel very good, he said. He dons a black jacket over his beige shalwar kameez tunic to keep out the winter cold. He also sings in Punjabi while selling the pudding, saying, Now you come down to me my love, dont delay, my eyes are tired of waiting. Donald Trump's lookalike spotted selling Kulfi in Pakistan in a melodious way pic.twitter.com/rMSvYYhILb Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) January 1, 2024 When asked about Donald Trump, he said, Donald Trump sahib (sir), you have won the election, now visit here and eat my kheer, you will really enjoy it. He is a sort of celebrity in the neighbourhood and people often take pictures with him. While taking a selfie with Bagga, local resident Imran Ashraf told Reuters, His kheer is really delicious we talk to him and we take selfies with him and we tell our friends that we have taken these pictures with Trump. Advertisement Saleem Bagga poses for a selfie with a customer while selling kheer in Pakistans Sahiwal district. Reuters Trump lookalike in UK This is not the first time a Trump lookalike has come to light. Mike Osman, a UK-based comedian, is another look-alike of the 78-year-old US president-elect. He shot to fame in 2016 and post the presidential elections has become a huge hit. According to BBC, he was almost ready to retire his blonde wig and fake tan but the results of the presidential elections became a game-changer for him. He describes himself as the UKs number one Trump impersonator. Osman has 16 million views on TikTok and states that he has spent years working on his act, named Donald Trumped, reported BBC. The first thing youve got to do is get the wig - and youve got to get it right, Osman told BBC. He further said that perfecting the costume, in particular Trumps suit and iconic crimson tie is important. Advertisement I have watched a lot of videos of Donald, believe me, he added. Trump is set t take oath as the 47th president of the United States on (Monday) January 20. Th Republicans Inauguration Day plans include tea at the White House, the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, a congressional luncheon, a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue and a trio of balls. With inputs from Reuters Authorities in South Korea arrested impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday from the presidential compound. The detention was nothing short of dramatic officials had to cut barbed wire, scale walls and fight off supporters. This marks the end of a weeks-long standoff, making Yoon the first sitting president to be arrested in the nations history read more South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), in Gwacheon, South Korea after he was arrested from his presidential compound. Reuters Political drama returned to the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Wednesday (January 15) as investigators entered impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeols residence and arrested him over allegations that his declaration of martial law on December 3 last year amounted to insurrection. His arrest, the first ever for an incumbent president, is the latest in a weeks-long series of events that has left the country on edge. Shortly after investigators stormed Yoons official residence which had been turned into a fortress the impeached leader said that he had decided to submit to questioning over his failed martial law bid to avert bloodshed even though he believed the probe was illegal. I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office, Yoon said in a pre-recorded video message, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed. Advertisement Wednesdays action is the second attempt to detain the embattled leader for questioning over his short-lived declaration. As drama grips the nation, we take a closer look at the circumstances leading to the arrest and what could happen next. Yoons dramatic arrest After receiving the warrant to detain Yoon at 10.33 am local time, officials from the Corruption Investigation Office reached the Presidential compound in an attempt to arrest him. Drama quickly unfolded at the presidential compound in the upscale Seoul district of Hannam Dong as authorities, almost 3,000 in number, had to first clear the thousands of people who were camping outside, protesting the arrest. According to local media, Yoons supporters were yelling, saying it was illegal for the police to enter the residence. Police officers cut a wire fence set up at the entrance to the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, as authorities seek to execute an arrest warrant, in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters Many of them had been camping in sub-zero temperatures waving flags bearing the stop the steal slogan, referring to Yoons unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. One of the supporters, speaking to Reuters, said, It is very sad to see our country falling apart. Once they cleared the public, the authorities had to contend with the fortress-like situation that had been set up in the compound. Guards from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) had installed barbed wire around the premises and even used buses as blockades. Police officers and investigators of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials use a ladder to climb up a bus parked at the entrance to the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Reuters However, thousands of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office surrounded the residence, some scaling perimeter walls and hiking up back trails to reach the main building. Advertisement Finally, after another few hours of a standoff, authorities announced Yoon had been arrested. Simultaneously, Yoon released a video in which he said, I decided to respond to the CIOs investigation despite it being an illegal investigation to prevent unsavoury bloodshed. Later, the embattled leader left his residence in a motorcade as his supporters yelled illegal warrant. AFP reports that lawmakers from Yoons party, the People Power Party, also rushed to the area in an apparent bid to defend him. Yoon later arrived at the CIO offices where authorities now have 48 hours to question him after which they must seek a warrant to detain him for up to 20 days or release him. Advertisement A motorcade believed to be carrying impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his arrest drives down a road, in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters Yoons lawyers have said the arrest warrant is illegal because it was issued by a court in the wrong jurisdiction and the team set up to investigate him had no legal mandate to do so. While Yoon faces questioning, he also awaits his fate in the Constitutional Court, which has launched a trial to rule on parliaments impeachment of Yoon. If the court endorses the impeachment, Yoon will finally lose the presidency and fresh elections will have to be held within 60 days. South Koreas opposition Democratic Party celebrated Yoons detention. The arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol is the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law, floor leader Park Chan-dae told the party in a meeting. Although overdue, it is truly fortunate to confirm that public authority and justice in South Korea are still alive. Advertisement Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols supporters react while facing police officers as authorities seek to execute an arrest warrant, in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters Yoons six-weeks long drama Wednesdays arrest of Yoon, the first incumbent South Korean president to be arrested, is the culmination of drama that began last December when he made a declaration of martial law, only to recall it six hours later after members of the National Assembly, including some from Yoons own party, voted to reverse his decision. Yoons order faced fierce backlash from the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, reviving painful memories of the countrys authoritarian past. The very next day, the opposition in South Korea vows to push for impeachment and file an official motion. On December 7, three days after making the declaration for martial law, Yoon appeared on television, apologising for his actions. Demonstrators supporting impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, pass by a demonstrator against Yoon near the presidential residence in Seoul. AP But it seems his apology didnt change the minds of the lawmakers, who on December 14, voted to impeach him. By doing so, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the nations acting leader. Drama ensued on January 3 when investigators made their move to arrest Yoon but were blocked by his guards in a tense six-hour standoff. They were forced to stand down, citing security concerns, after being met by hundreds of security forces linking arms to block access to Yoon. Advertisement Uncertain future for Yoon and South Korea Yoons arrest isnt the end of the drama though. Authorities have the next two days 48 hours to obtain a detention warrant. If the court refuses to issue another warrant, Yoon will be released. In the case of a detention warrant, Yoon can be detained for up to 20 days before being brought to trial. Once indicted, prosecutors may request that Yoon be tried under detention, which can last up to six months. Yoon faces a possible life imprisonment or even the death penalty if he is found guilty of insurrection. Supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol react during a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul. The letters read With President Yoon Suk Yeol. AP The move also puts South Korea in the midst of political uncertainty and there are concerns of clashes between Yoon supporters and his detractors. This could be seen even as Yoon left the presidential compound for questioning. While the anti-Yoon crowd blasted out congratulations and celebrations, the Yoon supporters were angry and dejected. One of them even told the BBC, We are very upset and angry the rule of law has broken down. With inputs from agencies Tulip Siddiq has resigned as the UKs treasury minister after being under the scanner for her close ties to ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Labour MP has been accused of corruption in the South Asian nation and benefitting from London properties linked to her aunts allies read more Tulip Siddiq is said to be close to her aunt, the ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Now, it has cost the British minister her job. Siddiq resigned as a treasury minister in the Labour government on Tuesday (January 14) after being under scanner for weeks for her financial ties to Hasina. While the 42-year-old was denied any wrongdoing, she stepped down after accepting that the UK government was at a disadvantage because of the controversy she finds herself embroiled in. Advertisement She was responsible for financial services and anti-corruption. In a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, she reiterated that she had done nothing wrong but said that continuing her job in the treasury office would likely be a distraction from the work of the government. Starmer said he accepted her resignation with sadness. We look at what forced Siddiq to quit, the allegations against her and her ties to Hasina. Why did Tulip Siddiq resign? The anti-corruption minister was under the scanner because of her ties to Hasina and the use of properties in London linked to the former Bangladesh PMs allies. Amid growing scrutiny, Siddiq referred herself to Starmers ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. While Magnus said that he had not identified evidence of improprieties it was regrettable that the MP had not been more alert to the potential reputational risks of the ties to her aunt, reports the BBC. The standards adviser also said that because of the lack of records and lapse of time, he had not been able to obtain comprehensive comfort on all the UK property-related matters referred to in the media. He also said that the PM would want to consider her responsibilities. The probe also looked into Siddiqs presence in Moscow when her aunt Hasina and Russias Vladimir Putin signed a nuclear deal in 2013. Magnus said that he accepted at face value Siddiqs statement that she had no involvement in any inter-governmental discussions between Bangladesh and Russia or any form of official role. Advertisement However, after the adviser submitted his conclusions, Siddiq decided to step down. Tulip Siddiq stands outside 10 Downing Street, London. She has resigned after being under scrutiny over her financial ties to Sheikh Hasina. File photo/AP Starmer accepted her resignation and thanked her for her work, adding that he recognised there was no evidence of financial improprieties against her. I appreciate that to end ongoing distraction from delivering our agenda to change Britain, you have made a difficult decision and want to be clear that the door remains open for you going forward, Starmer added. What are the allegations against Tulip Siddiq? The Labour MP has been under the scanner for using three properties in London linked to Hasinas allies. One of the properties was given to her by a person connected with the now-ousted Bangladesh government, reports the Financial Times. However, in 2022, Siddiq denied that the flat was a gift and insisted that her parents had brought it for her. Back then, she threatened the Mail on Sunday with legal action. The other properties in question are a 2.1 million (Rs 22 crore) house in north London, currently rented by Siddiq and owned by businessman Abdul Karim Nazim, an executive member of her aunts Awami League partys UK branch, and a property in Hampstead that Siddiq was registered at. It was transferred to her then-teenage sister in 2009 by lawyer Moin Ghani, who has represented Hasinas government. Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin, now ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Tulip Siddiq, attend a signing ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on January 15, 2013. Siddiq has been accused of helping her aunt broker the deal and benefitting financially. File photo/AP The Labour MP was also named last month in an investigation into claims that her family was involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which large sums of money were embezzled. According to reports, up to 3.9 billion (Rs 41 crore) from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh was siphoned off in collusion with Russian officials. Siddiq was a councillor in the London Borough of Camden at the time. She was present during the signing ceremony and even pictured with Putin. However, she explained that it was a social visit, where she joined her family and enjoyed the tourist access facilitated as a result of her aunts official visit as head of state. Advertisement There is a third allegation against the UK politician. Bangladeshs anti-corruption commission alleges that she was involved in the illegal allocation of land in the diplomatic zone near Dhaka to her mother, sister and brother, reports Sky News. As a British MP, she pressured her aunt to appoint the land to them through planning officials who were reportedly bribed. How close was Siddiq to the Hasina regime? Tulip Siddiq was born in London but cannot shed her connection with Bangladesh. She is the granddaughter of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, the South Asian nations founder and first president. Mujib was assassinated in 1975 along with his two sons. However, his daughters, Hasina and Rehana, were saved as they were on a holiday in Germany. Hasina, the older daughter, returned to Bangladesh and went on the become the prime minister in 2009. The countrys longest-serving premier, she was deposed after mass protests in August last year. Advertisement Rehana, Mujibs younger daughter, fled to London. She gained asylum in the UK and later gave birth to Siddiq. Tulip Siddiq spent her growing-up days between London and Dhaka. She has been close to Sheikh Hasina and was often alongside her aunt as she met world leaders like Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. She was 16 when she joined the Labour Party. She was also working for Hasinas Awami League in the UK as a spokesperson around this time, reports The Guardian. Sheikh Hasina flashes the victory symbol after casting her vote, as her sister Sheikh Rehana looks on at a polling station in Dhaka on December 30, 2018. After Hasina was ousted last August, she fled Bangladesh with her sister. File photo/AFP When Siddiq was elected to parliament for the Labour Party in 2015, she acknowledged the support of Awami Leagues local activists. Had it not been for your help, I would never have been able to stand here as a British MP, she had said. She also attended an Awami League rally in London, where Hasina was present. Siddiq didnt hesitate to introduce her aunt to British politicians, the report says. Siddiq nominated Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party in 2020. She later got a role in the shadow education team and then made it to the shadow treasury team. When Labour won the election last year, she got a ministerial role. As economic secretary to the treasury, her job included tackling corruption in UK financial markets. Ironically, now corruption charges have led to her resignation. With inputs from agencies Relying solely on BMI to diagnose obesity may be outdated, say global experts. A new report calls for a more comprehensive approach, introducing clinical and pre-clinical obesity categories based on fat distribution and health impacts. This framework aims to improve diagnosis, reduce stigma, and personalise care for the over one billion people living with obesity worldwide read more A patient checks their body mass index (BMI) on a chart in the doctor's office in Denver, US, September 22, 2010. File Image/Reuters As obesity continues to affect over a billion people globally, experts are calling for a shift in how the condition is defined and diagnosed. Relying solely on Body Mass Index (BMI) is increasingly being viewed as inadequate, with medical professionals proposing a more nuanced approach to better serve patients. Rethinking BMI as the sole indicator For decades, BMI, calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by height squared (in meters), has been the go-to metric for assessing obesity. While simple and widely used, BMI has significant limitations. It measures weight relative to height but does not distinguish between fat and muscle or assess fat distribution in the body. For example, athletes with high muscle mass may have a high BMI but low body fat, while individuals with normal BMI could still carry unhealthy fat deposits. Advertisement BMI is useful for large-scale population studies, but it doesnt offer a complete picture of an individuals health, said Professor Francesco Rubino, chair of the expert group behind a new report published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The report highlights the need for more precise diagnostic tools, such as waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratios, or advanced scans like DEXA, which assess fat distribution and organ health more accurately than BMI alone. Introducing two new obesity categories The international commission of 58 experts, supported by over 75 medical organisations, recommends replacing the blanket definition of obesity with two categories: Clinical obesity : Characterised by excess body fat causing health issues such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or joint pain. Individuals in this category would require medical treatment, including lifestyle changes, medications, or surgery. Pre-Clinical obesity: Defined as excess body fat without current health complications but with an elevated risk of future illnesses. These individuals should receive counseling and monitoring to prevent disease progression. This nuanced approach acknowledges that not everyone with obesity experiences the same health challenges. The question of whether obesity is a disease is flawed, said Rubino. Some individuals maintain normal organ function long-term, while others face severe health issues immediately. The case for redefining obesity Medical experts argue that redefining obesity is crucial in light of the rising demand for weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, which are often limited to patients with a BMI over 30. Access to these treatments could expand with a more comprehensive diagnosis framework. Dr. Mariell Jessup, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Heart Association, stated the importance of a nuanced approach. We struggled with imprecise methods for defining what is a bad weight, she said. Also Watch: Additionally, Rebecca Puhl, deputy director of the University of Connecticuts Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, was quoted by The New York Times, she noted that redefining obesity could reduce stigma. Obesity continues to be viewed as a character flaw rather than a complex health condition, she said. Whats next? Despite widespread support for the new framework, challenges remain in its implementation. BMI has been entrenched as the standard for decades due to its simplicity and association with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Experts like Dr. David Nathan of Harvard warn that changing global practices will take time and effort. Critics also argue that waiting to treat obesity until complications arise may lead to worse outcomes. You wouldnt treat hypertension only after a stroke, said Nathan. However, the new definition represents a step toward personalised care, with the potential to improve early intervention and reduce long-term health risks. As Dr. Kath McCullough from the UK Royal College of Physicians put it, For too long, weve relied on BMI, which misrepresents the condition and fails to reflect how excess body fat impacts health. Advertisement With inputs from agencies After Centres approval, the ED can now frame charges against AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. This clears the path for their prosecution in a money laundering case linked to Delhis scrapped excise policy. read more The Union home ministry has granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, along with former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, in a money laundering case linked to the liquor excise policy, now scrppaed. [The Ministry of] Home Affairs has recently granted the required sanction to ED for prosecuting Kejriwal under the anti-money laundering law in the Delhi excise policy case, officials said to news agency PTI. Advertisement Now, after the Centres approval, the ED can frame charges against Kejriwal and Sisodia. The move clears the path for their prosecution and trial in the case, weeks ahead of the Delhi election. Earlier, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena also gave his approval to prosecute the former Delhi chief minister in the case. ED says Kejriwal is the kingpin Kejriwal was arrested by the ED in March last year. The agency claims that the former Delhi CM was the kingpin and key conspirator of the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The ED filed a chargesheet against Kejriwal before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi after his arrest. Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court after spending about six months in jail. He was released from the Tihar Jail on September 13, 2024. Alleged corruption, money laundering in excise policy The case involves claims of corruption and money laundering in the implementation of the Delhi governments excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped. The policy aimed to privatise the sale of liquor in Delhi, but it was later alleged that it favoured certain private entities and caused financial losses to the state. Several AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, former minister Satyendar Jain, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, were arrested in the money laundering case. They were later released on bail. Stage set for Delhi polls These developments are likely to impact the Aam Aadmi Partys preparation for the Delhi Legislative Assembly election as the campaign picks pace for the three-cornered contest. The election is scheduled for February 5, and votes will be counted on February 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ruling at the Centre, and the Congress are campaigning to unseat the AAP, which has formed consecutive governments after 2013, 2015 and 2020 assembly elections. In the 2020 election, the AAP got a landslide victory with 62 seats, whereas the BJP secured eight seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly. In the 2015 election, the AAP won 67 seats and the BJP secured three. In both elections, the Congress was unable to win a seat. A delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh is scheduled to hold discussions with their counterparts Border Security Force (BSF) between February 16 and 19 as part of the 55th edition of these bi-annual talks. read more The twice postponed Director General (DG) level border talks between India and Bangladesh are now expected to be held here from February 16 with the issue of fencing and rise in infiltration attempts post the regime change in that country being a major subject of discussion, official sources said Wednesday. A delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh is scheduled to hold discussions with their counterparts Border Security Force (BSF) between February 16 and 19 as part of the 55th edition of these bi-annual talks. Advertisement This will be the first top-level discussion between the two forces post the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. The engagements of the two sides are being worked upon, official sources told PTI. The dates for these talks were twice postponed last year, they said. The issues related to objections raised by Bangladesh over the construction of agreed upon single-row fence at about 92 identified patches covering about 95.8 km of the overall 4,096 km international border between the two neighbours is expected to be taken up during this meeting with prominence, the sources said. The joint of record of discussions called JRD, that is signed by the chiefs of the BSF and the BGB at the end of these talks, will be framed on the basis of these discussions, they said. Obstruction to the work of fence construction on this border was underlined last week after India followed by Bangladesh summoned the High Commissioners of the either country in their national capitals. Bangladesh expressed deep concern over the activities of the BSF vis-a-vis fence erection and border killings when they called Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in Dhaka over the weekend. The next day, India made it clear to the acting Bangladeshi High Commissioner Nural Islam in Delhi that all laid down protocols were being followed while constructing the fence as it conveyed its expectation that all earlier understandings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes. Advertisement The Indian side, during the border talks, is expected to put across the instances of spiked up infiltration attempts by Bangladeshi nationals across this front post August last year as these instances are linked to human trafficking and cross-border smuggling. According to the data, as many as 1,956 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by BSF troops between August and December last year. This five-month period accounted for more than 50 per cent of the interdictions of Bangladeshi nationals on this front as the entire year saw 3,474 such apprehensions. During 2023, 4,342 Bangladeshi nationals were caught by the BSF along this front. A senior BSF officer said the single-row fence construction along the front is continuing with a few issues here and there. Some issues are raised by the Bangladeshi authorities, largely in West Bengal area apart from some places in Assam and Tripura but the work is going on, he said. Advertisement The DG-level border talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but made bi-annual in 1993 with either side alternatively travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. The last edition was held in Dhaka in March when the Indian delegation travelled to that country. With its regional strategy of fighting through proxies demolished, the nuclear programme is the only trump card that Iran holds and it would therefore not let it go, without concrete iron clad assurances from the international community read more Interlocutors from Iran convened with representatives from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in Geneva on January 13 for another round of discussions concerning Tehrans contentious nuclear programme. These talks are taking place amidst heightened tensions in West Asia and the recent ouster of the Assad regime in Syria, which has severely disrupted Irans regional strategy. The timing of these negotiations is particularly significant, occurring just a week before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US President for a second term. With Iran steadfast in asserting its right to uranium enrichment and the United States absent from these discussions, the potential outcomes of these talks remain uncertain. Advertisement Background of the negotiations The preceding round of talks on November 29, 2024, involving the same European parties, yielded little progress. This stalemate followed a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on November 21, 2024, which censured Iran for its lack of cooperation. The motion, sponsored by the U.S., the UK, France, and Germany, was a continuation of a similar resolution adopted earlier in June 2024. Iran strongly criticized these actions, threatening to escalate its nuclear enrichment activities if the censure was not withdrawn. This tension arose despite a prior agreement during IAEA head Rafael Grossis visit to Tehran, where Iran consented to cap its stock of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels up to 60 per cent purity. However, faced with additional sanctions, Iran threatened to scale up the program further. Current State of Irans Nuclear Programme The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed on July 14, 2015, was a pivotal agreement aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. It was an instrument of faith between the two parties that incorporated strict checks and balances aimed at ensuring a strict vigil on Irans nuclear program, lest Iran progress to developing a nuclear weapon. However, the deal was derailed in 2018 when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States, labeling the JCPOA a horrible deal. Negotiations to revive the agreement resumed under President Joe Biden in 2021 but stalled by early 2022 after eight rounds of talks due to geopolitical crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and escalating conflicts in Gaza. Iran, meanwhile, free from the shackles of the deal, has increased the Uranium enrichment drastically. While the IAEA has raised concerns over the enrichment and especially Irans decision to enrich Uranium up to 60 per cent, it was in January 2023 that an IAEA report raised the alarm when its inspectors discovered that two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at the Fordo nuclear plant in Iran had been configured differently. The samples collected showed particles up to 83.7 percent enriched uranium, close to 90 per cent required for weapon-grade uranium. Iran dismissed the concerns, stating that small particles get highly enriched during the process of enrichment. However, the concerns have mounted ever since. Soon after the last meeting in November 2024, the IAEA report of December 2024 stated that Iran has significantly raised the levels of enrichment and has advanced its nuclear programme significantly. The two-page report caused immediate alarm as it indicated a dangerous spike in Irans enrichment activities at the Fordow enrichment plant. The findings stated that Iran is instituting a capacity to make weapon-grade uranium (WGU) under the guise of making 60 percent Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) at the Fordow underground enrichment plant and that it can possibly produce WGU without even using its existing stocks of 60 per cent HEU. As per the IAEA report, Iran is setting up a three-step, interconnected enrichment process at Fordow, going from natural uranium up to 5 percent enriched uranium in up to 8 IR-6 cascades, from 5 to 20 per cent in six current IR-1 cascades, and 20 to 60 per cent in two interconnected IR-6 cascades. This three-step process allows the near continuous, sequential enrichment of natural uranium to 60 per cent HEU. This process can be easily modified to produce WGU. If true, this could mark a dangerous escalation of the nuclear program with potential weaponisation possibilities. Advertisement As per the IAEA report of 19th November 2024, Irans total enriched uranium stockpile was 6,604 kg, of which Iran had an estimated 182.3 kg of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity. By the IAEAs theoretical definition, around 42 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent is required to make the required amount of highly enriched (beyond 90 per cent) enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb. By this calculation, Iran already has the required enriched uranium to make weapon-grade uranium for four bombs. What Can Geneva Talks Achieve? Geneva talks are happening more in hope than conviction. The talks aim to keep Iran engaged and responsive to the queries and discussions at the meeting. Unlike November last year, when the talks took place under threats and counter threats, it is hoped that there will be understanding this time. The recent developments in West Asia resulting from the successful Israeli operations in Gaza, West Bank and Southern Lebanon, wherein it has been able to eliminate any major threat from Hamas and Hezbollah have had a significant impact on Iran. The ouster of Assad from Syria has effectively broken any direct link that Iran had with the proxies in the region, dealing a deadly blow to its regional strategy in the region. The return of Donald Trump as the President is bound to have an impact, too, especially with his threats of Maximum Pressure 2.0, adding pressure on Iranian leadership. Advertisement Plus, the fact that only three European powers are engaging in talks with Iran gives it only a cosmetic look, especially with the big three, the US, Russia and China, not being part of the talks. The absence of these major stakeholders reduces the potential for binding agreements, relegating the talks to a largely symbolic exercise aimed at maintaining dialogue and preventing further escalation. As signatories to the JCPOA, these European powers, at best, could seek to prevent further nuclear proliferation and, once again allow the IAEA access to its nuclear sites. In return, Iran may be promised some relief from economic sanctions that have crippled its economy. Advertisement Conclusion Irans nuclear issue has been an issue of conflict not only between Iran and other powers in the region, but also with the US and Israel. PM Netanyahu has often suggested taking out Iran nuclear sites through air strikes. In fact, Israel claimed to have successfully targeted some parts of Iran nuclear program during its airstrike on 26th October last year. It is very unlikely that Iran will concede to roll back its nuclear program to July 2015 deal levels. Also, as per the Sunset Clause of the previous deal, the restrictions on Iran to use only first-generation centrifuges (IR-1) for enriching uranium was only for ten years, i.e. 2025. There were other clauses that were applicable till 2030 like restriction on uranium enrichment to 3.67 per cent purity and limit its enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kg. In any new deal that is to be negotiated, these clauses too will have to be re-drawn. Advertisement Also, with its regional strategy of fighting through proxies demolished, the nuclear programme is the only trump card that Iran holds and it would therefore not let it go, without concrete iron clad assurances from the international community. Statement from Kazem Gharibabadi, Irans Deputy Foreign Minister, after the meeting on 13th January, describing the talks as serious, frank, and constructive, is a clear positive and departure from the previous talks in November which were full of threats and mistrust. It is hoped that this meeting will help restore some trust and lay the foundation for future full-fledged talks later in the year. Col Rajeev Agarwal is a military veteran and West Asia expert. During his service, he has been Director in Military Intelligence as well as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs. His X handle is @rajeev1421. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India has quickly becoming a major hub for iPhone assembly, tapping into its large, affordable workforce and government incentives. Vietnam, on the other hand, has become a key location for AirPods. China isnt taking Apples shift lightly read more Even with its push to diversify, Apple still relies heavily on China. Rare earth minerals and high-precision tools used in Apples manufacturing means its nearly impossible for Apple to completely cut ties with China. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters Apples efforts to shift its supply chain away from China are hitting some roadblocks, as the Chinese government tightens controls on critical materials and high-tech equipment, as per a report by Asia Nikkei. For years, China has been the backbone of Apples manufacturing operation, offering low labour costs and a well-established infrastructure. But with rising labour costs, ongoing trade tensions, and pandemic disruptions, Apple started looking elsewhere. The company moved production to India and Vietnam, both of which offer lower costs, helpful trade policies, and easy access to fast-growing markets, in an initiative called China Plus One. Advertisement India has quickly becoming a major hub for iPhone assembly, tapping into its large, affordable workforce and government incentives. Vietnam, on the other hand, has become a key location for AirPods and other accessories, thanks to its growing electronics industry and quick adoption of Apples strict manufacturing standards. However, China isnt taking Apples shift lightly. Chinas Response to Apples China Plus One In response to Apples growing move away from its shores, China is clamping down on the export of critical materials that Apple needs, like rare earth minerals and advanced manufacturing equipment. This move is seen as an effort to protect its place as a global manufacturing leader and prevent companies like Apple from pulling out, as per the Asia Nikkei report. The US has used similar tactics in the past, like restricting semiconductor exports, to maintain its tech dominance. For China, losing Apple is more than just an economic blow. Apple has played a huge role in solidifying Chinas status as a tech powerhouse, and a shift away from the country would be a huge symbolic loss. If other companies follow Apples lead, it could weaken Chinas grip on the global manufacturing landscape. Why Apple moved away from China For Apple, diversifying its supply chain is a smart move. Spreading production across different countries reduces the risk of problems like trade wars, natural disasters, or pandemics causing major disruptions. It also gives Apple better access to growing markets. By making products in places like India, Apple can avoid heavy import taxes, making its goods more affordable for local customers. Having operations in several countries also gives Apple more bargaining power with suppliers and governments. The company isnt tied to one location, which means its less vulnerable to changes in trade policies or sudden disruptions. If one country imposes tariffs or faces an issue, Apple can simply shift production elsewhere, keeping things running smoothly. The challenge of complete independence from China Even with its push to diversify, Apple still relies heavily on China. Rare earth minerals, which are essential for components like batteries and magnets in iPhones, are still mostly sourced from China. Plus, high-precision tools used in Apples manufacturing process are still made there. This means its nearly impossible for Apple to completely cut ties with China, at least for the foreseeable future. While Apple has made significant strides in spreading its production out, its reliance on Chinese-made components means that even a small delay in shipments could cause a disruption elsewhere. Apples challenge is finding the right balance maintaining flexibility and resilience in its supply chain, while still relying on China for those critical components. For China, keeping Apples business is key to maintaining its economic power and status as a tech leader. Advertisement The EU has led the way in regulating Big Tech, but the delay in these rulings highlights how much of the process is shaped by politics. Some of the key players who went after Big Tech, are nearing the end of their terms, with some seeking re-election read more As the US prepares for potential political changes, Big Tech companies are positioning themselves to benefit from a friendlier regulatory environment. Image Credit: Reuters The European Union has reportedly hit the pause button on its plans to fine tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta, as it waits for political clarity. The EU, led by competition chief Margrethe Vestager, has been a driving force in regulating Big Tech for the past decade, particularly with its Digital Markets Act (DMA). This law aimed to rein in the power of tech giants by imposing fines for anti-competitive behaviour. However, the latest reports suggest that EU regulators are now putting those plans on hold. Advertisement The delay is said to stem from a combination of factors: many key officials are nearing the end of their terms, and the incoming Trump administration in the US is expected to support Big Tech lobbyists. This could push back on the EUs aggressive stance, making it harder for the EU to follow through on its regulatory actions. A few unnamed EU diplomats have even hinted that Big Techs influence could pressure the EU to soften its approach. EU regulators wait to see which way the wind blows According to insiders, the EU is now waiting for clearer political direction before making decisions on ongoing investigations. Some of the key players who went after Big Tech, are nearing the end of their terms, with some seeking re-election. Without a clear picture of things will turn out to be, cases against Apple, Google, and Meta will stay in limbo. However, the European Union has denied these claims, stating theres no delay due to political reasons. Despite this, some EU lawmakers, like MEP Stephanie Yon-Courtin, have urged regulators to continue moving forward with the DMA, warning that political considerations should not derail its enforcement. Yon-Courtin, a key figure in drafting the law, has called for reassurance that the DMA will be fully implemented without further delays. Apples ongoing scrutiny Apple has been one of the EUs most high-profile targets. In March 2024, the EU fined the company $2 billion for anti-competitive practices related to Apple Music. Despite its relatively small share of the streaming market, Apple felt the weight of the EUs regulatory hammer. Under EU pressure, Apple has made significant changes, like switching to USB-C charging for the iPhone, but rivals such as Epic Games have accused Apple of only following the rules in ways that still benefit its interests. By mid-2024, the EU was expected to fine Apple again over its failure to comply with the DMA. However, with political shifts and administrative changes on the horizon, this decision now seems to be on hold. The politics of regulation The EU has led the way in regulating Big Tech, but the delay in these rulings highlights how much of the process is shaped by politics. As the US prepares for potential political changes, Big Tech companies are positioning themselves to benefit from a friendlier regulatory environment. While the EU continues to push for tighter control over these tech giants, the politics behind the decisions are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Metas restructuring announcement is part of a larger restructuring effort at Meta, which began last year under what Zuckerberg called the Year of Efficiency." The company has been focusing on cutting costs, optimising teams, and improving profitability read more Metas recent policy changes have drawn criticism, especially around content moderation. The company has relaxed its rules on posts that criticise immigrants, transgender people, and other politically sensitive topics. Image Credit: Reuters Meta has announced plans to lay off about 5% of its workforce, focusing on employees who are deemed to be low performers. This decision is part of CEO Mark Zuckerbergs broader strategy to streamline the company and improve its overall performance, following a challenging year. In an internal memo, Zuckerberg explained that the company is tightening its performance management process to move out underperforming employees more swiftly. He stated, Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster." Advertisement The layoffs are part of a larger goal to achieve non-regrettable attrition, with Meta aiming to target roughly 10 per cent of employees in this category by the end of the current performance cycle. Employees who are let go will be provided with generous severance packages. Metas restructuring strategy This announcement is part of a larger restructuring effort at Meta, which began last year under what Zuckerberg called the Year of Efficiency. The company has been focusing on cutting costs, optimising teams, and improving profitability. Over the past year, Meta has already laid off thousands of employees as part of these efforts. While the layoffs are seen as necessary for streamlining the business, they come amid significant shifts in the companys policies, which have sparked considerable controversy both internally and externally. Controversial policy shifts and internal backlash Metas recent policy changes have drawn criticism, especially around content moderation. The company has relaxed its rules on posts that criticise immigrants, transgender people, and other politically sensitive topics. These changes were presented as a move toward free expression, but many employees have voiced concerns that the new approach could harm marginalized communities. Alongside these changes, Meta also ended its third-party fact-checking programme in the US, which has raised fears about the spread of misinformation on its platforms. Moreover, Meta has made cuts to its diversity efforts, scaling back internal training and hiring programmes aimed at improving workforce representation. This has sparked further backlash from both employees and external critics, who feel that Meta is backpedalling on its commitment to inclusivity. Despite these cost-cutting measures, Meta continues to pour resources into its metaverse project and its Twitter competitor, Threads. However, both initiatives have faced challenges while the metaverse has struggled with slow adoption and heavy financial losses, Threads has been unable to maintain user engagement after an initial burst of popularity. Employee morale goes for a toss With all these changes happening, employee morale at Meta is likely to be affected. Internal discussions have revealed frustration with the companys shifting priorities, with many employees feeling that the latest moves do not align with the companys original mission. Metas restructuring efforts, combined with these controversial policy shifts, have created a sense of uncertainty within the company. As Meta works to realign itself for the future, balancing its ambitions with the expectations of its workforce will be a key challenge. The companys next steps will likely shape its future trajectory, but how it navigates this period of transformation will determine the outcome for both its employees and its long-term success. For now, the ban will apply to passenger vehicles weighing under 10,001 pounds, but there are plans to extend it to include larger vehicles like buses and trucks down the line. The restrictions will be rolled out in two phases read more The ban is part of a wider strategy to strengthen US industries and reduce reliance on foreign technologies. On the same day, President Biden signed an executive order to fast-track the development of AI infrastructure within the country. Image Credit: Reuters The United States has just announced a major new rule banning Chinese and Russian technology from passenger vehicles sold in the country, with national security concerns at the forefront. This ban targets both software and hardware from these countries and is part of a broader effort to reduce Chinas influence in key industries like automotive tech. Its a significant step in the ongoing drive to keep foreign tech out of sensitive areas, including drones and other advanced technologies. Advertisement Protecting cars & American infra from foreign influence This move builds on President Joe Bidens push to tighten control over technologies linked to China and Russia. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pointed out that modern cars are packed with technology like cameras, microphones, GPS, and internet connectivity. While these features make driving easier and safer, they also open the door to spying or interference, especially if they rely on foreign-made tech. The goal here is simple: prevent Chinese and Russian technology from making its way into American cars to keep them safe from potential misuse. Two-phase rollout and the global impact For now, the ban will apply to passenger vehicles weighing under 10,001 pounds, but there are plans to extend it to include larger vehicles like buses and trucks down the line. The restrictions will be rolled out in two phases. First, theres the software ban, which will kick in starting with the 2027 model year. Then, by 2030, a hardware ban will take effect. The main focus will be on companies with strong ties to China or Russia, preventing them from selling cars that include foreign technology for things like internet connectivity or self-driving features. Plus, any imports of these technologies from China and Russia will be restricted. One company that could be impacted is BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle giant with a manufacturing facility in California that produces buses and other vehicles. Theres growing concern in the US that foreign-built tech in connected vehicles could lead to security risks, like the misuse of sensitive data or interference with vital vehicle systems. Shaping Americas future tech landscape This ban is part of a wider strategy to strengthen US industries and reduce reliance on foreign technologies. On the same day, President Biden signed an executive order to fast-track the development of AI infrastructure within the country. He made it clear that the US cant afford to fall behind in building the technologies that will shape the future, particularly in industries like artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. With Biden preparing to pass the baton to President-elect Donald Trump, its unclear how the incoming administration will handle these new policies. While many expect Trump to shake up government strategies, its likely that some of these national security measures will remain a central focus moving forward. The defendants were also found guilty of fraud, money laundering and looting. It is unclear if they will remain in the eastern city of Bukavu, where they are held, or if they will be transferred elsewhere read more Three Chinese citizens were sentenced Tuesday to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in fines for illegally exploiting mineral resources in Congo, according to court filings. The ruling marks the first time foreign mineral brokers have been convicted for unauthorized mineral exploitation in the DRC without authorization from Congolese authorities. The defendants were also found guilty of fraud, money laundering and looting. It is unclear if they will remain in the eastern city of Bukavu, where they are held, or if they will be transferred elsewhere. Advertisement They were arrested on Jan. 4 with 10 gold bars and $400,000 in cash. Lawyers for the defendants say they intend to appeal, claiming the judgment is unjustified. Our clients are not satisfied with the judgment," Arsene Mwaka, one of the defendants lawyers, told The Associated Press by telephone. However, the lawyers representing the victims hailed the verdict as educational, and said they hope the case will deter future illegal mining operations in the DRC. The courts ruling is an educational trial that should serve as a wake-up call to other foreigners who are operating in our chiefdom without any title, Christian Wanduma, a lawyer for the prosecution, told The Associated Press by telephone. The trial takes place against a backdrop of increasing efforts to combat illegal mineral trafficking in the DRC. In June, authorities identified 547 companies operating illegally in the South Kivu region. In July, the region suspended all mining activities in an effort to put an end to this practice, which has been documented to harm the environment and encroach on wildlife preserves. Many Chinese companies mine gold and other minerals in South Kivu, one of the eastern provinces of the DRC that have been plagued by violence from armed groups for nearly three decades. Attacks on quarries and mining cooperatives are frequent in the region as more than 120 armed groups compete for land and resources in eastern Congo. In 2022, a Congolese employee of a Chinese mining company in South Kivu was killed in a similar attack by armed robbers. Advertisement In 2021, the Congolese government suspended six Chinese mining companies in South Kivu for operating without proper authorization. The Congolese government has said it is also working to secure better terms on a $6.2 billion mining contract with China, which authorities say has not been profitable enough for the Central African nation since it was signed in 2008. The fight against illegal mineral trafficking is a major challenge for the DRC. It requires close collaboration between authorities, local communities and mining companies to ensure sustainable and fair exploitation of the countrys mineral resources, said environmental activist Elie Mulume. At least 78 dead bodies have been pulled from an illegal gold mine in South Africa where police cut off food and water supplies for months, in what trade unions called a horrific crackdown on desperate people trying to eke out a living read more Members of the South African police, patrol as they guard the mine shaft where rescue operations are ongoing as attempts are made to rescue illegal miners who have been underground for months in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Wednesday. Reuters At least 78 bodies have been pulled from an illegal gold mine in South Africa where police cut off food and water supplies for months, in what trade unions called a horrific crackdown on desperate people trying to eke out a living. Hundreds more people are feared trapped 2 km (1.5 miles) below the surface of the mine at Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, with rescuers scrambling to haul them out alive or dead in a court-ordered rescue operation that began on Monday. Advertisement A total of 216 survivors, some of them emaciated and disorientated, have been brought to the surface and immediately arrested for illegal mining and immigration. The South African Federation of Trade Unions accused the state on Tuesday of allowing the men to starve to death in the depths of the earth. These miners, many of them undocumented and desperate workers from Mozambique and other Southern African countries, were left to die in one of the most horrific displays of state wilful negligence in recent history, it said in a statement. Mametlwe Sebei, a trade union leader who has been trying to help the miners, said police had begun attempting to force the miners up to the surface in August by removing a pulley system used to deliver food and water supplies to them. Sebei said some miners had died crawling through flooded tunnels in an attempt to reach shafts that would have allowed them to climb out. Police said 1,576 miners had got out by their own means between August and the start of the rescue operation. All were arrested and 121 of them have already been deported, they said. Weve never blocked any shafts. Weve never blocked anyone from coming out, said Athlenda Mathe, national spokesperson for the South African police, speaking at the site on Wednesday. Our mandate was to combat criminality and that is exactly what weve been doing, she said. By providing food, water and necessities to these illegal miners it would be the police entertaining and allowing criminality to thrive. Advertisement The death toll makes the crackdown on the Stilfontein mine one of the deadliest on miners in recent South African history. Taking a chance Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa. Typically, undocumented miners known as zama zamas - from an isiZulu expression for taking a chance - move into mines abandoned by commercial miners and seek to extract whatever is left. Some are under the control of violent criminal gangs. Most of the miners at Stilfontein were from Mozambique, though some also came from Zimbabwe and Lesotho. Only 21 of them were South Africans, police said. As the death toll has mounted, so has criticism of the authorities, though the government has defended the siege as part of a necessary crackdown on illegal mining. Its a criminal activity. Its an attack on our economy by foreign nationals in the main, Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe said at the site on Tuesday. He has said illegal mining cost South Africa over $3 billion last year. Advertisement But the Democratic Alliance, the second-biggest party in the ruling coalition led by the African National Congress, said on Wednesday the crackdown at the mine had got badly out of hand and called for an independent inquiry. A court ruled in December that volunteers should be allowed to send essential supplies down to the miners, and a separate ruling last week ordered the state to launch the rescue. None of the rescued survivors were hospitalised and all were taken into police custody. If you come out and you are able to walk they take you straight to the cells, said Mzukisi Jam, a civil society activist, who has been at the site throughout the rescue operation. Advertisement Only two of the bodies have been identified and claimed by their families, said Mathe. Rescue efforts were in their third day on Wednesday, with a red cylindrical metal cage being lowered into the mine to extract survivors and corpses. The cage can hold about a dozen people or dead bodies at once. Mannas Fourie, CEO of a private rescue firm involved in the operation, told Johannesburgs Radio 702 that each round trip took up to 45 minutes. If you stand at the sides you can see the bodies being taken out of the cage and its incredibly distressing, said Jessica Lawrence of civil rights group Lawyers for Human Rights, who was at the scene. Advertisement China is leveraging the success of its C919 narrowbody jet as a springboard for further advancements. Applicants are wanted for a large aircraft research project where qualified projects could receive up to $355,000 read more China's first domestically manufactured passenger aircraft Comac C919 flies over Victoria Harbour during its inaugural voyage outside the mainland, in Hong Kong. Reuters As Boeing contends with production delays and quality concerns, China is seizing the opportunity to advance its ambitions in the large jet airliner market. With state-backed funding and strategic initiatives, China aims to establish itself as a formidable player in this part of the global aviation industry, which has so far been a duopoly. Boeings production struggles In 2024, Boeings commercial aircraft deliveries dropped to 348 units, a steep decline from 528 in 2023 and significantly lower than competitor Airbuss 766 deliveries. The downturn is largely attributed to increased regulatory scrutiny and operational disruptions. A seven-week machinists strike last year further hampered production, while a federal cap on 737 MAX output that followed a safety incident involving a door plug failure shortly after takeoff led to embarrassment and global scrutiny. Advertisement While these are causes of concern for Boeing grapples, they appear to have created a window of opportunity for China to bolster its aviation efforts. Chinas push into aviation China is leveraging the success of its C919 narrowbody jet, assembled by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), as a springboard for further advancements, South China Morning Post reported. The C919, positioned as a rival to Boeings 737, has already entered service with major Chinese carriers. However, the C919 still depends on Western suppliers for critical components such as engines and avionics. To address this dependency, Beijing is ramping up efforts to develop indigenous alternatives. Comac is also advancing designs for its first commercial twin-aisle airliner, the C929, with Air China confirmed as its launch operator. Plans for the larger C939 jumbo jet are underway, as the nation positions itself for broader market penetration, including international certifications and expanded sales. Funding fuels flight? Riding high on the buzz surrounding the C919, Beijing is accelerating its aircraft technology development through initiatives like a state capital fund established in June 2024. This fund is designed to fuel breakthroughs in large aircraft research, focusing on foundational and forward-looking technologies. Qualified projects could receive up to 2.6 million yuan (US$355,000) over four years. Applications will be accepted in March, with recipients to be announced thereafter. While the total size of the fund remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it amounts to several billion yuan. Challenges remain Despite its recent struggles, Boeing retains a significant share of the global market and continues to secure major deals. The aerospace giants backlog of orders, particularly for its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner models, only goes to show its resilience. Boeing has also publicly committed to addressing production challenges, pledging improved safety standards, operational efficiency, and faster deliveries to maintain customer confidence. Moreover, for Chinas C919, the road to establishing itself as a reliable competitor in the global market is far from assured. Building trust in the aircrafts safety, reliability, and performance may take years, especially as the model enters new markets outside China. Advertisement The jet also faces hurdles in obtaining certifications from Western regulators, which are essential for broader international sales. Geopolitical concerns add to the obstacles. The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China could impede efforts to access critical technologies. Chinas reliance on Western suppliers for components like engines and avionics remains a vulnerability given its rocky relations with these nations. With inputs from agencies Amid reports of a Melbourne man killed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, the Australian government on Wednesday summoned Russian ambassador and said if he will be harmed, it will take the strongest action possible read more Australia summoned the Russian ambassador over reports a Melbourne man had been killed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. The Australian government had asked Russian authorities to immediately confirm the status of Oscar Jenkins and remained gravely concerned over reports that he had been killed, Albanese said during a media conference. Well await the facts to come out. But if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, thats absolutely reprehensible and the Australian government will take the strongest action possible, Albanese said. Advertisement When asked by a reporter if Australia would expel the Russian ambassador or recall its envoy in Moscow, Albanese said his government would determine its response after verifying all reports. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had been maintaining a very difficult relationship for many years with Russia under different governments. We will look at the facts when they have been ascertained but I want to be clear all options are on the table, Wong told ABC Radio on Wednesday. She said the Russian ambassador was summoned by the foreign ministry earlier this week. Jenkins, a teacher from Melbourne, was serving alongside Ukraines military when he was captured by Russia last year as a prisoner of war, Australian media reported. A video taken at the time showed him, dressed in combat uniform, being asked if he was a mercenary, reports said. Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the Wests support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment. It has banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities. The verdict was delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed after reviewing 79-year-old Zias appeal against the High Courts ruling on Wednesday, the Dhaka Tribune reported. read more Bangladesh Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a corruption case, overturning the High Courts earlier 10-year prison sentence. The verdict was delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed after reviewing 79-year-old Zias appeal against the High Courts ruling on Wednesday, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The Supreme Court acquitted Zia, the partys Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, and all other suspects in their appeal over the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the report added. Advertisement The Appellate Division noted that the case was motivated by revenge. Zia was sentenced on February 8, 2018, by Dhakas Special Judge Court-5 to five years of imprisonment for alleged embezzlement of government funds in the name of the Zia Orphanage Trust. The same verdict handed down 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for five other accused, including Zias son Tarique and former chief secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui. Each of the accused was also fined Tk2.1 crore. Among the accused, Tarique, Siddiqui, and Ziaur Rahmans nephew Mominur Rahman have remained absconding. Zia appealed the trial courts verdict to the High Court, but the sentence was increased to 10 years by a High Court bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman on October 30, 2018. Zia subsequently filed a leave-to-appeal petition against this sentence. Following years of delays due to legal procedural issues and a lack of initiative from lawyers, the Appellate Division accepted Zias leave-to-appeal on November 11, 2024. The court also stayed the High Courts 10-year sentence pending the final hearing of the appeal. After concluding the hearing, the Appellate Division announced its decision to acquit Zia, officially clearing her of the charges in the case. Zia is ailing and travelled to London earlier this month for medical treatment. Zia served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from March 1991 to March 1996, and again from June 2001 to October 2006. Advertisement (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) Bangladeshs interim government-led by Muhammad Yunus faces mounting pressure from former Prime Minister Khaleda Zias BNP to conduct the parliamentary election by August 2025. The BNP says the longer the election is delayed, the deeper the political and economic crisis will become'. read more Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has stepped up pressure on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to hold the parliamentary election. The Yunus government, installed in August 2024 primarily to hold the parliamentary election, has been non-committal on a deadline for the democratic exercise. The BNP has demanded that the election must be held by August this year. Reports earlier suggested that the Yunus government is looking at a time-frame that may delay the parliamentary election until early 2026. Advertisement Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was chosen as the chief adviser to run the interim government after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government following a student agitation that erupted over a quota-in-jobs question but turned into a political campaign. Hasinas Awami League had won the last parliamentary election held in January 2024. The BNP said that there was no reason for Yunus to delay the democratic process any further now, considering that there was relative stability in governance. We have repeatedly said that there is no alternative to an elected government. This is the most important aspect of democracy. We believe the election is possible by mid-year, that is, by July-August this year, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Alamgirs remarks came a day before the Election Reform Commission was scheduled to submit its report to the Yunus government. The longer the elections are delayed, the deeper the political and economic crisis will become, he said. We call on the government, the Election Commission and all political parties to take measures to hold the election by mid-year in the greater interest of the country, said Alamgir, calling for political unanimity on the need to break the status quo. Pressure on Yunus in Bangladesh Yunus recently indicated that a poll could be scheduled by the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026, only after electoral reforms, but the timeline of July-August 2025 demanded by BNP is likely to put pressure on the interim government. A report by The Telegraph quoted multiple sources as saying that the divergence in timelines would make the political landscape in Bangladesh more volatile at a time when the key members of the Yunuss interim government including student leaders, who have been enjoying the support of radical Islamist parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam and Hizb-ut-Tahrir are in favour of delaying the election. Advertisement Why is BNP demanding elections by mid-2025? The report by The Telegraph quoted a source close to Alamgir as saying, They [members in Yunus government] want to cling on to power by any means and float a political outfit along with a broader alliance with the Islamist parties. They want to buy time as the student leaders do not have any support base as of now. Aware of this situation, the BNP strategists are pushing for early polls as they fear that a mood in favour of the Islamist ideals would draw supporters away from the party, The Telegraph report quoted a political observer in Dhaka as saying. They have begun preparing for the polls and thats evident with the BNP leaders attacking the government on bread and butter issues, something they didnt do earlier, the political observer said. BNP-Yunus govt relationship Since the ouster of former PM Hasina and the interim government coming to power, the BNP and the Yunus cabinet of interim members have been largely on the same page in discrediting the Hasina-led Awami League regime. Despite reports of targeted attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh under the Yunus government and the countrys economy struggling, the BNP and Yunus have furthered similar narratives blaming ousted Hasina for all the problems that the country faces. They have brushed aside allegations of misrule and mismanagement. Advertisement The differences started creeping in when the student leaders, with the backing from the Islamists, gave the call for discrediting the 1971 Liberation War and a new Constitution, burying the one drafted in 1972. The BNP and Yunus government were also not on the same page on banning the Awami League from taking part in polls, a demand from the student leaders. Students leaders have a plan-B The Telegraph report said that the student leaders, with hardliner Islamists as their mentors, are deferring the election as they are planning to pitch the July-August 2024 uprising against Hasina as the watershed moment, making it their political capital before the polls. With inputs from agencies New video clips analysed by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), a human rights group documenting alleged abuses, found evidence that Bangladeshi police deliberately targeted peaceful protesters during two previously undocumented incidents in Dhaka on August 5 read more Newly examined video footage has revealed that Bangladeshi police killed or injured at least 20 unarmed protesters during two previously undocumented incidents in Dhaka on August 5, 2024, during nationwide protests. These protests occurred as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country, marking the final days of her regime. As per a report in The Guardian, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), a human rights group documenting alleged abuses, analysed the footage, finding evidence that police deliberately targeted peaceful protesters. The findings add to mounting evidence of police brutality under Hasinas leadership. More than 1,000 civilians were killed in violent crackdowns on protests, eventually leading to Hasinas downfall. Advertisement Extraordinary, chilling, grotesque Callum Macrae, the filmmaker who analysed the videos, described the footage to The Guardian as extraordinary, chilling and grotesque. He said that the police were not under any threat, and there was no legal justification for using lethal force against unarmed protesters. It is quite clear from the footage that the police were under no threat and did not believe they were under any threat. They had absolutely no justification in law for using lethal violence against any of the protesters, Macrae said. Shocking brutality Yasmin Sooka, the executive director of the ITJP and a former member of South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission, condemned the polices use of live ammunition against the unarmed protesters. Considering that the protesters were unarmed and that there were a number of civilians besides the students, it is absolutely shocking that the police used live ammunition against the students and the protesters. Its horrific when you see the brutality of the violence, she said. Sooka also responded to the resignation of Tulip Siddiq, Hasinas niece, from her role in the British government. Although an investigation cleared Siddiq of ministerial misconduct, Sooka criticised Siddiq for not distancing herself from the violence carried out by her aunts regime. At no time have I ever heard any statement from her distancing herself from her aunt, or indicating any kind of remorse or sorrow for the atrocities committed in Bangladesh by her aunts regime against protesters and civilians, Sooka stated. A wave of police brutality Over 15 years of power, Hasinas regime was widely accused of corruption, tyranny, and widespread human rights abuses. As protests erupted across the country in July 2024, Hasina responded with a brutal crackdown, unleashing police violence on peaceful protesters. Officers used batons, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and hundreds of injuries, with some victims permanently blinded. An Amnesty International investigation confirmed the unlawful use of deadly force by police. By August 5, protests had escalated into an all-out revolution. As hundreds of thousands marched toward Hasinas residence, the army refused to fire on civilians. Amid this, Hasina fled the country by helicopter. Two deadly incidents As part of the ITJP investigation, Macrae and his team analysed two separate incidents on August 5. The first occurred at around 2 pm (local time) outside Jatrabari police station in Dhakas southern district. Smartphone footage shows dozens of students outside the station, where police responded by firing shotguns loaded with lethal lead pellets at the crowd. Weapons experts who reviewed the footage confirmed the use of 12-gauge pump-action shotguns. Despite the appearance of armed forces arriving to disperse the police, separate footage shows an officer throwing a grenade into the crowd before police surged forward and opened fire again. As protesters fled, officers chased them, continuing to shoot at those attempting to escape. At least 19 people were killed or injured, according to the analysis of the footage. Advertisement The second incident involved a 20-year-old man, Mohammed Riddoy, who was captured by police during the protests. In the footage, Riddoy is shot in the back at point-blank range. After he falls to the ground, three officers return to drag his body, possibly still alive, past a nearby hospital and towards the police station. Riddoy has not been seen since. His family, unable to recover his body, has pleaded for answers. Riddoys sister, Jasmine Akhter, said, I want him to be recognised as a martyr. We are a very poor family and I hope the government will take care of my parents. Advertisement Ongoing investigation & accountability Baharul Alam, the inspector general of the Bangladeshi police, told The Guardian that investigations are ongoing into the role of police officers in the deaths of demonstrators. At least 30 officers have been arrested, and the police are cooperating with international judicial organisations. Regarding the incident involving Riddoy, Alam confirmed the veracity of the footage and stated that two officers had been arrested for his killing. In a related ITJP report, it was revealed that on July 19 alone, at least 148 people were killedthree times more than initially reported. Of those killed, 40 were under 18 years old. The findings suggest that the death toll from the violence may be far higher than originally estimated. Since Hasinas downfall, she, her ministers, and senior police officials have been named in multiple cases, including crimes against humanity, mass murder, and corruption. An arrest warrant for Hasina has been issued, though she remains in exile in India, denying the allegations against her. Close to 50,000 international students who received study permits for Canada were reported as no-shows at their designated colleges and universities, with Indian nationals making up the largest group at 19,582, according to a report, citing government figures for two months last spring read more Close to 50,000 international students who received study permits for Canada were reported as no-shows at their designated colleges and universities, with Indian nationals making up the largest group at 19,582, according to a report, citing government figures for two months last spring. According to The Globe and Mail report, citing government data, the non-compliant students made up 6.9 per cent of the total number of international students recorded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Advertisement Under the International Student Compliance Regime, implemented in 2014, educational institutions are required to report twice a year on student attendance and compliance with study permits. The International Student Compliance Regime was designed to help spot bogus students and assist provinces in identifying questionable schools. In March and April 2024, colleges and universities reported on students from 144 countries to the IRCC, revealing significant non-compliance rates among international students. The top 10 countries with the highest no-show rates included the Philippines at 2.2% (688 no-shows), China at 6.4% (4,279 no-shows), Iran at 11.6% (1,848 no-shows), and Rwanda at 48.1% (802 no-shows), reported The Globe and Mail. Henry Lotin, a former federal economist and founder of Integrative Trade and Economics, told the The Globe and Mail that requiring international students to pay fees upfront could reduce system abuse. Notably, nearly 20,000 Indian students 5.4% of the total tracked by the IRCC were classified as non-compliant with their visas. Indian law enforcement is currently investigating potential links between various Canadian colleges and two entities in India suspected of facilitating illegal border crossings into the US. Instead of attending classes, these students allegedly crossed into the United States unlawfully. Advertisement The RCMP said it has reached out to India through its International Policing Liaison Officers to gather further information on ongoing investigations. Lotin said that most Indian students who were reported as no-shows likely remained in Canada, working and seeking to settle there. He highlighted a record rise in international students claiming asylum in Canada last year, adding that only a very small subset may have crossed into the US. He emphasised that most students aspire to work and become permanent residents of Canada. According to The Globe and Mail report, Immigration Minister Marc Miller in November tightened regulations for international students to address abuse of the system. Colleges and universities that do not submit compliance reports may face suspensions from accepting international students for up to a year. Advertisement The IRCC also performs additional checks on students who seem to be non-compliant with the conditions of their study permits, which are granted to those accepted at Canadian colleges or universities. Canada has seen an increase in exploitation of its temporary resident visas, including students. What was once a low-risk temporary resident programme is now being assessed as higher-risk given changes to the global migration context, including the growing number of conflicts and crises, increased abuse and fraud, and increased organized smuggling, The Globe and Mail quoted Renee LeBlanc Proctor, spokesperson for Mr. Miller, as saying Canada is also aware of the reports of individuals crossing irregularly into the US from Canada, often with the help of facilitation or smuggling networks, Proctor added. Advertisement In total, 49,676 international students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities apparently failed to adhere to the terms of their visas and turn up to study, according to the report, citing IRCC figures. In addition, colleges and universities failed to report on the status of a further 23,514 international students representing 3.3 per cent in the IRCC records. In broad terms this shows that at least 10 per cent of student visa holders are unaccounted for, Lotin was quoted as saying. For the first time, we have definitive data. There are still questions about where all student visa holders are, added Lotin. Advertisement Lotin highlighted a discrepancy between how Statistics Canada and the immigration department track international student numbers. Statistics Canada, which has its own methodology of counting population, indicates there were over one million valid student holders in April. But the IRCC data that looks at enrolment has a significantly smaller number of international students. This is a gap that suggests that an even larger number of students are not accounted for than the compliance data suggests, Lotin was quoted as saying. There is an urgent need for better and more transparent data, he added. Conservative immigration critic Tom Kmiec accused the government of mismanaging the immigration system. Winnipeg immigration lawyer David Matas said the abuse of study permits is often perpetrated by foreign agents or consultants rather than the student applicants themselves. One change, which would stand against this sort of fraud, is to allow applicants to use the services of only Canadian lawyers and consultants, both of whom are regulated," he was quoted as saying. With inputs from agencies China and Sri Lanka agreed on more investment and economic cooperation on Wednesday as Chinas President Xi Jinping met recently-elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Beijing read more Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake shake hands during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on Wednesday. Reuters File China and Sri Lanka agreed on more investment and economic cooperation on Wednesday as Chinas President Xi Jinping met recently-elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Beijing. The countries signed 15 cooperation documents, including agreements on economic and technological development and aligning Chinas Belt and Road Initiative with Sri Lankas 2030 digital economy blueprint. Specifics of the deals were not disclosed at the signing ceremony. Dissanayakes visit to his countrys largest bilateral lender comes after first travelling to regional rival India. Advertisement Dissanayake won a big majority in Septembers election, pledging to tweak the terms of an International Monetary Fund rescue package, and on his leftist coalitions plans to fight poverty and graft. Sri Lanka had been moving closer to China under the previous Rajapaksa government, leaning heavily on Chinese lending to build highways, a port, an airport and a coal power plant as part of Xis flagship cross-continent Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Colombo secured a preliminary $10 billion bilateral debt deal rework with key lenders including China, Japan and India last June and a $12.5 billion bondholder deal in December. However, it needs direct agreements with China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank to lock in the deal to continue demonstrating progress to the IMF in restructuring its foreign debt to secure further disbursements from a $2.9 billion IMF bailout programme. I am willing to work with you, Mr President, to chart a new vision for the development of bilateral relations and promote new and greater achievements in China-Sri Lankas friendship and cooperation, Xi told Dissanayake on Wednesday, speaking at the Great Hall of the People. Welcoming more Chinese investment, Dissanayake told his host: China has supported important and valuable infrastructure development in Sri Lanka via the Belt and Road Initiative and China has been and remains a key development partner. Advertisement But during his visit to Delhi in December, Dissanayake struck a wide range of energy and security cooperation agreements with the other regional superpower, signalling his new government wants to become less reliant on Beijing. Sri Lankas economy has begun a tentative recovery, but the high cost of living is still a critical issue for many, especially the poor. China, the worlds second-largest economy, could give an economic helping hand by buying more Sri Lankan goods, of which it mostly buys tea, clothing, chemicals and other commodities, according to UN COMTRADE data, and through encouraging more Chinese tourists to consider holidaying there. It is necessary to strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two sides and enhance new ties between the two peoples, Xi told Dissanayake, according to the Chinese state broadcaster. Advertisement As Sri Lankan President Dissanayake meets Xi Jinping in Beijing, a look at Chinas economic grip on Sri Lankas economic sovereignty, and the goodwill that India has shown towards its southern neighbour during financial hardship and political turmoil read more When Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets his host, Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, he may be captivated by the charm of Chinese hospitality. Yet, behind the warm smiles and firm handshakes, he is likely to remain mindful of the immense challenges his country has endured. Beneath the surface of cordiality lies a complex equation that Sri Lanka might find daunting to confront. Advertisement Over the last 20 years, China has made significant investments in Sri Lanka as part, much of it coming under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While these investments have been large and ambitious, they have raised global concerns about what is often termed debt-trap diplomacy. The Hambantota Port deal is the most well-known example, where Sri Lanka leased this strategically vital facility to a Chinese company for 99 years. This agreement highlights the risks tied to such investments. Amid the growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka, India has emerged as a strong counterbalance. India has used its historical connections, economic aid and strategic initiatives to maintain a significant role in the region. This contrasting position of China with its aggressive economic tactics against Indias culturally rooted, strategic approach carries critical implications for Sri Lankas sovereignty and the stability of the broader region. Mechanics of Chinas debt diplomacy Chinas involvement in Sri Lankas economy began with grand promises of boosting infrastructure. Projects like the Hambantota Port, Colombo Port City and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport were introduced as transformative initiatives. However, these projects, funded mostly through high-interest loans, soon exposed their hidden challenges. For example, the Hambantota Port struggled to generate enough revenue to repay the debt, putting Sri Lanka under financial strain. As a result, the port was leased to China Merchant Port Holdings in 2017, giving Chinese control over an important maritime hub. The Colombo Port City project also highlights Chinas strategic goals. Built on reclaimed land, this financial district has raised concerns about environmental damage and the long-term consequences of allowing Chinese firms to manage reclaimed areas. Advertisement Similarly, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, often called the worlds emptiest airport, shows the risks of investing in projects with little economic viability. These initiatives have added to Sri Lankas debt, with China holding around 10-15 per cent of the countrys external debt. These investments serve Chinas strategic interests more rather than meeting Sri Lankas developmental needs. Human cost of unsustainable debt The financial impact of Chinas debt diplomacy goes beyond just numbers and economic data. Sri Lankas 2022 economic crisis, worsened by unmanageable debt, caused severe shortages of essential goods, mass protests and political turmoil. The government struggled to access foreign currency reserves to pay off debts and import necessary items leaving the economy in ruins. Chinas reluctance to restructure its loans during this time revealed the dangers of relying on unclear financial agreements. Advertisement For ordinary people in Sri Lanka, this meant soaring prices, a lack of fuel and medicine and growing frustration across the country. Indias as a reliable partner During Sri Lankas economic crisis, India stepped up as a key ally. In 2022, India provided swift financial aid with a $4 billion assistance package. This support included lines of credit to help Sri Lanka import essential items like food, medicine and fuel. Unlike Chinas high-interest loans linked to large infrastructure projects, Indias aid focused on immediate relief directly addressing the urgent needs of the Sri Lankan people. Indias support went beyond just financial help. Understanding the need for international cooperation, India played an active role in Sri Lankas negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It supported debt restructuring and urged other creditors, including China, to join efforts to reduce Sri Lankas financial burden. Advertisement Through these actions, India not only demonstrated its commitment to helping its neighbour but also reinforced its image as a responsible and dependable regional partner. Strategic investments for long-term gains Indias involvement in Sri Lanka goes beyond just crisis management. Over the years, New Delhi has invested in development projects that aim to support long-term growth. For example, the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm project, a joint venture between the two countries, aims to improve Sri Lankas energy security while strengthening their cooperation. India has also focussed on renewable energy projects in northern Sri Lanka, offering an alternative to Chinas focus on coal-based energy. Another key area of partnership is the Colombo West Container Terminal, where India is working with Japan to develop an important port facility. This project provides an alternative to Chinas control of the Colombo Port City. India also supports grassroots projects in areas like fisheries and agriculture focussing on people-centred development. Advertisement Balancing competing influences Sri Lankas location makes it important to balance its relationships with both India and China. Chinas financial support and focus on big infrastructure projects have made it a strong partner, but the risk of too much debt has led Sri Lanka to look for other options. Indias focus on sustainability and respecting Sri Lankas independence provides a different approach. As Sri Lanka rebuilds its economy, how it handles its ties with India and China will determine its role in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Both India and China see Sri Lanka as important ally for the future of the region. China and Sri Lanka started diplomatic relations in 1957, but Indias influence in Sri Lanka is based on a long history and shared culture. The connection through Buddhism, which started in India and is an important part of Sri Lankan identity, has been a key part of their relationship. In addition to cultural ties, India has built stronger connections through people-to-people relationships. Ahead of an expected trust vote, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has opened negotiations regarding a pension reforms to reach an understanding with left-wing lawmakers read more French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou delivers his general policy speech at the National Assembly in Paris, France, on Tuesday. Reuters French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Tuesday opened the door to renegotiating a disputed pension reform in a bid to win over left-wing lawmakers he needs to pass the 2025 budget. Bayrous concession underlined the scale of Frances political turmoil as he prepared to spend his first weeks in office reworking the hard-won 2023 pension reform under pressure from the left, which threatens to topple his government otherwise. He made the gesture during a speech to parliament after a tumultuous 2024 in which President Emmanuel Macron shocked the nation by calling early elections, only to lose his working majority in parliament just as public finances went off track. Advertisement Bayrou, a long-time debt hawk, said responsibility for Frances worsening public finances was shared by many previous governments. But he warned that Frances growing debt pile was a sword of Damocles hanging over future generations heads. Anyone asking for additional spending has taken part in this fatal tango that has taken us to the edge of the precipice, the veteran centrist told the National Assembly of the euro zones second largest economy. France is under pressure from ratings agencies and financial investors, which have demanded higher premiums to hold French debt since Macrons decision to call snap elections. Raising the pension age, considered by many economists an essential move to adapt French public finances to a rapidly ageing society, has been the flagship economic reform of Macrons second term, and passed despite major street protests. Concession Bayrou, who delivered his message to lawmakers in a keynote policy speech setting out his governing principles, proposed to entrust trade unions and employers groups with a three-month mission to find a new deal on pension reform. He said the minimum age of 64 to draw a full pension, the most contested part of the 2023 reform, should not be a taboo. The new conclave exploring a new pension pact will have to propose a deal that is financially balanced. If it cant be balanced, the current deal would remain in place, he said. Advertisement Bayrous minority government, formed last month after the collapse of his predecessors administration, is trying to secure assurances from some opposition parties - the Socialists in particular - that they will not vote against its 2025 budget, or seek to derail his fragile administration. The Socialists, who voted down the previous budget proposals in December in conjunction with far-right lawmakers, precipitating the fall of Michel Barniers government, have made concessions on the 2023 pension reform a condition for support. The reform, widely rejected by the left, gradually raises the minimum age for drawing a full pension to 64 from 62 in order to save the cash-strapped treasury 17 billion euros ($17.44 billion) a year. Advertisement Philippe Brun, a Socialist lawmaker, said after the speech that his party would discuss in a meeting later whether or not to vote in favour of a motion of no-confidence tabled for later this week. Two sources from the far-right National Rally (RN) party, which spearheaded efforts to bring down Barniers government, said the party would reject a no-confidence motion. However, Green party spokesman Benjamin Lucas said it was highly likely it would vote against the government. High stakes The stakes are high for Bayrou, who risks a fate similar to Barnier, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote after just three months in office. Bayrou had earlier assured fellow centrist and centre-right lawmakers, alarmed by Frances deteriorating public finances, that he was ruling out repealing or suspending the reform, according to a source in Macrons camp. Advertisement Ultimately, Bayrou faces few good choices. If he makes concessions to the left to avoid being at the mercy of Marine Le Pens far right, he might anger conservative and centrist lawmakers who fear the economic cost of any pensions compromise. Francois Bayrou mustnt lose on his right what he gains on his left, William Thay, head of French political think-tank Le Millenaire, told Reuters. The German defence ministry is the latest of a host of public institutions to have quit X, formerly known as Twitter, since US President-elect Donald Trumps November election victory which gave a further push to Musks power and popularity read more 'X' logo is seen on the top of the headquarters of the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in downtown San Francisco, California, US, July 30, 2023. File Image: Reuters Germanys defence ministry on Wednesday announced that it will stop posting on X as it accused the microblogging app of spreading disinformation under Elon Musks ownership. The ministry said it will no longer post proactively on the channel for the foreseeable future, justifying the move by saying that the fact-based exchange of arguments is becoming increasingly difficult on the platform. The German defence ministry is the latest of a host of public institutions to have quit X, formerly known as Twitter, since US President-elect Donald Trumps November election victory which gave a further push to Musks power and popularity. Advertisement The ministry, however, said that it reserved the right to react on X in exceptional cases, such as to react to disinformation. It said it would in the future use a channel on WhatsApp, owned by rival US tech company Meta, to proactively share information. German universities ditch X Last week, a group of more than 60 German universities said they were turning their backs on the site. Its current direction is not compatible with the basic values of the institutions concerned openness to the world, scientific integrity, transparency and democratic discourse, they said. A spokesperson for the University of Munster said that the institution was employing X as a useful tool to engage in discourse and discussions but of late the situation has changed. We wereincreasingly concerned and disturbed by how the [platform] as a whole has developed. Openness, scientific integrity, transparency and a democratic culture of debate: these are the values that are important to us as a university but which have increasingly taken a back seat on X, the spokesperson said. The conditions for this (free discourse) are no longer met on X. In recent months, the way the social media platform works and functions has changed dramatically: the algorithm intervenes extensively in the distribution of information, steers discussions and prevents a free exchange, said a University of Potsdam spokesperson. Musk grows close to German far-right party Musk recently caused uproar after backing the AfD in an opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag, leading to the resignation of the papers opinion editor, Eva Marie Kogel, in protest. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country, Musk wrote in his translated commentary. The Tesla Motors CEO also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the countrys condition. With inputs from agencies Under current regulations, soldiers can assist the police in forcing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to change direction or land, threaten to shoot it down or fire warning shots read more The German cabinet has agreed plans to allow the army to shoot down suspicious drones after several sightings over military sites, the government said Wednesday, as tensions run high with Russia. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that especially since (Russian President Vladimir) Putins war of aggression against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently, which poses an increasing challenge for the police and their current technology. The ministry said that security services have noted that reports of sightings of uncooperative drones over critical infrastructure and military properties in Germany are increasing. Espionage or sabotage are regularly considered as a possible reason, it added in a statement. Advertisement Under current regulations, soldiers can assist the police in forcing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to change direction or land, threaten to shoot it down or fire warning shots. But under the new proposals, a drone could be shot down by the army if it is believed the device is being used against the lives of people or against a critical facility, and the use of armed force is the only means of averting this present danger, the ministry said. Unidentified drones have been spotted flying over several military bases and other sensitive sites in Germany in recent months, at a time when the country is on high alert for Russian espionage. Police in the southern state of Bavaria this week said they were looking into several incidents in which drones had flown over military installations in Manching and Neuburg an der Donau. The Manching site hosts a military aerodrome and is where the Eurofighter jet is developed by Airbus. Several drones have also recently been spotted at an industrial zone near the North Sea and near the US airbase in Ramstein. Advertisement The changes must still be voted through in the lower and upper houses of parliament before becoming law. Highlighting the reality that the defeat of Hamas cannot be achieved simply by winning on the battlefield and instead requires a political solution, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Hamas has replaced nearly all terrorists killed by Israel in the Gaza Strip with new recruits read more US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Hamas has replaced all terrorists killed by Israel with new recruits. Blinken said that Hamas cannot be defeated just on the battlefield and a political solution is required to properly beat Hamas in Gaza. Blinkens remarks come at a time when Israel and Hamas are said to be on the brink of a deal for ceasefire in Gaza and release of hostages held by terrorists. While officials have not given a timeline, the deal is said to be signed by the end of the week before Donald Trump takes over as the President of the United States on January 20. The deal comes after more than a year of indirect talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar and facilitated by the United States. Advertisement In a speech at Atlantic Council in Washington DC, Blinken also highlighted the importance of working out a plan for the post-war governance of Gaza. Blinkens speech comes in the last week of the Joe Biden administration. While Blinken and President Biden have called for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to be in charge of the post-war Gaza, whether President-elect Donald Trump takes a similar stand remains to be seen. Hamas regroups & reemerges each time Israel withdraws Blinken said that Hamas has regrouped and reemerged in parts of Gaza every time Israel has withdrawn as there is no mechanism to either police the areas or govern them. He said that the void ensures Hamas keeps replenishing its ranks. The situation is such that Hamas has replaced all terrorists killed by Israel with new recruits, said Blinken. Each time Israel completes its military operations and pulls back, Hamas militants regroup and reemerge because theres nothing else to fill the void. Indeed, we assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new militants as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war, said Blinken. Highlighting the reality that the defeat of Hamas cannot be achieved simply by winning on the battlefield and instead requires a political solution, Blinken said that a clear alternative, a post-conflict plan and a credible political horizon for the Palestinians is a must for peace to last for both Israelis and Palestinians. Blinken said, We have long made the point to the Israeli government that Hamas cannot be defeated by a military campaign alone that without a clear alternative, a post-conflict plan and a credible political horizon for the Palestinians, Hamas, or something just as abhorrent and dangerous, will grow back. Thats exactly whats happened in northern Gaza since October 7th. Advertisement The remarks about Hamas replenishing its ranks is in line with reports that Hamas has been rebuilding itself at several places in Gaza. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, has become the de facto leader of the terrorist group in Gaza and is rebuilding the group as an insurgent force. The newspaper reported Israeli officials as saying that around 17,000 of 30,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed in the war and thousands have been arrested. Blinken went on to say that Hamas has weaponised the suffering of the Palestinians and its usage of civilians as human shields. Advertisement Israel faces uniquely challenging circumstances in Gaza: a civilian population trapped there with Hamas hiding in and under homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques. Indeed, Hamas has cynically weaponized the suffering of Palestinians. In a message that Yahya Sinwar Hamas military leader at the time sent to mediators, he called the death of Palestinian civilians, and I quote, necessary sacrifices, and said the more innocent Palestinians were killed, the more Hamas would benefit, said Blinken. Blinken outlines post-war plan for Gaza Even though the question of post-war governance of Gaza would be addressed by the incoming Trump administration, Blinken outlined the stand of the Biden administration on the issue. He said that Hamas must not be part of post-war governance of Gaza. Blinken went on to say that a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) supported by the international community and the United Nations (UN) should run Gaza after the war. He also said that Gaza and West Bank must be united under the rule of PA. Advertisement The PA is the de facto government of the Palestinians that partially runs West Bank. It is based in West Banks Ramallah. It was formed as a result of Oslo Accords (1993). Even though the PA is internationally-recognised administration of Palestinians, Gaza has been controlled and governed by Hamas since 2007. Outlining the core elements of the Biden administrations vision for post-war Gaza, Blinken said that the PA should invite international partners to establish and run an interim administration in Gaza that runs key civil sectors like banking, water, energy, health, etc. in coordination with Israel. For the policing of Gaza, vetted Palestinian personnel and personnel of states participating in the process should be employed, said Blinken. Advertisement An interim security mission would be made up of members of partner nation security forces and vetted Palestinian personnel. Its responsibilities would include creating a secure environment for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and ensuring border security, which is crucial to preventing smuggling that could allow Hamas to rebuild its military capacity. We would stand up a new initiative to train, to equip, to vet a PA-led security force for Gaza to focus on law and order and gradually take over for the interim security mission, said Blinken. Even as PA stands as the only internationally-recognised Palestinian administration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees the organisation with contempt and has often equated it with Hamas. He has spent years weakening the PA and has indicated at disapproval of its role in the governance of post-war Gaza. Moreover, the PA remains deeply corrupt and unpopular even among Palestinians. PA President Mahmoud Abbas has ruled without elections since 2004. Blinken addressed at the many issues facing the PA, including the issue of PA providing stipend to Palestinian prisoners and terrorists. He said that the PA has repeatedly failed to undertake long-overdue reforms, like reining in corruption and a bloated bureaucracy, further eroding its support among Palestinians. Blinken said that the PA will need to carry out swift, far-reaching reform to build more transparent, accountable governance continuing a process that it began last year. The PA and the countries in the region would need to acknowledge the legitimate threat of terrorism, including from Palestinian groups like Hamas, and Israel would need to acknowledge the reality they have to live with Palestinians in the same region, said Blinken. All must embrace a time-bound, conditions-based path toward forming an independent Palestinian state. These principles are mutually reinforcing. Time-bound because no one will believe or accept an endless process. Palestinians need and deserve a clear and near horizon for political self-determination. Conditions-based because while Palestinians have a right to self-determination, with that right comes responsibility. No one should expect Israel to accept a Palestinian state that is led by Hamas or other extremists; thats militarised or has independent armed militia; that aligns with Iran or others who reject Israels right to exist; that educates and preaches rejectionism; or that, unreformed, becomes a failed state, said Blinken. Israeli media channels had reported that, following the green light from Hamas, the deal would be formally announced on Thursday and would come into effect on Sunday. Benjamin Netanyahus office has denied such reports read more Protesters at an Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration in Dublin on November 17, 2012. File Image: AFP Hamas has not yet given a written response to acknowledge that they have agreed to the Gaza ceasefire deal, an official from the group told Reuters on Wednesday as mediators push for a settlement. Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office denied that Hamas had agreed to the Gaza ceasefire proposal from Qatari mediators. Israeli media channels had reported that, following the green light from Hamas, the deal would be formally announced on Thursday and would come into effect on Sunday with the release of the first of the hostages. Advertisement Contrary to reports, the Hamas terror organisation has not yet returned its response to the deal, the prime ministers office said. The renewed talks between Israel and Hamas in the presence of mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US are a sign that the negotiations are making real progress after months of impasse and continued Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip. Qatars foreign ministry has expressed optimism saying that negotiations were in their final stages. On Wednesday, two Palestinian sources close to the talks told AFP that Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad had approved the draft agreement. The resistance factions reached an agreement among themselves and informed the mediators of their approval of the (prisoner-hostage) exchange deal and ceasefire, one source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went into a meeting with top security officials late Tuesday to discuss the deal, his office said, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ball is now in Hamass court. If Hamas accepts, the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented, he said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said during a visit to Rome that there was a true willingness from our side to reach an agreement. While the two warring parties have been handed over the final drafts of the Gaza truce deal, protestors have been taking to the streets in opposition to the agreement. Advertisement Moderate Israelis and families of hostages have welcomed the developments and have taken to the streets in support of the deal and on the other hand the extremists on the far right are protesting. With inputs from agencies Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Indias inclusion in Afghan Quad, comprising Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran, would be the right step read more Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for Indias inclusion in the Afghan Quad. The grouping, formally called the Quadripartite Group on Afghanistan, comprises Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran. The group is focussed at jointly addressing the security, economic, and political questions related to Afghanistan and its Taliban regime. Speaking in response to a question at a press conferences, Lavrov on Tuesday said that Indias inclusion would not just be beneficial for addressing the challenges in Afghanistan but for providing another platform for India to deal with Pakistan and China. He said that Indias membership of Afghan Quad would be a right step. Advertisement While China has emerged as the greatest security threat to India in recent years, Pakistan has been a traditional adversary with whom India has fought full-fledged wars. The India-Pakistan relations are essentially frozen over Pakistans support to the secessionist movement in Kashmir and its support anti-India terrorism. Lavrov said, I would like to note that all these organisational measures are important, but it is more important to strengthen trust within the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], within the format that is currently working on Afghanistan. We are confident that the inclusion of India would be the right step. The SCO and the formats on Afghan affairs, for example, the Moscow format on Afghanistan, are an additional platform where Pakistan, India, and China can have the opportunity to communicate more, try to understand each other better, ask questions that worry them, receive and analyze answers. We are ready to help this in every possible way. This is in the interests of your countries, our region, and the SCO. Lavrov went on to say that terrorism affects the entire region, including Pakistan, and needs a collective response from all countries in the region. He suggested that SCO members can mount the required response to terrorism. Lavrov said, There is mutual interest in practical cooperation in combating terrorism. Pakistan suffers from this too. The fight against terrorism requires joining efforts with your Afghan neighbors, with India, with all SCO members, because Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan are used by bad people to plan and implement their criminal plans. Advertisement Lavrov pitched the SCO as the single center to combat new threats from terrorism and also address the question of terror financing. The SCO has an anti-terrorist structure. It works well. There is an exchange of information. Considering that the financing of terrorism is seriously tied to drug trafficking (a form of organized crime), we have been promoting the initiative for several years to create a single center to combat new threats, including terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, and human trafficking. This year we will begin to implement this decision, said Lavrov. The Afghan Quad comprising Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan last held a meeting in September 2024 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Advertisement While India has not recognised the Taliban regime, India has been engaging frequently with the regime. Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Talibans Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. The meeting was the highest level of engagement between the two sides. In their joint statement in Sept. 2024, the Afghan Quad member-states tacitly acknowledged Taliban and indirectly took a swipe at the West. They said that should serve as a platform for international cooperation rather than geopolitical competition and acknowledged the efforts of Afghanistans de facto authorities to combat ISIL-Khorasan. Even as the international community has bene outraged at the Talibans treatment of girls and women, whom the militant group has driven out of public spaces and nearly all employment opportunities, the Afghan Quad made little mention of them. Instead, the group focussed primarily on security concerns. Advertisement They called on de facto authorities to take visible and verifiable actions in fulfilling the international obligations and commitments made by Afghanistan to fight terrorism, dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups equally and non-discriminatory and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbors, the region, and beyond, said the joint statement. Relegating the human rights concerns to one brief sentences, the joint statement said that the member-states stressed that women and girls access to education, and economic opportunities, including access to work, participation in public life, freedom of movement, justice and basic services, will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the country. Advertisement The nurse, named at Manchester Magistrates Court as Achamma Cherian, was attacked on Saturday night following which 37-year-old Rumon Haque was arrested read more An Indian-origin nurse is battling life-changing injuries" after she was stabbed with a pair of scissors while on a night shift at the Royal Oldham Hospitals Acute Medical Unit in Greater Manchester, north-west England. The nurse, named at Manchester Magistrates Court as Achamma Cherian, was attacked on Saturday night following which 37-year-old Rumon Haque was arrested. The Greater Manchester Police said Haque was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article on Tuesday, when he was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court next month. Advertisement The victim, a woman in her 50s, suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital for treatment. Her injuries are believed to be life changing, a police statement said. Our thoughts are with the nurse as she continues to receive treatment in hospital for her injuries, and our priority remains supporting her, her family, and her colleagues at this difficult time. We continue to work closely with our NHS (National Health Service) colleagues to support anyone who has been affected by this incident, said Detective Superintendent Matt Walker from the Oldham district of Greater Manchester Police. Earlier the police force said the nurse suffered serious injuries when a member of the public attacked her and that they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. This is a serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition, said Detective Sergeant Craig Roters in the immediate aftermath over the weekend. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting took to social media to express his shock: My thoughts are with the nurse and her loved ones following this horrific attack at the Royal Oldham Hospital. Advertisement Nurses are the backbone of our NHS and should be able to care for patients without fear of violence. Were in touch with the Trust and will update further as we can. Heather Caudle, the Chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital, said they were incredibly shocked and saddened by the incident. Our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family. Our thoughts are also with colleagues and patients who were there at the time of the incident and for whom this has been distressing and frightening. We will continue to support Greater Manchester Police with their inquiries, she said, adding that services at the Royal Oldham Hospital remain open. Advertisement The deal, brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators with US backing, comes just days before the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who had pressed for swift action read more Hamas and Israel have agreed to hostage exchange and ceasefire. Reuters Israel and Hamas on Wednesday (January 15) have agreed to a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal, potentially bringing an end to a devastating 15-month war that has destabilised the West Asia. The deal, brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators with US backing, comes just days before the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. In a press conference in Doha, Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, confirmed that the ceasefire agreement will enter into effect on Sunday (January 19). Advertisement He said that the first phase of the deal will last 42 days. It will involve Israeli forces positioned along the Gaza border. For its part, Hamas is set to release 33 Israeli hostages. The agreement has provisions for the return of displaced people to their homes, facilitating travel of wounded and sick people to receive treatment, and greater flow of humanitarian aid. The first phase will set the foundation to potentially end the war that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen breached security barriers, killing 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians and abducted more than 250 people. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 46,000 people, according to Gaza health ministry figures. Trump, Biden announce ceasefire US President-elect Donald Trump hailed a hostage release and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you! As his inauguration has neared, Trump repeatedly urged a resolution to the crisis, warning of severe consequences if the hostages were not released. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, worked alongside the outgoing Biden administration to finalise the agreement. Biden, in a statement posted on social media platform X, said that the agreement was reached after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar. Advertisement Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done I will speak more about this soon. pic.twitter.com/iETWhGXEGA President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) January 15, 2025 Public in Gaza celebrates Thousands of Gazans celebrated as news spread that a ceasefire deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas. In central Gazas Deir el-Balah and elsewhere, people were seen gathering in groups, hugging and taking photos to mark the announcement. Advertisement Netanyahu faces public pressure The return of the hostages is expected to ease domestic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has faced intense criticism for the security lapse that led to the October 7 attackthe deadliest single day in Israels history. However, on Wednesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement that Several clauses in the framework remain unresolved, and we hope that the details will be finalised tonight. Regional implications The conflict fuelled broader unrest in the Middle East, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians. The deal follows Israeli assassinations of top leaders from Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah, actions that analysts say helped shift the balance of power in Israels favour. While the cease-fire offers hope for a reprieve, the long-term stability of the region remains uncertain as both sides weigh the impact of the deal. With inputs from agencies While Hamas has accepted the draft deal, Benjamin Netanyahu is facing strong opposition from hardliners in his government as the proposal needs the final approval of the Cabinet read more Supporters of Israeli hostages, kidnapped during the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas, block a road as they demand a deal during a protest amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Reuters Israel and Hamas are inching closer to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza with mediators making the final push to seal the deal that would also see the release of hostages. The renewed talks between the two warring parties in the presence of mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US are a sign that the negotiations are making real progress after months of impasse and continued Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip. The developments come ahead of US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration on January 20. In December, Trump warned that there would be hell to pay if all the hostages were not returned before his inauguration day. Advertisement However, there are still many cracks to be filled to work out the finalities of the deal. Heres a look at what is stopping Israel and Hamas from shaking hands on the agreement: Protests amid progress While the two warring parties have been handed over the final drafts of the Gaza truce deal, protestors have been taking to the streets in opposition to the agreement. Moderate Israelis and families of hostages have welcomed the developments and have taken to the streets in support of the deal and on the other hand the extremists on the far right are protesting. Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Avivs Hostage Square to stand in solidarity with hostages and their families, renewing their call for the hostages safe return. As negotiators work tirelessly to finalize a deal with Hamas, far-right factions are rallying to block the agreement. Hundreds of extremists gathered in Jerusalem to protest against the ongoing negotiations. Hamas OKs draft deal Meanwhile, Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalized. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks. I believe we will get a ceasefire, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a speech Tuesday, asserting it was up to Hamas. Its right on the brink. Its closer than its ever been before, and word could come within hours, or days. Advertisement Netanyahu holds meetings Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went into a meeting with top security officials late Tuesday to discuss the deal, his office said, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ball is now in Hamass court. If Hamas accepts, the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented, he said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said during a visit to Rome that there was a true willingness from our side to reach an agreement. However, the deal, which needs the Cabinets approval, is facing resistance from hardliners in the government. In a lengthy social media post, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the proposed truce as terrible, claiming it would undo the hard-won achievements in the Gaza Strip, secured through the significant sacrifices of our fighters so far. Biden calls Egypt US President Joe Biden and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a phone call Tuesday that flexibility was necessary on all sides in order to cement a truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, Sisis office said. A spokesperson for the Egyptian leader said the two presidents reviewed the latest developments in the negotiations and stressed the importance of the concerned parties commitment to overcoming obstacles and showing the necessary flexibility to reach an agreement. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Israels Fire and Rescue Authority is dispatching a team of five fire protection experts to the US to assist responders in battling the wildfires currently sweeping through Southern California, according to a report, citing the agencys spokeswoman read more Sstair lift accessibility device stands at a home burned by the Palisades Fire, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, US, on Tuesday. Reuters Israels Fire and Rescue Authority is dispatching a team of five fire protection experts to the US to assist responders in battling the wildfires currently sweeping through Southern California, according to a report, citing the agencys spokeswoman. According to the Times of Israel report, the delegation will consist of department experts, including Shai Levy, a specialist in forest fire prevention, and Avi Ben-Zaken, the operations director for the South District. They are expected to stay in the US for approximately one week, added the report. Advertisement We have had wildfires already in Israel, perhaps not of the size over there (in California) but still, we have had quite big ones, The Times of Israel quoted spokeswoman Tal Volvovitch as saying. We are now seeing, outside Israel, the sheer damage that fire can cause and the power it has, she added. Volvovitch told The Times of Israel that in 2016, a devastating wave of wildfires destroyed around 600 homes in the northern city of Haifa. She said many of the experts in the delegation have experience tackling large-scale blazes, making them well-suited to assist the West Coast state. Like Israel, California has a Mediterranean climate, characterised by rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which contributes to recurring wildfires. Earlier this week, spokespeople for the Fire and Rescue Authority informed The Times of Israel that they planned to send a symbolic team of several dozen firefighters to the US West Coast. However, that proposal has since been set aside in favour of the current plan. Meanwhile, as the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires continue to rage, firefighters are battling strong winds to control the flames. According to a CNN report, over 6 million residents in the Los Angeles area remain under a critical fire threat as crews contend with moderate to strong Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service has issued Particularly Dangerous Situation red flag warnings for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura, effective Wednesday morning, added the report. Advertisement A windblown dust and ash advisory affecting nearly 17 million residents is in place until 7 pm Wednesday. City health officials are advising those in ash-impacted areas to wear proper respiratory masks to mitigate potential health risks. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Eaton and Palisades fires are now the most destructive and second-most destructive wildfires in Southern Californias history. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office has reported at least 25 fatalities linked to the fires, with 17 deaths attributed to the Eaton Fire and eight to the Palisades Fire. With inputs from agencies Foreign travellers increased by 47% to a record 36.9 million last year, driven by tourists from South Korea, Taiwan, and China, according to data issued by the Japan National Tourism Organisation on Wednesday read more A record number of visitors flocked to Japan in 2024, owing to increased post-pandemic worldwide tourism and a weakening yen, making the island nation an appealing and inexpensive destination. Foreign travellers increased by 47% to a record 36.9 million last year, driven by tourists from South Korea, Taiwan, and China, according to data issued by the Japan National Tourism Organisation on Wednesday. The previous high was 31.9 million tourists in 2019, just before Covid-19 halted foreign travel. Advertisement According to the most recent data, the country is well on track to surpass 60 million foreign tourists by 2030. This is owing, in part, to Japans reputation as a far more cheap tourism destination, while being one of the worlds most developed economies. As the yen fell to a 37-year low last year, incoming visitors found it much more cheap to dine, travel, and spend at luxury stores. The number of international visitors visiting Japan also set a new record for a single month in December, thanks in part to increasing regional connections connecting South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, according to the JNTO. The weak yen has also hampered outbound travel, with the number of Japanese travelling overseas remaining at 13 million in 2024, 35% lower than in 2019. As more visitors arrive in Japan, public resentment has grown as they overcrowd public transportation, restaurants, and sights popular with residents. In May, local officials in Fujikawaguchiko, a holiday town on the outskirts of Mt. Fuji, constructed a barrier at a famous social media destination where the landmark appears to float above a convenience store, to restrict the influx of tourists. In Kyotos old city, where overtourism is more prevalent, a local district council has barred visitors from the tiny private lanes of the Gion area, where tourists harassed and pursued geisha for photographs, now known as geisha paparazzi. That was regarded as one of the elements that contributed to the election win of Kyotos new mayor in February, whose campaign promise was to combat tourist excesses. Advertisement These occurrences have spurred others to explore strategies to stop the flow, such as charging foreigners greater costs. For example, the city of Himeji is considering raising the cost of admission to its castle for international visitors. Japan is attempting to shift travel demand to rural areas where recovery has been gradual, rather than big metropolitan areas where development has been focused. The overall number of foreign visitors to Japan grew 14% in three main urban regions in 2023 compared to 2019, while the recovery in rural areas has been gradual, with a 26% reduction, according to the governments white paper issued in June last year. Advertisement LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that out of the 50 people, three have been arrested on suspicion of arson after they were seen setting small fires that were immediately put out read more The Los Angeles police on Wednesday announced that it has arrested 50 people for crimes like looting and flying drones over active fire zones. The arrests come as millions of Southern Californians were on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region along with a rare warning of a Particularly Dangerous Situation for an area near where two massive blazes killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes. Advertisement LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that out of the 50 people, three have been arrested on suspicion of arson after they were seen setting small fires that were immediately put out. The three had used objects like barbecue lighters and ignited brush and set fire to trash cans and other things. Meanwhile, a group of looters who were arrested on Wednesday stole an Emmy award from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County district attorney, Nathan Hochman, said. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings done when temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast 275 miles (443 kilometers) south to the border with Mexico. The Particularly Dangerous Situation was in effect for an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Key message: We are not out of the woods yet, the weather service said in a post late Tuesday. The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow. A crisis that impacts the nation Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, warned that while the winds have subsided, the emergency situation is not over yet. While were going through what I hope is the final hours of this emergency, its also time to begin to talk about our recovery, she said. This is a crisis that impacts the nation, Bass added. Weary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moments notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes. Advertisement With inputs from AP Almost 1,000 heads of state and government, bosses, think tanks, campaign groups, research institutes and artists have been invited to the Paris summit read more A French-organised summit on artificial intelligence (AI) scheduled for early February in Paris will be co-chaired with India, minister Clara Chappaz said Wednesday after a cabinet meeting. Dubbed the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence, the gathering will bring together leaders from all over the world from governments, civil society (and) the world of research and business, Chappaz added. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, his counterpart at rival Anthropic Dario Amodei, and MistralAI boss Arthur Mensch would be among industry heavyweights attending the February 10-11 summit, Chappaz said. Advertisement Demis Hassabis, a chemistry Nobel winner who heads Googles DeepMind AI subsidiary, and economics Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu are also expected, as are business leaders from German AI startup Aleph Alpha, Accenture, Mozilla and Signal, she added. Almost 1,000 heads of state and government, bosses, think tanks, campaign groups, research institutes and artists have been invited to the Paris summit. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his participation, while French President Emmanuel Macron said in November he had invited Donald Trump, who will have just taken office as US president, and the Republicans confidant and X social network owner Elon Musk. Macron hopes the event will both put France and Europe on the global artificial intelligence map and lay bare to the public the issues raised by the technology. Three main thrusts of discussion will be making energy-hungry AI systems environmentally sustainable, having them operate in the public interest and setting up more inclusive global governance of the technology. Scientific events will bring together researchers and economists in the run-up to the summit, which will also be flanked by a business and artistic programme. Advertisement The summit itself will be held in the sumptuous Grand Palais building by the river Seine, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. In a chilling throwback to fake tickets Nazis sent out fake to Jews offering to send them to Jerusalem, Germanys far-right party AfD has distributed fake plane tickets to migrants telling them to leave for their native countries read more Supporters hold balloons, flags and a placard during a campaign of right wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) top candidates for the upcoming general election, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2021. (Photo: Reuters) The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has sparked outrage in Germany with the distribution of fake flight tickets to migrants in a city. Ahead of federal elections in Germany next month, the anti-migrant party AfD has distributed fliers closely resembling flight tickets in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe. The fliers read: In your home country, its also nice. The AfDs fliers are a chilling throwback to similar fake tickets that were sent out to Jews ahead of the Holocaust during the Nazi era (1933-45) in Germany. Nazis similarly sent out fake tickets to Jews living in Germany offering free tickets to Jerusalem never to return. Eventually, the Nazis killed nearly 6 million Jews in Germany and other regions of Europe that they occupied. The AfD has frequently been dubbed as a new-Nazi party over the association of several of its leaders with neo-Nazi groups, movements, and events. Advertisement The Karlsruhe AfD are to hand out deportation tickets as part of their election campaign, including into postboxes of non-German citizens. pic.twitter.com/j9FtK1ya0h James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) January 13, 2025 Germany is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on February 23. As per the latest opinion polls, the AfD is polling second ahead of the ruling of SPD of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The SPD is headed to a landslide victory. Ahead of the elections, the AfD has promised large-scale repatriations of migrants if it comes to power. The AfD has been backed by Elon Musk, the richest person in the world. Musks support to AfD is part of his regime-change operations where he has been supporting right-wing extremists across the West to overthrow moderate governments. Starting from the United States where he helped Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris, Musk vowed to overthrow Canadas Justin Trudeau, UKs Sir Keir Starmer, and Germanys Olaf Scholz. In Germany, Musk has openly backed AfD. The police have opened an investigation into the matter as a case of possible incitement of hatred, according to broadcaster SWR. The outlet further reported that fliers were distributed in neighbourhoods with a high number of migrants. The AfD, however, denied the selective targeting of migrants and said the fliers were distributed throughout the city. The election flyer is currently being distributed in Karlsruhe in as large a number as possible and without any particular specifications or restrictions. It is intended to make voters aware of our proposals in this area, which are fully in line with the legal situation, said AfD in a statement carried by Politico. Advertisement The AfD further said that the message was targeted at non-citizens staying in Germany illegally. The White House said President Joe Biden was removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in one of his last official acts before Donald Trump is sworn in next Monday read more Frontal view of the US Embassy in Havana. AFP Cuba said Tuesday it would release 553 prisoners in response to Washington removing the communist country from its list of terror sponsors in a deal hailed by relatives of jailed protesters. The White House said President Joe Biden was removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in one of his last official acts before Donald Trump is sworn in next Monday. The move will likely be overturned by Trump, who reinstated Cubas terror designation in the final days of his first term of office in 2021. Advertisement An assessment has been completed, and we do not have information that supports Cubas designation as being a state sponsor of terrorism, a senior Biden administration official told reporters. The deal was negotiated with the help of the Catholic Church for the release of political prisoners in Cuba and those who have been detained unjustly, the official added. Family members of jailed protesters hailed the announcement, including Liset Fonseca, mother of 41-year-old Roberto Perez, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He had taken part in anti-government protests with thousands of other Cubans in July 2021, fueled by power blackouts and soaring food prices. All the mothers of prisoners want our children to be free and out of that suffering, out of that hell that is the prisons in Cuba. They should never have been in prison, Fonseca told AFP. One person was killed and dozens injured in the protests, which Havana accused Washington of orchestrating. According to official Cuban figures, some 500 people were given sentences of up to 25 years in prison for participating, but rights groups and the US embassy say the figure is closer to 1,000. Some have already been freed after serving their sentences. Advertisement Diverse crimes Cuba welcomed Washingtons announcement Tuesday as a step in the right direction, but lamented it was still under US sanctions in place since 1962. The foreign ministry later announced that 553 people imprisoned for diverse crimes will be released. Cuba blames the US blockade for its worst economic crisis in decades, marked by shortages of fuel, food, medicines and electricity. Trumps first presidential term from 2017 to 2021 saw a tightening of sanctions against Cuba that had been loosened during a period of detente under his predecessor Barack Obama. Before assuming office, Biden had promised changes in US policy towards the island, but postponed these after Havanas crackdown on the 2021 protests. Advertisement Analysts say the Covid-19 pandemic, which tanked tourism, and economic mismanagement by the government have contributed greatly to the poor state of the economy. But Cubas President Miguel Diaz-Canel has described US sanctions as genocidal and said his country was prepared for more difficult circumstances after Trumps election. The incoming presidents allies immediately criticized Biden over Tuesdays announcement, with Ted Cruz a Cuban-American member of the US Senates Foreign Relations Committee calling it a rank appeasement of the Cuban regime. Trump has nominated Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American highly critical of communism and the left at large, to serve as his secretary of state. Advertisement A White House statement said Biden would also waive part of the so-called Libertad Act underpinning the US embargo of Cuba. Biden would also rescind a Trump-era policy called National Security Presidential Memorandum 5, ending restrictions on financial transactions with certain Cuban entities. Colombias leftist President Gustavo Petro and a political party made up of the countrys disarmed ex-FARC guerrilla group, welcomed the White House announcement. Cuba had hosted the talks from 2012 to 2016 that saw the FARC agree to lay down arms. In response to a question on the Joe Biden administrations efforts to revitalise the US-Pakistan alliance, the White House said that Pakistan has never been an ally of the United States read more The White House has said that Pakistan was never an ally of the United States. At a press conference in Washington DC, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said that Pakistan was never a treaty ally of the United States even though the two countries have had an intensive defence and security partnership. Over the past two decades, the United States and Pakistan have had a complicated relationship. While the United States had to partner with Pakistan out of compulsion during the two decades of military involvement in Afghanistan, as Pakistan had influence over the Afghan Taliban and provided the land route to landlocked Afghanistan, the support of Pakistani military and intelligence apparatus to terrorists strained the ties. Advertisement In response to a question about the efforts of the outgoing Joe Biden administration to revitalise the alliance with their long-term ally Pakistan, Kirby was quick to point that there has never been such an alliance. Kirby said, Pakistan was never a technical ally of the United States. I mean there was no treaty of alliance with Pakistan. Acknowledging the US-Pakistan relationship in recent decades, Kirby said that the two countries became partners over the past two decades to deal with the terrorist threat that still exists on that spine between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He went on to say that the commitment to combat terrorism affecting the region and Pakistan has not changed. Kirby said, We recognise that Pakistan is still still the Pakistani people fall victim to terrorist violence coming from across that border [Pakistan-Afghanistan border]. We recognise that and we have and for as long as well be in office here remain committed to working with Pakistan to address those common threats and challenges and thats not. Kirbys comment about Pakistan not being a US ally comes days after a US lawmaker introduced a legislation in the Congress for the revocation of Pakistans status as a non-NATO major ally'. While the designation includes the word ally and carries a privileged security and defence partnership, the partnership is not an alliance in the real sense. Unlike North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) or Five Eyes, there is no commitment of collective defence or intelligence sharing. Advertisement Even though Pakistan is not a US ally and the non-NATO major allys status does not amount to a real alliance, Pakistan has milked the partnership well. Since acquiring the designation in 2004, Pakistan has procured military aircraft, naval ships, and weapon systems from the United States under provisions specific to the designations. The procurements include F-16 warplanes, Orion maritime patrol aircraft, Cobra attack helicopters, C-130 military transport aircraft, a Perry-class frigate, 115 howitzers, surveillance radars, military radios, and thousands of anti-tank missiles. Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa said, While were waiting for the ceasefire, its important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine read more The Palestinian prime minister says its unacceptable for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future, as Israel and Hamas appear to be at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to end 15 months of war. While were waiting for the ceasefire, its important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said Wednesday. He was visiting Norway, one of three European countries that formally recognized a Palestinian state in May. Advertisement Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, confining the Western-backed Palestinian Authoritys limited self-rule to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US has called for a revitalised Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood, which the Israeli government opposes. Mustafa said any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or creating transitional entities, will be rejected. Israels war against Hamas in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead. The Israel Hamas-war has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities. Heres the latest: Norway says a ceasefire for Gaza is only the beginning of a long recovery OSLO, Norway Norways foreign minister says its important to look ahead to the longer-term future as hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza rise. Espen Barth Eide said at an event in Oslo Wednesday attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa that that its really the moment to deep dive into what will then happen next. Advertisement He cautioned that just the ceasefire can easily create the sense of vacuum, of unfulfilled hope. And the problems in Gaza would not be over. The divisions will not be over. The hatred would not be laid to rest if it was only a ceasefire. Barth Eide said the international community expects that Israel understands that its time to move on and to help solve the long outstanding issue of Palestine. And of course, that our friends in Palestine also work effectively together to build a strong government and a strong capacity that all the Palestinian territories are united, so that both sides have a good partner in building peace. Advertisement Norway is one of three European countries that formally recognised a Palestinian state in May. Russia has faced repeated accusations of engaging in hybrid warfare tactics against European nations, including sabotage of transport infrastructure and interference with GPS systems read more Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addresses the media as he meets with European Council President Charles Michel at the Palace on the Isle in Royal Lazienki Park in Warsaw, Poland. Reuters Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday (January 15) accused Russia of orchestrating a global terrorist campaign targeting aircraft, escalating tensions amid ongoing international scrutiny of Moscows actions. All I can say, and I will not go into details, but I can confirm the validity of these fears, is that Russia has been planning acts of air terror, and not only against Poland, but against airlines all over the world, Tusk said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Advertisement The accusation follows a recent report by The New York Times that US intelligence had alerted the White House to a Russian plot to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes bound for the United States. According to the report, the White House issued a direct warning to the Kremlin to halt the operation. Tusk did not provide additional details about his statement regarding Russias alleged plans for airline terror. Hybrid warfare allegations Russia has faced repeated accusations of engaging in hybrid warfare tactics against European nations, including sabotage of transport infrastructure and interference with GPS systems. In April 2024, Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka claimed that Moscow had carried out thousands of attempts to disrupt European rail networks since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as baseless. Recent aviation incidents Tusks remarks come in the wake of a high-profile aviation tragedy involving an Azerbaijani passenger jet that crashed in Kazakhstan last month, killing 38 people. Russia has been accused of shooting down the aircraft, echoing the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, which killed 298 people. While Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the Azerbaijani crash, he stopped short of taking responsibility. Similarly, Moscow has never accepted blame for the MH17 disaster despite international investigations implicating Russian-backed separatists. With inputs from AFP In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said after a long enquiry, the committee has recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry. The home ministry statement, however, did not name any individual against whom action has been initiated. read more The probe was ordered after the US alleged there was an attempt to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by Indian agents in New York in 2023. File Photo A high-powered enquiry committee set up by the government has recommended legal action against an unnamed individual after probing activities of some organised criminal groups and terrorist organisations, which undermined the security interests of both India and the US. The probe was ordered after the US alleged there was an attempt to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by Indian agents in New York in 2023. Vikash Yadav, said to be a former officer of Indias external intelligence agency RAW, was named by the US in connection with the failed assassination attempt on Pannun, who has duel citizenship of America and Canada. Advertisement In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said after a long enquiry, the committee has recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry. The home ministry statement, however, did not name any individual against whom action has been initiated. The MHA said on receipt of information provided by US authorities regarding activities of some organised criminal groups, terrorist organisations, drug peddlers, etc., who undermined the security interests of both India and the US, a high-powered enquiry committee was set up by the government of India in November 2023. The committee conducted its own investigations, and also pursued leads provided by the US side and it received full cooperation from US authorities and the two sides also exchanged visits. It further examined a number of officials from different agencies and also scrutinised relevant documents in this connection. After a long enquiry, the Committee has submitted its report to the Government and recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry, the statement said. Advertisement The committee has recommended that the legal action must be completed expeditiously. The Committee has further recommended functional improvements in systems and procedures as also initiation of steps that could strengthen Indias response capability, ensure systematic controls and coordinated action in dealing with matters like this, the statement said. While announcing the constitution of the high-powered committee in November 2023, the External Affairs Ministry had said it will look into all relevant aspects of the matter (security concerns raised by the US). Earlier, the US said it had stopped a plot to kill a Sikh separatist and warned India about concerns about New Delhis involvement. Advertisement The US said it was treating the plot with utmost seriousness and raised the issue with the Indian government at the senior-most levels. White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson had said Indian officials expressed surprise and concern when they were informed about the incident. We are treating this issue with utmost seriousness, and it has been raised by the US government with the Indian government, including at the senior-most levels, Watson said, adding they (India) stated that activity of this nature was not their policy. In December 2023, Yadav was arrested by Delhi Police in a case of kidnapping and extortion lodged against him. He is currently on bail in this case. Advertisement In the case related to the attempt to kill Pannun, Indian national Nikhil Gupta was arrested in Prague in 2023 and later extradited to the US from the Czech Republic. Gupta was arrested at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to kill Pannun. Canada had also claimed the presence of credible accusations connecting Indian operatives to the June killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb. India has denied all these claims. The US is determined to close loopholes that allow Chinese entities, including Huawei, to acquire advanced chips. The new rules will target leading semiconductor manufacturers to cut off supply at the source read more The Biden administration is ramping up efforts to curb semiconductor chip access for China. File image/Reuters The United States is set to introduce new regulations aimed at preventing advanced chips produced by companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) from reaching China. This move is part of a series of measures implemented by the Biden administration in its final days to limit Chinas access to cutting-edge technology. The forthcoming rules will require chipmakers such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Intel to enhance their customer vetting processes and due diligence. This initiative follows reports that TSMC-manufactured chips were clandestinely supplied to Huawei Technologies, a Chinese firm blacklisted by the US, Bloomberg reported. Advertisement Scheduled for announcement as early as Wednesday, these regulations build upon global semiconductor restrictions unveiled earlier this week. The prior measures restricted the sale of AI chips from companies like Nvidia to data centres in numerous countries. The US is determined to close loopholes that allow Chinese entities, including Huawei, to acquire advanced chips. The new rules will target leading semiconductor manufacturers to cut off supply at the source. Under the proposed regulations, chips at or below the 14 or 16-nanometer threshold will be presumed restricted under global controls, necessitating government licenses for sales to China and other specified nations. However, provisions exist for chipmakers to challenge this presumption, focusing on identifying Chinese firms attempting to circumvent US regulations, Bloomberg reported. The Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, responsible for overseeing semiconductor export controls, declined to comment on the matter. US Efforts to restrict Chinas semiconductor access The Biden administration has intensified efforts to limit Chinas access to advanced semiconductor technology, citing national security concerns. In October 2022, the US Department of Commerce implemented export controls to impede Chinas ability to produce advanced-node semiconductors used in next-generation weapon systems and artificial intelligence applications. These measures have significantly impacted Chinas semiconductor industry. For instance, Chinas semiconductor output dropped by 17 per cent in early 2023 following the implementation of US export controls. Additionally, the US has collaborated with allies to enforce these restrictions. In 2023, both Japan and the Netherlands enacted export control provisions limiting the sale of semiconductor manufacturing tools to China, aligning with US policies. Advertisement Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been facing criticism over her response to the wildfires in southern California as she travelled to Ghana when the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires broke out on Tuesday read more California Governor Gavin Newsom (R) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (L) tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn. Source: AFP With wildfires continuing to scorch southern California since last week, killing at least 25 so far, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been facing backlash over her response to the calamity that is raising questions about her political future. California fire officials are being blamed for the wildfires, but Bass has been lashed out with the fiercest criticism after approving a budget that decreased funding for the citys fire department. Also, critics pointed to Basss decision to travel out of the country ahead of the wildfires despite vowing, before taking office, of not going abroad. Advertisement As per a report by New York Times, Bass has taken five international, city funded trip since taking office. In her interview with the Times in October 2021, Bass had said, Not only would I of course live here, but I also would not travel internationally the only places I would go would be DC, Sacramento, San Francisco and New York, in relation to LA. Her recent trip was to Ghana, where she was when the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires broke out on Tuesday. Bass was there for the inauguration of the countrys new president after President Joe Biden selected her as one of his four-member presidential delegation to attend the event. Los Angeles mayor failed leadership test Bass, the leader of the city as well as a noted progressive who defeated a wealthy former Republican to win the 2022 mayor race, has been under intense scrutiny after the crisis in LA. She failed the leadership test This is the kind of moment that can be really devastating for a politician," one California Democratic strategist was quoted as saying by The Hill. US President-elect Donald Trump also attacked Bass as well as California Governor Gavin Newsom over the fires. Clamouring call for Bass to step down A Change.org petition calling for Bass to step down has received more than 134,000 signatures as of Tuesday. She is up for reelection in 2026. Some of the most notable criticism of Bass came from her Republican-turned-Democratic opponent Rick Caruso. Weve got a mayor thats out of the country and a city thats burning and theres no resources to put out fires, Caruso told Fox 11 News in Los Angeles last week. It looks like were in a third world country and weve got a lot of tough questions that we need to ask the mayor and the City Council and our representatives and the county representatives. Why didnt you work to mitigate this? Caruso further said. Advertisement A silent response Trouble for Bass intensified after she touched down LA from Ghana. She remained silent while being questioned from a Sky News reporter about her response to the fires, her foreign trip and backlash from critics. She slashed $17.6 million cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Departments budget, which critics say have impacted the response to the catastrophe. Last week, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said in an interview she believed the city failed its firefighters during the crisis. Residents asked to remain cautious Meanwhile, the Los Angeles county department of public health issued a windblown dust and ash advisory due to strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Wednesday at 7 pm (local time). The south coast air quality management district warned that these winds may stir up ash from recent fire burn scars and create dust, potentially affecting air quality across Los Angeles county. All throughout Los Angeles county, especially those located downwind of burn scars, may experience the most significant impacts. Also, a new fire was burning in Riverside county, between Indian Hill Road and the Santa Ana River. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Shanmugaratnam, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Union Minister Jitin Prasada read more PM Modi with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of Singapore. File Image-X/@narendramodi President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam arrived here on Tuesday night on a five-day visit that aims to further boost bilateral ties in a range of areas. Shanmugaratnam, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Union Minister Jitin Prasada. It is his first visit to India as the Singapore president. A special celebration of 60th anniversary of #IndiaSingapore diplomatic relations. President @Tharman_S of Singapore arrives in New Delhi on a State Visit, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X. Advertisement On Thursday, Tharman will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the evening, he will hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu following which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet him. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Tharmans visit is expected to provide further momentum to the bilateral relations. President Tharmans visit is expected to provide further momentum to bilateral relations, which were elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore during September 4-5, 2024, it said on Monday. The State visit will also mark the beginning of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, it added. Tharman will also visit Odisha from January 17 to 18. The police said that the operation will continue for several days, as it involves the use of a metal cage to recover men and bodies from a mine shaft more than 2 km underground. read more Rescuers and South African Police Service (SAPS) officers carry remains in blue body bags during a rescue operation to retrieve illegal miners from an abandoned gold shaft in Stilfontein on January 13, 2025. Source: AFP. South African rescuers have recovered 36 dead bodies and rescued 82 survivors from a gold mine deep underground in two days of operations, news agency Reuters reported. The South African authorities said that the survivors would all face illegal mining and immigration charges. The police said that the operation will continue for several days, as it involves the use of a metal cage to recover men and bodies from a mine shaft more than 2 km underground. Advertisement Food and water supply was cut off for months by police as part of the plan to lay siege to the mine. This was done to force the miners to the surface so they could be arrested as part of a crackdown on illegal mining. The miners rights group released footage showing corpses and skeletal survivors in the mine. The group said that hundreds more men and dozens more bodies are still trapped underground. Illegal mining generally takes place in mines abandoned by large companies because they are not commercially viable. These unlicensed miners, who engage in illegal mining, are often immigrants from other African countries. The South African government said that the siege of the Stilfontein mine was necessary to fight illegal mining. Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe described it as a war on the economy. He estimated that the illicit precious metals trade was worth 60 billion rand ($3.17 billion) last year. A Reuters team at the site, about 150 km (90 miles) from Johannesburg in the town of Stilfontein, saw rescuers carrying one man on a stretcher on Tuesday. A group of other men, one of them emaciated, sat on the ground surrounded by uniformed police officers and paramedics. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in November: We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. Advertisement But a court said in December that volunteers should be allowed to send down supplies to the trapped men, and another ruling last week ordered the state to launch a rescue operation, which began on Monday. All 82 that have been arrested are facing illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act charges, police said in a statement, referring to all those pulled out alive on Monday and Tuesday. The statement added that two of them would face additional charges of being in possession of gold. The government crackdown, part of an operation called Vala Umgodi or Close the hole in the isiZulu language, has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and local residents. Advertisement A 26-year-old woman living near Stilfontein, who gave her name as Matumelo, said her husband had gone down the mine in June when she was pregnant. She last received a letter from him in August and has since given birth. My husband, is he alive or dead? she said, declining to give her family name for fear of retribution from the authorities. There was a small protest by local residents and rights groups outside the venue where police and mining officials addressed the media on Tuesday. STOP THE SACRIFICE. #FREETHEMINERS, read one placard. With inputs from Reuters Yoon left his heavily-fortified residence in central Seoul in a convoy to the offices of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) after a joint team of investigators and police said they had executed the arrest warrant read more A motorcade believed to be carrying impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his arrest drives down a road, in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, after hundreds of anti-graft investigators and police raided his residence to end a weeks-long standoff. Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, is the first sitting president in the nations history to be arrested. Yoon, a former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party to election victory in 2022, could face the death penalty or life in jail if he is found guilty of insurrection. Advertisement He had sought to evade arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential compound, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him. Yoons guards had installed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a fortress. A first attempt on January 3 failed after a tense hours-long standoff between the guards and anti-graft investigators working with police. Yoon vowed shortly after that to fight to the end. But before dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office again surrounded the residence, some scaling perimeter walls and hiking up back trails to reach the main building. After another few hours of a standoff, authorities announced Yoon had been arrested and the impeached leader released a pre-recorded video message. I decided to respond to the Corruption Investigation Office, Yoon said in the message, adding that he did not accept the legality of the investigation but was complying to prevent any unfortunate bloodshed. Yoon left his residence in a convoy and was taken to the offices of the Corruption Investigation Office. AFP reporters earlier witnessed brief scuffles at the gate of the residence, where Yoons die-hard supporters had been camped out to protect him, as authorities first moved on the compound. Lawmakers from the People Power Party also rushed to the area in an apparent bid to defend him, AFP reporters saw. Advertisement His supporters were heard chanting illegal warrant! while waving glow sticks and South Korean and American flags. Some laid on the ground outside the residential compounds main gate. Police and CIO officers began forcibly removing them from the entrance to the residence while around 30 lawmakers from Yoons ruling People Power Party also blocked investigators, Yonhap News TV reported. Due to the tense situation, police decided not to carry firearms but only to wear bulletproof vests for the new attempt Wednesday, in case they were met by armed guards, local media reported. Defiant Yoon shocked the nation late on December 3 when he declared martial law, claiming he needed to safeguard South Korea from the threats posed by North Koreas communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements. Advertisement He deployed troops to parliament but lawmakers defied them and voted against martial law. Yoon revoked martial law after just six hours. Yoon can be held for up to 48 hours following his arrest. Investigators would need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody. Yoons legal team had repeatedly decried the warrant as illegal. In a parallel probe, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday launched a trial to rule on parliaments impeachment of Yoon. If the court endorses the impeachment, Yoon will finally lose the presidency and fresh elections will have to be held within 60 days. The trial was adjourned on Tuesday after only a very brief hearing as Yoon declined to attend. The next hearing is set for Thursday, although the proceedings could last for months. Advertisement South Koreas opposition Democratic Party celebrated Yoons detention. The arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol is the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law, floor leader Park Chan-dae told the party in a meeting. Although overdue, it is truly fortunate to confirm that public authority and justice in South Korea are still alive. Shanghai and Guangdong, key economic powerhouses, both announced growth targets of around 5 per cent, down from the 5.5-6 per cent range set by several central and eastern provinces earlier this week read more China faces economic challenges as Trump hints at steep tariffs and other challenges. File image/Reuters Chinas major exporting hubs have cut their economic growth targets for 2025, citing external challenges, including the potential impact of US President-elect Donald Trumps trade policies. The cautious approach, detailed in annual work reports, reflects concerns over higher tariffs and global trade uncertainties. Shanghai and Guangdong, key economic powerhouses, both announced growth targets of around 5 per cent, down from the 5.5-6 per cent range set by several central and eastern provinces earlier this week, according to South China Morning Post. Advertisement While specific trade targets were absent, both regions pledged to bolster local consumption, invest in technological advancements, and attract foreign investment. Shanghai: Financial hub braces for risks Shanghai, a global financial centre and home to the worlds busiest container port, maintained its growth target from 2024, SCMP cited Mayor Gong Zheng as saying. Addressing the city legislature, Gong highlighted the heightened pressures facing the export-reliant economy. Shanghais economy is highly export-oriented, and would be the first in China to be affected by external factors, he said. The pressure to stabilise foreign trade and foreign investment has increased, and some enterprises are having difficulties in production and operations. Shanghai recorded a total import and export value of 4.27 trillion yuan ($582.4 billion) in 2024, contributing to a GDP exceeding 5 trillion yuan. The city reported a steady urban unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent, below the national average of 5 per cent. Emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, biomedical science, and integrated circuits showed robust growth, with research and development expenditures accounting for 4.4 per cent of GDP. However, foreign direct investment dropped to $17.5 billion in 2024 from $24.1 billion in 2023, prompting calls for stronger efforts to attract investors. Guangdong: Electronics and exports in focus Guangdong, Chinas largest provincial economy and top exporter, outlined plans to support businesses in securing overseas orders. Governor Wang Weizhong suggested expanding exports of electronics, smart home appliances, and electric vehicles while diversifying markets. Well try to stabilise the Europe, US, Japan and South Korea markets, expand in emerging markets like Asean, the Middle East, Latin America and Central Asia, while tapping the potential of Africa and countries in the Pacific Islands, Wang said in his report. Despite maintaining its position as Chinas leading exporting province for 39 years, Guangdongs growth lagged behind national averages in 2024. The province reported a GDP growth of 3.4 per cent in the first three quarters, mainly due to a slump in the property market. Official figures indicate that GDP exceeded 14 trillion yuan in 2024, up from 13.57 trillion yuan in 2023. Advertisement Guangdongs trade volume grew 9.8 per cent year on year to more than 9 trillion yuan. The province set its 2025 urban unemployment target at 5.5 per cent, up from the 5 per cent recorded in 2024. Marco Rubio will face fellow senators at his confirmation hearing in what is likely to be among the least contentious sessions for Trumps motley array of nominees read more President-elect Donald Trump and and his pick for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. File Image/Reuters Marco Rubio, Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of state, will say Wednesday that China cheated its way to superpower status and that the liberal world order long cherished by the US elite should be discarded. Rubio will face fellow senators at his confirmation hearing in what is likely to be among the least contentious sessions for Trumps motley array of nominees. In excerpts from his opening remarks, Rubio will lay aim at China which outgoing President Joe Biden has also called a competitor but nevertheless sought to engage. Advertisement The longtime hawk will firmly reject a key tenet of Bidens prioritizing a ruled-based, US-led liberal world order in favor of Trumps belief in America First. The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us, Rubio will say, according to the prepared remarks. We welcomed the Chinese Communist Party into this global order. And they took advantage of all its benefits. But they ignored all its obligations and responsibilities, Rubio was to say. Instead, they have lied, cheated, hacked and stolen their way to global superpower status, at our expense. While highlighting China, Rubios remarks also say that in Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang, dictators sow chaos and instability. Rubio will call for a foreign policy driven solely by whether decisions make the United States safer, stronger and more prosperous. While America far too often continued to prioritize the global order above our core national interests, other nations continued to act the way countries always have and always will, in what they perceive to be in their best interest. Advertisement Rubio, the son of working-class Cuban immigrants, would become the first Hispanic and first fluent Spanish speaker to be the top US diplomat. Expected to coast to confirmation Other nominees facing Senate hearings Wednesday include Pam Bondi, tapped for the top law enforcement job of attorney general, who served the same role in Florida and personally defended Trump in his first impeachment trial. Trump named her after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew following allegations that he paid for sex, including with an underage girl, at drug-fueled parties. Little controversy surrounds Rubio, a three-term senator generally well-liked by his colleagues and known for his ease in public appearances. Advertisement He clashed bitterly with Trump when he challenged him for the 2016 nomination with the future president mocking him as Little Marco but he has come back into good graces. He is expected to get to work quickly, with sources saying preparations are underway for an immediate four-way meeting on Tuesday in Washington with Rubios counterparts from the Quad Australia, India and Japan. The Quad has long been seen by China as a US-led platform for the four democracies to encircle it, despite Quad leaders denials. Rubios appearance comes a day after the Biden administration announced it was removing Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a deal that will free imprisoned protesters. Advertisement The move comes almost exactly four years after Trump, on leaving office, put Cuba back on the blacklist. Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba before Fidel Castros 1959 revolution and strongly opposed the communists, for years has pushed for tough action against Cuba and other leftist-run Latin American nations such as Venezuela. Another nominee set for a senate hearing on Wednesday is Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary. As the governor of South Dakota, Noem raised her profile among Trump supporters with her opposition to Covid pandemic restrictions, but later raised controversy by revealing in a memoir how she killed her familys dog. Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth faced a grueling hearing Tuesday, including questioning over his views on women in combat and allegations of sexual abuse, which he denies. Advertisement Some of the most potentially fiery hearings are yet to be scheduled, including for vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health and human services director and Trump stalwart ally Kash Patel to head the FBI. Aides to President-elect Donald Trump have asked three senior career diplomats who oversee the US State Departments workforce and internal coordination to step down from their roles, two US officials familiar with the matter said read more Aides to President-elect Donald Trump have asked three senior career diplomats who oversee the US State Departments workforce and internal coordination to step down from their roles, two US officials familiar with the matter said, in a possible signal of deeper changes ahead for the diplomatic corps. The team overseeing the State Departments transition to the new administration, the Agency Review Team, has requested that Dereck Hogan, Marcia Bernicat and Alaina Teplitz leave their posts, the sources said. Advertisement While political appointees typically submit their resignations when a new president takes office, most career foreign service officers continue from one administration to the next. All three officials have worked in both Democratic and Republican administrations throughout the years, including as ambassadors. Trump, who will be inaugurated Jan. 20, pledged during his presidential campaign to clean out the deep state by firing bureaucrats that he deems as disloyal. Theres a little bit of a concern that this might be setting the stage for something worse, one of the U.S. officials familiar with the matter said. In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Trumps transition team said: It is entirely appropriate for the transition to seek officials who share President Trumps vision for putting our nation and Americas working men and women first. We have a lot of failures to fix and that requires a committed team focused on the same goals. A State Department spokesperson said the department has no personnel announcements to make. Hogan, Bernicat, Teplitz did not respond to requests for comment. Trump is likely to adopt a more confrontational foreign policy and has vowed to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia, and give more support to Israel. He has also pushed for unorthodox policies such as trying to make Greenland part of the United States and pushing NATO allies for higher defense spending. A diplomatic workforce that dutifully implements rather than pushes back will be key to achieving his goals, experts say. Advertisement The decision to ask the three to step aside is reminiscent of staff shake ups at the State Department during the first Trump administration, when several key officials in leadership positions were removed from their jobs. According to two separate sources familiar with Trumps plans for the State Department, the administration plans to appoint more political appointees to positions such as assistant secretary, which are typically filled by a mix of career and political bureaucrats. These sources said Trumps team wants to get more politically appointed officials deeper into the State Department as there was a pervasive feeling among his aides that his agenda was derailed by career diplomats during his last term from 2017 to 2021. Advertisement The Agency Review Team is already interviewing candidates for such positions, said the two sources. According to the State Department website, Hogan is the State Departments executive secretary, the official that manages the flow of information between department bureaus and with the White House. Bernicat is the director-general of the U.S. Foreign Service and director of global talent leading the recruitment, assignment, and career development of the Departments workforce. Assistant Secretary Teplitz has been with the Department over three decades, serving overseas as well in Washington. Most recently, she has been implementing the duties of under secretary for management, which oversees more than a dozen bureaus responsible for issues from the budget to recruitment, procurement and human resources across the workforce. Advertisement These are not policy positions. This is all the mechanics of the bureaucracy, said Dennis Jett, a professor at Penn States School of International Affairs who spent 28 years in the foreign service. But if you want to control the bureaucracy, thats the way you do it. Choosing who fills the three roles would allow Trumps team to divert resources to and from parts of the State Department, control the information gathered by the numerous bureaus and embassies and manage personnel decisions, he said. Shattering the deep state The requests for the officials to step down came as Marco Rubio, Trumps nominee for secretary of state, was testifying on Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing. On his campaign website Trump laid out how, in 10 steps, he would shatter deep state and fire rogue bureaucrats and career politicians. Advertisement The first of those steps is to reissue a 2020 executive order that would have removed employment protections for certain civil servants, making it easier to fire them. Opponents of the plan - often called Schedule F after the new class of civil servants it would create - say stripping employment protections from government workers would be an effort by Trump to politicize the federal bureaucracy to carry out his policy agenda. Normally, presidents get to choose several thousand of their own political appointees to the federal bureaucracy, but the career civil service - around two million workers - is left alone. Schedule F would give Trump the power to fire up to 50,000 of those and replace them with like-minded conservatives. Taking charge of States personnel would expedite the process of appointing loyal officials, said Jett, the professor. Unions and government watchdogs have said they plan to sue Trump if he carries out his promise to re-introduce a Schedule F. The USs Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging the billionaire committed securities fraud in 2022 by failing to disclose he had amassed an active stake in Twitter, a secrecy that allowed him to buy shares at artificially low prices read more A lawsuit has been filed against Elon Musk by the US markets watchdog Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging him of hiding stakes in Twitter which allowed him to buy shares at artificially low prices. In its complaint, the SEC alleged that Musk, against the rules, waited for 11 days to disclose his Twitter stockholdings and as a result saved himself at least $150 million. As per SEC rules, investors whose holdings surpass 5 per cent have 10 days to report that they have crossed that threshold. In Musks case, he did so 21 days after the purchase, the filing mentions. Advertisement The SECs lawsuit is the latest in a bitter back-and-forth between Musk and the commission over disclosures, tweets, posts, requests for interviews, and other disagreements. Also, the recent complaint comes merely five weeks after Musk openly challenged departing SEC chair Gary Gensler by posting a letter from his lawyer to Gensler on X. The letter to Gensler accused the commission and its staff of harassing Musk for six years and demanding that he pay a fine or face charges. SECs complaint against Musk In its complaint, the SEC said that starting in January 2022 Musk directed his personal wealth manager to have a broker start buying up large blocks of Twitter stock for him but not to exceed 5 per cent. The lawsuit further claims Musks wealth manager warned the broker to buy the stock in a way that would blunt any increases in Twitters stock price, given the increased demand from a large buyer. The broker bought stock from January 31, 2022 through February 2022, the SEC alleged. Around late February 2022, the broker suggested that Musk get legal advice about his holdings. However, neither Musk nor his wealth manager did so, the complaint said. On February 28, 2022, the broker asked Musks wealth advisor if the Tesla CEO wanted more Twitter stockpast the key 5 per cent. On March 8, the manager told the broker to keep buying. On March 14, 2022, Musks advisor was told by the broker that Musk was in possession of more than 5 per cent of Twitters stock and at that point, a 13D filing from Musk should have been made to regulators by March 24, the SEC stated in its complaint. Musk instead kept up buying Twitter stocks between March 14 and March 24 and after the close of trading on March 24, he had more than 7 per cent of Twitters outstanding stock. Advertisement On March 25, 2022, Musk bought another 3.5 million shares of Twitter at a price of $38.20 per share and by the close of trading that day, he was holding 8 per cent. The SEC further alleged that on that weekend, Musk spoke with an unnamed Twitter board member and informed the director he owned at least 7 per cent of the companys stock. Following this, the board member suggested that he joins the Twitter board. Musk was interested, the SEC claims, then asked the board member if he had ever considered taking the platform private. The board member said yes, the SEC alleged. Advertisement According to a report by Forbes, after the talks, the board member sent a group text to the Twitter board chair, another board member, Twitters CEO, and Musk. Elon everyone excited about prospect of you being involved and on board. Next step is for you to chat w three of them so we can move this forward quickly. Maybe we can get this done next few days. The text to the CEO and board members was capped off with a fingers-crossed emoji, the report said. The following day, Musk purchased another 2.6 million shares of Twitter and the day after he bought another 2.9 million shares. After a couple of days, he spoke with another unnamed board member and told the director he was considering his options, which included buying Twitter outright, the SEC said in its complaint. The same day, Musk purchased another 2 million shares. Advertisement The same evening, Musk met with Twitters CEO and the board chair in the Bay Area, the SEC claimed. Musk was then allegedly told by the CEO and board chair that they wanted him to join Twitters board but needed to follow internal governance processes before they could formally offer him a seat at the table. Musk quipped that he was interested in buying Twitter, the SEC said. He then bought another 2.2 million shares and by the close of trading, he owned more than 9% of Twitters outstanding shares, the SEC claimed. That weekend, another Twitter board member formally offered Musk a seat on the board, which he verbally accepted. Twitter responded by sending paperwork to Musks wealth manager so Musk could start the process of becoming a corporate director. Advertisement On April 4, Musk filed a 13G beneficial ownership report with the SEC, disclosing for the first time that he held more than 5 per cent of Twitters stock. The SEC alleged that in the filing, Musk mentioned that he hadnt acquired the stock with the intent to change or influence control of Twitter. The stock zoomed 27 per cent following the news. The next day, on April 5, Musk revealed that he had accepted a seat on the Twitter board and that he held more than 9 per cent of the stock by filing a 13D beneficial ownership report, SEC claimed. The SEC further alleged that had Musk properly disclosed his beneficial ownership report, Twitters stock would have jumped then rather than on April 4. The market watchdog said that during the 11-day period when Musk should have made the disclosure, he spent another $500 million buying up more of Twitter. Since he didnt make the required disclosure, he underpaid for the shares by more than $150 million. Investors who sold Twitter during this period suffered substantial economic harm, it said. As alleged, because Musk failed to timely file a beneficial ownership report with the SEC, he was able to make these purchases of Twitter common stock at artificially low prices from the unsuspecting public, who had not yet priced in the undisclosed material information of Musks beneficial ownership of more than five percent of Twitter common stock and investment purpose, the SEC said in the complaint submitted to a federal court in Washington DC on Tuesday. The SEC lawsuit also asked the court to order Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter) to give up unjust profits and pay a fine. Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022 and has since changed the platforms name to X. SEC a totally broken organisation' In a post on X, Musk called the SEC a totally broken organisation. Musk went on to accuse the US market regulator of wasting its time when there are so many actual crimes that go unpunished. Totally broken organization. They spend their time on shit like this when there are so many actual crimes that go unpunished. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2025 With inputs from agencies Blinken said the plan, which he has referenced in the past, envisions the Palestinian Authority inviting international partners to stand up an interim governing authority to run critical services and oversee the territory read more Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a last-minute case Tuesday for a plan for the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears tantalizingly close to completion. Blinken touted the proposal, which has been in the works for a year, and discussed the importance of ensuring its success after the Biden administration leaves office in a speech to the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. We have a responsibility to ensure that the strategic gains of the last 15 months endure and lay the foundation for a better future, Blinken said. All too often, in the Middle East, weve seen how the shoes of one dictator can be filled by another, or give way to conflict and chaos. Advertisement Blinken said the plan, which he has referenced in the past, envisions the Palestinian Authority inviting international partners to stand up an interim governing authority to run critical services and oversee the territory. Other partners, notably Arab states, would provide forces to ensure security in the short term, he said. That security mission would depend on a pathway to an independent Palestinian state unifying Gaza and the West Bank and would be tasked with creating a secure environment for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and ensuring border security, Blinken said. A Palestinian state, which Israel has refused, has been a sticking point. At the same time, the U.S. would lead a new initiative to train, equip and vet a Palestinian-led security force for Gaza to focus on law and order that would take over from the interim mission, he said. Blinken and his top aides have spent months trying to sell Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Gulf Arab nations on the plan, which outlines how Gaza would be run without Hamas in charge of the territory that has been devastated by a war that began in October 2023 after the militant groups attack inside Israel. Advertisement Those efforts initially met with resistance, with Israel objecting to calls for its complete withdrawal from Gaza and the Palestinian Authority taking a lead role in governance as well as Arab nations insisting that a ceasefire had to be sealed before discussion of a day after plan. But during multiple trips to the region since last January, Blinken managed to get the Gulf Arab states, many of which would be asked to pay for reconstruction, on board with preparing the proposal. Blinkens speech Tuesday was interrupted several times by protesters, who shouted that he was complicit in what they alleged were Israeli war crimes, calling him secretary of genocide and vowing that he would be held accountable for signing off on weapons shipments to Israel. The protests were brief and Blinken appeared unfazed. Advertisement Americas top diplomat criticized Israel for not doing enough to rein in anti-Palestinian violence in the West Bank, withholding tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority and opposing any significant future role for the West Bank leadership in Gaza. He also took the PA to task for resisting longstanding demands for reforms that it has only recently begun to embrace. The PA will need to carry out swift, far-reaching reform to build more transparent, accountable governance, continuing a process that it began last year. Israel will have to accept reuniting Gaza in the West Bank under the leadership of a reformed PA, he said. Advertisement Blinken also covered other areas of the administrations Middle East policy. He praised the U.S. and others for coming to Israels defense during two unprecedented missile attacks from Iran and stressed that multiple American administrations from both political parties have vowed never to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the prospect of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia is the best incentive to get the parties to make tough decisions necessary to fully realize the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, Blinken said. He noted that much of the heavy lifting for normalization is complete, notably elements of a new U.S.-Saudi strategic alliance that would make Saudi Arabia a formal treaty ally and include a civil nuclear cooperation agreement and enhanced investment opportunities. But he cautioned that without a deal on Gaza and a pathway to a Palestinian state, normalization would not happen. Advertisement The urgency of keeping the post-war Gaza plan alive even without a ceasefire became more intense after the November election of President-elect Donald Trump. U.S. officials have brought Trump aides into the discussions over the past month to get their buy-in on the plan, which will require significant American involvement during Trumps presidency. One fear was that the plan might be abandoned by Trumps team in a similar fashion to the way former President George W. Bushs administration tossed aside a U.S.-backed proposal for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq that was crafted while Bill Clinton was in the White House. That detailed, multi-volume plan designed to prevent Iraq from falling into chaos in the event of Saddams ouster was the result of the Future of Iraq project that was started after Congress called for regime change in Iraq while Clinton was in office. Traditional partners of the United States, Europe and South Korea, are most opposed to the election of Donald Trump whereas India is leading the world in welcoming his victory, according to a survey read more While Europe is anxious about the return of Donald Trump as the President of the United States, India is leading the world in welcoming his election, according to a new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and Oxford Universitys Europe in a Changing World research project. Unlike outgoing President Biden, a lifelong internationalist, Trump is a brutal transactionalist whose approach to international relations has rattled US allies. His friendly approach to adversaries Russia and China and adversarial behaviour with allies, whether Canada or fellow Nato members like Denmark, has made allies question whether they count on the United States to stand with them in their times of need. Advertisement Such an attitude is reflected in the findings of ECFR-Oxford survey. While non-aligned countries like India and Saudi Arabia welcome Trumps second term, Europe is miffed as it stands to lose most from the election. Non-aligned countries are cheerful with Trumps election as they believe they can extract more benefits from him under a transactional relationship compared to Biden or anyone else who believes in value-driven internationalism. India leads Trump welcomers, Europe leads Never Trumpers The ECFR-Oxford survey found that India led the world in Trump welcomers and Europe led the world in Never Trumpers. As many as 82 per cent of people welcome Trumps victory in India whereas 28 per cent in Europe and 50 per cent in the United Kingdom fall into the Never Trumper category. Only 29 per cent in Europe and 19 per cent in the UK welcome Trumps victory. Among non-European countries, South Korea is the only one where people are not enthusiastic about Trumps victory. Photo: X/European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) This reflects the brutal reality that those countries in Europe and Asia who had come to count on the United States as either a key security partner or net security guarantor for their region are affected adversely with Trumps victory. They have reasons to be wary. Trump has threatened to invade Denmark to annex Greenland, announced his intention to annex Canada, and subjugate Panama Canal. He has also said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want if a Nato ally wouldnt do his bidding. His allies, from Elon Musk to Tulsi Gabbard, are supportive of adversaries China and Russia over allies or even longstanding US policies. Advertisement In their analysis of the worlds opinion on Trumps victory, the survey reports authors Timothy Garton Ash, Ivan Krastev, and Mark Leonard note that Trumps return is lamented by Americas long-time allies but almost nobody else. In countries from India and China to Turkey and Brazil, more respondents think Trump will be good for America, for their country and for peace in the world than think he will be bad for them. Tellingly, the one exception outside Europe is South Koreaa democracy which, like most European countries, is dependent for its security on the US. In short, Trumps return is lamented by Americas long-time allies but almost nobody else, say Ash, Krastev, and Leonard in the report. Advertisement US a normal great power, not superpower, finds survey Even as the world largely welcomes the victory of Trump, the world does not buy his Make America Great Again agenda. The world does not see the United States under Trump as the foremost power in the world, but as one of multiple great powers and not as the sole superpower, according to the ECFR-Oxford survey. The survey report notes that middle powers of the world, such as India, no longer recognise the blocs of the Cold War period and instead engage with all sides to advance their national interests. Using the analogy of interpersonal relationships to international relations, the authors say the age of monogamous marriages of the cold war period are now history and middle powers have embraced polyamorous relationships. As for the recommendations, the authors say that instead of seeing defeat, Europe should identify strengths and hone them further while pursuing newer partnerships at the same time. The ECFR-Oxford survey found that Europes perception of its own strength is much bleaker than that of the rest of the world which the authors say should not be the case. Advertisement The survey found that the United States, China, and most of the Global South saw the European Union (EU) as a power that can deal on equal terms with global powers such as the United States or China. The perception of the EU was lowest in the European countries. Photo: European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) On similar lines, the survey also found that most of the world expected Europes influence to grow in the coming years. In light of such findings, the authors of the survey report say while Europe is uniquely challenged in Trumps transactional world, Europeans need to recognise the advent of a more transactional world to wield the influence within their grasp. Advertisement The authors say, What the EU must do to be taken seriously by Trumps White House closely resembles what it must do to make friends and influence people globally. Rather than posing as a moral arbiter of everyone elses behaviour, Europe should build its domestic strength and seek new bilateral partnerships to defend its own values and interests in a transactional world. China completes main structure of 2nd homegrown large cruise ship Xinhua) 16:11, January 15, 2025 SHANGHAI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday completed the construction of the main structure for its second homegrown large cruise ship in Shanghai. The construction of the structure for the ship, Adora Flora City, took less than nine months -- over two months faster than the first ship, Adora Magic City, and this timeline is on par with the manufacturing processes of Europe's leading large cruise shipbuilders, according to Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., manufacturer of the cruise ship. The next phase will focus on interior decoration, equipment installation, and system commissioning. The deadweight tonnage of Adora Flora City is 141,900 tonnes, 6,400 tonnes more than that of Adora Magic City. Its total length has increased by 17.4 meters, reaching 341 meters, and the number of cabins has risen by 19 to a total of 2,144. The ship can accommodate 5,232 passengers when fully loaded and features a 16-story upper structure, equipped with more entertaining facilities. Adora Flora City is scheduled to undergo its first dock floating test at the end of April this year and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, according to the plan. As China's first domestically built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City embarked on its commercial maiden voyage on Jan. 1, 2024. In its first year of operation, the ship completed 84 journeys and recorded 600,000 inbound and outbound visits, accounting for 40 percent of China's international cruise market during the year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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. PESCO: Switzerland will be invited to participate in the 'Military Mobility' project European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Press release 13 January 2025 20:30 The Council adopted today a decision confirming that the participation of Switzerland in the PESCO project 'Military Mobility' meets the general conditions set out in Decision (CFSP) 2020/1639 of November 2020, and will bring substantial added value to the project. Today's decision authorises the Netherlands as project coordinator to formally invite Switzerland to join this PESCO project, in response to Switzerland's request of September 2024. Once Switzerland completes an administrative agreement with the project, they will become formal members. The PESCO project 'Military Mobility' aims to simplify and standardise national cross-border military transport procedures. It enables the swift movement of military personnel and assets throughout the EU, be it via road, rail, sea, or air. Canada, Norway and the United States of America were invited to join the project in 2021, and in 2022, the United Kingdom was invited to join. Background The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is one of the pillars of EU Defence Policy. It provides a framework for defence cooperation among the 26 participating EU member states who have entered into more binding commitments between one another. They jointly develop defence capabilities, coordinate investments, enhance the operational readiness, interoperability and resilience of their armed forces, and collaborate in projects. On 5 November 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1639 establishing the general conditions under which third states could exceptionally be invited to participate in individual PESCO projects. The countries applying must meet political, legal, and substantive conditions, including sharing the values on which the EU is founded and not contravene the security and defence interests of the EU and its member states. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security must be a priority for Europe Poland - Ministry of National Defence 13.01.2025 - The Group of Five is a format that complements our relations within the European Union and NATO. We are here to better coordinate certain actions. We are at a moment, when Ukraine badly needs our support, and we recognize that war exhaustion impacts our societies, the Ukrainian society in particular. This great effort, that the Ukrainians have been making for over a thousand days to fight for their freedom, but also for security in Europe, must continue. (...) This format was built around those European states that offer the most aid and bear great expenses for security and defense, fulfilling a number of allied plans and commitments. Europe has to show its strength. Europe can once again be a lighthouse for the world, but it must clearly state "Security is the number one priority" - deputy prime minister Wadysaw Kosiniak - Kamysz said after the meeting of the Group of Five format. On January 13th in Helenow near Warsaw a meeting of the deputy prime minister - minister of national defense Wadysaw Kosiniak Kamysz and the defence ministers of Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy took place. The defence minister of Ukraine has also joined the meeting, held in the Group of Five format, through videoconference. The event started with a bilateral meeting of the defence ministers of Poland and France. After formally greeting the delegations, the participants have begun discussions in the Group of Five format. The topics discussed included the coordination of building an allied system of security, military aid for Ukraine, cooperation of defence industries and increasing defense spending. - We have started our first session with a video conference with Ukraine's defense minister Umerov. We have confirmed our allied support for Ukraine, determination for donations and training of Ukrainian soldiers. However the main point of discussion today was the development of production capabilities between Europe and Ukraine, between our firms and Ukrainian firms. (...). We are reaffirming our alliance commitments to each other and our transatlantic relations with our partners in the United States. Coordinating those actions, aimed not only at supporting Ukraine, develop the defense industries and European-Ukrainian relations but also increasing our defensive potential, is very important to us. This was the topic of the second part of our meeting - increasing defensive potentials, the readiness of our forces and our troops. We have discussed shared maneouvres. We have adopted this initiative. I think these shared maneouvres and excercises will take place in 2026, naturally with a great role for NATO, as without it nothing can be undertaken. - the Polish defence minister said after the meeting. The allies' discussions centered around strengthening existing cooperation in the context of existing security challenges in Europe, especially supporting Ukraine defending againsts the Russian aggression. Deputy prime minister W. Kosiniak - Kamysz noted the necessity of expanding the European defence industry. - I am glad that we can work for the benefit of the entire European Union in this format. The defence industry can be the basis of a new relationship between the European Union and Great Britan. Defense policy and indystry can be the foundation of even stronger relations, which we need today. (...). The year 2025 must be the year of expanding the defense industry in Europe. Production standarisation, lighter regulations and elimination of bureaucratic obstacles must become priorities. Europe has to show unity not just in words, but also in actions that will increase the security of its citizens, of all Europeans - those free and democratic states that have great history and can have an even greater future. - said the deputy prime minister. >>> GALLERY - The meeting of five ministers of defense in Helenow *** The Group of Five meeting was held among those NATO countries that have the highest defense spending. It is a continuation of the dialogue that started during the previous meeting in November last year in Berlin. *** The Joint Statement of Group of Five Defence Ministers Helenow, Poland, 13 January 2025 Support Ukraine as long as it takes by fostering defence industrial cooperation We reiterate our unwavering support to Ukraine in its right of self-defence in order to counter Russia's aggression and in achieving a just and lasting peace, in line with the international law, for as long as it takes. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group and Associated National Armaments Directors (NADs) group will continue to be an important forum for us to announce and deliver military equipment for Ukraine. Through the International Capability Coalitions working with the newly installed NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) in close coordination with EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM), we can focus on the delivery of capabilities to Ukraine that not only meets their current needs, but also enhances interoperability. Similarly, as far as supporting Ukraine is concerned, we pledge to a growing coordination between dedicated NATO (NSATU, Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre), EU (EUMAM) and UDCG structures (capability coalitions), in order to create a fruitful synergy in terms of delivery, training and doctrine. We underline that a strong European defence industry and supply chains will form a crucial component of deterrence. We encourage our domestic industrial sector to cooperate, engage and collaborate with the Ukrainian defence industry in order to create synergies and to improve the standards and production, which are instrumental to enable their self-defence and contribute to peace and stability in Europe. We envisage measures such as industrial information exchanges and joint ventures aimed to enhance the Ukrainian defence industry, to foster standardization, interoperability and to avoid duplication. This process will be inclusive and open for partners to join with their own defence industries or with financial support. We will seek deeper defence cooperation in order to draw lessons learned from Ukraine's fight for self-defence against Russia. Strengthening our capabilities to deter and defend against Russia We reiterate the utmost importance of the transatlantic bond. Given the deteriorated security environment, we consider it to be of paramount importance to focus on our collective efforts to keep the Alliance and Member States safe. We will achieve this through a stronger collective defence, in line with the NATO Concept for Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA), while maintaining NATO's commitment to a 360 approach. We see the upcoming 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague as an opportunity strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture, including through the full implementation of decisions from the Madrid, Vilnius and Washington Summits, a new NATO strategic approach to Russia and counter-hybrid measures. We welcome the apportionment of NATO capability targets to be endorsed at the NATO Defence Ministerial Meeting in June 2025. We are committed to enhancing our military capabilities to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture in line with NATO requirements and fair burden sharing, in support of SACEUR's regional plans, recognising that it requires increased defence spending and having in mind that leveraging defence effort is a prerequisite for it. We recognise the importance of multinational initiatives, taking into account possible synergies between capability development and European defence industrial programmes (including European Defence Industry Programme - EDIP - the Ukraine Support instruments and NATO's Defence Production Plan). We also underline the importance of activating mechanisms for European enhanced defence efforts including making use of financial incentives and instruments that will be financially bold. Europe urgently needs strong capabilities to ensure its Security and Defence in the spirit of fair transatlantic burden sharing. To this end we aim to maximize EU-NATO cooperation to allow for a close and synergetic cooperation, including the crucial area of information exchange. It is vital to further align both the NATO Defence Planning Process and the EU's Headline Goal Process. The basis for the development of capabilities should be NATO capability targets in keeping with NATO's military specifications and standards. This will maximize our interoperability and overall warfighting capacity. To this end we have decided that our next meeting in Paris will focus on scoping options for streamlining procurement standards and procedures and will invite the Secretary General of NATO, the High Representative of the EU and the EU Commissioner for Defence and Space. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Vietnamese lawmakers jailed for corruption Luu Binh Nhuong and Le Thanh Van were found guilty of taking advantage of their positions for personal gain. By RFA Staff 2025.01.13 -- A court in Vietnam has sentenced former lawmaker Luu Binh Nhuong to 13 years in prison for extortion, and abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain in connection with property deals, state media reported. Another former National Assembly delegate, Le Thanh Van, was jailed for seven years for abusing his position and power. After a week-long hearing, the trial panel ruled on Monday that the two played a secondary role in a property extortion scam masterminded by Pham Minh Cuong and carried out by Vu Dang Phuong. Cuong and Phuong were sentenced to seven years and six years in prison respectively for extortion. Another defendant, Nguyen Van Vuong, a former specialist of the legal department in the office of the president, was jailed for 14 years for abusing his position and power. The trial centered around five land and property cases in the capital, Hanoi, and Thai Binh, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. The court heard that the two lawmakers used their power and influence to protect criminals who extorted property, intervened in property disputes receiving money and expensive gifts in return and helped business associates win valuable development projects. Nhuong, 61, admitted he was wrong for receiving money and said he was "truly remorseful," the Tuoi Tre news site said. He said he had tried to change during more than a year in pre-trial detention to "wash away the wrongdoings." Van, 60, said the case against him had shortcomings and he had always served the country and the people. Blazing furnace The convictions mark the latest of a series of cases against corrupt lawmakers and business leaders, known as the "blazing furnace." The corruption crackdown was spearheaded by the late Communist Party General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, who died last year. Thousands of party members have been disciplined during the decade-long campaign and several key Politburo members have lost their jobs. The new party leader To Lam, former head of the public security ministry, has pledged to continue the campaign, and many analysts speculate that he is using it to remove political opponents ahead of next year's National Party Congress. Nuong, a National Assembly member until 2021, was an outspoken critic of government officials including the then-Public Security Minister Lam. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 Joint Statement of the Baltic Sea NATO Allies Summit President of the Republic of Finland 14.1.2025 President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson have issued a joint statement in the presence of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen at the Baltic Sea NATO Allies Summit in Helsinki on Tuesday 14 January 2025. We, the Heads of State or Government of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden, have met today in Helsinki, in the presence of the Secretary General of NATO and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, to address the recent increase in serious incidents damaging critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. We are deeply concerned by actions, be they negligent or malicious, which cause damage to or threaten the functioning of critical undersea infrastructure. We strongly condemn acts of sabotage to critical undersea infrastructure. We are determined to deter, detect and counter any attempts at sabotage. Any attack against our infrastructure will be met with a robust and determined response. We stand ready to attribute hostile actions committed by malign actors, as appropriate. We welcome that NATO has launched the enhanced Vigilance Activity "Baltic Sentry" to improve situational awareness and deter hostile activities. We welcome the efforts of Allies to deploy additional assets at sea, in the air, on land and below the surface of the sea, to enhance vigilance and deterrence. The Commander Task Force-Baltic in Rostock has been activated and coordinates Allied ships in the Baltic Sea. NATOs Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure and NATOs Critical Undersea Infrastructure Network will support efforts to protect and secure vital undersea assets. Moreover, the involved nations are coordinating the employment of different options and assets. As an example, the Commander Task Force-Baltic works towards establishing an integrated regional picture on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea that contributes to NATO's work in protecting critical undersea infrastructure. We continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence, modernise our capabilities, recognising the urgent need for increased defence expenditure to address and counter evolving security threats. We will work, including within the NATO framework, to begin deploying innovative solutions, developing new technologies for surveillance and tracking of suspicious vessels and undersea monitoring. This will include enhanced partnerships with the private sector, in particular infrastructure operators and cutting-edge technology companies. We will actively exchange information, track and assess incidents to analyse trends, and share best practices of our response. We remain prepared to act individually and collectively to protect our critical undersea infrastructure and increase resilience, including by building on and expanding the existing NATO-EU cooperation. We welcome additional measures undertaken by Allies and partners to strengthen security in our region, which reinforce existing and planned NATO responses. Together, we will identify further measures in accordance with international law of the sea, including the freedom of navigation, to prevent and effectively respond to willful damaging of critical undersea infrastructure or irresponsible behaviour. Such behaviour interferes, inter alia, with the freedom to lay cables and pipelines and poses a significant risk to the marine environment. We will also take actions for accountability and stronger enforcement against those responsible for damaging undersea infrastructure, including compensation for damage. We will take further steps to enhance resilience of our communications network and energy infrastructure, including reliable supply chains, enhancing physical and cybersecurity measures, developing European undersea surveillance capabilities and swift repair capacity, engaging with the private sector. We will work towards a Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Infrastructure Protection in the region. Combatting breakage of undersea cables and pipelines represents a global problem. We urge all States to adhere to their obligations to adopt laws and regulations necessary to provide that the breaking of or injury to a cable or pipeline in the high seas or exclusive economic zones by a ship flying their flag or by a person subject to their jurisdiction shall be a punishable offence, and to prosecute as appropriate. Russias use of the so-called shadow fleet poses a particular threat to the maritime and environmental security in the Baltic Sea region and globally. This reprehensible practice also threatens the integrity of undersea infrastructure, increases risks connected to sea-dumped chemical munitions, and significantly supports funding of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. We are taking robust steps to address these threats. We reserve our rights, in accordance with international law, to take action against any suspected vessels that circumvent sanctions and threaten our security, infrastructure and the environment. In close coastal state co-operation, we are increasing surveillance of the vessels, including the inspections of vessel insurance certificates. Additionally, further measures, including the introduction of tracking tools and the extension of sanctions targeting the shadow fleet, will be put into practice. We encourage further EU-NATO cooperation in responding to the threats caused by the reckless activities of vessels serving Russian cargo flow. Increasing the security of the Baltic Sea and its critical undersea infrastructure is a joint interest for the Alliance and the EU. Through our joint actions, as outlined in this declaration, we actively contribute to efforts to secure and safeguard our undersea critical infrastructure, thereby strengthening NATO's collective efforts and advancing NATO's ongoing work, including the renewal of NATO's maritime strategy, as we approach the NATO Summit in the Hague. Hostile or reckless actions against critical undersea infrastructure or other critical infrastructure are not limited to the Baltic Sea region. We will ensure coherence and coordination and intensify cooperation to strengthen security in the whole Alliance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Speech by Minister for Defence Pal Jonson at the Folk och Forsvar National Conference 2025 Government Offices of Sweden 14 January 2025 Speech by Minister for Defence Pal Jonson, delivered at the Folk och Forsvar Annual National Conference in Salen on 13 January 2025. Check against delivery. Your Majesty, Ladies and Gentlemen, We live in serious times. The war in Ukraine is more intense than ever. This unprovoked and illegal war has now claimed more than one million casualties. Russia continues its brutal offensive on the battlefield despite enormous losses and is indiscriminately attacking civilian targets throughout Ukraine. Russian defence industrial capacity is growing and the country continues to invest huge resources in its armed forces. At the same time, Russia is using hybrid attacks to target Sweden and many other countries. We must assume that Russia will remain a very serious threat to us and our Allies for the foreseeable future. China, Iran and North Korea are supporting the Russian belligerence, which shows that this is a war with global consequences that ultimately weakens the rules-based order. The fact that North Korean soldiers are now fighting on the European continent for the first time makes this all too apparent. The United States plays an essential role in Europe's security but is focusing increasingly on East Asia, while at the same time more and more Americans are questioning their country's extensive commitments abroad. By all indications, this trend will intensify during the forthcoming Trump administration. The inevitable conclusion is that we Europeans must take much greater responsibility for security on the European continent. Defence efforts must intensify, and the pace of rearmament needs to accelerate. Unfortunately, however, Europe is underperforming in several areas. Too few resources are being put into defence and there are major shortcomings in the warfare capability of European countries. Defence materiel production is too low, and lead times are too long. What were previously viewed as theoretical problems concerning percentages and burden-sharing may, in these serious times, constitute an existential threat to Europe's security. Sweden must now do its part in this work - with increased European responsibility - by continuing to strengthen NATO, supporting Ukraine and vigorously rearming the national defence. *** Sweden has provided security within NATO since day one. Ten months after becoming an Ally, Sweden is now providing a mechanised battalion to NATO's Forward Land Forces in Latvia. We are making a substantial contribution to NATO's Standing Naval Forces and Air Policing. Sweden will also assume framework nation responsibility for NATO's Forward Land Forces in Finland. This is a massive and important responsibility along NATO's longest border with Russia. Finland is Sweden's closest partner - and now we are also Allies. Therefore, it was self-evident that we would shoulder this responsibility when Finland asked us. *** Supporting Ukraine is not a choice. It is a duty. The future of the European security order is being settled right now on the battlefields in and around Ukraine. This fight will determine whether coming generations will get to grow up in a Europe governed by the rule of international law or the rule of might. Supporting Ukraine is thus an investment in our own security and our own future. Sweden has also chosen to increase support to Ukraine each year that the war has ground on. In October 2022, Sweden had decided on SEK 3 billion in support. That support now exceeds SEK 48 billion. Last year, Sweden provided the world's sixth-highest amount of military support to Ukraine. Now we are shifting that support from donations of Swedish Armed Forces materiel to production, with deliveries directly from the Swedish defence industry. In the coming three years, it will also be possible to send more than several tens of billions in newly produced defence materiel to Ukraine. This opens up major opportunities for us and other countries seeking to support Ukraine, and it demonstrates that a strong defence industry is an important element of our collective defence capability. Without it, we would never be able to provide such strong and long-term support to Ukraine. The speed and effectiveness with which Sweden has been able to provide this extensive support should serve as an inspiration to us all. What we have done to build up Ukraine's defences has been possible in a matter of weeks and months. But what we have done to build up our own defences here at home has far too often taken years or decades. *** In serious times, however, there is danger in delay. This was why the national total defence resolution was brought forward by one year - to respond to the deteriorating security situation more quickly. The defence appropriation is currently SEK 63 billion higher than when we took office. Over the past year alone, the Government authorised the Armed Forces to procure materiel for SEK 128 billion. This is almost a threefold increase compared with recent years. Sweden belongs to a handful of countries in NATO that are increasing their defence investments the most, although this is taking place after decades of frivolity and underinvestment. It is now high time to transform these expanded resources into military capability - and urgently. The Armed Forces' military units are the core of our defence capability and are our most important contribution as a NATO ally. This is why we must do everything possible to produce and reinforce those units. They must be equipped, manned and trained in joint exercises. In short, they must be fully combat-ready. Nothing, and I mean nothing, in terms of building up our defence is more important than achieving this right now. Anything that hinders the formation of military units threatens our security and our ability to live in peace. This requires permit processes to be shortened and decisions streamlined. To take one example, the Government approved simplifications of the Armed Forces' environmental assessments late last year, meaning decision-making processes can be shortened from years to just weeks. If we are to successfully rearm in the way that the geopolitical situation demands, however, much work remains to be done by us all. The trend of long lead times for defence materiel must be broken. For this reason, the Government will present a defence industry strategy for a stronger and safer Sweden in the coming months. Its guiding principles will be greater innovation, greater production and greater cooperation. Sweden is one of the world's most innovative countries, but the war has accelerated the pace. For this reason, innovative capacity in Swedish civil and military industry must become beneficial to our combat units much more quickly to our combat units. This is a prerequisite for relevance on the modern battlefield. To achieve this, new and more efficient cooperation between authorities and businesses is needed, both here in Sweden and with our Allies. In the past, political expectations for these areas have been low. Those days are over. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen launches drone, missile attacks on Tel Aviv, Eilat port IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 14, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni armed forces spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced two drone and missile operations of Yemen's armed forces against targets in Tel Aviv and Eilat port. The spokesman of the Yemeni armed forces announced in a statement that the drone and missile units attacked targets in Jaffa (Tel Aviv) and Umm al-Rashras (Eilat port). Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that the drone unit of the Yemeni armed forces destroyed several targets in the occupied Jaffa area using drones. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MoD provides political-military advice on withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2025-01-14 Security and defense policy The Ministry of National Defence (MoD) proposes political-military advice to initiate the process of withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, starting with consultations with Allies and the Baltic Sea countries. The advocated step would strengthen national defence and deterrence. The MoD invites to begin with a debate on the withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention in the State Defence Council in order to secure a wide political consensus. It is also necessary to consult with key Allies contributing military personnel to Lithuania, such as the United States, Germany and other members of NATO. It would facilitate decisions that correspond to regional and international defence interests. "An effective result needs a united stance of the Allies on withdrawing from the anti-personnel mine ban convention. We are intensely at work mobilizing leadership for a regional decision," says Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene. A united position of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Sweden would enhance deterrence and demonstrate a unanimous view on the principles of defence in the region. "Lithuania's withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty would send a clear and strong message to the internal and international audience that Lithuania is prepared to protect its territory with whatever means available. Of course, even if the Ottawa Convention is denounced, Lithuania would still uphold the principles and norms of the international humanitarian law protecting civilians and defining methods of warfare," Minister if National Defence says. Approval at the State Defence Council will be followed by presentation to the President (by MoD initiative or by proposal of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania) so that he submits the proposal to denounce the Ottawa Convention to the Seimas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President in Helsinki: NATO has all the necessary capabilities to protect critical infrastructure President of the Republic of Lithuania Januray 14, 2025 On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nauseda participated in the summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries in Helsinki. The summit of the Alliance's Baltic Sea-bordering countries addressed issues related to the protection of critical infrastructure. The meeting was organized as NATO aims to strengthen its military presence in the Baltic Sea following the damage inflicted on several underwater cables. President Gitanas Nauseda commended Finland's determination and swift response in detaining the Eagle S vessel that severed the Estlink 2 cable. "This is an example of how we should respond: promptly record the cable damage, identify the suspects, detain the vessel, and press charges. We should coordinate our efforts and respond as one. We must send a signal to Moscow and shadow fleet vessels that disruptive activities will not be taken lightly and will face consequences and retribution. This is the best way to deter," the Head of State spoke. According to the President, we cannot rule out the possibility that the last three incidents over the past 13 monthsin which vessels going from a Russian port dragged their anchors along the seabed, damaging underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Seawere deliberate acts of sabotage. "We need to make decisions that would enable us to quickly detect infrastructure breaches, enhance the surveillance of suspicious ship movements, step up patrolling in the Baltic Sea, and to allocate the necessary capabilities to these efforts. NATO has all the capabilities required to protect its allies' infrastructure. I appreciate the Alliance's swift response and decision to begin patrolling the Baltic Sea. Lithuania is ready to contribute to NATO's collective efforts by its own national capabilities, including a standby vessel and a helicopter," Gitanas Nauseda pointed out. In addition, the Head of State emphasized the need to develop a coordinated and broader regional interpretation of international law that would enable action against ships responsible for damaging critical infrastructure. The President also emphasized the need to push for new European Union sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, which not only poses a threat to critical infrastructure but also fuels the Kremlin's war machine. The Russian shadow fleet could be used not only to sever submarine cables but also to cause ecological disasters, the Head of State pointed out. Therefore, an urgent response is required to restrict these ships' access to the Baltic Sea. The summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries was also attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address El Salvador: Experts call for implementation of transitional justice agenda related to armed conflict Press releases Multiple Mechanisms 14 January 2025 GENEVA -- Independent human rights experts* are urging the Government of El Salvador to move forward with the transitional justice agenda to remedy the harm suffered by victims of serious human rights violations and crimes perpetrated during the armed conflict. 16 January 2025 marks 33 years since the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords that put an end to 12 years of armed conflict in El Salvador, in which more than 75,000 people were tortured, extrajudicially executed or forcibly disappeared, according to the UN-backed Truth Commission. "The anniversary of the Accord is an important reminder of the harm suffered by Salvadoran society, compounded by decades of impunity and insufficient reparations, and of the need to adequately address it through a holistic transitional justice process," the experts said. "Although the Accords gave rise to a series of institutional reforms aimed at setting in motion a peace process underpinned by the rule of law, today the effects of the incomplete implementation of the transitional justice process, including the absence of effective policies for the search for and criminal investigation of missing persons, obstacles in access to military archives, and insufficient processes of reparation and historical memory, in addition to the ongoing narrowing of civic space that affects journalists, victims, and civil society organizations" they added. Eight years after the sentence that declared the 1993 Amnesty Law unconstitutional, the adoption of a normative framework for transitional justice that guarantees access to justice, information and integral reparation for victims of the conflict is also still pending, despite the proposals by victims and civil society. In 2020, the former Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition issued a report on his official visit to El Salvador and presented a diagnosis of the measures adopted 27 years after the end of the conflict. The report examines the progress and worrying shortcomings in the transitional justice agenda and proposes a roadmap for the country, with the support of the international community. "However, the vast majority of these recommendations have not been implemented," the experts said, noting that many of the recommendations made respectively by the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances following their visits to the country also remain to be implemented. "On the anniversary of the Agreement we invite relevant institutions to reactivate this agenda with a view to resolving violations that were committed during the armed conflict and contemporary problems arising from it. It is unacceptable that those responsible for so many crimes of the recent past, including at least 200 massacres of civilians, remain unpunished. In light of this, the adoption of comprehensive transitional justice approaches, victim-centered and anchored in past and present challenges, offer the best opportunity to redress for victims, and to achieve reconciliation and sustainable peace and development," they said. "We support efforts made so far, including in the case of the 'Jesuit massacre' and in the recent decision to open for trial the case for the execution of four Dutch journalists," the experts said. "However, much remains to be done, in cooperation with civil society and victims. The roadmap is designed, and our mandates stand ready to accompany efforts for its implementation." *The experts: Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions; and Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grazyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Aua Balde, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez, and Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures' experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NSC: PH won't tolerate Chinese intrusion in territorial waters Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno January 14, 2025, 2:18 pm MANILA -- A ranking National Security Council (NSC) official on Tuesday said the Philippines is not tolerating the illegal activities of Chinese maritime forces in its territorial waters. In a press briefing of the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said Philippine assets are challenging the presence of Chinese vessels on a daily basis. "Right now, we have two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels shadowing them, closely monitoring them. We have sent assets also from our forces and from the PCG aerial assets to continue monitoring them," he said. This came as China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, including its 'monster ship' CCG 5901, continue to operate illegal in Manila's exclusive economic zone. The CCG 5901 has been repeatedly entering Philippine waters since Jan. 4. Malaya also said the government's maritime domain awareness capabilities have been focused on detecting these illegal activities being conducted by the CCG. "The NMC (National Maritime Council) issued a statement yesterday (Monday) asking the Chinese government to withdraw this monster ship because it is clearly an illegal presence in our waters. But so far as the objective of this presence, which is to intimidate (our Filipino fishermen), we can clearly state that the intimidation tactics are not successful and that we remain resolved to support our Filipino fishermen. And we will not stop challenging their presence within Philippine waters," he added. Also, Malaya said the presence of the "monster ship" in Philippine waters is illegal and inconsistent with the exercise of freedom of navigation and innocent passage. "It is clearly a provocative act. It is also a clear attempt to intimidate our fishermen and deprive them of their legitimate livelihood," he said. "I think they are underestimating the resolve of the Philippine government to support our Filipino fishermen. As a nation unified in securing what is rightfully and legally ours, we do not and will not dignify these scare tactics by backing down. We do not waver or cower in the face of intimidation. On the contrary, it strengthens our resolve because we know we are in the right. We wish to reiterate the legitimacy and effectivity of the 2016 Arbitral Award and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. It remains unquestionable and irrefutable." In the same briefing, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Philippines remains unfazed with the repeated Chinese incursions. "We are not going to allow China to normalize the illegal deployment of the Chinese Coast Guard because that is what they have been doing," Tarriela said. "They are going to normalize, change the status quo, and then operationalize and claim that they have been doing this for the past month or year." The PCG continues to challenge these CCG vessels "hour-by-hour and day-by-day" and reaffirm the Philippines' sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone, Tarriela said. "For the PCG, we are documenting the illegal presence of the CCG and telling the world that the Philippine government is against this illegal presence of the CCG 5901," he said. (with Raymond dela Cruz/PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC prosecutor pushes rejection of appeal on Netanyahu arrest warrant Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 7:00 PM The chief ICC prosecutor has encouraged the rejection of Israel's objections to the arrest warrant issued for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant. The International Criminal Court's Prosecutor Karim Khan submitted his formal response late Monday to Israel's appeal challenging the court's jurisdiction. Khan told judges that Israeli objections to the investigation into the 13-month-long campaign of death and destruction in the besieged Palestinian territory should be rejected. Khan noted that the ICC court has jurisdiction over the most serious crimes facing the international community as a whole, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In his combined 55-page response, Khan argues that under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, the court has the authority to prosecute crimes committed within the territory of member states, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrators. The court's 125 member states include Palestine, but the Tel Aviv regime is not a signatory to the Rome Statute. Netanyahu, who called the arrest warrant a black day in the occupied entity, has vowed to contest the allegations. Last year, the ICC, based in The Hague, issued warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza. Israeli authorities are also accused of using hunger as a weapon in Gaza. ICC judges are expected to deliver a decision on the matter in the coming months. In January 2024, the international court of justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza. However, the regime has ignored the court's verdict. Cuba has now officially declared its intention to join South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ. Cuba is the 14th country to join the case. In December 2023, South Africa initiated legal proceedings against Israel, accusing it of breaching the Genocide Convention in its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jan. 13: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 10:21 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid the West-backed Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 46,600 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 resistance groups on Monday, January 13, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Jan. 13: In a complex operation, raided a building where an Israeli infantry force of 25 soldiers was fortified, and targeted them with various weapons, killing or wounding all of them. Following the arrival of a rescue force, a minefield was detonated, hitting two troop carriers. The building remains engulfed in flames, and clashes continue in the Al-Najili area of Al-Shaboura camp in central Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Jan. 13: Targeted and destroyed an Israeli military vehicle in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, with a pre-planted explosive device, killing and injuring its crew. Captured an Israeli military reconnaissance drone of the "EVO Max" type during its surveillance mission over northern Gaza. Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces across multiple incursion areas in northern Gaza, directing heavy gunfire at enemy soldiers and their military vehicles. Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Al-Ein Refugee Camp, Nablus, occupied West Bank, with intense gunfire and explosives. Struck Israeli military reinforcements in the Rafidia area of Nablus, occupied West Bank, heavily firing upon their vehicles. Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces' operations on Jan 13: In coordination with the Al-Quds Brigades, the Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces targeted an Israeli forces' supply line in the Netzarim corridor, south of Gaza City, with a barrage of mortar shells. Yemeni military's operations on Jan. 13: Targeted a critical Israeli military facility in the occupied area of Yaffa (Tel Aviv) using a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile. Struck more strategic Israeli military sites in Yaffa (Tel Aviv) with a barrage of drones. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cuba files declaration to join S Africa's genocide case against Israel at UN's top court Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 9:29 AM The United Nations' top court says Cuba has officially declared its intention to join South Africa's case against Israel at the tribunal over the regime's genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In a statement released on Monday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that Cuba had filed a declaration of intervention in the proceedings against Israel for Genocide Convention violations under Article 63 of the Statute of The Hague-based court. "Cuba, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip," it said. South Africa lodged the complaint with the ICJ in December of 2023, saying the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza are "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group". Since then, several countries, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Bolivia, the Maldives, Chile, and Ireland have joined the case. In January 2024, the ICJ handed down a ruling, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israel waged its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out its historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 46,584 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 109,731 others, in the besieged territory. In addition to targeting Gaza's infrastructure, Israel has been deliberately blocking the flow of food, medicines and basic supplies into the besieged territory and using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Retaliation rages: Yemeni missile strikes Israeli war ministry in Tel Aviv; over a dozen injured Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 6:16 AM The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the country's missile and drone units have carried out a series of reprisal operations against strategic positions deep inside the Israeli-occupied territories, as they continue their operations in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the Israeli genocide. Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced in a televised statement on Tuesday morning that Yemeni missile divisions had conducted a strike on the premises of the Israeli ministry of military affairs in Tel Aviv, using a homegrown Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile. Saree added that the missile could successfully hit its designated target, noting that advanced Israeli anti-air systems failed to intercept and shoot it down. He went on to underline that Yemeni Armed Forces will not abandon their religious, moral and humanitarian obligations towards the oppressed Palestinian nation, whatever the repercussions. "With God's help, we will escalate their military operations against the Israeli enemy until the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip stops and the siege on the territory is lifted," the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces stated. Israeli media reported that more than a dozen Israeli settlers were injured while fleeing to shelters after a Yemeni missile penetrated the airspace over the occupied lands. The Hebrew-language Hadashot Bazman news website put the number of casualties at 15. The latest Yemeni pro-Palestinian operation is the third of its kind within the past 12 hours. On Monday night, the Yemeni military took responsibility for a ballistic missile strike at the coastal city of Tel Aviv in the Israeli-occupied lands. "We carried out a military operation targeting a vital target of the Israeli enemy in Tel Aviv, using a hypersonic ballistic missile," Saree said in a statement aired by Yemen's al-Masirah television channel. "The operation achieved its objective successfully," he said, adding that Yemeni military forces also carried out an attack using four kamikaze drones and targeted "vital targets" in Tel Aviv. Saree vowed that Yemeni operations against Israeli targets "will continue until aggression on the Gaza Strip" stops. Earlier in the day, Israeli media reported the launch of a missile from Yemen which disrupted air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. In recent weeks, Yemen has notably intensified its pro-Palestinian strikes on Israeli military targets within the occupied territories, employing advanced hypersonic ballistic missiles. In an attempt to halt these operations and in support of the Israeli genocide, the US and UK have conducted indiscriminate aerial attacks on the Arab country. However, despite months of heavy airstrikes, Yemeni forces have remained undeterred and continue to target Israeli-linked vessels in regional waters. These attacks have also prompted Yemen to retaliate against Western military targets stationed off its coastline. The Yemeni armed forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. Israel has killed at least 46,584 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured another 109,731 individuals in Gaza since the onset of the war in October 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills over 50 Palestinians in Gaza in single day; no room for wounded in hospitals Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 6:40 AM Gaza's Civil Defense says more than 50 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours on the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a humanitarian catastrophe caused by a genocidal war. Mahmoud Bassal, the agency's spokesman, said Monday's deadly attacks by the occupation's military targeted "schools, homes and even gatherings of people" in Gaza. One of the Israeli air raids struck a house in Gaza City's Shujaiya neighborhood, killing 11 people and injuring several others, he said in a statement. The spokesman added that seven people lost their lives in the Israeli bombing of Gaza City's al-Maamal street while five others were killed in the aerial assaults on the Salaheddin al-Ayyubi school in al-Darraj neighborhood. 'Hospitals overwhelmed' "There is no room in hospitals to receive the wounded," Bassal pointed out. He also reported fatal Israeli strikes on the city of Jabalia in northern Gaza, as well as Khan Yunis and Rafah in the Palestinian territory's south. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Wafa news agency said six people were killed and over 30 others wounded in an Israeli air raid which hit the Abu Qeinas family home in Gaza City. It further noted that two more Palestinians lost their lives after Israeli warplanes targeted civilians sheltering near UNRWA schools in al-Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City. Israel launched its bloody offensive against Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. So far, the occupying regime has killed at least 46,584 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 109,731 others, in the besieged territory. During its brutal onslaught, Israel has targeted Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, and schools, in blatant violation of international law. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippine official on Chinese incursions: Not ruling out another South China Sea law China has pushed the Philippines "to the wall" leaving it with only drastic options to stop intimidation, official adds. By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2025.01.14 MANILA -- Manila may resort to measures such as filing another international lawsuit like the 2016 case against Beijing to stop China's continuing intimidating actions in the Philippines' South China Sea waters, a senior Filipino official warned. Manila has tried options including protests and official diplomatic complaints, and yet a Chinese coast guard ship - the world's largest - is again in Philippine waters, said a spokesman of the Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, which is Manila's name for the waters it claims. The Philippine task force spokesman Jonathan Malaya explained at a press conference on Tuesday that Manila was running out of options in dealing with Beijing's continued actions to assert what China claims is its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea. Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency in June 2022, his administration has filed a total of 199 diplomatic protests against Chinese vessels and activities in the waterway. Reporters asked whether the Philippines was thinking of filing another lawsuit akin to the one adjudicated in its favor and against Beijing in 2016 by an international arbitral tribunal. "Will [the presence of the Chinese ship in Manila-claimed waters] lead to another case? All options are on the table," he answered. "[T]he closer the 'monster' ship is [to] Philippine waters, the more it [raises tensions] and the more the Philippine government contemplates things it was not contemplating before." Malaya said that China was "pushing us to the wall" but the Philippines would not back down. "We do not waver or cower in the face of intimidation. On the contrary, it strengthens our resolve because we know we are in the right." "The Monster" refers to the giant 12,000-ton China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, which patrolled the disputed Scarborough Shoal area in recent days. The behemoth subsequently moved to the northwestern coast of the Philippines' Luzon island on Tuesday, where it was last spotted some 77 nautical miles (143 kilometers) from the shoreline. China responded to Malay's comments saying it maintained its claim in the waterway. The CCG vessels' activities there were lawful and "fully justified," added the superpower's Foreign Ministry spokesperson. "China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and the law and compliant with the international law and practice," spokesman Guo Jiakun said Monday at a news conference. "We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea." Located about 125 nautical miles (232 km) from Luzon Island, the Scarborough Shoal - known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines - has been under China's de facto control since 2012. Beijing's possession of the shoal forced Manila to file a lawsuit at the world court in The Hague. The court's international arbitral tribunal in 2016 ruled in Manila's favor but Beijing has never acknowledged that decision. Philippine officials on Monday said the government had filed yet another diplomatic protest over the presence of Chinese ships in waters within its exclusive economic zone. In recent years, a slew of countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia, France and United Kingdom, have also supported Manila and carried out joint sails with the Philippines in the contested sea. Reporters asked Malaya whether the Philippine government was considering asking its foreign allies the U.S. and Japan for help in driving away the Chinese vessel. "We're keeping our options open," answered Malaya. "Now the ball is in the court of the PRC (People's Republic of China)," he said. Recently, the Philippine Senate ratified a so-called Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, allowing the two allied nations to deploy troops on each other's soil for military exercises. The RAA - which will take effect once Philippine President Marcos signs off on it and Japan's legislature ratifies it - is the first of its kind signed by Tokyo with an Asian country. Japan, unlike the Philippines, does not have territorial claims that overlap with China's expansive ones in the South China Sea. But Tokyo has a separate dispute with Beijing over a group of uninhabited islands in the Senkaku chain (also known as the Diaoyu Islands) in the East China Sea. On Monday, the leaders of the Philippines, Japan and the United States held a telephone summit to discuss regional security and their countries' "continuing cooperation" amid China's activities in the disputed South China Sea. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 Lebanon Names ICJ Chief As Prime Minister In Latest Blow To Iran By Kian Sharifi and Iliya Jazaeri January 14, 2025 Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's designation of Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the country's new prime minister appears to deal another blow to Iran's declining regional influence. Lawmakers on January 13 nominated Salam for the post, favoring him over the incumbent, Najib Mikati, who was said to be the preferred candidate of Hezbollah, the political party and armed group backed by Iran and designated as terrorists by the United States. Aoun himself was elected president by lawmakers on January 9, filling a role that had been vacant for over two years, not least because lawmakers from Hezbollah and its Shi'ite ally Amal Movement would refuse to attend sessions to prevent the parliament from reaching quorum. The U.S.- and Saudi-backed former army chief was elected president in the second round of voting after Hezbollah lawmakers opted to vote for him, having withheld their ballots in the first round in an apparent attempt to show that the group still held some power. However, Salam's designation as prime minister further reflects the weakening of Hezbollah -- and by extension the waning of Iran's influence. "It means that Iran's dominance in the region has come to an end," Makram Rabah, a history lecturer at American University of Beirut, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Mohammad Raad, leader of the Hezbollah bloc in parliament, claimed on January 13 that opponents of the group were working to exclude it from power and sought to divide the country. The Lebanese lawmaker said the group had "extended its hand" by helping Aoun become president but found the "hand was cut off" after meeting him following the parliament's nomination of Salam. Raad warned any government that "opposes coexistence has no legitimacy whatsoever." Rabah said Salam's designation as prime minister "does not pose a challenge for anyone," but if Iran and Hezbollah believe that his becoming Lebanon's premier is "an attempt to end them," that means the Islamic republic and its Lebanese ally "harbor ideas and policies that contravene the principles of governance and progress." Once a powerful force in Lebanon, Hezbollah's recent war with Israel has left it politically and socially weak and militarily degraded. Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing political system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shi'ite Muslim. Salam, who comes from a historically political family, served as Lebanon's ambassador to the United Nations in 2007-17 before elected to serve on the ICJ, with his term beginning in 2018. In 2024, he became the first Lebanese judge to be elected as the head of The Hague-based court. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lebanon-prime-minister- hezbollah-iran-weak-influence/33275110.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wider Europe Briefing: What To Expect From The EU In 2025 By Rikard Jozwiak January 14, 2025 The Briefing: The EU Waits For Trump Much of what happens in the EU in 2025 will hinge on the incoming U.S. presidency of Donald Trump. Speaking to EU officials over the last few weeks, they all seem to be waiting for his inauguration on January 20 to see what challenges his new administration might bring. There are a few specifics, however, that they are bracing for. One is tariffs, with the belief that Trump's campaign promise of a universal tariff on imports of between 10 and 20 percent will happen and is manageable, even though there are fears certain products will be slapped with even higher duties. Another specific is the push for higher defense spending, with the incoming president recently turning up the heat by suggesting 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) should be devoted to the military, with most European NATO members just about clearing the former target of 2 percent. On Ukraine, The EU Seems Out Of Ideas The future of Ukraine will be front and center, especially if there is some sort of peace or cease-fire deal in 2025. Again, much of this depends on Trump. For the EU, the goal is to at least secure a seat at the table -- which is far from a certainty. Regarding Ukraine, the EU seems to be only acting on the periphery. Look at the latest proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to use the billions of frozen Russian assets in the West to give to Ukraine to buy U.S. weapons: The EU would gain little from such an arrangement. Firstly, the money would go into U.S. coffers instead of European ones, and secondly, because most of that Russian money is in the EU such a move could potentially undermine the eurozone as a safe place for third countries to do business. The EU has used these frozen assets as a guarantee of the latest G7 loan to Ukraine, and that will cover Kyiv's expenses at least for 2025. But for now, in terms of ideas and initiatives, this is as far as Europe is ready to go. Looking For Consensus On Russian Sanctions The EU will continue to try to inflict more pain on Russia via sanctions. During Hungary's six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union in the latter half of last year, Brussels passed the puniest of measures. Now, with the substantially more hawkish Poland in charge, there are hopes in Brussels to have a new package ready for the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Ideas such as targeting Russia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear industries will certainly be pushed by some members but are unlikely to be green-lit by all 27 member states. Hungary has still not approved the six-month rollover of the current EU economic sanctions on Russia. The deadline is January 31 and, according to the diplomats I have spoken to, who are not permitted to speak on the record, Budapest has asked that the bloc take the decision after the Trump inauguration. It's not clear what Hungary -- perhaps the EU's most pro-Russian state -- wants in return for signing off on the rollover, i.e. whether it would want sanctions to be watered down or whether Budapest could access EU funds that have been frozen because of its spotty record on democracy. EU diplomats are already getting twitchy about this issue dragging on into the final week of January. It might not be solved until January 27, when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels, or even at a potential emergency summit later that week. EU Enlargement Is Mostly On Hold On EU enlargement in 2025, there is likely to be a historic decision to open a handful of the 33 EU enlargement chapters -- the key policy areas that candidate countries must align with EU standards -- during the Polish presidency. But it is not entirely a done deal. In order to get all member states on board -- including skeptics like Hungary and Slovakia, who are both increasingly critical of Kyiv's EU integration plans -- it is likely Serbia will get to open further enlargement chapters for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Baltic states, Poland, and the Netherlands would have to agree to that through gritted teeth, as they are annoyed by Belgrade's proximity to Russia and Serbia's democratic record. What is almost certain is that Georgia's EU accession will remain on ice. There is still no common EU position on how to deal with Tbilisi, which under the ruling Georgian Dream government has been accused of democratic backsliding. While there is little consensus on sanctions on people associated with the ruling party, such as the United States has imposed, there is a pretty symbolic move of suspending visa liberalization for diplomatic passport holders under way. There probably won't be a concerted push to rerun the controversial October 2024 parliamentary elections, which were widely decried as neither free nor fair. For evidence of that, look at the carefully worded statement by the normally outspoken Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers when outgoing President Salome Zurabishvili was leaving office on December 29: "Georgia urgently needs a way out of the crisis and to restore public trust in its democratic institutions. We urge the Georgian authorities to take immediate steps in this direction, including by implementing OSCE electoral recommendations and by considering the possibility of new elections based on these recommendations." The sense in Brussels now is that Georgia will be in a similar position as Turkey -- officially an EU candidate but with its path to membership essentially frozen. Serbia And Kosovo Remain At Odds Among the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans, Albania will continue its brisk pace toward membership, opening more negotiation chapters in addition to the seven it already did in the second half of 2024. North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will likely remain stuck due to their lack of reforms, whereas Montenegro, which has already opened all its chapters, will be hoping to close some in 2025. So far, Montenegro has managed to close about one-fifth of its chapters, and there is plenty of goodwill in Brussels for the country to be member state No. 28 by the end of the decade -- just to show that EU enlargements can still happen. It is not for nothing that the new EU enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, is likely to make Podgorica her first destination of travel in the region early this year. What remains key for the region, as it always is, is the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina, which has been ongoing since 2011. There will be attempts to resuscitate those talks on the highest level again after Kosovo's February 9 parliamentary elections, which are likely to return sitting Prime Minister Albin Kurti to power. The EU's new foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, will make her first tour to the Western Balkans, likely after Kosovo's elections. Given that Kurti and Serbian President Alexander Vucic have shown little appetite for the talks to be a success so far, Kallas will have her work cut out. She will have the help of a Danish career diplomat and former EU special representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Peter Sorensen, who will be chaperoning the dialogue -- much like former Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak did with Kallas's predecessor, Josep Borrell, over the past five years. Populists On The March Populist parties and politicians are likely to gain ground across the EU in 2025. Germany is starting the year in election mode, with a parliamentary vote on February 23. While a grand coalition of the center-right Christian Democratic Union and center-left Social Democratic Party is the most likely outcome, the far-right Alternative For Germany party is likely to finish runner-up with around 20 percent of the vote -- which would be its highest score ever nationally. In France, the government is limping on with the tacit support of the far right until new snap elections can be called in July. Governments in Spain and the Netherlands are wobbly and could fall this year. Farther east, the Czech billionaire populist Andrej Babis is likely to win the elections in October, bringing Prague politically closer to Hungary and Slovakia. And in Austria, the far-right Freedom Party was recently tasked to form a government for the first time ever, potentially aligning Vienna to a growing Central European populist bloc. Poland is the outlier here, and there is an argument that its leader, the pro-Western Donald Tusk, is now the strongest politician in the EU -- helped along by his country holding the EU presidency, enjoying warm relations with Washington, and being the biggest military spender in terms of percentage of GDP in NATO. But even Warsaw is distracted by elections with a presidential poll on May 18 and a potential second round on June 1. Tusk's ally, Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, is the early front-runner and if he wins would consolidate Tusk's power in the country. The conservative Law and Justice party nominee Karol Nawrocki will certainly put up a fight, and that battle will consume the country in the spring. Looking Ahead NATO's chiefs of defense meet in Brussels on January 15-16. It will be Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer's last meeting as the chair of the alliance's powerful military committee after nearly four years at the helm. At the end of the meeting, he is expected to comment on the current state of the Ukraine war, Russia's military threat to the alliance, and possibly the recent statements from Trump regarding Greenland and Canada. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-2025-trump- tariffs-ukraine/33274429.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Launches Patrol Highlighting Baltic Sea Security Concerns By Merhat Sharipzhan and Rikard Jozwiak January 14, 2025 NATO and EU leaders agreed to launch a monitoring mission of the Baltic Sea in the wake of several "serious incidents" damaging critical undersea infrastructure, some of which are suspected to involve vessels that form part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet. At a meeting in Helsinki on January 14, leaders from eight Baltic Sea nations and the military alliance's leader, Mark Rutte, announced the Baltic Sentry mission that will "deploy additional assets at sea, in the air, on land, and below the surface of the sea to enhance vigilance and deterrence." "Combating breakage of undersea cables and pipelines represents a global problem," the group said in a joint declaration. "Russia's use of the so-called shadow fleet poses a particular threat to the maritime and environmental security in the Baltic Sea region and globally. This reprehensible practice also threatens the integrity of undersea infrastructure, increases risks connected to sea-dumped chemical munitions, and significantly supports funding of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine." NATO said in late December it would increase its presence in the region following the suspected sabotage of cables between Finland and Estonia. Several undersea telecommunications and power cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Experts and politicians have blamed vessels in Russia's "shadow fleet" of aging oil tankers. The Kremlin denies any involvement. Rutte told members of the European Parliament on January 13 that "such hostile actions" will not go unanswered, promising to strengthen NATO's military presence in the region. The first major incidence of sabotage of infrastructure occurred in September 2022 when a series of underwater blasts ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines built to carry Russian gas to Europe. The cause has yet to be determined. An undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was shut down in October 2023 after it was damaged by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship. The most recent incident occurred on December 25 when the Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged. That came just weeks after two telecom cables in Swedish waters were severed on November 17-18. Suspicion over the December 25 incident has fallen on the Eagle S, a Cook Island-flagged oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet." Investigators suspect the cables were damaged when the tanker dragged its anchor over them. Finnish police seized the Eagle S as part of a criminal investigation, and Finnish authorities last week deemed the ship unseaworthy following an inspection. They barred it from sailing and banned eight crew members from leaving the country pending the investigation. The meeting in Helsinki included the heads of state and government from Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, as well as Rutte and other NATO officials. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/baltic-sea-sabotage- undersea-cables-nato-security-rutte-stubb-michal/33274853.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel, Hamas Finalize Ceasefire Deal Terms, May Announce Agreement on Jan. 14 - Reports Sputnik News 20250114 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas are finalizing the terms of a ceasefire agreement, which could be announced as early as January 14, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing Arab and Israeli officials. The sides have agreed on the main points of the deal but are still working on some of the wording, the officials said, warning that the talks could collapse as they had before. Mediator-facilitated negotiations are underway in Doha to discuss a phased ceasefire in Gaza and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails for hostages in the enclave. On Monday, the Walla news portal reported, citing unnamed sources, that Israel and the mediators had reached an agreement on a proposed draft agreement on the settlement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Al Arabiya reported that Hamas had submitted a response to the draft agreement that contained no objections. Israeli Security Chief to Quit in Case of Ceasefire Deal Israel's right-wing security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday to quit the government together if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs a Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas in its current form, arguing that it threatens national security. "The prime minister will refrain from signing the deal only if the force opposing it is strong enough. In the current cabinet setup, the influence of the Jewish Power alone is not enough ... That is why I urge my friend, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to join me in countering this horrible deal and make it clear to the prime minister that, should the deal be adopted, we will leave the cabinet together," Ben-Gvir said on social media. The leader of the nationalist Jewish Power party described the deal as "monstrous," warning that it would release "hundreds of murderous terrorists" from Israeli prisons and cancel Israel's military achievements of the past year without ensuring the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have repeatedly criticized the proposed ceasefire drafts, arguing that such agreements would not help Israel achieve its military goals in the Gaza Strip or ensure the safe return of the hostages. The Walla news website reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter, that Israel and the mediators had agreed on a proposed draft deal with Hamas. Al Arabiya reported that Hamas had submitted a response to the draft that contained no objections. More than a year has passed since the first ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas was implemented. Since then, the two sides have held several rounds of indirect talks about the fate of the remaining hostages. The negotiations in Cairo and Doha have intensified in recent weeks. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address United States and Thailand Sign Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson January 14, 2025 On January 14, the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand signed an Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy (or "123 Agreement") in Bangkok. The 123 Agreement was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec and Thailand's Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI) Supamas Isarabhakdi. Once entered into force, the 123 Agreement would provide a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation with the Kingdom of Thailand, based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. The framework provides the opportunity for the transfer of nuclear material, equipment (including reactors), components, and information for nuclear research and civil nuclear energy production. The 123 Agreement will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries on energy security and clean energy and further strengthen our longstanding diplomatic and economic relationships. Nuclear energy offers a clean energy solution with a stable baseload of power providing affordable, long-term options for critically needed energy. The United States looks forward to developing a robust civil nuclear energy partnership with Thailand in the years to come. The United States and Thailand have shared a nearly 200-year bilateral relationship - one of the longest and most robust in the Indo-Pacific region for the United States. The 1974 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the U.S. and Thailand expired in June 2014, 40 years after entering into force. The United States is excited to re-establish this area of bilateral cooperation. In an age of increasing need for energy security and rapidly developing advanced clean energy technologies, this 123 Agreement is a part of U.S. efforts to deepen cooperation and support for Thailand's energy security and net zero goals. The United States is dedicated to supporting the Kingdom of Thailand in its development of a civil nuclear energy program with the highest international standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Haiti: spiralling gang violence has left more than one million displaced 14 January 2025 - Surging gang violence in Haiti has caused a threefold rise in the number of people uprooted from their homes in a year, the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Tuesday, in a call for "sustained humanitarian assistance right now to save and protect lives". Latest data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that more than one million people have been displaced across Haiti so far, up from the 315,000 recorded on 20 December 2023. "The most concrete data we have is that around 1,041,000 people are currently living in displacement in Haiti. Most of these people have been displaced multiple times," said IOM spokesperson Kennedy Okoth Omondi. The majority of those forced to flee their homes left the capital Port-au-Prince, where heavily armed gang violence is "relentless" while essential services have collapsed - "particularly healthcare and worsening food insecurity", Mr. Omondi continued. Neighbouring provinces have also been impacted by gang violence and an influx of Haitians fleeing spiralling insecurity. "Many are seeking refuge in Haiti's provinces, overwhelming host communities and straining limited resources," the IOM spokesperson said. "In the Artibonite department, displacement tripled in 2024, reaching over 84,000 people, highlighting the spread of violence beyond the Haitian capital." Thousands killed in 2024 Last week the UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported that shocking gang violence left more than 5,600 people dead last year. In recent weeks, gangs have been held responsible for killing hundreds of people in separate massacres over the course of several days. In the first incident, OHCHR said that some victims were dismembered, after being accused of using alleged voodoo practices to cause the death of the leader of the Wharf Jeremie gang in the capital's Cite Soleil, before their body parts were tossed into the sea. The UN rights office also documented 315 lynchings of gang members and people allegedly associated with gangs, which on some occasions were reportedly facilitated by Haitian police officers. On 24 December, armed men reportedly opened fire on journalists at a press conference being held to announce the reopening of the Caribbean island nation's largest public hospital, killing three. Forcibly returned to Haiti IOM noted that the deportation of some 200,000 Haitians principally from the Dominican Republic has placed an even greater strain on the country's overwhelmed social services. "Communities are already struggling to basically survive," Mr. Omondi said. As the violence continues, the UN agency explained that it has become more difficult to safely reach the most vulnerable people in a growing number of displacement sites. These are mainly concentrated in the capital and have mushroomed from 73 to 108 within a year, IOM said, highlighting severe overcrowding and a lack of adequate access to food, clean water, sanitation and education. "Reports from these sites reveal deteriorating conditions, with families struggling to survive in makeshift shelters while facing mounting health and protection risks," Mr. Omondi said. Lack of funds The UN's $674 million humanitarian response plan for Haiti is only 42 per cent funded, leaving a gap of $388 million. On 23 December, the Security Council stressed the need for the international community to double its efforts to support Haiti's national police force - and strengthen a 2,500-strong Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support Mission led by Kenya. To date, around 750 personnel have been deployed by Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica and Kenya, which has also indicated that it intends to deploy an additional 600 police officers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kendall offers vision for the Air Force, Space Force of 2050 Published Jan. 14, 2025 Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Only days before his tenure as secretary of the Department of the Air Force comes to an end, Frank Kendall offered a vision Jan. 13 for the security challenges the Air Force and Space Force could face in 2050 and what is needed to properly respond. The perspective was laid out in a formal report entitled, "The Department of the Air Force In 2050," and is studded with qualifying language. The report concedes "enormous uncertainty about the events that might transpire over the next 25 years, about the technologies that will be available by then, and about the threats to national security that will exist." Nonetheless, the report is emphatic that China will remain the most formidable adversary to the U.S. and its allies. It is unambiguous that "threats to our national security will still exist, and those threats will include both conventional and nuclear adversaries with the capacity and the will to challenge the interests, the values, and even the existence of the United States and its allies." And it warns that, "By 2050, if not well before, the Air Force and Space Force will not be competitive unless we make substantial improvements in how these forces are equipped, trained and operated," the analysis concludes. While Kendall included qualifiers in the document, he was direct on two points: "The Air Force will still be the centerpiece of resilient U.S. power projection in the future," he said. "But if we are going to be competitive, we have to make substantial improvements; we're going to need a lot more resources." Kendall made the analysis public during an appearance at The Center for Strategic and International Studies, an influential Washington think-tank. The report carries Kendall's imprint. In fact, after considering options for how to produce the report, Kendall said, "I just ended up writing it myself. This is pretty much the Frank Kendall report." And while he did not say it directly, the report's focus and priorities are clearly intended to shape future thinking about the department and how it continues the modernization Kendall triggered as secretary with the Reoptimize for Great Power Competition effort. "Constrained budgets, reluctance to retire obsolete platforms, reluctance to embrace new technologies and exploit them fully, reluctance to limit our overseas commitments all of these things can have a negative impact on our ability to get to where we're going to need to be to be competitive with China in particular." Many of the transformations necessary to meet the challenges in 2050 are well underway, Kendall said. An aggressive move to use space is one of the most important, he said. "We're going to need a much bigger, much more capable, much more powerful Space Force," Kendall said. "... That's a transformation that's already started and we've made some pretty good progress. ... We also need a lot of counter-space capabilities. ... We're going to have to do something to counter the militarization of space that China has embark upon largely to target our joint force and largely to deny us the capabilities to do the same things to Chinese forces." The reason, he noted, is clear. "The joint force won't be able to go anywhere or do anything unless we are able to protect it from targeting from space. We've got to get that capability developed," he said. A failsafe and robust nuclear deterrent must be available, he said. The department must continue to refine and expand the use of artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities. That effort includes developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA, that do not have a crew but are meshed with crewed aircraft such as the F-35. "We are committed to fielding these and at scale," Kendall said of CCAs. "This is not an experiment or a prototype. We're going to put these in our force structure. Let's get going and that's where we're headed." Kendall also spoke to continuing efforts to modernize the Air Force and Space Force and what that effort means. "The idea of a next generation air dominance family of systems is valid," Kendall said. "The work we've begun with CCA will continue and become a much bigger part of the force by 2025. There's no question that various forms of AI are going to continue to grow." Modern warfare will demand it, he said. Combat in the future, he said, will be "highly automated, highly autonomous, action at long range, precision, [and where] space is a decisive theater." There will be more information available but also far less time to act. "Response times to bring effects to bear are very short," he said. "We're going to be in a world by 2050 where decisions will not be made a human speed. They're going to be made at machine speed. ... Factions of a second matter and human beings can only handle so much data at a time," he said. Both Kendall and report agree that maintaining a nuclear deterrent is important. But unlike 50 years ago when Kendall was an Army officer stationed in Germany on the frontline of the Cold War, the world is more dangerous today since more adversaries are fielding those weapons of mass destruction. "The broader issue of nuclear stability keeps me up at night," he said. "It's a different world when China, Russia and the U.S. all have a thousand-plus nuclear weapons in the field. It gets more dangerous as other countries proliferate weapons. It gets more dangerous as people think about using tactical nuclear weapons ... for military objectives." Kendall was also asked about plans by the incoming administration to make the government more efficient. While he agreed "it was fruitful ground to plow" he offered insights drawn from his own experience across 50 years of federal government service. "You've got to do it professionally, you've got to do it with a deep understanding of what you're actually trying to do," he said. "The past attempts at being more efficient, and I've been through some of them, generally say this: We're going to be more efficient, I'm taking 10% of your budget, be efficient. Job done. That's a cut. That's not an efficiency exercise," Kendall said. He added later in the session, "People coming in need to realize there's a lot to learn; that some of the impressions they may have, the assumptions they are making aren't actually valid. The one about waste for example. That's there's all this efficient around waiting to be reaped. That's there's money piled up in corners that we can save if we just pay attention to it. They're not true." Kendall stressed there are two paths in the DAF's future. "There are two futures, and they are bookended by one in which the 2050 report is fulfilled and one in which a number of other factors prevent that from happening," Kendall told the CSIS audience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Dwight D. Eisenhower transits to Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) following historic deployment US Navy 14 January 2025 From Courtesy Story PORTSMOUTH, Virginia - The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) to commence a scheduled Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period after completing a historic nine-month deployment, Jan 8. The maintenance phase ensures the carrier's capabilities meet future operational demands. Dwight D. Eisenhower departed on its most recent deployment in Oct. 2023 and returned to Naval Station Norfolk in July 2024 having executed sustained operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. As the ship transitions to its maintenance phase, the focus shifts to ensuring its long-term mission readiness and technical upgrades to maintain its edge as a forward-deployed force and extend its service life. "Our Sailors have demonstrated extraordinary resilience and operational excellence during our recent deployment," said Capt. Chris Hill, commanding officer, Dwight D. Eisenhower. "We look forward to working with America's finest shipyard workers to address necessary repairs and prepare the ship for a few more deployments." PIA 2025 will include comprehensive work on the carrier's propulsion systems, crew habitability, combat systems, and aviation support capabilities. In addition to routine maintenance, upgrades to critical systems will ensure the carrier remains mission-ready and extends its operational effectiveness. A PIA is part of the maintenance phase of the Navy's Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP). OFRP is a plan that helps the Navy balance operational requirements with time for training and maintenance, enabling readiness and ensuring deployability with the right skills and equipment. "This maintenance period is a crucial opportunity to reset and upgrade the IKE after an exceptional deployment," said Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Meadors, ship's maintenance manager. "Our team, alongside the skilled workforce at NNSY, will ensure that IKE is prepared to meet the Navy's evolving mission requirements. This effort reflects a strong partnership and a shared commitment to excellence." The maintenance period also marks a significant opportunity for the crew to focus on professional development, family reintegration, and personal readiness after a demanding deployment. "While our ship undergoes maintenance, our Sailors will continue to exemplify the same dedication they've shown throughout the deployment," added Hill. "We will emerge from this phase stronger, ready, and more capable than ever before." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Cabinet choice faces tough first day of questions on Capitol Hill By Katherine Gypson January 14, 2025 Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday he would bring back accountability and "a warrior ethos" to the nation's military. In the first confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate for Trump's Cabinet secretary picks, Hegseth faced criticism from Senate Democrats over his statements about women and transgender people serving in the military, as well as allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness and financial mismanagement of two nonprofits serving U.S. veterans that he led. "This nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional, just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president," Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, a Republican, said Tuesday. "Mr. Hegseth will bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy. He will focus relentlessly on the war fighter and the military's core missions, deterring wars and winning the ones we must fight," Wicker continued. Hegseth, a former television host at the conservative Fox News channel, also served as an officer in the Army National Guard in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay and is the author of several books. "I don't have a similar biography to defense secretaries of the last 30 years," Hegseth told senators in his opening statement. "But as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with the supposed right credentials, whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives. And where has it gotten us?" Hegseth said his priorities, if he is confirmed as secretary of defense, would focus on the threat posed by China and defense of the homeland while reorienting the United States away from entanglements in the Middle East. He also pledged to restore morale and end diversity initiatives that he sees as harmful to establishing a merit-based military. "Getting anything that doesn't contribute to our democracy out of how decisions are made inside the Pentagon," Hegseth said of the ways he sees his potential role. "What gender you are, what race you are, your views on climate change, your conscience and your faith should have no bearing on whether you get promoted, or whether you're selected to go to West Point, or where you go to school. Only thing that should matter is how capable are you at your job. How excellent are you at your job." If confirmed, Hegseth would be the first secretary of defense to have served as a junior officer on the front lines and the first secretary from the generation that fought in post-9/11 wars. Senate Democrats said Hegseth's experience running two nonprofits benefiting military veterans with fewer than 100 employees was not sufficient experience. "We're hiring you to be the CEO of one of the most complex, largest organizations in the world. We're the board of directors here. I don't know of any corporate board of directors that would hire a CEO, that said, you know, I supervised 100 people before," said Democratic Senator Gary Peters. The Department of Defense has more than 3 million service members and a budget of $857 billion. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee, said that the FBI background investigation into Hegseth was "insufficient" and that there are still FBI obligations to talk to people." "You lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of defense," Reed said, noting that he has voted for all nine previous nominees for secretary of defense, including nominees during Trump's first term. All Cabinet nominees undergo a background check and an ethics review. Hegseth faces allegations of financial mismanagement of the two nonprofits where he served as executive director: Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. After a 2009 audit of Vets for Freedom, Hegseth acknowledged the organization was $500,000 in debt, and he was demoted. During his time at Concerned Veterans for America, Hegseth faced whistleblower allegations of personal misconduct and financial mismanagement, which resulted in an investigation and a report. Hegseth said the allegations were part of a coordinated smear campaign by left-wing media and largely came from anonymous sources. "We undertook this responsibility with obligation to the troops to do right by them, for our war fighters. And what became very evident to us from the beginning, there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us that was clear from moment one. And what we knew is, it wasn't about me. Most of it was about President Donald Trump, who's had to endure the very same thing for much longer amounts of time, and he endured it to his credit in incredibly strong ways," Hegseth said Tuesday. Hegseth has also faced criticism for past remarks about diversity in the U.S. military. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said Hegseth had done "a very big about-face in a short period of time" since Trump chose him to serve as secretary of defense. "For 12 years, you were quite open about your views, and your views were consistently the same: Women are inferior soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and guardians. Then on Nov. 9, 2024, just 32 days after your last public comments saying that women absolutely should not be in combat, you declare that 'some of our greatest warriors are women,'" Warren said on Tuesday. Five women who served in combat wrote letters of support in favor of Hegseth's nomination. "These women represent diverse viewpoints, from a retired colonel with over 25 years of service to an active-duty Navy Surface Warfare commander to a senior for Mr. Hegseth, and comment on his focus on merit war-fighting readiness, military training status and the warrior ethos," Wicker said. Hegseth pledged that women would have access to ground combat roles during his tenure as secretary of defense. "Given the standards remain high, and we'll have a review to ensure standards have not been eroded in any one of these cases," he said. Hegseth also faces allegations of sexual assault and public drunkenness during his time at Fox News. Cabinet nominees must receive a majority of votes to be confirmed. The U.S. Senate is composed of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Qatar say Israel, Hamas at closest point yet to ceasefire deal By VOA News January 14, 2025 The United States and Qatar said Tuesday that negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip were nearing agreement after months of stalemated talks, although final details were still being worked on. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Washington speech, "I believe we will get a ceasefire," but added that it was up to Hamas to give its final assent. "It's right on the brink. It's closer than it's ever been before." Speaking at a weekly briefing, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari described the ongoing talks as in the "final stages" and at the "closest point" yet to an agreement, while also cautioning against overexcitement until a deal is announced. Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. have led a monthslong effort to try to achieve a halt in the fighting, with talks Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, focusing on the last details of a deal. Hamas said it was awaiting maps from Israel showing which parts of Gaza it would withdraw its troops from in the initial stages of the ceasefire. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel will not compromise on security and will intervene if it sees a threat from Gaza in the future. Biden shows optimism U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that the deal was on "the brink" of "finally coming to fruition." In a speech at the State Department to highlight his foreign policy achievements, Biden said the deal would "free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started." Biden and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi talked about progress in the negotiations on Tuesday. "Both leaders committed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams over the coming hours," the White House said in a statement after the leaders' phone call. Plan proposes phased ceasefire The basic parameters of the ceasefire proposal would see the process play out in several stages. Hamas would release hostages it has been holding since the militants carried out their October 2023 attack on Israel, while Israeli authorities would release Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops would carry out a phased withdrawal from Gaza, and some Palestinians displaced by the conflict would be allowed to return, along with a surge in aid for Palestinian civilians. The United Nations said on Tuesday that it was preparing to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza under the potential ceasefire. But challenges such as uncertainty surrounding border access and security remain. Peace talks build momentum Months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have failed to bring a halt to the fighting, but in recent weeks, the effort has gained momentum at a time when the U.S. is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump to take office January 20 as Biden's four-year term ends. Blinken made a last-minute case Tuesday for a plan for the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza. "We have a responsibility to ensure that the strategic gains of the last 15 months endure and lay the foundation for a better future," Blinken told the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. "All too often in the Middle East, we've seen how the shoes of one dictator can be filled by another or give way to conflict and chaos." Blinken said the plan envisions the Palestinian Authority inviting "international partners" to create an interim governing authority to run critical services and oversee the territory. Other partners, notably Arab states, would provide forces to ensure security in the short term, he said. That security mission would depend on a pathway to an independent Palestinian state unifying Gaza and the West Bank and would be tasked with creating "a secure environment for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and ensuring border security," Blinken said. Creation of a Palestinian state, which Israel has refused to support, has been a sticking point in the negotiations. Blinken told MSNBC on Monday that the sides were "closer than we've ever been" to a deal, but that the conclusion was up to Hamas. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Monday that Biden administration officials were keeping Trump's Mideast advisers abreast of negotiations. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been involved in the latest round of talks. Israel launched its assault on Hamas in Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed across its borders on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 46,500 people have been killed in Gaza, with most of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials, although Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas combatants it has killed. Attacks go on Israeli airstrikes continued Tuesday in Gaza even as a finalized ceasefire agreement appeared to loom. An Israeli airstrike on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza killed at least 10 Palestinians and injured others, medics said. And five people were killed in a strike on a house in Rafah in the territory's south, medics said. Much of Gaza, a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, has been laid to waste during the fighting and gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with most of its 2.3 million population displaced, often multiple times. White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. Some material came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cameroon says host villages attacked people displaced by Boko Haram By Moki Edwin Kindzeka January 14, 2025 Cameroonian officials said Monday five people are dead and several hundred are homeless in ongoing conflicts between host communities and people who arrived after being displaced by Boko Haram terrorism in the nation's border area near Chad and Nigeria. Hundreds of irate host community members set fire to at least 60 government-built houses for internally displaced people in Yala Yalta, military officials said. Three displaced people died, and two host community residents died of injuries while being rushed to a local hospital. Government officials say it was the second burning of houses in the past five days. Residents of Yala Yalta, a village in Mayo-Sava, an administrative unit near Cameroon's border with Chad and Nigeria, say they no longer want the people who were displaced by Boko Haram Islamic terrorists in their village. They accuse the displaced people of kidnapping for ransom and provoking conflicts over scarce water, farm crops and fuel wood. Cameroon's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure said at least 400 of about 2,000 people displaced by terrorism in Mayo-Sava live in Yala Yalta and surrounding villages. Local churches, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Cameroon Evangelical Church, say the abduction of members of the host community is the immediate cause of the ongoing conflicts. Cameroon's military said it freed four host community members abducted for ransom. Halidu Harouna, a pastor of the Cameroon Evangelical Church, told VOA via phone from Yala Yalta that villagers used bows and arrows, machetes and spears to attack the people seeking refuge in Yala Yalta. He said they torched houses after someone identified two members of a gang that kidnapped civilians for ransom as being among the displaced people. Villagers are also angry that theft of their cattle and crops has increased in recent months, Harouna said. Military officials said host community members have attacked and wounded at least 20 displaced persons for allegedly stealing from their plantations within the past two weeks. Captain Mark Nya Nanah, a commander of Cameroonian forces fighting Boko Haram in the central African state, said troops have been deployed to stop host communities from attacking displaced persons and their property. The military has asked people who have fled the violence to return and has assured communities they will get military protection. Some internally displaced people have acknowledged that some of their peers attack villagers and steal. They said a majority of the displaced people who attack villagers are either former fighters who surrendered or thieves hiding among displaced persons, a claim VOA could not independently verify. Cameroon's ministries of agriculture and livestock said conflicts between host communities and displaced persons are increasing because of a food shortage caused by floods in October. The government said several thousand goats, sheep and cows were either killed or swept away by flood waters, while several thousand hectares of farmland were destroyed. The United Nations says over 40,000 people have been killed and 3 million have fled their homes in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad since 2009, when fighting between Nigerian government troops and Boko Haram militants spread to the other three countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: Surging gang violence in Haiti has displaced over 1 million people By Lisa Schlein January 14, 2025 Gang violence in Haiti has displaced more than a million people, including children, who make up more than half of the displaced population and "bear the greatest burden of displacement," according to a report released Tuesday by the International Organization for Migration. "It is important to note that at this moment, Haiti is facing the largest number of internal displacements as a result of the gang violence ever [recorded] in history," IOM spokesman Kennedy Okoth Omondi told journalists at a briefing Tuesday in Geneva. "In December 2023, we recorded around 315,000 people who were displaced from the violence. One year since then, we have seen the number triple to over a million people who have been displaced because of gang violence in Haiti. "This is a really troubling number, and it represents the security situation that most Haitians are currently facing," he said, adding that most of the people have been displaced multiple times. "We have seen a lot of the displacement occurring within the capital, Port au Prince, and we also have seen a lot of people being displaced and moving towards the neighboring provinces ... living with families, communities and friends who already are facing their own economic challenges," further straining the limited resources of communities struggling to survive, Okoth Omondi said. Compounding this displacement is a growing deportation crisis. IOM reports that last year, some 200,000 Haitians, most of whom had taken refuge in neighboring Dominican Republic, had been forcibly deported to Haiti. Okoth Omondi declined to speak specifically about the deportation policies of other countries. He also would not comment about concerns arising from possible changes to the U.S. policy of granting Temporary Protected Status to asylum-seekers fleeing conflict and violence under the incoming Trump administration. However, he said, "Deportations or forced returns to countries that already are facing mounting security and humanitarian challenges are not something that is going to be beneficial." Both President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have suggested that "they would scale back" this policy as they pursue a policy of mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Last week, the U.N. Human Rights Office reported that in 2024 at least 5,601 people were killed, more than 2,200 people were injured and 1,494 were kidnapped as a result of gang violence in Haiti. "These figures alone cannot capture the absolute horrors being perpetrated in Haiti, but they show the unremitting violence to which people are being subjected," said Volker Turk, U.N. high commissioner for human rights. "The acute insecurity and resulting human rights crisis in the country simply do not allow for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Haitians. And yet, deportations are continuing," Turk said. Underscoring this situation, IOM Director-General Amy Pope said Haiti needs sustained humanitarian assistance to save and protect lives. "We must work together to address the root causes of the violence and instability that have led to so much death and destruction," she said. As displacement has grown, so has the number of sites sheltering them. Over the past year, IOM reports that the number of displacement sites has increased from 73 to 108. It says the sites are severely overcrowded and lack adequate access to essential services such as food, clean water, sanitation and education. "Access remains one of the biggest challenges," Okoth Omondi said. "As the violence surges, it becomes more and more difficult to access those who basically need humanitarian aid. The need for humanitarian assistance and long-term investment in governance, security and social cohesion are essential." U.N. officials say Haiti's appeals for international support are falling on deaf ears. The United Nations reports that only 42.5% of the $673.8 million Haiti Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded. Besides money, Haiti desperately needs security, a situation that remains elusive. "The number of people who are being displaced is a clear indication of the surge of violence," Okoth Omondi said. "So, we basically need more support for multilateral forces to ensure that we have peace and stability to the country and to the Haitians who desperately need this." Alessandra Vellucci, director of the U.N. Information Service in Geneva, told journalists that a Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, composed of some 750 security personnel from the Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica and Kenya, has been deployed to the impoverished Caribbean country. "Kenya, who is the mission lead, has indicated it intends to deploy an additional 600 police officers," Vellucci said, adding that "this is out of 2,500 personnel initially planned." "So, we really need them to step this up in order for the mission to demonstrate its full potential," she said, stressing that the trust fund to support this mission is "currently severely underfunded." "We need to break the cycles of violence and the displacement," Okoth Omondi said. "We need to foster stability in communities towards restoring hope and recovery to the people of Haiti." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights groups in Kenya blame police for increase in abductions of government critics By Victoria Amunga January 14, 2025 Human rights groups in Kenya are blaming police for a recent increase in the abductions of critics who have protested government policies. The activists say at least 29 people are missing after raising concerns about poor governance. Kenyan cartoonist Gideon Kibet said that unknown people trailed him to a bus on his way from a meeting in the capital, Nairobi, in December 2024. He said he was forced into a car by masked assailants, who tore his shirt and used it to cover his eyes and tie his hands. Kibet was eventually released. Kibet has drawn cartoons mocking government figures such as President William Ruto. One caricature, which depicted the president in a coffin, went viral. Kibet's experience is among 82 cases of abductions and forced disappearances in just six months, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. Although Kibet and four others have been released, that has not been the case for dozens of others. From September 2023 to August 2024, Kenya saw a 44% increase in abductions compared to the same time period from the previous year, according to the national security report. Officials say there were 52 abductions in Kenya from September 2023 to August 2024, compared to 36 the previous year. Many of the victims are critics of bad governance, say rights groups. ''What we are seeing is essentially the use of extrajudicial power to course fear among those citizens that are legitimately protesting against bad governance or raising concerns with the government,'' said Irungu Houghton, executive director for Amnesty International Kenya. Some Kenyans have taken to social media to protest the government on issues including increases in taxes and corruption. However, at a public event Sunday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen referred to such critics as criminals. ''If the criminals and people with bad behavior have moved ... to the digital space, I want to tell you that we will follow you there because that is where we want to ensure that there is law and order,'' he said. Kenyan lawyers have petitioned the country's high court to hold the inspector general of police responsible for the abductions. According to the lawyers, the state is evading accountability. ''Our question has been from July until today, no investigation has been done, no investigation has been cleared, we are not being told the people who are responsible,'' said Gloria Kimani, a member of the Law Society of Kenya. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohammed Amin are to appear in court Friday regarding the abductions. The two have snubbed three previous court summonses in the abduction cases. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Biden's Call with President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi of Egypt January 14, 2025 President Biden spoke today with President Abdel-Fattah El Sisi of Egypt. The two leaders discussed the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal based on the arrangement described by President Biden last year and endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council. The President thanked President Sisi for his leadership and praised the mediating role of Egypt throughout the process. He emphasized that this deal would never have been possible without Egypt's essential and historic role in the Middle East and commitment to diplomacy for resolving conflicts. Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for a deal to be implemented to bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza through a surge in humanitarian aid enabled by the ceasefire together with the return of hostages to their families. Both leaders committed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams over the coming hours. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Harris's Call with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of the Philippines January 14, 2025 Vice President Kamala Harris spoke today with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of the Philippines and thanked him for the partnership of the Philippines and for their close working relationship over the past two and a half years, including through six meetings in Manila, Washington, D.C., Jakarta, and San Francisco. The Vice President underscored the strength of the U.S.-Philippines Alliance and people-to-people ties and noted it was critical for preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. The leaders reviewed progress made in the Alliance during the Biden-Harris Administration, including initiatives launched on the Vice President's November 2022 visit to the Philippines, to enhance cooperation on climate and clean energy, technology, critical minerals and semiconductor supply chains, maritime security, and inclusive economic growth. The Vice President recalled her visit to Palawan, the Philippines - the highest-ranking visit by a U.S. official ever - and reaffirmed her support for all those she met there, including women in the fishing community of Tagburos and members of the Philippine Coast Guard. The Vice President affirmed the importance of continued defense of international rules and norms in the South China Sea in the face of provocations from the People's Republic of China and noted the United States must stand with the Philippines in the face of such provocations and the enduring nature of the U.S. defense commitments to the Philippines. They also discussed trilateral cooperation with Japan as a key pillar of regional security, which the Vice President helped accelerate with the first leader-level trilateral meeting in Jakarta in September 2023. # # # NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of Vice President Harris's Calls with Prime Minister Wong and Senior Minister Lee of Singapore January 14, 2025 Vice President Kamala Harris spoke separately today with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore. The Vice President expressed regret she was no longer able to travel to Singapore given the historic wildfires in Los Angeles. The Vice President thanked both leaders for their partnership throughout the Biden-Harris Administration in strengthening the U.S.-Singapore relationship. The leaders reviewed the Vice President's consistent engagement on the Indo-Pacific and her work to expand the U.S.-Singapore relationship, beginning during her August 2021 visit. They discussed the implementation of various initiatives the Vice President launched on that visit to address climate and clean energy, cyber cooperation, supply chains, emerging technology, and bilateral military cooperation. Building on her bilateral meetings with Singaporean leaders and multilateral summits with Indo-Pacific leaders, the Vice President underscored the continued importance of defending international rules and norms around the world, including freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. The leaders discussed the continued importance of ASEAN centrality and the strengthening of the U.S.-ASEAN relationship in the Biden-Harris Administration, including through the Vice President's participation in the 2023 U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Jakarta and the 2022 U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, D.C. The Vice President reaffirmed her view that the United States has enduring interests and commitments in the Indo-Pacific and she expressed optimism in the future based on the dynamism in Southeast Asia. The Vice President underscored the importance of U.S.-Singapore cooperation for promoting security and prosperity in the region and around the world. With Senior Minister Lee, the Vice President thanked him for the hospitality he showed her in Singapore in 2021, and expressed her appreciation for their warm and substantive engagements over the past four years. # # # NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Vice President Harris on the Executive Order on Advancing U.S. Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure January 14, 2025 While representing the United States at the first-ever Global Summit on AI Safety in London, I laid out a vision for the future of artificial intelligence (AI) a future where AI is used to advance the public interest. In order for that vision to be realized, it is imperative that the United States remain the global leader on AI. The Executive Order announced today will ensure the United States has the infrastructure including large-scale data centers and clean power facilities necessary to maintain America's competitive advantage and safeguard our national security interests. The significant electrical power needs of large-scale AI operations also present a new opportunity for advancing American leadership in clean-energy technology, which will power our future economy. By activating the full force of the federal government to speed up and scale AI operations here in the United States, we are securing our global leadership on AI, which will have a profound impact on our economy, society, and national security for generations to come. # # # NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel, Hamas agree in principle to Gaza ceasefire deal: US media IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 15, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and the Israeli regime have reached an agreement on a Gaza ceasefire draft and the release of prisoners, the CBS news network reported citing sources close to the negotiating team in the Qatari capital Doha. The CBS report stated on Tuesday night that Arab, American and Israeli officials said on the condition of anonymity that a draft agreement for a ceasefire has been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas and, if all goes well, will be finalized by Israel and Hamas this week. If the final details are confirmed and the Israeli regime also approve it, the implementation of the agreement may begin this weekend, which means that the ceasefire agreement was signed in the final days of US President Joe Biden administration and the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump will oversee its implementation, sources told CBS. The American media outlet also claimed that, based on a document it obtained, the first phase of the deal will see the prisoners' swap while the second phase of the agreement includes the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza. According to CBS, the third phase of the agreement will include the exchange of bodies, the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza, and the opening of the borders. Israeli media outlets had previously reported that Hamas and the regime would probably reach a ceasefire agreement on Thursday or Friday, claiming that progress has been made in the agreement on the exchange of prisoners and that the regime's army is preparing for a withdrawal from Gaza. Israel and Hamas have not reacted officially to the potential deal. But Hamas announced that its leaders held a series of consultations with the leaders of other Palestinian groups and informed them of the progress in the ongoing negotiations with the Zionist regime in Doha. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 14 January 2025 - Day 1056 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 in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 158 combat clashes. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance into the depths of Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression. Russian zagarbniki launched on the territory of Ukraine one missile and 32 aviation strikes, used two missiles and dropped 40 controlled aviation bombs. In addition, about a thousand kamikaze drones were deployed to strike and over four thousand shells were carried out at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian opponent twice stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the area of vovcans ka. In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions in the areas of Nova Kruglyakivka and Tabaivka, where Ukrainian defenders stopped five Russian attacks. In the Lyman direction, Russian invaders 17 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces near the settlements of Kopanka, Grekivka, Novoyegorivka, Rajgorodka, Makiyivka, Zarichne, Terni and Grigorivka. Five clashes are ongoing so far. In the Siversky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 assaults of Russian occupation troops near Bilogorivka, Verkhnyokamiansky, Ivano-Daryivka and Viymki. In the Kramators .komu direction, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the interval, stupocok, predtecinogo and oleksandro-sultinogo. The Defense Forces repelled 14 attacks of the colonizers. Eight times Russians stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the Toretsky direction in the areas of Toretsk and Scherbinivka. In the Pokrovsky direction, from the beginning of this day, Russian forces attacked in the areas of settlements Yantarne, Novotoretske, Beam, Zelene, New Labor, Chunyshine, Zvirove, Uspenivka, Novoandriyivka, Nadiivka, Petropavlivka and Shevchenko. Ukrainian defenders stopped 70 Russian assault actions. Today, according to preliminary data, 300 Russian occupants were defecated in this direction, 166 of them - irrevocably. Also destroyed a tank, 13 vehicles units, 12 motorcycles, two Lancet UFOs, an artillery system, a REB device, antenna control and a satellite. At the same time, two tanks and two Russian cars were damaged. In the Novopavliv direction, Russian forces seven times tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinopil, Velika Novosilka and Neskuchne. The fights are still on. In the Pridnipro direction, the Russian enemy does not abandon trying to knock out Ukrainian units from occupied positions, three unsuccessful attacks of the positions of Ukrainian soldiers were carried out by the Russian aggressor during the day. In the Kurs komu direction since the beginning of the day, there have been 18 boezitknen ., two of which last until now. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the previous night, the AFU launched a missile strike at objects in Bryansk region by six U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six UK-made Storm Shadow air-based cruise missiles, and 31 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles from the territory of Ukraine. During the air defence battle, all air attack means were shot down by air defence crews. There were no casualties or wounded as a result of the attack. In addition, two UK-made Storm Shadow air-based cruise missiles were shot down over the Black Sea waters. These actions of the Kiev regime, supported by Western curators, will not go unanswered. *** In Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of one motorised infantry brigade and two territorial defence brigades close to Liptsy and Volchansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were up to 50 troops, five motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns. Three ammunition depots were destroyed. As a result of decisive actions, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, one airmobile brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Dvurechnaya, Zapadnoye, Zagoruykovka, Boguslavka, Lozovaya (Kharkov region), Ivanovka, and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 600 troops, one tank, eight armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 and one Turkish-made Kirpi armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and five artillery guns, including two NATO-made guns. Three ammunition depots and four electronic warfare stations were wiped out. Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions and defeated formations of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, and one air assault brigade near Konstantinovka, Markovo, Podolskoye, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Minkovka, Yantarnoye, Kramatorsk, Dachnoye, Kurdyumovka, Sukhiye Yaly, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were more than 220 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 and one French-made VAB armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and four artillery guns. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades of the AFU and two national guard brigades close to Shcherbinovka, Shevchenko, Dzerzhinsk, Slavyanka, Novovasilevka, Ukrainka, Solenoye, Vozdvizhenka, Petrovka, Lysovka, Petropavlovka, and Novoyelizavetovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 500 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles. Eight field artillery guns were eliminated. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of the enemy's defences and liberated Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU and three territorial defence brigades close to Konstantinopol, Velikaya Novoselka, Novopol, Bogatyr, Vremevka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novodarovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses were up to 220 troops, seven motor vehicles, two artillery guns, including one 155-mm Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces engaged manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one infantry brigade, and two coastal defence brigades of the AFU close to Veseloye, Novopokrovka, Novoandreyevka, Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region), Pridneprovskoye, and Antonovka (Kherson region). The AFU losses were up to 50 troops, eight motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck power object ensuring operation of a Ukrainian defence industry enterprise, infrastructure of military airfields, as well as engaged clusters of the enemy's manpower and hardware in 148 areas. Air defence units shot down six U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, eight UK-made Storm Shadow air-based cruise missiles, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and 180 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, including 146 outside the special military operation. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 652 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 40,395 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,526 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,508 MLRS combat vehicles, 20,569 field artillery guns and mortars, and 30,255 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one tank brigade, one heavy mechanised brigade, four mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and three territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Viktorovka, Guyevo, Ivashkovsky, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novaya Sorochina, Pogrebki, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye. In addition, three enemy counter-attacks were repelled. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Agronom, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Zamostye, Ivashkovsky, Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Martynovka, Mikhaylovka, Mirny, Nikolsky, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Sverdlikovo, Sudzha, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Veselovka, and Zhuravka in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were over 460 troops, three tanks, two armoured personnel carriers, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, six artillery guns, and one mortar. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 51,900 troops, 303 tanks, 229 infantry fighting vehicles, 168 armoured personnel carriers, 1,561 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,474 motor vehicles, 364 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 93 EW stations, 14 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 30 units of engineering and other materiel, including 15 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, eight 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 Justice Department and FBI Conduct International Operation to Delete Malware Used by China-Backed Hackers Tuesday, January 14, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Court-Authorized Operation Removes PlugX Malware from Over 4,200 Infected U.S. Computers Note: View the affidavit here. The Justice Department and FBI today announced a multi-month law enforcement operation that, alongside international partners, deleted "PlugX" malware from thousands of infected computers worldwide. As described in court documents unsealed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a group of hackers sponsored by the People's Republic of China (PRC), known to the private sector as "Mustang Panda" and "Twill Typhoon," used a version of PlugX malware to infect, control, and steal information from victim computers. According to court documents, the PRC government paid the Mustang Panda group to, among other computer intrusion services, develop this specific version of PlugX. Since at least 2014, Mustang Panda hackers then infiltrated thousands of computer systems in campaigns targeting U.S. victims, as well as European and Asian governments and businesses, and Chinese dissident groups. Despite previous cybersecurity reports, owners of computers still infected with PlugX are typically unaware of the infection. The court-authorized operation announced today remediated U.S.-based computers infected with Mustang Panda's version of PlugX. "The Department of Justice prioritizes proactively disrupting cyber threats to protect U.S. victims from harm, even as we work to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "This operation, like other recent technical operations against Chinese and Russian hacking groups like Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and APT28, has depended on strong partnerships to successfully counter malicious cyber activity. I commend partners in the French government and private sector for spearheading this international operation to defend global cybersecurity." "Leveraging our partnership with French law enforcement, the FBI acted to protect U.S. computers from further compromise by PRC state-sponsored hackers," said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division. "Today's announcement reaffirms the FBI's dedication to protecting the American people by using its full range of legal authorities and technical expertise to counter nation-state cyber threats." "This wide-ranging hack and long-term infection of thousands of Windows-based computers, including many home computers in the United States, demonstrates the recklessness and aggressiveness of PRC state-sponsored hackers," said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. "Working alongside both international and private sector partners, the Department of Justice's court-authorized operation to delete PlugX malware proves its commitment to a 'whole-of-society' approach to protecting U.S. cybersecurity." "The FBI worked to identify thousands of infected U.S. computers and delete the PRC malware on them. The scope of this technical operation demonstrates the FBI's resolve to pursue PRC adversaries no matter where they victimize Americans," said Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office. The international operation was led by French law enforcement and Sekoia.io, a France-based private cybersecurity company, which had identified and reported on the capability to send commands to delete the PlugX version from infected devices. Working with these partners, the FBI tested the commands, confirmed their effectiveness, and determined that they did not otherwise impact the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, infected computers. In August 2024, the Justice Department and FBI obtained the first of nine warrants in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania authorizing the deletion of PlugX from U.S.-based computers. The last of these warrants expired on Jan. 3, 2025, thereby concluding the U.S. portions of the operation. In total, this court-authorized operation deleted PlugX malware from approximately 4,258 U.S.-based computers and networks. The FBI, through the victims' internet service providers, is providing notice to U.S. owners of Windows-based computers affected by this court-authorized operation. The FBI's Philadelphia Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the National Security Cyber Section of Justice Department's National Security Division led the domestic disruption operation. This operation would not have been successful without the valuable collaboration of to the Cyber Division of the Paris Prosecution Office, French Gendarmerie Cyber Unit C3N, and Sekoia.io. The FBI continues to investigate Mustang Panda's computer intrusion activity. If you believe you have a compromised computer or device, please visit the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You may also contact your local FBI field office directly. The FBI strongly encourages the use of anti-virus software as well as the application of software security updates to help prevent reinfection. Topic: National Security Components: Criminal - Office of International Affairs Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern Press Release Number: 25-50 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump would have been convicted if not reelected: Ex-US special counsel Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 3:27 PM The US Justice Department's Special Counsel Jack Smith, who resigned recently, says Donald Trump would have been convicted if he were not reelected president. A report Smith submitted before his resignation to the Department of Justice last week and published on Tuesday concluded that Trump's conviction would have been in connection with his "unprecedented criminal effort" to overturn the 2020 election result. The report details how Smith planned to bring a 4-count indictment against Trump, accusing him of plotting to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 defeat. Trump, according to the document, spread false claims of voter fraud following the 2020 election and pressured state lawmakers not to certify the vote. Trump also sought to use fraudulent groups of electors who pledged to vote for him - in states actually won by Joe Biden - in a bid to stop Congress from certifying Biden's win. Trump's criminal efforts culminated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. On that day, a mob of Trump supporters stormed Congress in a failed attempt to stop lawmakers from certifying the vote. The Smith report underscores that evidence would have been enough to convict Trump but his imminent return to the presidency made that impossible. A separate volume of the Smith report details Trump's illegal retaining of top secret documents at his home after leaving the White House in 2021. But the Justice Department has decided not to make that portion public while legal proceedings continue against two Trump associates charged in the case. Trump and his two former co-defendants in the classified documents case sought to block the release of the report days before he is set to return to office - on January 20. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which include conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion among others. He says the 37 counts of criminal cases are politically motivated. Smith dropped both cases against Trump after he won the 2024 election, citing a longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. During the Trump investigations, led by Smith, which started in November 2022, the Special Counsel was subjected to numerous attacks by Trump. Trump regularly assailed the Special Counsel as "deranged." After the release of Smith's report, Trump in a post on his Truth Social site labeled the Special Counsel a "lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election." Even before Trump's reelection, Smith's case faced legal barriers as it was paused for months while Trump pressed his claim that he could not be prosecuted for official actions taken during his time in office as president. The Supreme Court's conservative majority largely sided with Trump. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DHS Announces Addition of 37 PRC-Based Companies to UFLPA Entity List Release Date: January 14, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force (FLETF), announced the addition of 37 entities to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, marking the largest single expansion of the list to date. Among entities added are a large supplier of critical minerals and one of the world's largest textile manufacturers, both linked to forced labor practices in the People's Republic of China (PRC). This addition brings the total number of entities on the UFLPA Entity List to 144, representing significant progress in three years since the law was passed. These significant efforts reflect the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to eliminating forced labor from our global supply chains and protecting U.S. consumers and businesses from tainted goods. "In adding 37 companies to the UFLPA Entities List and bringing the total to nearly 150, we again demonstrate our relentless fight against the cruelty of forced labor, our unwavering commitment to basic human rights, and our tireless defense of a free, fair, and competitive market," said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. "With each addition to the UFLPA Entity List, we are building momentum and showing that our efforts are sustainable and enduring in eradicating forced labor in our nation's supply chains," said Acting Under Secretary for Policy, Robert Paschall. "This largest-ever batch of additions reinforces that we are implementing the full force of this law, making impactful updates to the UFLPA Entity List, and enhancing U.S. Customs and Border Protection's enforcement capabilities." The entities added today include globally recognized companies that mine and process Xinjiang's critical minerals, that grow Xinjiang cotton and manufacture textiles for global export, and that manufacture inputs for solar modules with polysilicon made in Xinjiang. The FLETF, chaired by DHS, has made significant strides in identifying and targeting nearly 150 companies benefiting from forced labor in just three years of enforcement of the UFLPA. This latest addition reflects the growing sophistication and maturity of the FLETF's work and enhances CBP's enforcement capabilities to protect U.S. markets. These actions are part of the FLETF's commitment to eliminating forced labor in U.S. supply chains and holding accountable those responsible for human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The UFLPA has been a key instrument for the Biden-Harris administration in combating forced labor and safeguarding supply chains. Through these initiatives, the administration prioritizes ethical sourcing, reinforces workers' rights around the globe, and empowers consumers to make informed, values-based choices, underscoring a commitment to a fairer global trade system. Taken together, the Department's efforts are protecting American businesses from unfair competition and helping them source ethically, and ensuring that American consumers can better trust the integrity of the products they purchase. Effective January 15, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by the named 37 entities will be prohibited from entering the United States as a result of the companies' activities, either sourcing materials from the XUAR or working with the government of Xinjiang to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, or receive Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the XUAR. Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.: Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd. ("Donghai JA Solar") is a solar energy technology company located in Jiangsu Province, China, that focuses on the research and development of solar energy products and the production of silicon rods, wafers, ingots, and solar cell modules. Donghai JA Solar also imports and exports various commodities and technologies. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Donghai JA Solar sources polysilicon from the XUAR. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including corporate reporting and other publicly available information, indicates that Donghai JA Solar sources polysilicon from a polysilicon producer located in the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Donghai JA Solar satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). Hongyuan Green Energy Co., Ltd. (also known as HY Solar; and Hoyuan Green Energy Co. Ltd., and formerly known as Wuxi Shangji CNC Co., Ltd.; Wuxi Shangji Automation Co., Ltd.; and Wuxi Shangji Grinding Machine Co., Ltd.) and Hongyuan New Materials (Baotou) Co., Ltd.: Hongyuan Green Energy Co., Ltd ("Hongyuan Green Energy") is a vertically integrated green energy manufacturing company located in Jiangsu Province, China, with several major business segments that include high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy power stations, and the production of industrial and crystalline silicon, silicon wafers, batteries, and modules. Hongyuan New Materials (Baotou) Co., Ltd. ("Hongyuan New Materials") is a subsidiary of Hongyuan Green Energy, located in Baotou City, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which produces photovoltaic monocrystalline silicon. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Hongyuan Green Energy and its subsidiary, Hongyuan New Materials, source polysilicon from the XUAR. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including corporate procurement agreement announcements and other publicly available information, indicates that both Hongyuan Green Energy and Hongyuan New Materials source polysilicon from suppliers in the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Hongyuan Green Energy and Hongyuan New Materials satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). 26 Entities in the Cotton Sector: The FLETF has identified Huafu Fashion Co., Ltd. ("Huafu") and 25 of its subsidiaries as entities engaged in the production and sale of cotton and cotton products. Huafu maintains a vertically integrated supply chain from cotton planting in the XUAR, processing, and yarn spinning through textiles manufacturing. Twenty-two of these subsidiaries are located in the XUAR, and three are located in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. The FLETF has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that the entities source cotton or cotton-based products from the XUAR. This information has been corroborated by publicly available sources. Given this evidence, the FLETF determined that activities of these entities satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). The 26 entities are: Huafu Fashion Co., Ltd. Ningbo Huafu Donghao Industrial Co., Ltd. Ninghai Huafu Textile Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Weixin Trading Co., Ltd. Aksu Huafu Color Spinning Co., Ltd. (also known as: Aksu Huafu Textiles Co., Ltd. Akesu Huafu, Aksu Huafu Dyed Melange Yarn, and Akesu Huafu Melange Yarn Co., Ltd.) Aksu Biaoxin Fiber Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Aksu Shangheng Fiber Co., Ltd.) Xinjiang Huafu Textile Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Huafu Hengfeng Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Kuche Zongheng Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Huafu Hongfeng Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. Shaya Yinhua Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Awati Huafu Textile Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Huafu Color Spinning Group Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Huafu Cotton Industry Group Co., Ltd. Shihezi Standard Fiber Co., Ltd. Shihezi Huafu Hongfeng Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Shihezi Huafu Hongsheng Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Tianhong Xinba Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. (also known as Xinjiang Tianhong New Eight Cotton Industry Co., Ltd.) Huyanghe Huafu Hongsheng Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Liufu Textile Industrial Park Co., Ltd. Kuitun Jinfu Textile Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Tianfu Cotton Supply Chain Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Cotton Industry Group Yuepu Lake Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Cotton Industry Group Jiashi Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Zefu Cotton Co., Ltd. Xinjiang Shengfu Cotton Industry Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Meike Solar Technology Co., Ltd. and Baotou Meike Silicon Energy Co., Ltd.: Jiangsu Meike Solar Technology Co., Ltd. ("Jiangsu Meike"), located in Jiangsu Province, China, manufactures silicon rods and wafers. Baotou Meike Silicon Energy Co., Ltd. ("Baotou Meike") is a subsidiary of Jiangsu Meike located in Baotou City in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, that manufactures silicon rods and wafers. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Jiangsu Meike and Baotou Meike source polysilicon from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including corporate procurement agreement disclosures and other publicly available information, indicates that Jiangsu Meike and Baotou Meike source polysilicon from polysilicon producers located in the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Jiangsu Meike and Baotou Meike satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). Shuangliang Silicon Materials (Batou) Co., Ltd.: Shuangliang Silicon Materials (Batou) Co., Ltd. ("Shuangliang Silicon") is a company located in Batou City, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, that researches, develops, processes, manufactures and sells single crystal silicon rods and wafers. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Shuangliang Silicon sources polysilicon from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including corporate procurement agreement announcements and other publicly available information, indicates that Shuangliang Silicon sources polysilicon from polysilicon producers located in the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Shuangliang Silicon satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). Xinjiang Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Energy (Group) Real Estate Co., Ltd.: Xinjiang Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Xinjiang Energy (Group) Real Estate Co., Ltd. are located in Urumqi, XUAR. Xinjiang Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. ("Xinjiang Energy") is principally engaged in the development and utilization of coal, wind, photovoltaic, oil and gas, and other resources. Xinjiang Energy (Group) Real Estate Co., Ltd. ("Xinjiang Energy Real Estate") is principally engaged in real estate development and property management. Xinjiang Energy is a wholly state-owned enterprise, funded by the People's Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and directly supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the XUAR. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Xinjiang Energy and Xinjiang Energy Real Estate work with the government of the XUAR to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, or receive Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates Xinjiang Energy and Xinjiang Energy Real Estate, as a wholly state-owned entity, and subsidiary of a state-owned entity, repeatedly participated in the transfer and receipt of ethnic minorities from the XUAR, likely Uyghurs and Kazakhs, through state-sponsored labor transfer programs in Hotan Prefecture and Barkol County. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Xinjiang Energy (Group) Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Xinjiang Energy (Group) Real Estate Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii). Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Jinbao Mining Co., Ltd.: Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Jinbao Mining Co., Ltd. are Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. subsidiaries, located in the XUAR that primarily focus on smelting and producing refined zinc and sulfuric acid and iron mining, respectively. The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Jinbao Mining Co., Ltd. work with the government of the XUAR to recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, or receive ethnic minorities, likely Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz, and/or members of other persecuted groups out of XUAR. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates that Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Jinbao Mining Co., Ltd. have participated in the transfer and recruitment of ethnic minorities from the XUAR, likely including Kazakhs and Kyrgyz through poverty alleviation and recruitment programs. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Jinbao Mining Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii). Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd.: Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. is a global mining company located in Fujian Province, and three of its subsidiaries Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd., are located in the XUAR. Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. ("Zijin Mining"), is principally engaged in the exploration and extraction of metals, including zinc, copper, lead, silver, gold, iron ore, and sulfuric acid. Zijin Mining owns and sources material from at least three mines and smelters in Xinjiang, which are operated by the company's various subsidiaries. These include the Ashele Copper Mine operated by Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd. (Ashele Copper), the Wulagen Lead and Zinc Mine operated by Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Co., Ltd. (Zijin Zinc), and the Xinjiang Zijin Nonferrous Zinc Smelter operated by Xinjiang Zijin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. (Zijin Nonferrous). The United States Government has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that Zijin Mining, Ashele Copper, Zijin Zinc, and Zijin Nonferrous source material, specifically zinc, copper, lead, silver, and sulfuric acid, from the XUAR. Information reviewed by the FLETF, including publicly available information, indicates that Zijin Mining, Ashele Copper, Zijin Zinc, and Zijin Nonferrous have established mines and production sites in the XUAR, and source zinc, copper, lead, silver, and sulfuric acid from the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Zinc Industry Co., Ltd., Xinjiang Zijin Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v). Xinjiang Habahe Ashele Copper Co., Ltd. (also known as Ashele Copper) is currently on the UFLPA Entity List under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii) and will appear on both sub-lists. In addition to the 37 new entities, the FLETF made a technical correction to the name of an entity included in the list under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(ii), changing the listing from "Aksu Huafu Textiles Co. (including two aliases: Akesu Huafu and Aksu Huafu Dyed Melange Yarn)" to "Aksu Huafu Color Spinning Co., Ltd. (also known as Aksu Huafu Textiles Co., Ltd.; Akesu Huafu; Aksu Huafu Dyed Melange Yarn; and Akesu Huafu Melange Yarn Co., Ltd.)." DHS will publish the revised UFLPA Entity List as an appendix to a Federal Register notice. The UFLPA, signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in December 2021, mandates that CBP apply a rebuttable presumption that goods that are either mined, produced or manufactured wholly or in part in the XUAR or produced by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List are prohibited from importation into the United States, unless the Commissioner of CBP determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the goods were not produced with forced labor. CBP began enforcing the UFLPA in June 2022. Since then, CBP has reviewed more than 11,300 shipments valued at more than $3.67 billion under the UFLPA. This expansion of the UFLPA Entity List reflects DHS' and the FLETF's prioritization of combatting the introduction of forced labor into U.S. supply chains. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China lambasts Biden administration's new AI rules Global Times US move raises concern of 'new tech Cold War,' while China promotes global cooperation: FM By Wang Cong and Zhang Weilan Published: Jan 14, 2025 10:20 PM China's Foreign Ministry (FM) on Tuesday lambasted new rules issued by US President Joe Biden's administration that reportedly aim to keep advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips and technology out of China, as the country vowed to take firm measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies. On Monday US time, the Biden administration issued an Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion, which encourages the diffusion of US AI technology by US "key allies and partners." It also constrains "countries of concern" from accessing advanced AI systems and the computing power used to train them, according to a fact sheet published by the White House. Although the fact sheet did not name specific countries, US media outlets, including The New York Times, said that the new US rules are aimed at barring China from obtaining AI technology from other countries, as the US has previously banned such sales. Notably, it is the "largest-scale and final" chip export restrictions during Biden's tenure, China Media Group reported on Tuesday. Firm opposition The move immediately drew swift and harsh criticism from China. Asked to comment on the US move at a regular press conference on Tuesday, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the FM, stressed that the US has been overstretching the concept of national security, politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues, and abusing export controls to maliciously suppress China. "China firmly opposes the US decision and will take firm measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies." Guo further pointed out that AI is humanity's common asset, and should not become "a game for the rich countries and the wealthy" or be used to generate another development divide. To maintain its supremacy, the US chooses to split the world into tiers, granting access to countries that are "close" and barring access to "the rest." "The real purpose is to deprive developing countries, including China, of the right to make their own progress in science and development," Guo said, adding that this kind of roadblock strategy hurts the global common interest of promoting AI for good, and has triggered concerns from various quarters about a new tech Cold War from the US. According to the White House fact sheet, no restrictions apply to chip sales to 18 "key allies and partners," while the rule takes significant steps against "countries of concern." In stark contrast, China has been actively promoting global cooperation on AI. In July 2024, the 78th UN General Assembly adopted a China-led resolution on enhancing international AI cooperation, with over 140 countries supporting it. This milestone decision not only underscores the global consensus on AI governance but also highlights China's pivotal role in driving international AI collaboration, according to the Xinhua News Agency. "China will continue to work with all parties to embrace openness, connectivity and equality instead of building walls, decoupling and discrimination, create an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment for AI development that is beneficial to all, and make sure that all countries can access the benefit of AI," Guo said at the press briefing on Tuesday. On Monday night, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce also slammed the US administration for ignoring strong opposition from the US tech industry to issue the new rule. "The Biden administration's abuse of export control measures severely obstructs normal trade exchanges between countries, significantly undermines market rules and the international trade order, greatly impacts global technological innovation, and seriously harms the interests of companies worldwide, including those in the US," a spokesperson for the ministry said. The Biden administration's move drew widespread criticism from the US tech industry. In a statement on Monday, US AI chip giant Nvidia blasted what it calls "the Biden Administration's Misguided 'AI Diffusion' Rule." It added that "while cloaked in the guise of an 'anti-China' measure, these rules would do nothing to enhance US security." The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), which has already expressed firm opposition to the new rules before they were published, said in a statement on Monday that the new export controls threaten to discourage the use of US technology. Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that although the US restrictions target countries like China, they will not bode well for the US' own companies. "These restrictions will backfire on US companies such as Nvidia, because the Chinese application market is enormous," Lu told the Global Times on Tuesday. 'Futile attempt' Some Chinese industry representatives have also slammed the US move. The latest AI restrictions are a "futile attempt" that will not impede China's rapid progress in AI or stop the pace of China's technological development, according to Hu Ming, deputy general manager of CCCC (Zhongwei) Big Data Technology Co. "Such restrictions do not carry much significance. While they may result in temporary disruptions, they are likely to spur China's pursuit of self-reliance in chip and AI development," Hu told the Global Times on Tuesday. "These restrictions may temporarily slow down China's development in AI, but they will also strengthen China's resolve and commitment to independently develop high-performance computing chips." While the US has framed these restrictions as part of a global chip control measure, their impact on China is expected to be minimal, given the country's vast application scenarios for training and enhancing AI capabilities - a resource unavailable to the US, Hu noted. China has been focusing on addressing challenges in computational power, AI, and chip manufacturing. For instance, the Global Times reporters learned from Phytium Technology Co, a leading independent core chip provider based in Tianjin, that the company has achieved breakthroughs in key technologies, including on-chip parallel microprocessor architecture, large-scale integrated circuit design, and inherent security architecture. To date, Phytium's self-produced graphics processing units (GPUs) have sold over 10 million units, providing core computational support for devices ranging from endpoints to cloud services, representing a major leap from "functional" to "high-performance" domestic CPUs, according to the information the company shared with the Global Times. While the US has and will likely continue to crack down on Chinese technological industries such as AI, "in the long run, the US' restrictions are not that significant. There will always be competition and even crackdown in competing for the leading position. However, even the harsh crackdown measures will not stop China's technological development," an executive of a chip firm based in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong, who requested to be identified as Zhou, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Zhou said that Chinese firms should view the US' moves objectively and make adjustments. "It is imperative to develop high-performance computing chips that are independently developed and controlled," Zhou said. Lu also said that while the US restrictions may slow down China's progress in some areas, it will not stop China from catching up. "It is just matter of time before China catches up or even takes the lead. And it is possible there will be a shift in the race lane [in which China will take the lead]," Lu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM responds to Biden's remarks that China will 'never surpass' US in economy Global Times By Wang Qi Published: Jan 14, 2025 10:46 PM In his meeting with President Biden in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping reviewed the experiences from the past four years and listed the inspirations that can be drawn from them, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday said it is hoped the US will bear them in mind and work with China in this direction. Guo made the remarks in response to a media inquiry on US President Joe Biden's farewell foreign policy address which mentioned China, and claimed that China will "never surpass" US in economy. On Monday local time, the outgoing President Biden has delivered a speech reviewing and defending his administration's foreign policy in the last four years, highlighting topics like China-US relations, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East situations as well as alliance and partnership in Europe and "Indo-Pacific." In terms of China, Biden said that "but even while we compete vigorously, we've managed our relationship with China responsibly so it's never tipped over into conflict," according to Politico. The US president also noted that experts once expected China's economy to surpass America's. "Now, according to the latest predictions, on China's current course, they will never surpass us," he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Tuesday that "during the past four years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but have remained stable on the whole." Under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, the two sides established through consultation several guiding principles for bilateral ties, engaged in dialogue and cooperation, resumed and created over 20 mechanisms of communication, and achieved outcomes in some areas, Guo said, "at the same time, China stood firm by its principles, safeguarded its sovereignty, security, and development interests, and responded to the US's wrong actions with resolute countermeasures." In his meeting with President Biden in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping reviewed the experiences from the past four years and listed the inspirations that can be drawn from them, namely, to have a correct strategic perception, match words with actions, treat each other as equals, not to challenge red lines and paramount principles, conduct more dialogue and cooperation, respond to the expectations of the people, and step forward to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, Guo said. We hope the US will bear them in mind and work with China in this direction, Guo urged. Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the design of the US' China policy has a strong sense of competition and zero-sum game mentality, which is unhealthy. In contrast, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson's remarks highlighted China's holistic view in dealing with China-US relations and the concept of win-win cooperation, while also clearly demonstrating the determination to firmly defend its own interests, Li said. "In other words, cooperation between the two sides will be win-win and mutually beneficial only if the US side respects China's legitimate and lawful right to development," Li said. "Biden administration's poor handling US' relations with China, in turn, may have become the catalyst for the aggravation of the US domestic crisis," Li said. While Biden touted his administration is "winning the worldwide competition," the Guardian commented that the Biden administration "has spent much of its time and political capital abroad attempting to contain a series of foreign wars and crises in which it has seemed impotent to impose its will." "If this is winning, many Americans may struggle to imagine what losing would look like," the British media commented. Biden gave himself a high score on foreign policy in his address, but this is far from the objective reality, considering the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict, expanding chaos and humanitarian disasters in the Middle East, the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the risky approach against China, said Liu Weidong, a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Through a self-boasting address, Biden was, for one, making it clear that he wants to leave a political legacy and is trying to keep the next administration from drastically modifying it, and for another, he is trying to assure the world, especially allies, that the US is a responsible country and they shouldn't lose faith in the US because of the upcoming administration," Liu noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM responds to Biden's remarks that China will 'never surpass' US in economy Global Times By Global Times Published: Jan 14, 2025 05:22 PM A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said the US should draw lessons from the course of bilateral relations and work together with China toward the same direction, in response to a media inquiry on US President Joe Biden's farewell foreign policy address which mentioned China. On Monday local time, the outgoing President Biden has delivered a speech reviewing and defending his administration's foreign policy in the last four years, highlighting topics like China-US relations, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Middle East situations as well as alliance and partnership in Europe and "Indo-Pacific." In terms of China, Biden said that "But even while we compete vigorously, we've managed our relationship with China responsibly so it's never tipped over into conflict," according to Politico. The US president also noted that experts once expected China's economy to surpass America's. "Now, according to the latest predictions, on China's current course, they will never surpass us," he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Tuesday that "despite ups and downs over the past four years, China-US relations have achieved overall stability." Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the teams of the two sides have worked out some guiding principles for China-US relations through consultation, carried out dialogue and cooperation, restored or established more than 20 communication mechanisms, and achieved results in some areas, Guo said, "At the same time, China has always adhered to principles, resolutely upheld its own sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely and forcefully countered the wrong actions of the US side," according to Guo. Guo mentioned that during the meeting between the two head of state in Lima in November 2024, President Xi Jinping has insightfully listed seven experiences and inspirations that the two countries should draw from the course of their relations. The seven experiences and inspirations include to have a correct strategic perception, match words with actions, treat each other as equals, not to challenge red lines and paramount principles, conduct more dialogue and cooperation, respond to the expectations of the people, and step forward to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry. We hope that the US side will earnestly learn from it and work with China toward the same direction, Guo said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on January 14, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: January 14, 2025 19:53 China News Service: The Commerce Department of the US issued new measures on AI export control. What's China's comment? Guo Jiakun: The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce has responded to that. Let me stress that the US has been overstretching the concept of national security, politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues, and abusing export controls to maliciously suppress China. This has seriously sabotaged market rules and the international economic and trade order, destabilized global industrial and supply chain, and damaged the interests of China, the US and the business community in countries around the world. China firmly opposes the US decision and will take firm measures to safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies. AI is humanity's common asset, and should not become "a game for the rich countries and the wealthy" or be used to generate another development divide. To maintain its supremacy, the US chooses to split the world into tiers, granting access to countries that are "close" and barring access to "the rest." The real purpose is to deprive developing countries, including China, of the right to make their own progress in science and development. This kind of roadblock strategy hurts the global common interest of promoting AI for good, and has triggered concerns from various quarters about a new tech Cold War from the US. Many US tech companies and industry associations have spoken loud and clear against the measures announced by the Biden administration. China is an active advocate and practitioner of AI global governance. We put forward the Global Initiative for AI Governance, facilitated UNGA adoption by consensus of the resolution on AI capacity-building, and established the group of friends for international cooperation on AI capacity-building. China will continue to work with all parties to embrace openness, connectivity and equality instead of building walls, decoupling and discrimination, create an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment for AI development that is beneficial to all, and make sure that all countries can access the benefit of AI. AFP: A spokesman for the Philippines' National Security Council said today that China's deployment this month of a coast guard vessel in the South China Sea demonstrates Beijing's increasing aggression. The spokesman described the Chinese vessel as a "monster ship" that was engaging in intimidation tactics intended to discourage Filipino fishing. Does the Foreign Ministry have a response to this? Guo Jiakun: We have responded to similar questions multiple times. Let me reiterate that China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history, and are solidly grounded in history and the law and compliant with the international law and practice. China Coast Guard (CCG) conducts patrols and law enforcement activities in relevant waters in accordance with the law, which is fully justified. We call on the Philippines once again to immediately stop all infringement activities, provocations and false accusations, and stop all its actions that jeopardize peace and stability and complicate the situation in the South China Sea. Global Times: The Global Times recently published a global public survey conducted among over 51,000 respondents in 46 countries. The survey found that more than 90 percent of foreign respondents believe that China's economy will continue to grow in the next decade, nearly 60 percent believe that China is a major driving force of world economic growth, 63 percent of foreign respondents express a favorable opinion of China, and in terms of different country groups, African countries hold the highest favorable view of China, reaching 84 percent. Nearly 70 percent of overseas respondents look to China to participate in international affairs more and play a greater role. What's your comment on the survey? Guo Jiakun: I noted this survey. The figures speak to growing friendships with China around the world. As the world's second largest economy, China is committed to high-quality development and high-standard opening up and has long been a top contributor to global economic growth. As the biggest developing country, China belongs to the Global South and its heart and roots are with the Global South. China supports Global South countries in pursuing development and making life better for their people. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China advocates true multilateralism, keeps its position fair and just and plays a constructive role in seeking a political settlement on hotspot issues. This has earned China wide recognition from the international community. No matter how the world may evolve, China will remain a force for peace, growth, progress and good, and will continue working with other countries for a world of greater peace, shared prosperity, mutual learning among civilizations and a community with a shared future for mankind. Bloomberg: Germany is going to give its armed forces the ability to shoot down unidentified suspected drones that are suspected of targeting for example military bases, industrial facilities and other critical infrastructure. The German cabinet is expected to pass this on Wednesday. This is according to people familiar. My question is why it does not name any specific countries? It's said that the main suspected culprits are Russia and China. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this move by Germany to give its armed forces the ability to shoot down unidentified suspected drones? Guo Jiakun: I'm not familiar with what you mentioned. Let me reiterate that we firmly oppose groundless speculations and false accusations against China from relevant parties. The Paper: Yesterday, the General Office of China's State Council released a list of measures to foster new growth drivers to boost spending in the culture and tourism sectors. One of the measures is to improve inbound travel policies, including gradually rolling out unilateral visa-free policies to more countries. Recently, China's visa exemption policies have given a boost to inbound travel. In particular, since the start of the year, "China Travel" has kept trending, and a good number of foreign tourists spent their New Year's Eve in China. It's estimated by some travel agencies that the number of travel bookings for the Spring Festival this year will increase by 203 percent year-on-year compared with 2024. What's your comment? Guo Jiakun: As China includes more countries in its visa waiver program and improves facilitation measures, the arrivals of foreign tourists have kept rising. In 2024, the number of inbound and outbound travels by foreign nationals stood at 64.882 million, up by 82.9 percent year-on-year. Among them, 20.115 million entered China visa-free, up by 112.3 percent year-on-year. During the just concluded New Year holiday, arrivals of foreign nationals grew by 34 percent year-on-year. With the Chinese New Year of the Snake half a month away, which is the first Spring Festival since the inscription of the festival on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, we welcome foreign tourists to join China's celebration of the Spring Festival, experience the joy of the Chinese New Year, feel the warmth of Chinese hospitality, and usher in an auspicious Year of the Snake. Dragon TV: It's reported that on January 12, during normal operation, the Wolseong No.2 nuclear power plant in the North Gyeongsang province of the ROK released about 29 tonnes of liquid waste of a storage tank into the sea without prior sample analysis. Staff at the power plant shut the tank's outlet valve right after finding it being open. According to the analysis of samples from the liquid left in the tank, the concentration of radioactive substances were at normal levels. What's China's comment on the leakage of the ROK nuclear power plant? Guo Jiakun: China noted the incident. From what has been disclosed, the ROK has taken emergency response steps. China will follow closely the follow-ups to the incident. AFP: Outgoing US President Joe Biden said yesterday in a speech that China would never surpass the United States. He also noted that Washington had managed its ties with Beijing during his four years as President and the relationship "never tipped over into conflict." Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on Biden's speech? Guo Jiakun: During the past four years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but have remained stable on the whole. Under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, the two sides established through consultation several guiding principles for bilateral ties, engaged in dialogue and cooperation, resumed and created over 20 mechanisms of communication, and achieved outcomes in some areas. At the same time, China stood firm by its principles, safeguarded its sovereignty, security, and development interests, and responded to the US's wrong actions with resolute countermeasures. In his meeting with President Biden in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping reviewed the experiences from the past four years and listed the inspirations that can be drawn from them, namely, to have a correct strategic perception, match words with actions, treat each other as equals, not to challenge red lines and paramount principles, conduct more dialogue and cooperation, respond to the expectations of the people, and step forward to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries. We hope the US will bear them in mind and work with China in this direction. NBC: Is China or relevant departments concerned considering any concrete foreign assistance and sympathies for the fight against the still-burning wildfires in Los Angeles now considered as the most catastrophic in the US history? Guo Jiakun: We mourn for the lives lost in the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles area, and express sympathies to those who are injured, their families and those who have lost loved ones to the fire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kong police question wife, son of wanted exiled pollster UK-based pollster Chung Kim-wah is wanted by police for violating Hong Kong's national security laws. By Chen Zifei and Yam Chi Yau 2025.01.14 -- Police in Hong Kong on Tuesday took away and questioned the wife and son of U.K.-based pollster and outspoken political commentator Chung Kim-wah, who has a bounty on his head amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent under two security laws. Police took away Chung's wife and son from their home on Tuesday morning "to assist in a national security police investigation," according to multiple local media reports. Chung, 64, a former researcher for the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute left for the U.K. in April 2022 after being questioned amid a city-wide crackdown on public dissent and political opposition to the ruling Chinese Communist Party. He is accused -- alongside Carmen Lau, Tony Chung, Joseph Tay and Chloe Cheung -- of "incitement to secession" after he "advocated independence" on social media and repeatedly called on foreign governments to impose sanctions on Beijing over the crackdown, according to a police announcement. "I don't really know how to explain this -- I can't read their minds," he told RFA Cantonese in an interview on Tuesday, after his wife and son were questioned. "Some say that maybe they're sending some kind of a signal to intimidate us," he said. "I don't want to speculate on that." But he said a "capable and responsible" government should also be able to deal with public opinion research. "[They] should understand that public opinion actually exists, regardless of how you deal with it," he said. "A capable government should be able to face up that, and deal with it." The Institute has published a number of politically sensitive reports in recent years, including poor popularity scores for the city's leaders, and people's perceptions of disappearing press freedom. Police announced a warrant for Chung Kim-wah's arrest and a HK$1 million (US$128,400) bounty on his head in December, making him one of 19 overseas activists wanted by the Hong Kong government. Since Beijing imposed two national security laws banning public opposition and dissent in the city, blaming "hostile foreign forces" for the protests, hundreds of thousands have voted with their feet amid plummeting human rights rankings, shrinking press freedom and widespread government propaganda in schools. Some fled to the United Kingdom on the British National Overseas, or BNO, visa program. Others have made their homes anew in the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany. Many are continuing their activism and lobbying activists, yet they struggle with exile in some way, worrying about loved ones back home while facing threats to their personal safety from supporters of Beijing overseas. 'Intimidation' tactics The questioning of Chung's family members came after national security police raided the home of the current head of the Institute, Robert Chung, to investigate whether he or the organization had provided any kind of assistance to Chung Kim-wah. Chung Kim-wah told RFA Cantonese by text message that he hadn't had any contact of any kind with Robert Chung since he left Hong Kong, other than a holiday greeting message. He said the move could be a bid to intimidate the Institute ahead of its current research project on public opinion among Hong Kongers both in Hong Kong and overseas. National security police also said they had "conducted a surprise search on Jan. 13 based on a court warrant at a residential building and a commercial building unit on Hong Kong Island." While police declined to identify the person, he is widely assumed to have been the Institute's current CEO, Robert Chung. "The investigation believes that someone is suspected of using his organization to assist a wanted person who has fled overseas to continue to engage in acts endangering national security," they said in a statement on the Hong Kong government website. Police seized a batch of evidence, including computers, tablet devices, mobile phones and bank documents, and also "invited" a director and two staff members of the Institute to the police station to assist in the investigation, the statement said. No arrests have yet been made in the investigation. Ongoing investigation Secretary for Security Chris Tang told journalists on Tuesday: "Whether or not this person or his organization assisted absconders has nothing to do with the research conducted by that organization." "We will only discover the truth through investigation," he said. Asked if public opinion researchers should now be worried about prosecution under the city's national security legislation, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee warned people not to "contact, help or support" anyone who commits "crimes endangering national security." "As long as they do their work professionally and realistically and do not have any intention of endangering national security, I believe they can carry on their daily activities with peace of mind," he told journalists on Tuesday. Robert Chung told journalists on Jan. 9 that he had considered shutting down the Institute, but decided that it was better to continue for as long as it was allowed. "I think, as a scientist and an intellectual, that I should speak the truth ... so we should do that because we are allowed to continue to search for such truth as we can find," he said. He said he had had "little contact" with Chung Kim-wah since he left Hong Kong. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 China's exports spike ahead of Trump inauguration, tariff fears Exports to the US rise by 15.6% in December year-on-year as companies rush to avoid expected tariffs. By Huang Chun-mei for RFA Mandarin 2025.01.14 -- Chinese exports to the United States spiked by more than 15% year-on-year in December, on the back of a rush to export ahead of widely expected tariff hikes under the incoming Trump administration. Chinese exports to the U.S. rose by 15.6% in December compared to the same time last year, while exports to the European Union rose by 8.8%. Outbound shipments to Southeast Asia rose by nearly 19%. Total exports rose by 10.7% in dollar terms, compared with the same month in 2023, the General Administration of Customs reported on Jan. 13, while imports rose by just 1%. Xi has said he's ready to work with the Trump administration, but has also warned that both countries stand to "lose from confrontation," as Trump announced plans to impose tariffs of at least 60% on Chinese imports. China's exports are likely to remain strong in the near-term as businesses try to "front-run" potentially higher tariffs, analysts said. "The external environment is more complex right now, with more uncertainty and unstable factors," the administration's deputy director Wang Lingjun told a news conference in Beijing. "There is increased impact from geopolitical factors, unilateralism and protectionism," Wang said, in a reference to President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to impose tariffs of 60% on Chinese goods across the board. "There are severe challenges to stable foreign trade growth," he added. Companies face pressure Chen Soong-hsing, adjunct professor at the Institute of National Development at Taiwan's Chinese Culture University, said Chinese exports surged in the second half of 2024, as companies rushed to get their goods into the U.S. before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. "The Trump administration is about to take office, and the United States may implement new tariffs," Chen said. "There is also the psychological expectation that Congress will pass a bill canceling China's normal trading status." Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, introduced the Restoring Trade Fairness Act to the House in November, seeking to suspend China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate earlier in the year by Senators Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio and Josh Hawley. Yet prices charged by exporters have remained low, Chen said. "[This] shows that many Chinese companies are still facing pressure to cut prices and destock," he said. "Trade front-loading became more visible in December as a result of both Chinese New Year effects and Donald Trump's inauguration," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told Reuters, in a reference to the Lunar New Year, which runs from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4. "Import growth could be underpinned by stockpiling of commodities like copper and iron ore, as part of (China's) 'buy low' strategy," he added. China's cumulative trade surplus with the United States will be US$270.4 billion in 2024, according to November figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with US$279.1 billion for the whole of 2023, and US$382.1 billion in 2022. Auto exports Meanwhile, China's auto exports are estimated to slow notably this year after holding the export crown for a second year in 2024, with no growth predicted for electric vehicle exports, Reuters reported on Jan. 9. With car exports up 25% to 4.8 million units, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association data, China probably ranked as the world's largest auto exporter ahead of Japan for a second consecutive year in 2024 despite additional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles the European Union introduced in late October, the report said. "Outbound shipments are likely to stay resilient in the near-term, supported by further gains in global market share thanks to a weak real effective exchange rate," the Associated Press quoted a note from Zichun Huang of Capital Economics as saying. But exports will likely weaken later in the year if Trump follows through on his threat to impose tariffs, Huang said. Chen said yuan depreciation could help exports, but that the People's Bank of China has been issuing bonds in Hong Kong to mop up some of the "hot" speculative funds and cracking down on short selling of the yuan, to keep the currency within its desired range. "Future China-U.S. trade negotiations will involve exchange rate issues," Chen told Radio Free Asia. "During the negotiations, the United States will be concerned about whether China is expanding exports through deliberate devaluation and unfair subsidies." "This may prompt China to slow down relevant policy adjustments to avoid greater impact on external export competition," he said, adding that yuan depreciation also puts pressure on the currencies of other export-oriented economies in Asia like Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Manufacturing capacity The U.S. will also continue to press China on concerns of excess manufacturing capacity, accusing Beijing of " flooding" markets by heavily subsidizing products like electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and solar panels to revive economic and export growth, according to Chen. Beijing has repeatedly denied the claims. "There is no China overcapacity issue that is a false proposition," Wang Lingjun told the Jan. 13 news conference in Beijing. Chung Chih-tung, assistant researcher at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said China's economy has been largely created and stratified by government policy, which has plowed huge resources into specific industries, particularly green energy and electric vehicles, as well as cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence and semiconductors. "Such a system also exposes them to downside risks, such as the failure to achieve their goals despite huge investments in semiconductors," Chung said. "This is due to corruption in the system, and errors in policy." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 Certification of Rescission of Cuba's Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism January 14, 2025 Certification of Rescission of Cuba's Designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States, and consistent with sections 1754(c) and 1768(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c) and 4826(c)), I hereby certify with respect to the rescission of the determination of January 12, 2021, regarding Cuba that: (i) The Government of Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period; and (ii) The Government of Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future. This certification shall also satisfy the provisions of section 620A(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371(c)(2)), section 40(f)(1)(B) of the Arms Export Control Act, Public Law 90-629, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2780 (f)(1)(B)), and, to the extent applicable, section 6(j)(4)(B) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, Public Law 96-72, as amended (50 U.S.C. App.2405(j)), and as continued in effect by Executive Order 13222 of August 17, 2001. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. THE WHITE HOUSE, January 14, 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea conducts missile tests days before Trump takes office Trump launched an unprecedented diplomatic effort with North Korea during his first term. By RFA Staff 2025.01.13 -- North Korea tested on Tuesday what were believed to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast less than a week before Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term as U.S. president, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported. The South Korean military said it detected the launch, the North's second missile test this year, from the Ganggye area in the North's Jagang province, the news agency reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS. The missiles flew up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) before falling into the sea, Reuters cited the South Korean military as saying. "In preparation against additional launches, our military has strengthened our monitoring and vigilance, while closely sharing information on the North Korean missile with the U.S. and Japanese sides and maintaining a full readiness posture," the JCS said. On Jan. 6, North Korea tested a suspected mid-range ballistic missile as out-going U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the South Korean capital for talks. Addressing North Korea's development of missiles and nuclear weapons in violation of U.N. resolutions, and its hostility towards the United States and its allies including South Korea, is a top priority for all U.S. administrations. Blinken, in his talks in Seoul with Acting President Choi Sang-mok, last week stressed an "unwavering" U.S. security commitment to South Korea and said their alliance remained "more essential than ever." Choi denounced the latest test, saying it was a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, Yonghap reported. He vowed a strong response based on his country's alliance with the U.S. Trump, who will take office on Monday, spearheaded an unprecedented diplomatic push on North Korea during his first term as president, meeting leader Kim Jong Un three times but making no progress on efforts to get him to abandon his nuclear and missile programs. Trump raised his engagement with North Korea during his election campaign suggesting he might have an eye on reviving the effort. Edited by Mike Firn 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 January 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 South Korea says North launched several missiles off east coast Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 3:53 PM The South Korean military says North Korea has launched several short-range missiles off its east coast. "The South Korean military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea," the military said on Tuesday, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. The type and capabilities of the latest missiles launched by the North remain unclear as Seoul shared no extra details about the firing. A new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile was test-fired successfully by Pyongyang last week. The US, Japan and South Korea are closely monitoring the situation as it could affect future relations and security policies in the region. In the meantime, the North's military's frequent missile launches add to concerns about regional security as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visits South Korea for a series of meetings with top officials amid escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula. US' regional allies are reportedly exploring new channels to boost diplomatic and military ties with the incoming administration of US president-elect Donald Trump, who returns to office next week. Trump, who had several unprecedented rounds with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term in office, has underscored the personal rapport with Kim. The timing of North Korea's latest launches is seen as significant, occurring in the context of Pyongyang's ongoing military development alongside its international efforts in diplomatic relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says sanctions removal talks with E3 'constructive'; dialogue 'to continue' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 10:23 AM Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs has described as "constructive" the latest talks held with the three European countries, namely the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3), on the removal of illegal sanctions against the Islamic Republic. "The third round of Iran-E3 talks was held in Geneva. The talks were serious, frank, and constructive," Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday. He noted that during the Monday talks, the sides discussed certain details about the removal of anti-Iran sanctions as well as issues pertaining to the country's nuclear program which are "needed" for an agreement. "Sides concurred that negotiations should be resumed and to reach a deal, all parties should create and maintain the appropriate atmosphere," Gharibabadi said, adding, "We agreed to continue our dialogue." The British, French and German foreign affairs representatives also hailed the talks as "serious, frank and constructive." "Against a challenging context, we discussed concerns and reiterated our commitment to a diplomatic solution. We agreed to continue our dialogue," they said in a statement posted on their X accounts. More talks are also scheduled to be held on Tuesday. The Geneva meeting with the three European countries is a continuation of the September talks the trio on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York and the negotiations held in Geneva in November. The two sides have been conducting on-again, off-again talks since 2021, three years after the United States, under Donald Trump, illegally and unilaterally left the 2015 historic nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, known as the JCPOA, and returned Washington's unlawful sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The trio then failed to live up to their promise of bringing Washington back to the deal. Reacting to the counter-party's non-commitment to its obligations, Tehran initiated a set of retaliatory nuclear steps, including activating more advanced centrifuges. Iran has been stepping up the measures in response to the other parties' continued refusal to uphold their obligations under the nuclear deal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Navy to receive 'unique' indigenous Zagros combat destroyer Iran Press TV Tuesday, 14 January 2025 7:47 AM Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says Zagros, a "unique" domestically-developed destroyer, is set to join the force and start sailing. "This week, a unique military vessel called Zagros, [which is developed] with Iranian knowledge and capabilities and [enjoys] distinctive features, will be launched into the water to start operating in the region," Irani said on Monday. The Zagros destroyer is the newest and the most state-of-the-art destroyer in the Navy and is designed for both combat and intelligence missions. Irani also said that the country's largest military hub will be opened in the strategic area of Jask this week, adding that it encompasses specialized dock posts featuring the most advanced equipment. Praising the quality of vessel manufacturing industry in Iran as very high, he said that "the 86th fleet of Iran's Navy, by overcoming various obstacles, managed to show the world powers the maritime capability of the Islamic Republic, and provide a platform for exploiting blue economy." Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani appreciated the efforts of the knowledge-based companies and scientists in the field of vessel manufacturing and the development of maritime industries, saying, "With your capability, you defeated the so-called American exceptionalism in the seas and oceans and showed that those areas belong to all nations." Referring to the presence of Iran's naval forces in international waters, he noted, "Today, the power of Iran's Navy has reached such a level that other countries seek to use our capacity and capability." Iran's Navy has in recent years achieved self-sufficiency in manufacturing surface and sub-surface vessels. It has also increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers. The Iranian naval forces have also staged several military drills with different countries, including Russia, China and Pakistan, over the past years to promote combat readiness. They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience to enhance the security and stability of international maritime trade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian PM wants closer economic cooperation with Vietnam after trade rises 24% Mikhail Mishustin oversaw agreements including a nuclear power deal during a visit to Hanoi. By RFA Staff 2025.01.14 -- Vietnam and Russia are reaping the benefits of a free trade deal at a time when Moscow faces international sanctions, with bilateral trade rising by an annual 24% last year, Russia's prime minister said as he began a two-day visit to Hanoi. "We are paying priority attention to increasing trade and economic cooperation," Mikhail Mishustin said in talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday, as quoted by Russia's TASS news agency. "Mutual trade turnover is growing steadily." A free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union came into effect in 2016. During a June 2024 visit to Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to boost trade. Some 11 agreements were signed after he met then-President To Lam, in areas such as nuclear power. After meeting Chinh on Tuesday, Mishustin saw the nuclear agreement bear fruit with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, and the Vietnam Electric Power Corporation, TASS said. Talks also focused on trade when Mishustin went on to meet Lam, now communist party general secretary. "My colleague and I discussed the entire list of our bilateral issues, signed a corresponding action plan for our relations until 2030, confirmed 13 roadmaps and will achieve an expansion of our trade turnover to US$15 billion by 2030," TASS quoted the Russian prime minister as saying. Vietnam says bilateral trade was worth around US$4.6 billion last year. Russia is a long-time ally of Vietnam and they are marking the 75th year of bilateral diplomatic relations this year. Their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership puts Russia on the highest level of engagement with Vietnam alongside countries including China and the U.S. Facing international condemnation and sweeping sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is keen to hold on to its allies in Asia. Putin has also been pursuing closer relations with North Korea, meeting leader Kim Jong Un last June just ahead of his Vietnam visit. That relationship appears to be paying off, with the U.S. claiming Kim is providing Russia with weapons and troops, while Putin has shared missile technology. Hanoi is not in a similar situation regarding the supply of arms to Moscow, given that Vietnam is heavily reliant on Russian weapons, which make up about 80% of its military might. However, there was no sign of any new Russian arms sales to Vietnam during Mishustin's visit because of international sanctions, an analyst said. "No major arms procurement deals were signed because Western sanctions on Russia have affected international currency transactions through the SWIFT system," said Carl Thayer, a veteran Vietnam watcher and emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, Canberra. "During Putin's visit last year, the two sides discussed the possibility of a ruble-ong transfer mechanism. However, as the Vietnam-Russian Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of Putin's visit made clear, defense-security cooperation was confined to non-traditional security issues. Vietnam wants to avoid any penalties for violating Western sanctions." Vietnam has, however, resisted calls at the U.N. to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Vietnam is also one of the biggest investors in Russia, according to Vietnamese state media. As of last November, Vietnam had 16 projects in Russia with US$1.6 billion in capital, the fourth largest of 81 countries investing there, the Vietnam News Agency said. Edited by Mike Firn. Updated to include Mishustin's comments at a meeting with To Lam. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Andrej Danko 14 January 2025 19:37 21-14-01-2025 On January 14, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Deputy Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Andrej Danko in Moscow. The parties discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation, primarily in trade and the economy. The parties noted the importance of resuming dialogue between the two countries' parliamentarians. They shared views on topical issues on the international agenda, including the situation in Ukraine. The Russian side provided detailed explanations regarding the root causes and genesis of the conflict and emphasised the counterproductive nature of the "collective West's" position which continues to "pump arms" into the Kiev regime. Both parties underscored the importance of considerate attitude toward the historical heritage and maintaining cultural ties and exchanges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Maintains Daily Contacts With New Authorities in Syria - Lavrov Sputnik News 20250114 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is in daily contact with the new Syrian authorities and is ready to assist in improving the situation in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. "Our embassy has not left Damascus, it has daily contacts, we are ready to be useful in efforts to normalize the situation, and this, of course, requires an inclusive national dialogue in Syria," Lavrov told a press conference on the overview of Russian diplomacy in 2024. The Astana format on Syria can play a role in this, the minister added. "I talked with our colleagues from Turkiye, from the Gulf countries, they have now held their second meeting... where Arabs, Turkiye, and some Western countries participated. They proceed from the fact that Russia, China, and Iran must definitely be involved in this process," Lavrov said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria emergency: Four children a day killed or injured by leftover explosives 14 January 2025 - Syria's lethal legacy of landmines and other explosives left over from years of conflict has led to the deaths of over 100 children in the last month alone, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday, calling on the international community to urgently support country-wide demining projects. icardo Pires, UNICEF Communication Manager for Emergencies, told journalists from Damascus that in the last nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance - or UXO - were reported in 14 governorates across Syria, "with half estimated to have ended in tragic child casualties". "Girls and boys in the country continue to suffer the brutal impact of unexploded ordnance (UXO) at an alarming rate," he explained. The UNICEF official underscored that in December last year, 116 children were killed or injured by UXO, an average of nearly four per day - a likely underestimate "given the fluidity of the situation," he told journalists in Geneva. "It's the main cause of child casualties in Syria right now and has been for many years, and will continue to be," with more than 300,000 mines still spread across the country, according to estimates. Tragedy at every step The danger affects some five million children living in areas contaminated with the lethal explosives, Mr. Pires said, for whom "every step they take carries the risk of an unimaginable tragedy". Renewed displacement has aggravated the danger. Mr. Pires recalled that since 27 November and amid escalating conflict, more than 250,000 children were forced to flee their homes as forces including Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) advanced on Damascus. For the displaced and those trying to return home, "the peril of UXO is constant and unavoidable", he stressed. The threat has only intensified since the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December, as many weapons, including explosive weapons, have been left behind, in Homs but also in Damascus, Mr. Pires said. Life-altering wounds He described the devastating effects of this legacy on inquisitive youngsters. "Even if children survive these blasts, the struggle doesn't end," he said. "Life-changing injuries and disabilities often mean they cannot return to school or might find it harder to access proper health care" and face stigma. The UNICEF official called for increased humanitarian demining efforts, mine-risk education and support for survivors. He insisted that as part of discussions on reconstruction efforts supported by the international community, "it is imperative that immediate investment takes place to ensure the ground is safe and clear of explosives". UNICEF spokesperson James Elder echoed that call, stressing that to fund demining, "we're talking tens of millions of dollars... which would save thousands of lives" and help Syria regain its former status as a middle-income country. "It is a very, very cheap price that needs to be paid," he insisted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. Tuesday, 14 January 2025 This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro. Funds for the security capacity building initiative in 2024 alone for military assistance to Ukraine amount to approximately 7.1 billion euro. From these also Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility of the European Union (EPF) are financed. From the EPF expenditures for military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states1. In addition to that there are authorisations to enter commitments in the following years currently amounting to approximately 6 billion euro. So far already approximately 5 billion euro (2023) and approximately 1.6 billion euro (2022) were spent on military assistance to Ukraine. Additional approximately 2.9 billion euro have been committed in the first two years of the war for deliveries, which will arrive only in the years 2025 to 2028. Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 Germany has delivered material from Federal Armed Forces stocks amounting to approximately 5.2 billion euro reflecting estimated replacement values. Also, more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany. Expenses for this training so far amount to approximately 282 million euro. Additional expenses, not calculated here, result from medial treatment of injured soldiers. 1 Commitment appropriations So far approximately 31 million euro have been reimbursed from the EPF to Germany. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous update in bold) Armoured fighting vehicles 123 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP)* (before: 103) ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 1* 103 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* with spare parts (joint project with Denmark) ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 2 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* 140 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 78 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 11 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (command vehicle)* 158 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS 5 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (repair and recovery vehicle)* 66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)* 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG and spare parts* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany) Air defence 6 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* 5 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS* (each consisting of two launchers) IRIS-T SLM missiles* 12 Kinetic Defence Vehicle (Diehl Defence)* 4 PATRIOT launchers (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 57 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare parts 241,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 16 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder missiles Sea Sparrow missiles 3 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts PATRIOT missiles 2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition* IRIS-T SLS missiles 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA Artillery 372,000 rounds 155mm ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) (before: 358,000) 19,000 rounds 122mm ammunition* 25 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 7 howitzer tubes M109 155mm* 21,000 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 3 multiple rocket launchers HIMARS 2 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) 155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO) 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain) 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* counter battery radar system COBRA* 10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition* Drones and anti-drone systems 600 strike drones HF-1* 448 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts* (before: 398) 439 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* (before: 393) 182 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD* (before: 139) 32 reconnaissance drones HORNET XR* 60 reconnaissance drones Golden Eagle* 2 reconnaissance drones VT-4 Rochen* 70 unmanned surface vessels* 200 mobile drone jammers* 88 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 70 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 180 RF 360 fieldkits - drone detection systems* 19 drone detection systems* 93 drone sensors* 18 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE* 1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system* 10 anti-drone guns* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* Military Engineering Capabilities material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 25 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 27 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts* 57 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts* 61 mine ploughs* 100 portable mine clearing systems H-PEMBS* 90 mine detectors* 12 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS with spare parts* 6 High Mobility Engineer Excavators 22 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts* 500 tool kits with blasting material* 19 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers 5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 230 field glasses * (before: 165) 15 air assault vehicles Caracal* 15 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* 45 underwater scooter* 277 border protection vehicles* 52 mobile antenna mast systems* 120 laser range finders* 82 ground surveillance radars* 58,000 combat helmets 331SatCom terminals* 750 night vision goggles* IT equipment* 2,000 LED lamps* 84 outboard motors 400 IR cameras* 3 Satcom surveillance systems* 1 naval mine clearance system* 2,667 Crypto Phones* 90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 1 PCB printer* 1 antenna hub station 1,288 binoculars 5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 10 radio jammers* 40 laser target designators* 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Logistics 262 trucks Zetros* 78 tankers Zetros* 24 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 473 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 181 Pick-ups* 40 protected vehicles* 90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers* 25 trucks MAN TGS* 40 load-handling trucks 8x8 34 load-handling trucks 15t* 6 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 21 roll of containers* 14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS* Combat Readiness and Survivability 60.600 wool blankets (before: 36,400) 495 assault rifles HK 416 * 26,000 120mm mortar ammunition * (before: 15,000) 306,200 tourniquets (before: 276,000) 370,000 chest seals* (before: 250,000) 393,000 rounds ammunition 40mm* 19,480 anti-tank mines (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 220 grenade launchers GMG* 200 machine guns MG4* emergency power generators 250 tents 4,005 assault rifles MK 556* 420 precision rifles HLR 338 with 314,000 rounds ammunition* 661 rifles CR 308* more than 60 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 1 million trauma bandages* 16,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90* 3,500 pistols SFP9* 110 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 655,000 first aid kits* 2 field hospitals* 93,000 smoke grenades* 100,000 m detonating cord and 115.000 detonators 350 machine guns MG5* rescue boats* 6.132 camouflage nets (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 6,000 ponchos* 450 snow chains 205,000 single module group rations medical material 10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (ambulance) 49 ambulances* 30,000 winter clothing sets 27,477 backpacks 1,202 Infusion kits 8 dental sterilizers 2 hangar tents* 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 168 mobile heating systems* 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 116,000 winter jackets 80,000 winter trousers 240,000 winter hats 320,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injector devices 15 palettes military clothing 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)* Diesel and gasoline* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) Armoured fighting vehicles 25 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* (before: 20) 9 AiTO30 FDC (wheeled infantry fighting vehicle RCT-30 with mobile fire direction center)* 277 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP)* 22 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (inter alia joint project with Denmark and the Netherlands) ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2* ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* Air defence 2 PATRIOT launcher* 4 Kinetic Defence Vehicle (Diehl Defence)* 13 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition* IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles* 6 air defence systems IRIS-T SLM* 7 air defence systems IRIS-T SLS* GEPARD ammunition* Artillery 54 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* (before: 36) 19 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000* more than 120,000 projectiles 122mm* more than 200,000 projectiles 155mm* 14 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) Drones and counter-UAV systems 122 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 361 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD* 200 Aufklarungsdrohnen RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 40 drone detection systems* 3,400 strike drones HF-1 11 anti-drone sensors and jammers* Helicopter 6 Sea King Mk41 multi-role helicopters with spare parts Military Engineering Capabilities 9 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* material for explosive ordnance disposal* 2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann* Protective and Special Equipment 1,660 combat helmets* 668 laser range finders* 4 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters* 10,000 safety glasses* 10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE* 223 border protection vehicles* 11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* Logistics 30 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles Gereon RCS* 20 Zetros refrigerator trucks* 1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* Combat Readiness and Survivability 108,000 rounds ammunition 40mm* winter clothing 995 assault rifles MK 556* 189 CR 308 1.2 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms* 3.420 anti-tank mines PARM* 80 precision rifles HLR 338* 11,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons* 2 dental sterilizers continuing deliveries of medical material* * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latvian-UK led Drone Coalition to deliver 30 000 drones to Ukraine, 12 000 of which are Latvian-made Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence 01/14/2025 - 16:08 Defence policy In Latvia International cooperation Information prepared by Media Relations Section Within the International Drone Coalition, contracts were made for nearly 54 million EUR worth of supplies from the International Drone Fund in order to provide Ukraine with 30 000 drones. Two Latvian companies will supply around 12 000 drones worth 17 million EUR. This important step was announced on 9 January by the British Defence Minister John Healey and the Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds at the meeting of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group in Ramstein. "The Drone Coalition has made a significant contribution to the development of Latvia's drone industry, supply security and strengthening of the economy. The international success of Latvian companies, including the selection of two Latvian companies for the UK drone procurement, is a testament to the high quality of our technology. The drone industry is constantly adapting through experience and feedback, and its development is a resource not only for supporting Ukraine, but also for Latvia's defence and economy. Investments in the defence sector encourage the return of funding to the national economy, underlining the importance of local companies in the country's economy and in strengthening security," said Andris Spruds, Latvian Defence Minister. Latvia, in agreeing to co-lead the Drone Coalition with the UK, agreed as well last year that the UK would take on the coordination of the coalition's common fund and joint procurements. The fund was officially created on 10 July 2024. Coalition member states contribute to the common fund, which is dedicated to joint procurements in support of Ukraine. The Drone Coalition is committed to regular joint procurements to ensure continuity of supply of UAVs to Ukraine. Latvia contributed 5 million EUR to the common fund in 2024. The first joint procurement received 265 applications. Drone Coalition member state experts evaluated all the applications and selected 30 companies to advance to the next round. In the second round, the candidates met face-to-face with the coalition's panel of experts to verify the ability of the enterprises to deliver the promised products on time, in sufficient volume and quality. After the second round, 15 companies advanced to tests in Latvia, of which five successfully passed the tests and were selected for the procurement. Two of these five are Latvian entrepreneurs. The Drone Coalition aims to provide the drones, technological support and personnel training Ukraine needs. The commitment provides for the delivery of combat drones of different capabilities to Ukraine, designed to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Coalition consists of 17 member countries - Latvia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. MoD Military Public Affairs Department Media Relations Section Phone: 67335391 E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys: "Ukraine's NATO membership must be a joint strategic goal for the West" Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2025-01-14 On 14 January, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy, Kestutis Budrys, met with Ambassadors of the EU, NATO and partner countries accredited to Lithuania. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister presented Lithuania's foreign policy priorities and global security issues to the representatives of the diplomatic corps. According to Budrys, in 2025, Lithuania will continue to vigorously pursue the main goals, including strengthening security and defence, Ukraine's victory over Russian aggression, and a stronger Euro-Atlantic link. The Foreign Minister underlined that Lithuania would continue to focus its efforts on strengthening the European security system and developing global partnerships, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Foreign Minister, Lithuania will work actively in the formats of the EU, NATO, and Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8). The Foreign Minister noted that 2025 would be decisive in Russia's war against Ukraine, and it is important for the West to demonstrate its long-term commitment to Ukraine. "Who will retreat first - Russia, with its economy wilting under the pressure of sanctions, or we, the West, will succumb to the temptation of reaching a swift but unsustainable peace agreement? The West must resist the temptation and ensure that Ukraine remains in a strong position. Ukraine's NATO membership must be a joint strategic goal for the West, as it would ensure a secure and stable future for Europe," said the Foreign Minister. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy stressed that Lithuania would continue to seek to tighten sanctions against Russia and its accomplices to degrade Russia's war machine and deter Russia from malicious actions in our neighbourhood and our own countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine recovers combat instructional documents from killed North Korean soldier The soldier, who fell while fighting in the Kursk region, was also carrying photos, presumably of his family. By Park Jaewoo for RFA Korean 2025.01.14 -- The Ukrainian military has recovered combat instructions and personal photos from a North Korean soldier killed in action in Russia's war with Ukraine, a human rights organization that assisted in translating the documents told Radio Free Asia. The documents include several directives issued by the North Korean government--but penned by fellow soldiers--on how they should conduct themselves in combat situations like drone attacks, when advancing on enemy positions, and when their comrades are wounded. The photos are believed to show the soldier along with members of his family. If authentic, the recovered items would represent yet another piece of evidence confirming the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, which Pyongyang and Moscow have not publicly acknowledged. According to estimates from the Pentagon, around 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia. Lee Seongmin, the director of the Korea Desk at the New York-based Human Rights Foundation, said in a phone call with RFA Korean on Monday that his organization obtained the documents while assisting Ukrainian Special Forces with translation. "The documents were written by soldiers on the battlefield and are an important source of information that provides insight into the internal situation of the North Korean military," said Lee. One of two photos recovered from the soldier, dated Aug. 14, 2024, shows five people in front of a scenic view of the sea, with text overlay in Korean that says "Making beautiful memories!" The other photo, dated March 16, 2023, shows a man and a woman, believed to be the soldier's sister, standing next to each other. RFA has not independently verified the authenticity of the photos and documents. 'Strong ideology' One of the documents, entitled "Combat Experience and Lessons of the 94th Brigade," compels soldiers to remain resolute in their loyalty to the North Korean state. "If all front-line soldiers are prepared with strong ideology, conviction, and high combat morale, even enemies equipped with modern weaponry can be defeated through political and ideological superiority, as well as tactical advantage," it said. It also lionized soldiers from the brigade who died in battle, saying they "maintained a high level of mental and combat spirit," and were "determined to execute the battle orders of the respected Supreme Commander at the cost of our lives," referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Additionally, it said, they advanced on the enemy "like tigers," an animal considered to be a national symbol in both Koreas, but only officially in the South. Soldiers were also advised to understand the exact chain of command so that in the event of casualties to key officers, the battle could continue. Small-scale operations The instructions also suggested that the soldiers carry out combat operations in small units of two or three soldiers rather than a large force, to lower the effectiveness of enemy artillery fire and drone attacks. It also advised on how North Korean combatants made themselves vulnerable in their efforts to assist their wounded comrades "resulting in additional casualties." "Over 10 such incidents were reported," it said. The document also described the difficulties of overcoming a language barrier with Russian forces that has led to more casualties on the battlefield. Due to the chaos of combat, evacuation points for the wounded were changed. It took 10 hours to evacuate the wounded to hospitals and some died as a result it said. The ultimate sacrifice Another document, entitled "Procedure for Task Implementation," advised the North Korean soldiers not to assist, but to conceal wounded soldiers and continue with their mission. "During the battle, the wounded shall be handled independently, concealed as much as possible without aid, and the primary unit shall continue to complete its mission," it said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month released a video claiming that Russia was burning the faces of North Korean soldiers to hide evidence that they were participating in operations against Ukraine. Lee said that the documents show that the North Korean military is gaining combat experience, but at the high cost of lost lives. "Most of them are just told to go out and execute the mission regardless death or injury," he said. "Because of this code of conduct, the soldiers just have to do it. The authorities are forcing sacrifices to achieve their goals." Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong. Copyright 1998-2025, 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 January 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 Ukraine Targets 'Strategic Sites' With Drone Attacks In Russia By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service January 14, 2025 Ukraine launched a massive attack on targets inside Russian territory on January 14, hitting weapons production plants, oil refineries, and warehouses. Hours after the attacks, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv in an unannounced visit as European leaders look to underscore their support for Ukraine. Two industrial facilities in Russia's western Saratov region were damaged in a drone attack, regional Governor Roman Busargin said on social media, while Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said five Russian cities had been targeted. Kovalenko did not specifically say Ukraine launched the attacks -- officials rarely comment directly on such events -- but he did say in a post on Telegram that a series of drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure across Russia have been undertaken. "The porous Russian air defense continues to fail, allowing strikes on strategic economic facilities," he said, noting targets include factories manufacturing parts for weapons, oil refineries, fuel depots, warehouses, and air defenses, which are crucial for the Russian military and economy. The January 14 attacks also targeted facilities in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Tatarstan, where a fire broke out near the Kazan Orgsintez plant, which produces high-strength plastics. Local Telegram channels shared videos of an enormous fire with officials in Tatarstan attributing the blaze to falling debris from intercepted drones. There were no reports of casualties. In the Saratov region city of Engels, drones struck an industrial plant, igniting a fire at one of the fuel depots damaged in a previous attack on January 8. Busargin confirmed the facility was destroyed but provided no other specifics. Flights at airports in the surrounding area -- which serve cities including Saratov, Penza, and Kaluga -- saw operations limited as a precaution. Ukrainian officials said the Russian military sent 80 drones from several directions overnight, but Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down 58 drones over various regions, including Kyiv, Poltava, and Odesa. While there were damages to private and residential buildings and injuries, no deaths have been reported. Pistorius's visit comes a day after NATO chief Mark Rutte told members of the European Parliament that Ukraine is currently not in a position to begin peace talks with Russia as the three-year anniversary of the war nears. "This visit proves that Germany, as the largest member of NATO in Europe, stands in solidarity with Ukraine and our allies," he said. Among other things, Pistorius discussed the potential for joint military exercises and intelligence sharing. He also negotiated further military aid, including delivering new RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers that would help significantly increase the strength of Ukraine's artillery. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-official- drone-attacks-targeted-russia-strategic-sites-/33275220.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top Russian Diplomat Again Signals Readiness For Trump's Ukraine Proposals By Mike Eckel January 14, 2025 Russia's foreign minister signaled that Moscow was ready to hear from President-elect Donald Trump and advisers on proposals to resolve the Ukraine war, saying the incoming administration had "started to acknowledge the realities on the ground." The comments from Sergei Lavrov, made during an annual news conference on January 14, were the latest in a series of remarks by Russian officials ahead of potential cease-fire proposals for the conflict, which will mark its third anniversary next month. Trump has said he wants to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin directly to try and resolve the war, which has killed or wounded more than 1 million troops on both sides. Russia, whose troops currently occupy around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, has justified its all-out February 2022 invasion of Ukraine in a series of shifting rationales, including preventing it from ever joining the NATO military alliance. "We will be waiting for specific initiatives. President Putin has said on multiple occasions that he is ready to meet, but no proposals have been made yet," Lavrov told reporters during the three-hour news conference. "President Trump also said that Putin wanted to meet and he believed they should meet but he first needed to take office." In the waning days of his tenure, President Joe Biden has rushed to ship billions of dollars in weaponry and other equipment to Ukraine, seeking to bolster its arsenals in the event that the incoming Trump administration scales back arms shipments. In Kyiv, Ukrainian officials have also signaled an openness to hearing Trump's peace proposals. Speaking in an interview with Newsmax on January 13, Trump asserted that Putin was ready to meet soon after Trump's inauguration on January 20. "I know he wants to meet and I'm going to meet [him] very quickly," he said. "I would've done it sooner but...you have to get into the office. For some of the things, you do have to be there." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters shortly before Lavrov's event that there were no specifics agreed on yet for a Trump-Putin meeting. Trump's incoming national-security adviser, Mike Waltz, also emphasized a new diplomatic push to resolve the fighting. But he also signaled Ukrainian demands that Russia withdraw from all occupied territories was unlikely. "I just don't think it's realistic to say we're going to expel every Russian from every inch of Ukrainian soil, even Crimea," Waltz told ABC News in an interview broadcast on January 12. "President Trump has acknowledged that reality, and I think it's been a huge step forward that the entire world is acknowledging that reality. Now let's move forward." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lavrov-ukraine-war- trump/33275283.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Targets Ukraine's Key Lithium Reserves By Wojtek Grojec and Kian Sharifi January 14, 2025 Russia has captured two of Ukraine's four lithium deposits since it launched its all-out invasion in 2022, potentially depriving Kyiv of a key economic resource. On January 11, Russia claimed to have seized control of Shevchenko, a rural settlement in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. The settlement sits on top of one of Ukraine's biggest lithium deposits. Experts say Russia's seizure of Ukraine's lithium deposits could impact the rest of Europe and the Continent's efforts to shift to green energy. Described as "white gold," lithium is a critical material for batteries used in devices ranging from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles. Ukraine has an estimated 500,000 tons of untapped lithium, one of the largest reserves in Europe, according to geological surveys. Rod Schoonover, a national security expert and founder of the U.S.-based Ecological Futures Group, said it is unlikely that seizing Ukraine's lithium deposits was a major war objective for Moscow. Russia itself has significant reserves. Still, Ukraine's mineral wealth is one reason the country is important to Russia, experts say. The Ukrainian Shield, an ancient and massive rocky plate spanning much of central and southern Ukraine, contains valuable minerals like iron and lithium as well as rare earth metals. 'Importance Will Only Grow' The European Union has looked to secure local supplies of critical raw materials like lithium and lessen its dependence on foreign suppliers, including China. Lithium is key to Europe's efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and transition to green energy. With its substantial reserves and proximity, Ukraine stands out as a promising partner, Schoonover said. "The Russian invasion has disrupted any progress toward leveraging Ukraine's reserves, but if stability is restored, these resources could become, in time, a cornerstone of Europe's strategic autonomy in critical minerals," he said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine- lithium-russia-europe/33274220.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. 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 (14 January 2025) 14.01.2025 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of one tank brigade, one heavy mechanised brigade, four mechanised brigades, two air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and three territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Viktorovka, Guyevo, Ivashkovsky, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novaya Sorochina, Pogrebki, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye. In addition, three enemy counter-attacks were repelled. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Agronom, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Zamostye, Ivashkovsky, Kositsa, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Loknya, Malaya Loknya, Makhnovka, Martynovka, Mikhaylovka, Mirny, Nikolsky, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Sverdlikovo, Sudzha, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Veselovka, and Zhuravka in Sumy region. Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were over 460 troops, three tanks, two armoured personnel carriers, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, six artillery guns, and one mortar. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 51,900 troops, 303 tanks, 229 infantry fighting vehicles, 168 armoured personnel carriers, 1,561 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,474 motor vehicles, 364 artillery guns, 44 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 16 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 93 EW stations, 14 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 30 units of engineering and other materiel, including 15 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, eight 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 Russia Downs 14 ATACMS, Storm Shadow Missiles Sputnik News 20250114 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Zapad Battlegroup has eliminated up to 600 Ukrainian soldiers and taken control of the settlement of Terny in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. "The enemy's losses amounted to up to 600 soldiers, a tank, eight armored fighting vehicles, including two US-made M113s and a Turkish-made Kirpi, 13 motor vehicles and five artillery pieces, including two produced by NATO countries. Three ammunition depots and four electronic warfare stations were destroyed," the statement read, adding that the group has taken control of the settlement of Terny in the DPR. Russia's Yug Battlegroup has gained more advantageous positions, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces losing more than 220 soldiers and four armored vehicles, the ministry said. Russia's Vostok Battlegroup eliminated up to 220 Ukrainian soldiers and a Krab self-propelled artillery unit. Russia's Tsentr Battlegroup has improved its position along the front line and eliminated up to 500 Ukrainian military personnel and an armored fighting vehicle, the ministry said. Likewise, Russian air defense systems shot down six ATACMS missiles, six Storm Shadow missiles and 31 drones launched by Ukraine over the Bryansk region and Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry added. "An overnight attempt was made from the territory of Ukraine to launch a missile strike on targets in the Bryansk region using six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six UK-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 31 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said in a statement, adding that "all air attack weapons were shot down by air defense systems." Two more Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles were shot down over the Black Sea, the statement read. No Russians were killed or injured in operations, the ministry said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FSB Thwarts Ukraine-Backed Chemical Terror Attack Against Russian Defense Enterprise Sputnik News 20250114 Russia's FSB security service said that the terrorist's activities were coordinated from the territory of Ukraine via foreign internet messaging apps. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) prevented a terrorist attack by Ukraine's special services, who had planned on using toxic substances against employees of a defense enterprise in the Russian Yaroslavl region. What is known by this minute: The terrorist attack was supposed to be staged by a Russian citizen; he was detained. The chemical, which causes burns to the respiratory tract and possible death, was planned to be poured into the air ducts of the company's employees' cars. The actions of the attacker were coordinated from Ukraine through foreign messengers Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow RegionVolodymyr Zelenskyy and Boris Pistorius Discussed Steps to Strengthen Ukraine President of Ukraine 14 January 2025 - 19:22 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Minister of Defense of Germany Boris Pistorius, who came to Ukraine on his fourth visit. The Head of State thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for helping our state and all Ukrainians from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, and for its contribution to saving lives and protecting all of Europe. The President noted that the total amount of assistance provided by Germany constitutes approximately 16% of all the assistance Ukraine has received from its partners. "We are especially grateful for Germany's significant contribution to the protection of Ukraine's skies, to the development of Ukraine's innovative air defense system, particularly during the challenging moments of blackouts and air defense efforts. We are grateful for the Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems, and we are certainly grateful for the Gepards, which have been protecting our critical infrastructure and keep doing so," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The President expressed his particular gratitude for Germany's joint leadership with the United States in the Ramstein format. It is important that this format continues to work. The key topics discussed during the meeting were military assistance to Ukraine, strengthening of its air defense, ammunition supplies, and procurement of Ukrainian weapons and equipment according to the Danish model. These are steps that can strengthen Ukraine's position and force Russia to establish a just and lasting peace. The parties also discussed the prospects of expanding joint projects for the production and repair of weapons and equipment in Ukraine. Boris Pistorius noted that Germany has already ordered 54 new RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine. "I hope they will arrive as soon as possible because this is really a very effective and very mobile weapon, which, probably, will help you a lot in your fight, which is not yet over," the Minister said. He also shared the results of yesterday's Group of 5 meeting in Warsaw, which brought together the Defense Ministers of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland, who united in a new negotiating format to strengthen European security and enhance support for Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN pledges continued humanitarian support to Ukraine, as war enters fourth year 14 January 2025 - The UN's humanitarian coordinator and refugee chief are in Ukraine this week where they will unveil the latest plans to assist millions impacted by the full-scale Russian invasion. More than 12.7 million people inside Ukraine require aid, as do the more than 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees worldwide. On Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher visited the Kharkiv region, located in the east. Support in frontline areas He travelled to the village of Shevchenko, some 30 kilometres from the front lines, and another city, Kupiansk, which is on the front lines. The UN is working with local partners in these areas to provide transport to people living close to the front lines so that they can access basic services. Many are older and have limited mobility. Mr. Fletcher was later joined by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, at a press conference with the governor of Kharkiv region. Stay and deliver He underscored the UN's sustained commitment to stay and deliver for people as the war rages on. Mr. Grandi wrote on social media that it had been valuable to meet the governor face to face. "We assured him that the UN will continue supporting the authorities' efforts to keep their people warm, strong and safe as a third consecutive winter increases hardship in Ukraine's war-devastated frontline areas," he said in a post on X. Aid plans The top UN officials will be in the capital, Kyiv, on Thursday to launch the 2025 humanitarian and refugee response plans alongside the Government. The plans aim to ensure the continuation of critical assistance to people affected by the crisis. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address German defense minister visits Ukraine in show of support By VOA News January 14, 2025 German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Ukraine on Tuesday in a show of support for the country in its fight against the Russian invasion that began nearly three years ago. German officials said the visit was aimed at reassuring Ukraine it will continue to receive support, with Pistorius to meet with top Ukrainian officials. The visit comes less than a week before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration and the questions about how U.S. policy toward Ukraine might change under the new administration. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russia welcomed the fact that the incoming Trump administration had "started to mention the realities on the ground" more often. Trump has said he wants to end the war quickly. Meanwhile, the Australian government said it is "making urgent inquiries" after reports that an Australian citizen who was fighting in the Ukrainian army died after being captured by Russian forces. Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, was serving alongside Ukraine's army when he was captured by Russian soldiers last year as a prisoner of war. Australia's Channel Seven, citing unnamed sources, reported his body has been found but has not been officially identified. "These reports have not been verified, but we continue to have grave concerns for Mr. Jenkins' welfare," Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on Tuesday. Russia's military on Tuesday said it would retaliate against Ukraine after Kyiv attacked Russian regions with U.S.- and U.K.-made missiles and launched one of its biggest drone attacks to date. "The actions of the Kyiv regime, supported by its Western curators, will not go unanswered," the Russian Defense Ministry said. VOA could not independently verify the battlefield reports. Officials in multiple Russian regions said Tuesday their areas came under major Ukrainian drone attacks, including in Saratov, where Governor Roman Busargin said there was damage at two industrial enterprises in the neighboring cities of Saratov and Engels. That area is home to a base for Russian bomber planes. Last week, a Ukrainian attack hit an oil depot that serves the base. Oryol Governor Andrei Klychkov said on Telegram that Russian air defenses shot down 17 Ukrainian drones in his region. He reported no damage or casualties from the attacks. Rostov Governor Yury Slyusar said on Telegram 14 drones were destroyed overnight, while officials in Voronezh said several Ukrainian drones were shot down without causing damage. Russia's defense ministry said it also shot down six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles and six British-made Storm Shadow missiles that targeted the Bryansk region, and two more Storm Shadow missiles over the Black Sea. There were no casualties or damage from the missiles, the ministry said. Ukraine's military said Tuesday it destroyed 58 of 80 drones that Russian forces used to target 11 different regions. The Ukrainian air force reported damage to apartment buildings, commercial buildings and cars in the Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy and Zhytomyr regions as a result of falling debris from downed drones. Ukrainian air defenses also destroyed Russian drones over the Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Poltava regions, the Ukrainian air force said. Some information for this story was provided by Agence France-Presse and Reuters NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address JEFFERSONVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jeffersonville Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQB - JFBC) announced today that a special cash dividend in the amount of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per share on the common stock of the company was declared at the January 14, 2025 meeting of the Board of Directors. The dividend is payable on February 5, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 29, 2025. The Company had another exceptional year in 2024 due to higher loan interest income, solid credit quality, and low core funding costs. The Companys peer leading results have allowed us to accrete a significant amount of capital, said George W. Kinne, Jr., President and CEO. The Board of Directors is pleased that with our positive results and strong capital position, they are able to reward our loyal shareholders with this special cash dividend. Jeffersonville Bancorp is a one-bank holding company, which owns all the capital stock of Jeff Bank. Jeff Bank maintains ten full-service branches in Sullivan and Orange County, New York located in Anawana Lake Road/Monticello, Eldred, Callicoon, Jeffersonville, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Monticello, Port Jervis, White Lake, and Wurtsboro. For More Information, call: 845-482-4000 Contact: George W. Kinne, Jr., President CEO NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. According to a federal securities lawsuit, Chipotle insiders caused the company to misrepresent or fail to disclose that (1) Chipotles portion sizes were inconsistent and left many customers dissatisfied with the Companys offerings; (2) in order to address the issue and retain customer loyalty, the Company would have to ensure more generous portion sizes, which would increase cost of sales; and (3) as a result, statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. If you currently own CMG and purchased prior to February 8, 2024 please contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. here, by email at justin@kuehn.law or call (833) 672-0814. The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights. Why Your Participation Matters: As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future. For additional information, please visit Shareholder Derivative Litigation Kuehn Law. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacts: Kuehn Law, PLLC Justin Kuehn, Esq. 53 Hill Street, Suite 605 Southampton, NY 11968 justin@kuehn.law (833) 672-0814 TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As winter visitors flock to visit Tucson for a warm January escape, Solana Spanish Villas, a newly renovated private mini-resort ranch estate nestled in the picturesque Tanque Verde Valley of east Tucson, Arizona, has introduced a revolutionary "Name Your Price" feature. This bold strategy has been available for hotels in the past but it's a first for private vacation rental and allows travelers to make an offer for their stay at Solana, upending traditional pricing models and putting power directly in the hands of guests. Redefining Hospitality, One Offer at a Time Located on a sprawling $5,000,000 private gated estate, Solana Spanish Villas combines the charm of a Tanque Verde dude ranch with the amenities of a luxury retreat and the comforts of home. The property boasts six fully furnished houses, a heated swimming pool, pickleball court, horseshoe pit, and a large cowboy fire pit. Perfect for family reunions , corporate retreats , or simply escaping the daily grind, this pet- and family-friendly destination is designed to accommodate up to 40 overnight guests. Travel shouldnt be about breaking the bank to experience something extraordinary, said John Jacobs, owner of Solana Spanish Villas. With our 'Name Your Price' feature, you can stay in a villa on our private estate for as low as $99 a nighta once-in-a-lifetime deal for such a unique and upscale destination. Why 'Name Your Price' Is a Game Changer As the short-term rental (STR) market faces increasing competition, regulatory challenges, and evolving traveler preferences, savvy operators like Solana Spanish Villas are rewriting the playbook. This innovative pricing model not only makes luxury travel more accessible but also sets a new standard in guest engagement and flexibility. This is more than just a pricing toolits a way to connect with our guests and understand their needs, Jacobs explained. Were blending personalized hospitality with cutting-edge strategies that reflect the changing dynamics of the vacation rental market. A Slice of Paradise in Tucson Guests of Solana Spanish Villas enjoy breathtaking desert views and easy access to local attractions like Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon. The estate also features walking paths, oversized parking for RVs or large vehicles, and lush, pet-friendly landscaping. Every villa is equipped with a full kitchen and amenities that rival the most upscale hotels, offering both privacy and comfort. Changing the Industry, One Stay at a Time With STR operators adapting to heightened competition, increased platform fees, and consumer demand for value, Solanas 'Name Your Price' initiative exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to stay ahead. This model invites families, adventure seekers, and corporate travelers alike to experience the best of Tucson without the high price tag. About Solana Spanish Villas Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team John and Danielle Jacobs, Solana Spanish Villas is a labor of love. The couple transformed this historic estate into a destination that celebrates the natural beauty of the Arizona desert while offering guests a luxurious, home-away-from-home experience. For more information or to book your extended winter stay in Tucson , visit www.solanaspanishvillas.com and try out the "Name Your Price" feature to score your dream vacation at a price you decide. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/378bb73f-4363-4dcb-a1b6-27610d23d69f Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On a winter afternoon, the sun shines into the farmyard in the No. 1 Zen Tea Village in Jingshan Town, Yuhang, Hangzhou. Mr. Huang's family, who came from Hangzhou for vacation, enjoyed tea by the fire in the courtyard of Chen Shujian, a young man born in the 1990s. Yuhang Jingshan: Courtyard Economy Paints a New Picture of the Countryside Chen Shujian is from Shengzhou and has baking skills. A year ago, at the invitation of his sister who ran a B&B in Jingshan and had a good business, he gave up opening a shop in the downtown area and chose to settle in Jingshan. He took a fancy to a farmhouse courtyard where the gate here was five or six meters away from the main road, with no walls, resembling an ordinary house. Chen Shujian slightly decorated it, setting up a fireplace, placing bamboo chairs, and pasting Fu characters to create a casual atmosphere. Considering that most of the tourists and villagers are middle-aged and elderly people, he mainly sells Chinese snacks, such as ginger paste made with Eranthis longistipitata, brown sugar and other ingredients, which is very popular. He once worked as a sales manager in a big city, but found inner peace in the slow pace of rural areas. In another courtyard not far away, Zhang Xiaorui, who is in a wheelchair, was busy. She is a member of Yuhang District Getting Better Disability Services Center, and is responsible for processing training and production of supplied materials in the handicraft workshop of Zen Tea No. 1 Village. The workshop is located on the first floor of a house, and Zen Tea No. 1 Village provides the space for it. After the rise of courtyard economy, disabled friends moved their workbenches and display stands outdoors. The cultural relics they weave, such as bracelets and beads that symbolize good luck and fortune, attract many tourists. The Year of the Snake is approaching, and the demand for snake bracelets exceeds supply. It takes more than 40 minutes for a skilled worker to weave the main part of a bracelet. The stocks on site are quickly sold out, and many pre-orders have been received. Yu Ronghua, secretary of the Party branch of Jingshan Village, said that Jingshan Temple is very popular and Jingshan tea is very famous. The village uses limited courtyard space to "dig inside and attract outside" to enrich the layout of Zen Village business formats. At present, the Zen Tea First Village has built 12 workshops using idle farmhouses, set up tea-related businesses such as tea whisks and tea snacks, and vigorously developed courtyard economy. This not only shortens the distance between tourists and rural business owners, but also increases the added value of agricultural products, revitalizes traditional handicrafts, and transforms tourists from "getting a passing glance at the scenery" to "dismounting to view the flowers" to a resident tourism. The courtyard economy of Jingshan, Yuhang, is injecting new vitality into rural development with its unique charm, depicting a new picture of prosperous industry and beautiful life, and becoming a vivid practical example of rural revitalization. Company: Hangzhou Jingshan Tourism Resort Management Committee Contact: Wang Ling Email: wdlpr@foxmail.com City: Hangzhou, Zhejiang 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. NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) between October 31, 2023 and September 2, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important February 24, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Transocean securities 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 Transocean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32789 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 24, 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 the 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, throughout the Cass Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Discoverer Inspiration and the Development Driller III were considered non-strategic assets; (2) Transoceans recorded asset valuations were overstated; (3) as a result, Transocean would take nearly twice the vessels sale price in impairment if sold; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants positive statements about Transoceans business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Transocean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=32789, 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 NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of Western Asset Management Company mutual fund investors resulting from allegations that Western Asset may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Western Asset mutual funds you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. What is this about: On November 25, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release entitled SEC Charges Ken Leech, Former Co-Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Management Co., with Fraud. This press release stated that Leech had been charged with fraud for engaging in a multi-year scheme to allocate favorable trades to certain portfolios, while allocating unfavorable trades to other portfolios, a practice known as cherry-picking. 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 firms 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 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until February 24, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Transocean Ltd. (the Company) (NYSE: RIG), if they purchased the Companys securities between October 31, 2023 and September 2, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Transocean and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-rig/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by February 24, 2025 . About the Lawsuit Transocean and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (1) the Discoverer Inspiration and the Development Driller III were considered non-strategic assets; (2) the Companys recorded asset valuations were overstated; (3) as a result, the Company would take nearly twice the vessels sale price in impairment if sold; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On September 3, 2024, pre-market, the Company disclosed that it had agreed to sell the Development Driller III and the Discoverer Inspiration rigs and associated assets for an aggregate $342 million as part of the Companys effort to dispose of non-strategic assets, which would result in an estimated third-quarter non-cash charge of up to $645 million associated with the impairment of said assets. On this news, the price of Transoceans shares fell $0.42, or 8.86%, to close at $4.32 per share on September 3, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Gabor v. Transocean Ltd., et al., No. 24-cv-9964. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC HANOI, Vietnam, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After the success of the 2024 Hanoi Art Light Festival, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam), along with sponsoring partners, will continue its collaboration with Hanoi Peoples Committee to bring back the Glamour Thang Long art programme. The events highlight will be the largest Pyrodrone show in the world, featuring 2,025 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), setting a Guinness World Record-setting pyro drone display. Scheduled for 28 January 2025 (Lunar New Years Eve), with a rehearsal on 26 January, the event will take place at My Dinh Square, My Dinh National Stadium. It will be broadcast live on Hanoi Television, with a special segment on Vietnam Televisions (VTV) New Years Eve broadcast. "Glamour Thang Long" is set to become one of Hanois most significant cultural events in 2025. This world-class spectacle will debut with the innovative combination of pyro drones and high-altitude fireworks, accompanied by a distinguished artistic programme, promising an extraordinary aerial light display. Anticipated to attract over 1,000,000 live spectators with millions viewing via television and social media, it will showcase Vietnams cultural innovation and technological progress, positioning Hanoi as a renowned global light destination alongside Vivid Sydney (Australia) and Fete des Lumieres (France). Glamour Thang Long 2025" - Hanoi's highlight event in 2025 (Source: Corex) Under the theme Glorious Springs, the programme will highlight the beauty of spring through inspirational stories of renewal, love, family reunions, and moments of national pride. Featuring A-list Vietnamese celebrities, it blends traditional and modern performances with an interactive musical theatre experience, showcasing Hanois cultural heritage in a contemporary light. Audiences are in for a world-record drone fireworks show this New Year's Eve in Hanoi, with advanced South Korean technology orchestrating a breathtaking and safe display of lights and pyrotechnics. Mr Mai Trong Thai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Tu Liem District, commented, Following the success of the 2024 Hanoi Art Light Festival, we are honored to lead this years event. With our expertise in organizing world-class events, we are committed to ensuring the safety and success of this extraordinary occasion, establishing Glamour Thang Long as an awaited annual tradition. As a leading economic group in Vietnam, Petrovietnam is dedicated to supporting key national events that align with the countrys growth. Glamour Thang Long 2025 is a world-class event ushering in the New Year and a new era of progress, reflecting the groups transformative vision for 2025: "Innovation from the core Development of outstanding models Integration of global chains Enhancing energy knowledge Breakthrough in growth Creating a sustainable green shift." Joining this grand artistic program are co-sponsors PVEP, PV GAS, PV Power, PVOIL, BSR, PVCFC, and PVcomBank serving as the coordinating unit collaborating with the organizing committee. The event is organized by Corex Business Solutions, the sole company in Southeast Asia to have set two Guinness World Records for drone displays. As Vietnams leading cultural projects & destination development company, Corex is also behind the success of the "Glamour Thang Long 2024" drone show and The Ever Glamour Nha Trang (EGN) 2024 festival. Representatives from Corex shared: We are confident that this performance will set a new Guinness World Record for the largest pyro drone display, further cementing our reputation as a leader in delivering groundbreaking cultural events. The event will undoubtedly solidify Hanois reputation as a leading creative city and a global cultural destination, attracting visitors worldwide to experience historic spectacles. Media contact: Mr. Minh Thang Nguyen Deputy General Director of Marketing & Strategy Email: thangnm@corex.vn https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ac6a150b-4062-4585-9d93-a187bd5f6506 MONTREAL, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) (Velan or the Company), a world-leading manufacturer of industrial valves, announced today financial results for its third quarter ended November 30, 2024. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise. On January 14, 2025, the Company announced that it has entered into an agreement (the Asbestos Divestiture Agreement) with an affiliate of Global Risk Capital (the Buyer) to permanently divest its asbestos-related liabilities (the Asbestos Divestiture Transaction). Global Risk Capital is a long-term liability management company specializing in the acquisition and management of legacy corporate liabilities. The Asbestos Divestiture Transaction will be achieved by Velan Inc. transferring its assets and liabilities into a new subsidiary and selling its existing U.S. subsidiary, Velan Valve Corp, which will have been capitalized with $143 million (subject to certain adjustments) from Velan Inc. and $7 million from the Buyer. The Asbestos Divestiture Transaction will permanently remove all asbestos-related liabilities and obligations from Velan Inc.s balance sheet and will indemnify Velan for all legacy asbestos liabilities. The Company also announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Velan UK, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (the Memorandum of Understanding) relating to the sale of 100% of the share capital and voting rights of its French subsidiaries, Segault SAS (Segault) and Velan SAS (Velan France), to Framatome SAS (Framatome), a world leader in nuclear energy, for a total consideration of US$198.4 million (192.5 million) (the France Transaction). The sale of the French businesses met the criteria, at November 30, 2024 of assets held for sale and discontinued operations. As a result, the consolidated balance sheet as at November 30, 2024 has been adjusted to present the disposal group as asset held for sale, and the consolidated income statement and cash flows have been retrospectively adjusted to present only the results from continuing operations. THIRD-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS NON-IFRS AND SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL MEASURES Solid order backlog 2 of $298.7 million, up $15.0 million or 5.3% since the beginning of the year. of $298.7 million, up $15.0 million or 5.3% since the beginning of the year. Bookings 2 of $59.1 million, versus $60.1 million last year, representing a book-to-bill ratio 2 of 0.81. of $59.1 million, versus $60.1 million last year, representing a book-to-bill ratio of 0.81. Adjusted net income from continuing operations of $8.5 million, versus an adjusted net loss of $7.0 million in the corresponding quarter, mainly due to higher sales and gross profit. Adjusted net income per share from continuing operations of $0.39, compared to an adjusted net loss per share of $0.32 last year. Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $14.3 million, compared to negative $4.1 million last year. The increase is mainly attributable to higher sales and gross profit. IFRS MEASURES CONSIDERING SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS Sales of $73.4 million, up $11.2 million or 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit of $28.3 million or 38.6% of sales, up significantly from $8.2 million, or 13.1% of sales, last year. Net loss 2 from continuing operations of $47.8 million, versus a net loss of $9.5 million last year reflecting restructuring costs of $74.5 million before income taxes. from continuing operations of $47.8 million, versus a net loss of $9.5 million last year reflecting restructuring costs of $74.5 million before income taxes. Net loss per share from continuing operations of $2.22, compared to a net loss per share of $0.44 last year. Cash flows from operating activities was breakeven, versus $0.1 million last year. Net cash of $32.1 million at the end of the quarter, versus $36.4 million at the beginning of the fiscal year. NON-IFRS AND SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL MEASURES (From continuing operation, in 000s of U.S. dollars, excluding per share amounts) Three-month periods ended Nine-month periods ended November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 Adjusted EBITDA1 $14,260 ($4,148) $24,337 ($5,824) Adjusted net income1 (loss) $8,502 ($7,011) $11,857 ($14,728) per share - basic and diluted $0.39 ($0.32) $0.55 ($0.68) FINANCIAL RESULTS (From continuing operation, in 000s of U.S. dollars, excluding per share amounts) Three-month periods ended Nine-month periods ended November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 Sales $73,404 $62,160 $211,998 $177,458 Gross profit $28,305 $8,165 $65,087 $31,871 Gross margin 38.6% 13.1% 30.7% 18.0% Restructuring expenses 74,468 2,274 81,301 6,846 Net income (loss) $(47,835) ($9,461) $(50,632) ($22,366) per share - basic and diluted $(2.22) ($0.44) $(2.35) ($1.04) Weighted average share outstanding (000s) 21,586 21,586 21,586 21,586 Velans strong operating performance in the third quarter produced sales growth of 18% and a significant improvement in profitability, said James A. Mannebach, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Velan. Driven by its strong brand, high-quality products and proven expertise in delivering solutions for critical applications, Velan is well-positioned to benefit from robust momentum in the clean energy sector. We are particularly excited with opportunities in the global nuclear market, which is undergoing a multi-year growth cycle. Recent alliances with leading players for our proprietary products at small modular reactors bode well for the long term, while our large installed base at existing reactors holds solid potential from life-extension projects and maintenance. Given current dynamics, we expect nuclear activities to generate new orders in the near future. Looking ahead, we are confident to conclude fiscal 2025 with sales growth year over year. I am happy to announce that we have entered into an agreement with an affiliate of Global Risk Capital, a long-term liability management company specializing in the acquisition and management of legacy corporate liabilities, for the divestiture of our asbestos-related liabilities. The transaction will eliminate the Companys asbestos-related liabilities. We have also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Framatome, an international leader in nuclear energy, for the sale of our French subsidiaries Segault and Velan France for a purchase price of US$175.2 million (170 million), with the benefit of the transfer of an intercompany loan of US$23.2 million (22.5 million), for total consideration to the Company of US$198.4 million (192.5 million). In accordance with French laws, Segault, Velan France, and Framatome must inform and consult their employee representative bodies before any definitive agreement is entered into between the parties. Once a definitive agreement has been signed, a meeting of Velans shareholders will be called to approve the transaction. Our controlling shareholder, Velan Holding, has already pledged its support in favour of the transaction. The Company continues to review options to maximize value for our shareholders. Solid execution and higher business volume has yielded robust profit margins so far this year, while a strong operating cash flow enabled us to further reduce our long-term debt, added Rishi Sharma, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Velan. A strong financial position offers Velan the flexibility to invest in growth opportunities to leverage its brand and know-how. We remain firmly committed to deliver sustained profitable growth and to create lasting value for all shareholders. These transactions would meet two key financial objectives, namely the reduction of risk and resolution of our asbestos-related liabilities through the divestiture transaction and the strengthening of our balance sheet. BACKLOG (000s of U.S. dollars) As at November 30, 2024 February 29, 2024 Backlog $298,685 $283,647 for delivery within the next 12 months $249,144 $259,662 BOOKINGS (000s of U.S. dollars, excluding ratios) Three-month periods ended Nine-month periods ended November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 November 30, 2024 November 30, 2023 Bookings $59,096 $60,076 $230,474 $177,054 Book-to-bill ratio 0.81 0.97 1.09 1.00 As at November 30, 2024, the backlog from continuing operations stood at $298.7 million, up $15.0 million, or 5.3%, since the beginning of the fiscal year due to bookings exceeding shipments in the first nine months of fiscal 2025. As at November 30, 2024, 83.4% of the backlog, representing orders of $249.1 million, is deliverable in the next 12 months. Currency movements had a $2.5 million negative effect on the value of the backlog for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 mainly due to the weakening of the euro versus the U.S. dollar. Bookings from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 were $59.1 million, versus $60.1 million for the same period last year. This slight decrease reflects the timing of orders following strong bookings in the first half of fiscal 2025 and delays in certain targeted projects in Italy. These factors were partially offset by higher MRO bookings in North America and higher bookings in Germany for oil refinery projects. Currency movements had a $0.6 million negative effect on the value of bookings for the quarter. For the first nine months of fiscal 2025, bookings from continuing operations totaled $230.5 million, up from $177.1 million in fiscal 2024. The increase reflects higher bookings in North America and Germany, partially offset by lower bookings in Italy. Currency movements had a $1.7 million negative effect on the value of bookings for the period. As sales outpaced bookings, the book-to-bill ratio was 0.81 for the quarter ended November 30, 2024, while the ratio for the nine-month period ended November 30, 2024, was 1.09 as bookings, driven mainly by nuclear activities in North America, outpaced sales. THIRD QUARTER RESULTS Sales from continuing operations reached $73.4 million, up $11.2 million or 18.1% from the same period last year. The increase mainly reflects higher shipments from Italian operations for the oil and gas market and from China for the petrochemical sector. These factors were partially offset by lower sales in other international markets, while sales from North American operations remained relatively stable. Currency movements had a $0.5 million positive effect on sales for the quarter. Gross profit from continuing operations totaled $28.3 million, up from $8.2 million last year. The increase is attributable to higher sales, which positively impacted the absorption of fixed production overhead costs, a more favorable product mix, reduced exposure to an onerous contract and efficiency gains. Currency movements had a $0.2 million positive effect on gross profit for the quarter compared to the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, gross profit was 38.6%, compared to 13.1% last year. Administration costs from continuing operations totaled $17.0 million, or 23.2% of sales, compared to $15.5 million, or 24.9% of sales a year ago. The year-over-year increase is mainly attributable to higher sales commissions due to higher business volume, higher freight costs and the impact of a significant increase in the market value of the Companys shares on its long-term incentive plan. For the three-month period ended November 30, 2024, the Company incurred restructuring expenses of $74.5 million consisting of asbestos-related costs of $69.1 million and transaction-related costs of $5.4 million. In the three-month period ended November 30, 2023, restructuring expenses were $2.3 million in connection with asbestos-related costs. EBITDA from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 amounted to negative $60.2 million, compared to negative $6.7 million last year. Excluding asbestos-related costs and transaction-related costs, this years third quarter adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $14.3 million, while last years adjusted EBITDA was negative $4.1 million. The year-over-year increase is due to higher sales and gross profit, partially offset by higher administration costs. The net loss from continuing operations was $47.8 million, or $2.22 per share, compared to a net loss of $9.5 million, or $0.44 per share last year. Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $8.5 million, or $0.39 per share, versus an adjusted net loss of $7.0 million, or $0.32 per share, last year. The variation is primarily attributable to higher adjusted EBITDA. Net loss from discontinued operations amounted to $14.3 million, or $0.66 per share, versus net income from discontinued operations of $2.2 million, or $0.10 per share, last year. As a result, the net loss was $62.1 million, or $2.88 per share, versus a net loss of $7.3 million, or $0.34 per share, last year. NINE-MONTH RESULTS Sales from continuing operations totaled $212.0 million, compared to $177.5 million for the same period last year. Gross profit from continuing operations reached $65.1 million, compared to $31.9 million a year ago. As a percentage of sales, gross profit was 30.7%, compared to 18.0% last year. Excluding the effect of non-recurring revenue in the second quarter for which no gross profit was recognized, this years gross profit as a percentage of sales was 31.5%. EBITDA from continuing operations was negative $56.9 million, compared to negative $13.8 million last year, while adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations stood at $24.3 million, up from negative $5.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2024. The net loss from continuing operations was $50.6 million, or $2.35 per share, compared to a net loss of $22.4 million or $1.04 per share last year. Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $11.9 million, or $0.55 per share, versus an adjusted net loss of $14.7 million, or $0.68 per share, last year. Net loss from discontinued operations amounted to $12.4 million, or $0.57 per share, versus net income from discontinued operations of $4.7 million, or $0.22 per share, last year. As a result, the net loss was $63.1 million, or $2.92 per share, versus a net loss of $17.7 million, or $0.82 per share, last year. FINANCIAL POSITION As at November 30, 2024, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $35.1 million and short-term investments of $0.4 million. Bank indebtedness stood at $3.0 million, while long-term debt, including the current portion, amounted to $19.5 million. OUTLOOK As at November 30, 2024, orders amounting to $249.1 million, representing 83.4% of a total backlog of $298.7 million, are expected to be delivered in the next 12 months. Given current orders, the Company anticipates concluding fiscal 2025 with a growth year over year in sales from continuing operations. DIVIDEND The Board of Directors of Velan has declared a dividend of CA$0.03 per common share payable on February 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as at February 14, 2025. Given the improved financial performance of the Company, the Board believes it is appropriate to reinstate the dividend payment. The Board will revisit its dividend policy following the closing of the above noted transactions. CONFERENCE CALL NOTICE Financial analysts, shareholders, and other interested individuals are invited to attend the third quarter conference call to be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (EST). The toll-free call-in number is 1-888-510-2154 or by RapidConnect URL: https://emportal.ink/3B0rDEL . The material that will be referenced during the conference call will be made available shortly before the event on the companys website under the Investor Relations section (https://www.velan.com/en/company/investor_relations). A recording of this conference call will be available for seven days at 1-289-819-1450 or 1-888-660-6345, access code 76543. ABOUT VELAN Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan Inc. (www.velan.com) is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of industrial valves, with sales of US$346.8 million in its last reported fiscal year. The Company employs 1,617 people and has manufacturing plants in 9 countries. Velan Inc. is a public company with its shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VLN. SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT This news release may include forward-looking statements, which generally contain words like should, believe, anticipate, plan, may, will, expect, intend, continue or estimate or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Companys filings with the appropriate securities commissions. While these statements are based on managements assumptions regarding historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that it believes are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may differ materially from those expressed herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. NON-IFRS AND SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL MEASURES In this press release, the Company has presented measures of performance or financial condition which are not defined under IFRS (non-IFRS measures) and are, therefore, unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measures are used by management in assessing the operating results and financial condition of the Company and are reconciled with the performance measures defined under IFRS. The Company has also presented supplementary financial measures which are defined at the end of this report. Reconciliation and definition can be found below. Adjusted net income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss) per share, Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA The term Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income or loss attributable to Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares plus adjustment, net of income taxes, for costs related to restructuring and to the proposed transaction. The terms Adjusted net income (loss) per share is obtained by dividing Adjusted net income (loss) by the total amount of subordinate and multiple voting shares. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The term EBITDA is defined as adjusted net income plus depreciation of property, plant & equipment, plus amortization of intangible assets, plus net finance costs, plus income tax provision. The term Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus adjustment for costs related to restructuring and to the proposed transaction. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Definitions of supplementary financial measures The term Net new orders or bookings is defined as firm orders, net of cancellations, recorded by the Company during a period. Bookings are impacted by the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates for a given period. The measure provides an indication of the Companys sales operation performance for a given period as well as well as an expectation of future sales and cash flows to be achieved on these orders. The term backlog is defined as the buildup of all outstanding bookings to be delivered by the Company. The Companys backlog is impacted by the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates for a given period. The measure provides an indication of the future operational challenges of the Company as well as an expectation of future sales and cash flows to be achieved on these orders. The term book-to-bill is obtained by dividing bookings by sales. The measure provides an indication of the Companys performance and outlook for a given period. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Contact: Rishi Sharma, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Martin Goulet, M.Sc., CFA Velan Inc. MBC Capital Markets Advisors Tel: (438) 817-4430 Tel.: (514) 731-0000, ext. 229 1 Non-IFRS and supplementary financial measure. Refer to the Non-IFRS and Supplementary Financial Measures section for definitions and reconciliations. 2 Net income or loss refer to net income or loss attributable to Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares. Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (in thousands of U.S. dollars) As at November 30, February 29, 2024 2024 $ $ Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 35,051 36,445 Short-term investments 370 5,271 Accounts receivable 65,623 119,914 Income taxes recoverable 5,964 6,132 Inventories 153,987 208,702 Deposits and prepaid expenses 3,845 10,421 Derivative assets 413 125 Assets held for sale 139,390 - 404,643 387,010 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 57,933 69,918 Intangible assets and goodwill 7,651 16,543 Deferred income taxes 22,448 5,193 Other assets 726 729 Assets held for sale 16,985 - 105,743 92,383 Total assets 510,386 479,393 Liabilities Current liabilities Bank indebtedness 2,990 - Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 77,641 88,230 Income taxes payable 1,307 1,568 Customer deposits 24,604 30,396 Provisions 150,378 14,129 Derivative liabilities 517 26 Current portion of long-term lease liabilities 1,371 1,607 Current portion of long-term debt 3,150 24,431 Liabilities held for sale 39,729 - 301,687 160,387 Non-current liabilities Long-term lease liabilities 4,558 11,036 Long-term debt 16,318 4,346 Income taxes payable 419 2,325 Deferred income taxes 954 3,462 Customer deposits 3,903 35,082 Asbestos provision - 74,058 Other liabilities 5,158 5,438 Liabilities held for sale 60,593 - 91,903 135,747 Total liabilities 393,590 296,134 Total equity 116,796 183,259 Total liabilities and equity 510,386 479,393 Consolidated Statements of Income (loss) (in thousands of U.S. dollars, excluding number of shares and per share amounts) Three-month periods ended Six-month periods ended November 30, November 30, November 30, November 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Sales 73,404 62,160 211,998 177,458 Cost of sales 45,099 53,995 146,911 145,587 Gross profit 28,305 8,165 65,087 31,871 Administration costs 17,003 15,476 48,348 46,504 Other expense (income) (782 ) (542 ) (876 ) (949 ) Restructuring expenses 74,468 2,274 81,301 6,846 Operating loss (62,384 ) (9,043 ) (63,686 ) (20,529 ) Finance income 41 65 245 130 Finance costs (483 ) (456 ) (1,336 ) (1,194 ) Finance costs net (442 ) (391 ) (1,091 ) (1,064 ) Income (loss) before income taxes (62,826 ) (9,434 ) (64,777 ) (21,593 ) Income tax expense (recovery) (14,930 ) 77 (13,993 ) 832 Net Income (loss) for the period from continuing operation (47,896 ) (9,511 ) (50,784 ) (22,425 ) Results from discontinued operations (14,262 ) 2,211 (12,449 ) 4,712 (62,158 ) (7,300 ) (63,233 ) (17,713 ) Net Income (loss) attributable to: Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares (62,097 ) (7,250 ) (63,081 ) (17,654 ) Non-controlling interest (61 ) (50 ) (152 ) (59 ) Net Income (loss) attributable to Shareholders for the period (62,158 ) (7,300 ) (63,233 ) (17,713 ) Net Income (loss) per Subordinate and Multiple Voting Share Basic and diluted from continuing operation (2.22 ) (0.44 ) (2.35 ) (1.04 ) Basic and diluted from discontinued operations (0.66 ) 0.10 (0.57 ) 0.22 Basic and diluted from all operations (2.88 ) (0.34 ) (2.92 ) (0.82 ) Dividends declared per Subordinate and Multiple 0.02 - - 0.02 Voting Share (CA$0.03) (CA$ -) (CA$ -) (CA$0.03) Total weighted average number of Subordinate and Multiple Voting Shares Basic and diluted common number of shares 21,585,635 21,585,635 21,585,635 21,585,635 Net Income (loss) attributable to Shareholders: Continuing operations (47,896 ) (9,511 ) (50,784 ) (22,425 ) Discontinued operations (14,262 ) 2,211 (12,449 ) 4,712 Net Income (loss) for the period (62,158 ) (7,300 ) (63,233 ) (17,713 ) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three-month periods ended Six-month periods ended November 30, November 30, November 30, November 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Comprehensive Income (loss) Net Income (loss) for the period (62,158 ) (7,300 ) (63,233 ) (17,713 ) Other comprehensive income Foreign currency translation of foreign subsidiaries 1,188 (189 ) (740 ) 471 Foreign currency translation of foreign subsidiaries from discontinued operations (4,297 ) 320 (2,123 ) 2,764 Comprehensive Income (loss) (65,267 ) (7,169 ) (66,096 ) (14,478 ) Comprehensive Income (loss) attributable to: Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares (65,206 ) (7,119 ) (65,944 ) (14,419 ) Non-controlling interest (61 ) (50 ) (152 ) (59 ) Comprehensive Income (loss) (65,267 ) (7,169 ) (66,096 ) (14,478 ) Other comprehensive loss is composed solely of items that may be reclassified subsequently to the consolidated statement of loss. Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (in thousands of U.S. dollars, excluding number of shares) Equity attributable to the Subordinate and Multiple Voting shareholders Share capital Contributed surplus Accumulated other comprehensive loss Retained earnings Total Non-controlling interest Total equity Balance - February 28, 2023 72,695 6,260 (41,208 ) 162,142 199,889 946 200,835 Net loss for the period - - - (17,654 ) (17,654 ) (59 ) (17,713 ) Other comprehensive income - - 3,235 - 3,235 - 3,235 Comprehensive income (loss) - - 3,235 (17,654 ) (14,419 ) (59 ) (14,478 ) Acquisition of non-controlling interests - - - - - 200 200 Dividends Multiple Voting Shares - - - (354 ) (354 ) - (354 ) Subordinate Voting Shares - - - (137 ) (137 ) - (137 ) Balance - November 30, 2023 72,695 6,260 (37,973 ) 143,997 184,979 1,087 186,066 Balance - February 29, 2024 72,695 6,260 (38,692 ) 141,914 182,177 1,082 183,259 Net loss for the period - - - (63,081 ) (63,081 ) (152 ) (63,233 ) Other comprehensive income - - (2,863 ) - (2,863 ) - (2,863 ) Comprehensive income (loss) - - (2,863 ) (63,081 ) (65,944 ) (152 ) (66,096 ) Other - 95 - - 95 - 95 Dividends Multiple Voting Shares - - - (333 ) (333 ) - (333 ) Subordinate Voting Shares - - - (129 ) (129 ) - (129 ) Non-controlling interest - - - - - - - Balance - November 30, 2024 72,695 6,355 (41,555 ) 78,371 115,866 930 116,796 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three-month periods ended Six-month periods ended November 30, November 30, November 30, November 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 $ $ $ $ Cash flows from Operating activities Net income (loss) for the period (62,158 ) (7,300 ) (63,233 ) (17,713 ) Results from discontinued operations (14,262 ) 2,211 (12,449 ) 4,712 Net Income (loss) for the period for continued operations (47,896 ) (9,511 ) (50,784 ) (22,425 ) Adjustments to reconcile net Income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities 45,240 1,010 54,424 (194 ) Changes in non-cash working capital items 2,647 8,563 16,243 15,025 Cash provided by operating activities from continued operations (9 ) 61 19,883 (7,594 ) Investing activities Short-term investments (193 ) 2 472 22 Additions to property, plant and equipment (4,039 ) (1,670 ) (7,860 ) (5,257 ) Additions to intangible assets (981 ) (443 ) (1,083 ) (1,320 ) Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets 31 29 177 82 Net change in other assets 258 304 (190 ) (52 ) Cash provided (used) by investing activities from continued operations (4,923 ) (1,778 ) (8,484 ) (6,525 ) Financing activities Dividends paid to Subordinate and Multiple Voting shareholders - - - (491 ) Acquisition of non-controlling interests - 200 - 200 Increase in long-term debt 506 - 1,090 5,000 Repayment of long-term debt (242 ) (5,728 ) (6,753 ) (6,768 ) Repayment of long-term lease liabilities 0 (615 ) (425 ) (1,260 ) Cash used by financing activities from continued operations 264 (6,143 ) (6,088 ) (3,320 ) Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents (315 ) (178 ) (533 ) 210 Net change in cash during the period from continuated operations (4,984 ) (8,038 ) 4,778 (17,229 ) Net change in cash during the period from discontinuing operations 10,301 (4,972 ) 6,146 (6,662 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents during the period 5,317 (13,010 ) 10,925 (23,891 ) Net cash Beginning of the period 37,045 31,414 27,283 40,605 Net cash End of the period 32,061 23,376 32,061 23,376 Net cash is composed of: Cash and cash equivalents 35,051 25,063 35,051 25,063 Bank indebtedness (2,990 ) (1,687 ) (2,990 ) (1,687 ) Net cash End of the period 32,061 23,376 32,061 23,376 Supplementary information Interest paid (206 ) (419 ) (623 ) (861 ) Income taxes paid (3,618 ) (1,657 ) (8,389 ) (6,110 ) A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/294a7bfb-66bd-402f-9e67-1c6b854d896b OSLO, Norway (15 January 2025) TGS, a leading provider of energy data and intelligence, is pleased to announce award of four 4D streamer contract acquisition projects, three in the North Sea and one in the Barents Sea. The 4D campaign in the North Sea is scheduled to commence in early Q2 with back-to-back scheduling and a total duration of approximately 130 days. The 4D contract in the Barents Sea is scheduled to commence in late May with a total duration of approximately 50 days. Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS, commented, "We are very pleased to secure a series of 4D streamer contracts offshore Norway for the 2025 summer season. Our GeoStreamer technology combined with the Ramform acquisition platform ensures efficient delivery of high-quality data. We are experiencing higher demand for contract work on the Norwegian Continental shelf this year, compared to last. When including our multi-client programs, we will have three streamer vessels working on the Norwegian continental shelf this summer." For more information, visit TGS.com or contact: Bard Stenberg VP IR & Communication Mobile: +47 992 45 235 investor@tgs.com About TGS TGS provides advanced data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. With leading-edge technology and solutions spanning the entire energy value chain, TGS offers a comprehensive range of insights to help clients make better decisions. Our broad range of products and advanced data technologies, coupled with a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, make TGS a trusted partner in supporting the exploration and production of energy resources worldwide. For further information, please visit www.tgs.com (https://www.tgs.com/). Forward Looking Statement All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason. EDINBURGH, Scotland, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cryptocurrency mining has turned out to be an exciting opportunity, be it for tech-savvy individuals or complete newcomers. 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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/50b7f274-3c55-4430-a861-3ff0f6665e92 Post-00s inheritor brings traditional Yi embroidery to young audiences and international markets People's Daily Online) 15:39, January 15, 2025 In Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, there is a saying: "Every Yi child who can hold chopsticks can embroider." Since childhood, Chen Haiyan, a post-00s inheritor of Yi embroidery, has loved watching her grandmother and mother work on the craft. Their nimble fingers danced, guiding the needles through the fabric, creating vivid landscapes, the sun and moon, flowers, and animals stitch by stitch. The traditional embroidery of the Yi ethnic group from Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is winning the hearts of young consumers and gaining growing popularity in international markets. Chen Haiyan creates an embroidery work. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee) At a local embroidery workshop named Qicai Yi embroidery (colorful Yi embroidery), many of the older artisans have never left the mountains of Yunnan, yet their creations have traveled far and wide, reaching global markets and receiving high praise. The workshop, founded by Ding Lanying, a provincial-level representative inheritor of Yi embroidery, with support from the local government, has received orders from countries including France, Japan, and Vietnam, according to Ding's daughter Chen. After purchasing embroidered tablecloths and coasters for his restaurant in Paris, one owner praised the products for their eye-catching and vibrant designs and colors, saying they brought a lively and colorful touch to his establishment, Chen said. As a well-established traditional craft included in China's list of national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2014, Yi embroidery was once considered "gaudy" and "old-fashioned", while machine-made Yi embroidery products flooded the market with low prices and homogeneous designs. Chen became the sixth-generation embroiderer of her family at the age of 12. After completing her university studies in 2022, she returned to her hometown with the ambition of modernizing Yi embroidery and making it more appealing to younger and global audiences. "I was determined to showcase the diverse possibilities and unique charm of Yi embroidery," Chen recalled. Setting out to change young people's perception that Yi embroidery is beautiful but too bold in its colors and patterns for everyday wear, Chen began adapting the craft to contemporary tastes while preserving its cultural roots. Under her leadership, artisans at the Qicai Yi embroidery workshop started experimenting with softer, more subtle color palettes and transforming traditional, realistic designs into more abstract, artistic patterns. These adjustments have effectively made their embroidery works more wearable and easier to incorporate into everyday fashion. The efforts of Chen and her team soon bore fruit. In 2023, Chen's Yi embroidery works, namely an embroidered notebook and a three-dimensional floral crossbody bag, were collected by Dali University in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. A cloth bag featuring Yi embroidery patterns designed by Chen was selected as part of the Spring Festival gift package by the Chinese embassy in Indonesia. That same year, with the help of Southeast University in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, the Qicai Yi embroidery workshop launched a series of Yi embroidery pieces inspired by the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its rich collections of Buddhist artworks in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. These innovative embroidery works, blending ancient Yi embroidery with the elements of Chinese Buddhist art, helped Yi embroidery shine with renewed vigor. As they were exhibited at the Jinling Art Museum in Nanjing, these exquisite embroidery works wowed visitors from around the world. Thanks to Chen's efforts, the workshop collaborated with well-known international brands, developing over 200 fashion items featuring Yi embroidery. This has successfully transformed the image of Yi embroidery from an outdated craft to a modern, high-end art form. In 2024, sales revenue from these collaborations surpassed 4 million yuan ($550,000), with 10 percent of the products being exported to international markets. Additionally, traditional costumes of the Yi ethnic group created by the Qicai Yi embroidery workshop have graced international fashion stages, including Milan Fashion Week, attracting global attention to the distinctive culture of the Yi ethnic group. With Yi embroidery gaining growing popularity at home and abroad, the income of artisans in the workshop has risen significantly. Some embroiderers who were previously unemployed now earn up to 4,000 yuan per month. "The more distinctive an ethnic culture is, the more appealing it is to the outside world, Chen said. As the youngest county-level representative inheritor of the traditional costumes of the Yi ethnic group in Nanhua county, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Chen is confident that Yi embroidery will continue to shine with brilliance on the international stage. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) SALT LAKE CITY, UT, ROCHESTER, NY, MONTREAL, QC, LONDON, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CallTower, a global leader in delivering unified communications, contact center, and collaboration solutions, including Microsoft Teams, Webex by Cisco, and Zoom, announced the appointment of Andy Murphy as the new Sales Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Andy Murphy brings over two decades of experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors, with a proven track record of driving sales growth and building strong client relationships. His previous roles include senior sales positions at leading firms such as British Telecom, Mitel, and 8x8, where he consistently exceeded sales targets and spearheaded successful market expansion initiatives. Paul Holden, Vice President of EMEA Sales at CallTower, expressed enthusiasm for Andy's appointment: "We are thrilled to welcome Andy Murphy to our EMEA leadership team. His extensive experience and strategic vision align perfectly with CallTower's commitment to delivering exceptional communication solutions to our clients. Andy's leadership will be instrumental in driving our growth and strengthening our presence in the EMEA region. In addition to this strategic hire, CallTower recently announced its successful acquisition of Inoria, a move that enhances its global service capabilities and marks a strategic milestone in CallTowers mission to deliver best-of-breed CCaaS solutions, expand its Customer Experience (CX) and Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CAI) capabilities to the global market. About CallTower Transforming how we connect across the globe! Dive into the future of global communication with CallTower, where the forefront of innovation meets the vast expanse of connectivity. CallTower is revolutionizing communications through cutting-edge technology. CallTower delivers seamless MS Teams, Zoom, and Webex voice solutions elevated by the integration of AI technology, comprehensive contact center solutions and one-click failover, marking a significant milestone in the communication landscape. Since its establishment in 2002, CallTower has evolved into a global cloud-based, enterprise-class cloud communications (unified communications, contact center and collaboration) solutions provider, catering to the needs of expanding businesses globally. CallTower offers and supports cutting-edge solutions such as Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, MS Teams Direct Routing, GCC High Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft 365, Cisco Webex Calling / UCM, Cisco CCP, Zoom Phone, Zoom (BYOB), and a range of contact center options, including Five9 for business customers. For more information about CallTower and its award-winning services, please contact marketing@calltower.com. PRAGUE, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quantum computing is set to revolutionize technology, but it also presents a significant security risk for financial institutions. Czech cybersecurity startup Wultra has raised 3 million from Tensor Ventures, Elevator Ventures, and J&T Ventures to accelerate the development of its post-quantum authentication technology, safeguarding banks and fintech against the coming wave of quantum threats. The investment comes as global concern grows over the vulnerability of traditional security methods. Quantum computers will soon have the power to crack cryptography that protects billions of financial transactions daily. Wultra, whose clients already include Raiffeisen Bank International, Erste Digital, OTP Bank, and Global Payments, is at the forefront of creating secure authentication solutions that can withstand quantum-level attacks. We anticipate a Q-day within the next five years - a point where current authentication systems will become ineffective against quantum computers, says Petr Dvorak, CEO and founder of Wultra. Financial institutions must act now to protect their infrastructure. This investment allows us to develop next-generation solutions and deepen our presence in key banking markets that recognize the urgency of post-quantum threats. Dvorak is no stranger to innovation. He played a key role in building Inmite, a mobile app development firm acquired by Avast in 2014. Drawing on that experience, he founded Wultra to focus on financial security. Today, the company offers mobile-first software authentication and hardware authenticators trusted by major European banks. Production Strictly in the European Union While most of Wultra's sales are from its smartphone software authentication solution, its hardware authenticator, Talisman, has already seen significant demand, with thousands of units delivered and tens of thousands of pre-orders. To ensure the highest level of security and compliance, all Talisman devices are manufactured and assembled within the European Union, with final production taking place in the Czech Republic. Our hardware authenticator addresses the needs of corporate and premium banking clients, aligning with new PSD3 regulations that mandate alternative authentication methods beyond smartphones, adds Petr Dvorak. Global Expansion and Innovation Numerous banks and fintech companies in several countries trust Wultra's solutions, and adoption is especially high in Central Europe. The 3 million investment will develop post-quantum authentication solutions and enable Wultras expansion into Western Europe and Southeast Asia, which are experiencing increasing adoption of digital banking. The company plans to open a Singapore office in 2025 to serve the growing demand in these regions. Southeast Asia is becoming a key market for us. The regions financial sector is evolving rapidly, and post-quantum authentication is becoming a priority, explains Dvorak. By next year, we aim to establish a physical presence to support our expanding client base. Another investment round in two years The Seed+ round was led by Czech-Luxembourg deep tech fund Tensor Ventures of Roman Smola, Martin Drdul, and Petr Ulvr. "Wultra has cutting-edge technology that solves the nightmare of every banker in the world," says Martin Drdul, co-founder of Tensor Ventures. "At the same time, there is no alternative to their solution that can be deployed so quickly. We also like that this is another Czech startup that shows that we can successfully export very advanced technologies from the Czech Republic to the whole world," adds Ondrej Lipold, who was in charge of the investment at Tensor Ventures. Elevator Ventures, the venture capital arm of Raiffeisen Bank International, co-led the round. Suleiman Arabiat, Principal at Elevator Ventures, comments: Authentication is a challenging and ever-growing field, and we believe Wultra's solid technology stack and development capabilities address the most critical challenges in securing financial institutions against future threats. We are excited to support their expansion into new markets and their trailblazing journey out of CEE to the world.Returning investor J&T Ventures, which first backed Wultra in 2022, also joined the round. Weve supported Wultra from the early stages and have been consistently impressed by their technology and market growth, says Adam Kocik, Partner at J&T Ventures. As quantum threats become more pressing for the financial sector, Wultras solutions are positioned to become essential infrastructure for banks and fintechs. This round reinforces our belief in their growth potential and ability to lead the industry into the post-quantum era. Another investment round will likely occur within two years. About Wultra Wultra provides easy-to-deploy post-quantum authentication solutions for financial institutions, ensuring secure and seamless access to digital services. Its developer-friendly technology, powered by NIST-endorsed quantum-resistant cryptography, delivers bulletproof security, a passwordless user experience, and compliance with global regulationsall deployable in just eight weeks. Trusted by financial institutions worldwide, Wultras solutions meet stringent standards like PSD3/PSR1 and eIDAS 2.0 while offering cutting-edge protection against evolving cyber threats. For more information, visit www.wultra.com. About Tensor Ventures Tensor Ventures is a global deep tech fund headquartered in Prague and Luxembourg, founded by Roman Smola, Martin Drdul, and Petr Ulvr. The first fund supported revolutionary early-stage deep tech startups, building a portfolio of over 20 companies across Europe, the UK, Israel, the USA, and beyond. Notable successes include Tatum, Veracity Protocol, and QC82 quantum chips. The second fund, Tensor Ventures, is targeting a size of EUR 50 million and will again allow investors to tap into unique quantum technologies, biotechnology, security technologies, software 2.0, and energy and climate technologies. In addition to these areas, however, there will also be an opportunity to invest in space technologies. For more information, visit www.tensor.ventures. About Elevator Ventures Elevator Ventures is the venture capital fund backed by Raiffeisen Bank International, Raiffeisen-Holding Niederosterreich-Wien, and Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark and manages funds of more than 100m to elevate the growth of technology companies in Fintech and Beyond Banking. The team has a wide sourcing and business development network in DACH and CEE and uses the deep expertise and intel of its investors as an advantage. To date, Elevator Ventures has invested close to 50 million into 16 companies, resulting in four successful exits, and into two funds. For more information, visit www.elevator-ventures.com About J&T Ventures Venture Capital Fund J&T Ventures invests in promising, innovative start-ups to contribute to their dynamic development and value growth. The J&T Ventures funds manage 50 million euros and provide not only financial resources, but also help to set up business strategy, business processes, support expansion to foreign markets, fundraising and managerial experience along with contacts. The fund seeks promising business projects with exceptional founders, focusing primarily on the CEE and SEE region and investing between EUR 0.5 million and EUR 2.5 million. More information at www.jtventures.cz and LinkedIn. Contact Founder & CEO Petr Dvorak Wultra petr.dvorak@wultra.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fb53ef1-4d4d-44ce-addd-09d5fc282641 Dublin, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Fracking Chemicals Fluids Market - Forecasts from 2025 to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The fracking chemicals fluids market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.81%, reaching a market size of US$58.253billion in 2030 from US$41.897 billion in 2025. The fracking chemicals fluids market is a specialized sector within the oil and gas industry, mainly focused on fracking or hydraulic fracturing chemical additives production and application. Hydraulic fracturing is a production technique for natural gas and oil from deep underground formations by injecting high-pressure fluid into rocks to create fractures. This method has gained wide momentum because it has proved effective for accessing unconventional resources, particularly from shale formations. Fracking fluids comprise as much as 90% water and 9.5% sand or proppants, leaving only a percentage of chemical additives at 0.5%. These chemicals fulfill several important functions, such as property enhancements of the fluid, prevention of corrosion, control of the pH level, and decreased friction while pumping. Some common additives are biocides to inhibit bacterial growth, friction reducers to increase fluid flow, and stabilizers to prevent clay swelling in the wellbore. The actual composition of fracking fluids is highly customized depending on various geological characteristics of the target formation and operation requirements. Rising demand for fracking chemicals The market for fracking chemicals depends on several variables, such as global demand for energy, regulatory policies, and technological progress. Recently, greater attention has been given to developing more eco-friendly and less harmful chemical formulations in light of increased concerns over environmental implications. For instance, companies now use food-grade additives due to pressure from the public over the safety of regular fracking chemicals. Regarding low water consumption and the carrying capacity of proppants, foam-based fracturing fluids are relatively new alternatives to water-based fluids. However, these alternatives also pose the challenge of maintaining stability within harsh reservoir conditions. Studies in nanotechnology and special surfactants are in progress to enhance performances and safety standards, which influences the market dynamics. Segment analysis of the fracking chemicals fluids market: The North American region will dominate the fracking chemicals fluids market during the forecast period. The North American fracking chemicals fluids market is experiencing significant growth, driven primarily by the region's abundant shale gas and tight oil reserves. The U.S. is expected to lead the North American market share with other states like Texas, New Mexico, and North Dakota, which are pivotal in expanding crude oil reserves through advanced fracking techniques. Substantial discovery and extension of proved reserves by the U.S. Energy Information Administration also contribute to market growth. The same is true for the Canadian market, as its contribution is also positively recorded with an increase in fracking activities in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. In addition, the industry is expanding with technological evolution. More operators are incorporating waterless fracking and eco-friendly chemicals into their work to drive recovery rates while taking care of the environment. The application of super-advanced fracking chemicals will rise to a certain extent by 2024, enabling companies to drive efficiency and minimize their operation costs. Report Coverage: Historical data & forecasts from 2022 to 2030 Growth Opportunities, Challenges, Supply Chain Outlook, Regulatory Framework, Customer Behaviour, and Trend Analysis Competitive Positioning, Strategies, and Market Share Analysis Revenue Growth and Forecast Assessment of segments and regions including countries Company Profiling (Strategies, Products, Financial Information, and Key Developments among others) BASF Baker Hughes, a GE Company Schlumberger Halliburton DuPont Ashland Calfrac Well Services Clariant Weatherford Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 145 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $41.9 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $58.25 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.8% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3.1. Key Findings 3.2. Analyst View 4. MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1. Market Drivers 4.1.1. Growing Demand for Fracking Chemicals Fluid from Oil and Gas Industry 4.1.2. Other Drivers 4.2. Market Restraints 4.2.1. Stringent Environmental and Governmental Regulations towards Fracking Fluids 4.2.2. Threats from Substitutes 4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis 5. FRACKING CHEMICALS FLUIDS MARKET BY FLUID TYPE 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Water Based 5.3. Foam Based 5.4. Gelled Oil-Based 5.5. Slick Water-Based 5.6. Synthetic Based 5.7. Others 6. FRACKING CHEMICALS FLUIDS MARKET BY PRODUCT TYPE 6.1. Conventional Linear Gels 6.2. Borate Cross-Linked Fluids 6.3. Organometallic Cross-Linked Fluids 6.4. Aluminium Phosphate Ester Oil Gels 7. FRACKING CHEMICALS FLUIDS MARKET BY FUNCTION 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Surfactant 7.3. Scale Inhibitor 7.4. Friction Reducer 7.5. Corrosion Inhibitor 7.6. Biocide 7.7. Crosslinker 7.8. Gelling Agent 7.9. Others 8. FRACKING CHEMICALS FLUIDS MARKET BY APPLICATION 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Oil and Gas 8.3. Oil Well 8.4. Shale Gas Well 8.5. Horizontal Well 8.6. Mining 8.7. Others 9. FRACKING CHEMICALS FLUIDS MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY 9.1. Global Overview 9.2. North America 9.3. South America 9.4. Europe 9.5. Middle East and Africa 9.6. Asia-Pacific 10. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS 10.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis 10.2. Market Share Analysis 10.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations 10.4. Competitive Dashboard 11. COMPANY PROFILES BASF Baker Hughes, a GE Company Schlumberger Halliburton DuPont Ashland Calfrac Well Services Clariant Weatherford For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aha2wd About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Tele-intensive Care Unit Market by Component, Type, End-user, and Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This comprehensive research report focuses on the global and regional market size and forecasts from 2024 to 2035. The global tele-intensive care unit market is estimated to be USD 4.26 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 20.01 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 15.10% from 2025-2035. The market will grow due to factors such as the growing need for intensive care services, improvements in telemedicine and digital health, cost-effectiveness, and shorter hospital stays, increased awareness of patient safety and care quality, and strategic alliances and partnerships. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory issues, has underscored the growing demand for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) services. As hospitals and healthcare systems encounter capacity constraints within their ICUs, Tele-ICUs emerge as a viable solution, enabling healthcare providers to monitor and manage patients remotely, thereby optimizing the utilization of ICU resources. A notable development occurred in March 2023, when Critical Care Hope received a commitment of USD 380,680 from the SAMRIDH Healthcare blended financing facility. This funding is aimed at supporting expanding its Tele-ICU platform, particularly focused on healthcare providers in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, to enhance access to critical care services. These advancements reflect a broader trend in the healthcare sector towards leveraging technology to meet the increasing demands of chronic disease management and ensure efficient delivery of critical care. North America is anticipated to have the highest revenue share during the forecast period owing to the well-established healthcare infrastructure, high adoption rate of advanced telemedicine technologies, and a strong presence of key market players, along with supportive government policies promoting telehealth and tele-ICU adoption. Additionally, Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rising investments in healthcare infrastructure, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing awareness of tele-ICU benefits, especially in countries like China and India where healthcare access in rural areas is limited and demand for ICU services is increasing. For instance, in July 2023, the well-known healthcare provider Medanta Hospital Group announced that, in partnership with GE HealthCare, the Medanta e-ICU project would bring tele-ICU services to India with the goal of advancing specialist critical care procedures. Market Segmentation Trends By component, the hardware segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global tele-intensive care unit market in 2024 owing to the high initial investment required for advanced tele-ICU systems, including monitors, cameras, and other real-time data transmission devices essential for effective patient monitoring. For instance, the CLEW tele-ICU conversion and acceleration program was introduced in February 2023 by CLEW, a developer of AI analytics tools for the healthcare industry. It has FDA-approved AI predictive models, an ICU workflow platform, and packed connectors with EMR, AV, and monitoring devices. Additionally, the software segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing adoption of advanced tele-ICU software solutions that provide real-time data analytics, decision support, and integration with electronic health records (EHRs) to enhance critical care efficiency. By type, the open-with-consultant segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global tele-intensive care unit market in 2024 owing to the flexibility it provides in allowing external consultants to collaborate with on-site ICU staff, enhancing patient management and specialist availability in areas facing ICU staff shortages. For instance, iMDsoft and Viridian Polska Sp. z o.o. partnered in October 2024 to market and sell MetaVision licenses as well as provide implementation and support services to MetaVision users throughout Poland. Additionally, the intensivist segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to its ability to deliver continuous, expert-level patient monitoring and intervention, especially as demand for intensivist-led remote ICU care grows in rural and underserved regions. By end-user, the hospitals segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global tele-intensive care unit market in 2024 owing to the widespread implementation of tele-ICU systems in hospital settings to maximize ICU utilization and ensure expert care, which is increasingly essential given the rising ICU demand and resource constraints. For instance, Equum Medical unveiled its Collaborative Shared Services Program for Critical Access Hospitals in September 2024. This program responds to the need for better access to healthcare in rural areas by giving rural hospitals a forum to collaborate and address healthcare issues in these regions. Additionally, the homecare settings segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the growing trend toward home-based critical care services, which provide patients with remote ICU monitoring while reducing hospital stays and associated healthcare costs. Study Coverage Market Forecast by Component, Type, and End-User Market Forecast for 5 Regions and 17+ Countries North America (U.S. and Canada) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Spain, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Rest of APAC) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of LATAM) MEA (South Africa, GCC, Rest of MEA) Exhaustive Company Profiles of the Top 10+ Market Players Philips Healthcare GE Healthcare Medtronic InTouch Health Advanced ICU Care iMDsoft UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) Inova SOC Telemed Apollo Telehealth TeleICU Eagle Telemedicine eICU Collaborative Care TeleHealth Solutions Cerner Corporation 20% Free Customization Available to Meet Your Exact Requirements Tele-intensive Care Unit Market Analysis & Forecast by Component 2024 - 2035 (Revenue USD Bn) Hardware Computer System Communication Lines Physiological Monitors Therapeutic Devices Video Feed Display Panels Software Services Tele-intensive Care Unit Market Analysis & Forecast by Type 2024 - 2035 (Revenue USD Bn) Open with Consultant Intensivist Co-managed Open Others Tele-intensive Care Unit Market Analysis & Forecast by End-User Industry 2024 - 2035 (Revenue USD Bn) Hospitals Specialty Centers Homecare Settings Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.26 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $20.01 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 15.1% Regions Covered Global For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t18ac8 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 TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRX Gold Corporation (TSX: TRX) (NYSE American: TRX) (the Company or TRX Gold) today reported its results for the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025) for the three months ended November 30, 2024. Financial results are available on the Companys website at www.TRXgold.com . Key highlights for Q1 2025 include: Capturing record gold prices: The Company poured 4,841 ounces of gold (Q1 2024: 4,927) and sold 4,813 ounces of gold (Q1 2024: 4,895) generating revenue of $12.5 million (Q1 2024: $9.4 million), gross profit of $4.8 million (Q1 2024: $3.7 million) and Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $4.4 million (Q1 2024: $2.6 million). The increase in revenue, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA 1 compared to the prior comparative period is mainly related to a record average realized gold price (net) 1 of $2,653 per ounce (Q1 2024: $1,942 per ounce). The Company poured 4,841 ounces of gold (Q1 2024: 4,927) and sold 4,813 ounces of gold (Q1 2024: 4,895) generating revenue of $12.5 million (Q1 2024: $9.4 million), gross profit of $4.8 million (Q1 2024: $3.7 million) and Adjusted EBITDA of $4.4 million (Q1 2024: $2.6 million). The increase in revenue, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior comparative period is mainly related to a record average realized gold price (net) of $2,653 per ounce (Q1 2024: $1,942 per ounce). Production level in line with expectations and mine sequencing: Gold production in Q1 2025 was mainly in line with the prior year comparative period and reflects higher mill throughput, offset by a lower average head grade of 1.29 g/t (Q1 2024: 2.57 g/t) and lower average recovery of 72% (Q1 2024: 81%). A planned mine sequence commenced in Q1 2025, accessing lower grade ore blocks during the quarter, concurrent with a scheduled stripping campaign, in order to access higher grade ore blocks in the second half of F2025. The lower average recovery in Q1 2025 was mainly due to a higher proportion of blended material processed in Q1 2025 (24% oxide / 76% sulphide) compared to the prior year period, where the mill processed a higher proportion of oxide material at a higher average recovery. The Company also experienced lower recovery rates with lower grade material. Gold production in Q1 2025 was mainly in line with the prior year comparative period and reflects higher mill throughput, offset by a lower average head grade of 1.29 g/t (Q1 2024: 2.57 g/t) and lower average recovery of 72% (Q1 2024: 81%). A planned mine sequence commenced in Q1 2025, accessing lower grade ore blocks during the quarter, concurrent with a scheduled stripping campaign, in order to access higher grade ore blocks in the second half of F2025. The lower average recovery in Q1 2025 was mainly due to a higher proportion of blended material processed in Q1 2025 (24% oxide / 76% sulphide) compared to the prior year period, where the mill processed a higher proportion of oxide material at a higher average recovery. The Company also experienced lower recovery rates with lower grade material. Decreasing variable cost per tonne: Processing costs per tonne of $12.60 in Q1 2025 were significantly lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: $26.56 per tonne) predominantly due to greater economies of scale following final commissioning of the expanded 2,000 tonne per day (tpd) processing facility. Mining costs per tonne of $4.00 in Q1 2025 were also lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: $4.25) and are expected to continue to improve over time as owner operated equipment will be utilized to provide cost effective support for site development projects as well as plant feed operations. Processing costs per tonne of $12.60 in Q1 2025 were significantly lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: $26.56 per tonne) predominantly due to greater economies of scale following final commissioning of the expanded 2,000 tonne per day (tpd) processing facility. Mining costs per tonne of $4.00 in Q1 2025 were also lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: $4.25) and are expected to continue to improve over time as owner operated equipment will be utilized to provide cost effective support for site development projects as well as plant feed operations. Benefitting from economies of scale: Total ore tonnes processed at the newly expanded processing facility of 1,703 tpd in Q1 2025, were 108% higher than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: 817 tpd), reaching a maximum of 2,073 tpd, following commissioning of the newly expanded processing plant in early Q1 2025 (September 2024). The higher processing plant throughput provided a higher proportion of overhead cost absorption, significantly benefitting processing cost per tonne. Total ore tonnes processed at the newly expanded processing facility of 1,703 tpd in Q1 2025, were 108% higher than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2024: 817 tpd), reaching a maximum of 2,073 tpd, following commissioning of the newly expanded processing plant in early Q1 2025 (September 2024). The higher processing plant throughput provided a higher proportion of overhead cost absorption, significantly benefitting processing cost per tonne. Increase in annual gold production is expected: The Company continues to expect gold production for fiscal 2025 (F2025) to be higher than fiscal 2024 (F2024) levels, reflecting a full year of operations from the expanded 2,000 tpd processing plant and an expected decreased reliance on lower grade stockpile inventory, partially offset by a waste stripping campaign required to access high grade ore blocks to deliver consistent higher grade ore feed to the mill. The Company continues to expect cash cost per ounce to be in line with F2024 levels, mainly due to the impact of higher expected gold production and significantly lower processing costs per tonne, offset by a lower average grade profile, in line with the scheduled mine sequence. Mining costs per tonne are also expected to trend lower in F2025. The Company continues to expect gold production for fiscal 2025 (F2025) to be higher than fiscal 2024 (F2024) levels, reflecting a full year of operations from the expanded 2,000 tpd processing plant and an expected decreased reliance on lower grade stockpile inventory, partially offset by a waste stripping campaign required to access high grade ore blocks to deliver consistent higher grade ore feed to the mill. The Company continues to expect cash cost per ounce to be in line with F2024 levels, mainly due to the impact of higher expected gold production and significantly lower processing costs per tonne, offset by a lower average grade profile, in line with the scheduled mine sequence. Mining costs per tonne are also expected to trend lower in F2025. Best drill results to date at Buckreef Gold: During Q1 2025, the Company announced its two best drill results ever, on a gram x tonne x meters (gtm) basis, intersecting 37 meters (m) @ 6.86 g/t Au (253.82 gtm) from 130 m (hole BMDD315) and 35.5 m @ 5.48 g/t Au (194.54 gtm) from 64 m, located along the newly discovered and high-priority Stamford Bridge Zone. This is a promising new gold mineralization shear zone located approximately 250 m east of the Buckreef Gold Main Zone that is beginning to form what may become a potential 1-kilometer bridge between the Buckreef Gold Main Zone and the prospective Eastern Porphyry and Anfield zones. Subsequent to Q1 2025, the Company announced additional high-grade intercepts at Stamford Bridge (see January 14, 2025 Press Release) as part of its ongoing exploration program focused on newly defined exploration targets. During Q1 2025, the Company announced its two best drill results ever, on a gram x tonne x meters (gtm) basis, intersecting 37 meters (m) @ 6.86 g/t Au (253.82 gtm) from 130 m (hole BMDD315) and 35.5 m @ 5.48 g/t Au (194.54 gtm) from 64 m, located along the newly discovered and high-priority Stamford Bridge Zone. This is a promising new gold mineralization shear zone located approximately 250 m east of the Buckreef Gold Main Zone that is beginning to form what may become a potential 1-kilometer bridge between the Buckreef Gold Main Zone and the prospective Eastern Porphyry and Anfield zones. Subsequent to Q1 2025, the Company announced additional high-grade intercepts at Stamford Bridge (see January 14, 2025 Press Release) as part of its ongoing exploration program focused on newly defined exploration targets. Growth initiatives in place: Growth capital in F2025 is expected to be consistent with F2024 levels and includes expansion initiatives related to the long-term growth of Buckreef Gold, including plant optimizations aimed at increasing recovery, throughput and production and study costs aimed at expanding Buckreef Gold and developing the larger project. Growth capital in F2025 is expected to be consistent with F2024 levels and includes expansion initiatives related to the long-term growth of Buckreef Gold, including plant optimizations aimed at increasing recovery, throughput and production and study costs aimed at expanding Buckreef Gold and developing the larger project. Exploration is a priority: Exploration spending is expected to increase in F2025 and includes diamond drill and reverse circulation drilling services provided by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) for a program which includes brownfields drilling at Buckreef Main Zone (Northeast and Southwest), Buckreef West, Eastern Porphyry, and greenfield drilling at Stamford Bridge and Anfield. Exploration spending is expected to increase in F2025 and includes diamond drill and reverse circulation drilling services provided by the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) for a program which includes brownfields drilling at Buckreef Main Zone (Northeast and Southwest), Buckreef West, Eastern Porphyry, and greenfield drilling at Stamford Bridge and Anfield. Health & Safety remain top of mind: The Company achieved zero lost time injuries and there were no environmental or community related incidents during Q1 2025. TRX Golds CEO, Stephen Mullowney comments: Q1 2025 has been quite busy and has progressed in line with our plan. Gold production is a function of tonnes processed x head grade x recovery and consequently, your major cost drivers are tonnes moved and tonnes processed. We are pleased to see the lower operating costs per tonne come through on the plant expansion, which has enabled the business to be profitable even when processing lower grade material. These costs savings are expected to significantly benefit the business as the grade profile in the mining sequence improves. We have not stopped here, our newly appointed COO Richard Boffey, has been busy with ongoing operational efficiencies which are expected to benefit the business in the second half of the year as well. The exploration team continues to plan and execute an initial drill program at the newly discovered Stamford Bridge Zone, which is turning into quite an exciting discovery, with the best ever drill results to date at Buckreef Gold and the outline of a shear structure becoming more evident. Much more work will follow at this high-priority target over the next several months, as we hope to uncover a new mineable zone. Lastly, we are laser-focused on the mine plan in order to get to those high-grade ore blocks in the second half of this fiscal year, so that we can continue to capitalize on our reduced cost profile and robust gold prices. Figure 1: Buckreef Gold new and expanded crushing circuit (Q2 2024) Figure 2: New 350 Excavator and Haul Truck (at December 20, 2024) Figure 3: Buckreef Golds Open Pit Mining Operations (Q4 2024) Qualified Person Mr. William van Breugel, P.Eng, BASc (Hons), Technical Advisor to TRX Gold Corporation, is the Companys Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the scientific and technical content in this press release. Q1 2025 Results Conference Call and Webcast Details When: Tuesday, January 21 at 11:00 AM EST Webcast URL: https://shorturl.at/Wxbj3 Conference call numbers: Canada/USA TF: 1-844-763-8274 International Toll: +1-647-484-8814 A replay will be made available for 30 days following the call on the Companys website. About TRX Gold Corporation TRX Gold is rapidly advancing the Buckreef Gold Project. Anchored by a Mineral Resource published in May 20202, the project currently hosts a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource (M&I Resource) of 35.88 million tonnes (MT) at 1.77 grams per tonne (g/t) gold containing 2,036,280 ounces (oz) of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8 MT at 1.11 g/t gold for 635,540 oz of gold. The leadership team is focused on creating both near-term and long-term shareholder value by increasing gold production to generate positive cash flow. The positive cash flow will be utilized for exploratory drilling with the goal of increasing the current mineral resource base and advancing the larger project development which represents 90% of current mineral resources. TRX Golds actions are led by the highest environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards, evidenced by the relationships and programs that the Company has developed during its nearly two decades of presence in the Geita Region, Tanzania. Please refer to the Companys Updated Mineral Resources Estimate for Buckreef Gold Project, dated May 15, 20202 and filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ and with the SEC on June 23, 2020 (the 2020 Technical Report) for more information. For investor or shareholder inquiries, please contact: Investors Christina Lalli Vice President, Investor Relations TRX Gold Corporation +1-438-399-8665 c.lalli@TRXgold.com www.TRXgold.com Non-IFRS Performance Measures The company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this news release. The following non-IFRS measures should be read in conjunction with the Companys unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three month ended November 30, 2024 filed on SEDAR+ and with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the Companys audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F and Annual Information Form for the year ended August 31, 2024. The financial statements and related notes of TRX Gold have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Additional information has been filed electronically on SEDAR+ and with the SEC and is available online under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Companys filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.TRXgold.com. Cash cost per ounce of gold sold Cash cost per ounce of gold sold is a non-IFRS performance measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. Cash cost per ounce may not be comparable to information in other gold producers reports and filings. As the Company uses this measure to monitor the performance of our gold mining operations and its ability to generate positive cash flow, total cash cost per ounce of gold sold starts with cost of sales related to gold production and removes depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS performance measure and does not constitute a measure recognized by IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning defined by IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to information in other gold producers reports and filings. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a supplemental measure of the Companys performance and ability to service its obligations. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the industry, many of which present Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their results. Issuers present Adjusted EBITDA because investors, analysts and rating agencies consider it useful in measuring the ability of those issuers to meet their obligations. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and also eliminates the impact of a number of items that are not considered indicative of ongoing operating performance. Certain items of expense are added, and certain items of income are deducted from net income that are not likely to recur or are not indicative of the Companys underlying operating results for the reporting periods presented or for future operating performance and consist of: Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments; Accretion related to the provision for reclamation; and Share-based compensation expense. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA per the financial statements for the three ended November 30, 2024. Three Months Ended November 30, 2024 Three Months Ended November 30, 2023 Net income and comprehensive income per financial statements 2,137 (39 ) Add: Depreciation 906 484 Interest and other non-recurring expenses 321 340 Income tax expense 1,693 1,191 Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments (819 ) (199 ) Share-based payment expense 156 810 Adjusted EBITDA 4,394 2,587 Average realized price per ounce gold sold Three Months Ended November 30, 2024 Three Months Ended November 30, 2023 Revenue per financial statements $ 12,528 $ 9,404 Revenue recognized from OCIM prepaid gold purchase agreement (915 ) (922 ) Revenue from gold spot sales 11,613 8,482 Ounces of gold sold 4,813 4,895 Ounces of gold sold from OCIM prepaid gold purchase agreement (435 ) (527 ) Ounces from gold spot sales 4,378 4,368 Average realized price (gross) $ 2,603 $ 1,921 Average realized price net OCIM prepaid gold purchase agreement $ 2,653 $ 1,942 The Company has included average realized price per ounce of gold sold, cash cost per ounce of gold sold and Adjusted EBITDA as non-IFRS performance measures throughout this news release as TRX Gold believes that these generally accepted industry performance measures provide a useful indication of the Companys operational performance. The Company believes that certain investors use this information to evaluate the Companys performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, they are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, intends, estimated, potential, possible and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results will, may, could or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect TRX Gold managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to continued operating cash flow, expansion of its process plant, estimation of mineral resources, ability to develop value creating activities, recoveries, subsequent project testing, success, scope and viability of mining operations, the timing and amount of estimated future production, and capital expenditure. Although TRX Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. The actual achievements of TRX Gold or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties and factors include general business, legal, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in costs; future prices of gold and other minerals; mining method, production profile and mine plan; delays in exploration, development and construction activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and in a timely manner or at all; contests over title to properties; employee relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration, development and mining business. These risks are set forth in reports that TRX Gold files with the SEC and the various Canadian securities authorities. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and the Companys profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca . The disclosure contained in this press release of a scientific or technical nature relating to the Companys Buckreef Project has been summarized or extracted from the technical report entitled The National Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Buckreef Gold Mine Project, Tanzania, East Africa for TRX Gold with an effective date (the Effective Date) of May 15, 2020 (the 2020 Technical Report). The 2020 Technical Report was prepared by or under the supervision Mr. Wenceslaus Kutekwatekwa (Mining Engineer, Mining and Project Management Consultant) BSc Hons (Mining Eng.), MBA, FSAIMM, of Virimai Projects, and, Dr Frank Crundwell, MBA, PhD, a Consulting Engineer, each of whom is an independent Qualified Person as such term is defined in NI 43-101. The information contained herein is subject to all of the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the 2020 Technical Report and reference should be made to the full details of the 2020 Technical Report which has been filed with the applicable regulatory authorities and is available on the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company did not complete any new work that would warrant reporting material changes in the previously reported Mineral Resource (MRE) and Mineral Reserve statements during the prior reporting period. The 2020 Technical Report follows the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CIM Definition Standards) and the CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (CIM Guidelines). The information contained in this press release is as of the date of the press release and TRX Gold assumes no duty to update such information. 1 Refer to Non-IFRS Performance Measures section. 2 See Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1ef4ca4a-7364-427a-987f-4ac1e0b5b289 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e3461bc-4b48-43d7-ab71-fc00c09c5359 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d4da72b8-3a7d-4701-810d-647d07e64da7 Dublin, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings Market was valued at USD 134.7 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 191.3 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 7.30%. The demand for energy efficiency and sustainability in public and commercial buildings is increasing steadily. Modern buildings emphasize energy efficiency, but older ones largely ignored sustainability. Around 80% of today's buildings will remain in use by 2050. Considering that many of these buildings are older and less energy-efficient, improving their energy performance is crucial and practical. Advances in smart building technology, deep energy retrofits and the efforts to achieve zero-energy building status should drive the demand for energy retrofits in public and commercial buildings. Also, the integration of IoT, digital twin, sensors and building automation technologies helps real-time monitoring and optimization of energy consumption. Green funding alternatives and occupant engagement strategies incentivize energy-efficient retrofit projects, highlighting the role of energy retrofits in creating sustainable environments in public and commercial buildings. Report Scope This report segments the market based on retrofit, product and building types. The report discusses the advances in technology, regulations, competitive aspects and economic trends that influence the market. The analysis includes a patent review of energy retrofits for commercial and public buildings market, which depicts a strong investment prospect for technology investors. The study also presents Porter's Five Forces analysis, an ESG development chapter, emerging technologies and various macro-economic factors. The report concludes with detailed profiles of the major companies that provide energy retrofits for commercial and public buildings. The report includes a regional analysis of energy retrofits covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW), which includes South America, the Middle East and Africa. Country analysis includes the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and China, examining the current and future factors influencing demand. The study uses 2023 as the base year, 2024 as an estimated year and projections are for the period 2024 through 2029, including forecasts of compound annual growth rates (CAGR) for the forecast period. All market values are in millions of dollars. The scope of the study does not include the residential and industrial buildings. The report includes: 43 data tables and 58 additional tables Analyses of trends in the global market for energy retrofits for commercial and public buildings, with market revenue data for 2023, estimates for 2024, forecasts for 2025 and 2027, and projected CAGRs through 2029 Estimates of the global market size and revenue growth prospects, along with a market share analysis by retrofit (technology) type, product type, building type, and region Facts and figures pertaining to the market dynamics, technical advances, regulations, and the impact of region- and industry-specific macroeconomic factors Insights derived from the Porter's Five Forces model, as well as global supply chain and PESTLE analyses Key enabling technologies for energy retrofit technologies used in building applications, and their commercial or developmental status Analysis of key patent grants and patent applications A look at supportive government programs and policies for energy retrofit technologies Overview of sustainability trends and ESG developments, with emphasis on consumer attitudes, and the ESG scores and practices of leading companies Analysis of the industry structure, including companies' market shares and rankings, strategic alliances, M&A activities, and a venture funding outlook Company profiles of leading players, including Carrier, AECOM, Johnson Controls, Honeywell International Inc., and Trane Technologies PLC. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 154 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $134.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $191.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.3% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered Chapter 1 Executive Summary Market Outlook Scope of Report Market Summary Market Dynamics and Growth Factors Segmental Analysis Regional Insights and Emerging Markets Conclusion Chapter 2 Market Overview Market Overview and Future Scenarios Value Chain Analysis Raw Material Suppliers Component Manufacturers Technology and System Integrator Aftermarket Sales Channel End Users Stages Involved in Energy Retrofitting Building Internal Assessment Detailed Energy Survey Technical Survey Cost-Benefit Analysis Implementation Operation and Maintenance Porter's Five Forces Analysis Bargaining Power of Buyers Bargaining Power of Suppliers Potential for New Entrants to the Market Competition in the Industry Threat of Substitutes Impact of Russia-Ukraine War Regulatory Outlook Case Studies for Energy Retrofit Projects in Buildings Pall Mall Tempo 385 Bourke Street (High-Rise Office Building) Chapter 3 Market Dynamics Overview Market Drivers Supportive Government Regulations and Incentives to Improve Energy Efficiency in Buildings Growing Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increasing Focus on Harnessing Power from Clean Energy Sources Market Restraints Lack of Awareness among Consumers for Energy Retrofits High Initial Investment Market Opportunities Investments in Building Renovations Are Opening Doors for the Retrofitting Market Technological Innovations in Energy Retrofit Systems Market Trends Increasing Focus on Building Automation Systems (BAS) to Promote Sustainability in Buildings Growing Popularity for Integrating Smart Building Technology Short-Term and Long-Term Impact of Market Dynamics Chapter 4 Emerging Technologies and Developments Overview Emerging Technologies/Applications Technological Landscape Role of Advanced Technologies Patent Analysis Overview Key Patents Key Takeaways for Patent Analysis Chapter 5 Market Segmentation Analysis Segmentation Breakdown Global Energy Retrofits Market, by Retrofit Type Key Takeaways for Retrofit Type Quick Wins Deep Retrofit Global Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings Market, by Product Type Key Takeaways for Product Type Building Envelope HVAC Energy-Efficient Lighting Electricity Submeters Green Roofs Others Global Energy Retrofits Market, by Building Type Key Takeaways for Building Type Commercial Buildings Public Buildings Geographic Breakdown Key Takeaways Global Energy Retrofits Market, by Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the World Chapter 6 Competitive Intelligence Overview Market Ranking for Top Players Key Developments Chapter 7 Sustainability in the Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings: An ESG Perspective Overview Environmental Impact Social Impact Governance Impact Status of ESG in the Global Energy Retrofit Industry Case Study: Examples of Successful Implementation of ESG Siemens Honeywell International Inc. Johnson Controls Inc. Schneider Electric Carrier Consumer Attitudes Towards ESG Concluding Remarks Chapter 8 Appendix Methodology Research Steps References Abbreviations Chapter 9 Company Profiles Aecom Ameresco American Hydrotech Inc. Carrier Copeland LP Daikin Industries Ltd. Eaton Honeywell International Inc. Johnson Controls Lennox International Inc. Metrus Energy Inc. Orion Energy Systems Inc. Schneider Electric Signify Holding Trane Technologies PLC Other Emerging and Small Players in the Global Energy Retrofits for Commercial and Public Buildings Market For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n8161x 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 Washington, DC, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This year Airlink, Inc. recognizes its 15th anniversary in delivering critical humanitarian aid to communities in crisis around the world. Since 2010, Airlink has been solving complex logistical challenges in regions experiencing disaster and humanitarian crisis, driven by the mission to transport supplies from nonprofit organization partners (NGOs) to affected regions via airline partners. The first response was in January 2010 after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Since then, Airlink has fulfilled thousands of requests from more than 250 NGOs in response to 203 rapid-onset disasters and long-term programs, spanning 97 countries and helping an estimated 60 million people. Over 14.6 million pounds of necessary aid and supplies, along with 13,633 responders, have been transported to areas of need. Airlink unveiled a refreshed logo to commemorate the 15th anniversary throughout 2025, in addition to a toolkit that partners and supporters can use to promote the year-long event. The orange accent color represents the recognizable shade that humanitarian responders wear out in the field during and after a disaster. Engagement campaigns around the anniversary will be identified with #15YearsOfAirlink. Over the next twelve months, Airlink will celebrate the milestone year through engagement campaigns and a web-series, titled 15 Years in 15 Minutes. An episode will be released on the 15th of each month, featuring Airlink President & CEO Steve Smith sitting down with an essential industry partner to discuss innovation in logistical strategy and meeting the demands of an evolving landscape in humanitarian relief. Our first fifteen years have defined us as a key link between NGOs and airlines; the incredible efforts of the team continue to evolve and meet the humanitarian demands of a constantly changing world, said Steve Smith. This year in particular will serve as our springboard into our next fifteen years. Airlinks success is attributed to corporate partnerships and established, trusting relationships with NGOs, airlines, companies, foundations, and other humanitarian-minded donors. Over the years, critical partnerships have driven Airlinks missions forward, broadened our scope horizon, and pushed us to serve more people in need than ever anticipated, said Smith. Major partnerships and funders across Airlinks first fifteen years include, Founding Donor International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Foundation whose leadership established Airlink in 2010, and whose members from the aviation leasing, trading, and financing sector, along with the wider aviation industry, provide a strong and growing base of Airlinks funding support. Airline Partners which donate cargo and passenger capacity across their route networks to deliver aid and responders. United Airlines, Global Signature Lead partner, serving as Airlinks first, largest, and longest-standing airline partner for 15 years; American Airlines, essential to positioning responders and relief aid, which is also celebrating their 100th year in flight in 2025; and Qatar Airways, which has been essential to the delivery of tons of aid for protracted crises around the world. Foundation Partners providing grants for special projects and expansion of responses. Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, GE Aerospace Foundation, Paul Allen Foundation, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, UPS Foundation, and Flexport.org Fund. Travel Technology Partner American Express Global Business Travel, which provides bespoke travel booking solutions and services for Airlink and its NGO partners, streamlining and speeding up the complex process of getting rapid-response emergency relief workers to where they need to be. To see a current list of Airlink partnerships and sponsors, please visit our Airline Partner Page and Sponsor Page . To learn more about our NGO partners, please visit our NGO Partner Page. Airlink looks forward to both commemorating integral partnerships that serve and support core programs and building new partnerships in this year and beyond. Individual donors are invited to be part of Airlinks landmark year by pledging $15 monthly in demonstration of their support in making the world a safer and stronger place for the millions displaced by disasters and conflict every year. To make a gift-in-honor, a recurring donation, or a donation of crypto, stocks, or air miles, get started here . Federal and military employees can give through the Combined Federal Campaign. About Airlink, Inc. Airlink is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization delivering critical aid to communities in crisis by providing free or discounted airlift and logistical solutions to vetted nonprofit partners, changing how the humanitarian community responds to disasters worldwide. Its network includes over 200 aid organizations and over 50 commercial and charter airlines. Since its inception in 2010, Airlink has flown 13,500 relief workers and transported 18 million pounds of humanitarian cargo, directly helping 60 million people impacted by natural and man-made disasters. In 2025 Airlink celebrates its 15th anniversary. For more information, visit airlinkflight.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram . # # # Attachment CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Earlier this month, Alberta Health released its Opto 35 Bulletin announcing changes to optometric coverage for Albertans, effective February 1, 2025. The changes in coverage will have significant impacts on Albertans with chronic eye health conditions, especially impacting children, seniors and those in rural Alberta. The Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) and more than 900 Doctors of Optometry across the province were blindsided by the release of the Opto 35 Bulletin and, consequently, its potential impact on their patients. We were completely surprised and extremely disappointed by these significant changes, says Dr. Sophia Leung, President of the AAO. By taking time to review this decision with Alberta Optometrists, Alberta Health would have learned the true impact that their decision will have on the vision health of Albertans. This will ultimately put patients with chronic eye conditions at significant risk for progressing eye health issues. At the end of this month, three main changes will occur: Partial eye exams will be delisted: This means that if, during a full eye exam, there is a reason the exam cant be completed or there is a reason for a follow up, there is no covered option for bringing the patient back; Retinal imaging and photography: There will be a reduction in the frequency that our optometrists can see their patients by 50 per cent. Due to this, it will become more difficult to follow up with patients as frequently as needed, increasing the potential of eye disease needlessly advancing; and Cannot bill basic eye services (B650) and medically necessary eye care (B900) on the same day: Optometrists are no longer able to complete all the needed vision care in one appointment. Albertans will need to re-book and come back on a different day to get the balance of needed care. As Albertas frontline providers of vision health, Doctors of Optometry recognize the ramifications of Alberta Healths decision on their patients. The primary focus of optometrists is the quality vision health care of patients in Alberta, and these changes are going to drastically decline the care of each Alberta seeking optometry services. With this needless deterrence, patients will be less likely or unable to book appointments within an appropriate timeframe, leading to unnecessary increase in risk for eye health care issues. The AAO will continue to communicate its concerns and disappointment with Alberta Health and seek clarifications regarding the changes that reduce the level of care that Albertans will receive, stated Dr. Leung. Patients deserve the best quality of vision health care available, and if Alberta Health would have taken the time to review this decision with the AAO, it may have saved some vision health difficulties which now, under the new changes, may evolve. To learn more about the changes that Alberta Health released, please visit www.optometrists.ab.ca/savingvision About the Alberta Association of Optometrists: The Alberta Association of Optometrists is Alberta's leading optometric professional organization, representing more than 900 Doctors of Optometry in over 120 communities across the province. AAO members are highly trained regulated health professionals providing primary eye health and vision care to Albertans. For more information, please visit www.optometrists.ab.ca. For media inquiries, please contact: Wilmington, Delaware, Transparency Market Research Inc. , Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global solar micro inverter market was valued at US$ 4.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.5% from 2024 to 2034, reaching US$ 19.1 billion by the end of 2034. This growth is driven by the rising adoption of renewable energy and the increasing demand for efficient, reliable, and flexible solar power systems. Advancements in micro inverter technology, coupled with a growing focus on sustainability, are propelling the market across residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The Solar Micro Inverter Market is rapidly growing as solar energy adoption increases across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. A solar micro inverter is a small device that converts direct current (DC) generated by a single solar panel into alternating current (AC) for use in the electrical grid or home appliances. Unlike traditional string inverters, micro inverters optimize the output of each panel individually, improving overall system efficiency and reliability. With the growing emphasis on renewable energy, advancements in solar technology, and favorable government policies supporting clean energy, the solar micro inverter market is projected to see significant growth in the coming years. For more insights, Request a sample report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=79108 Key Players and Strategies The Solar Micro Inverter Market is highly competitive, with several global and regional players focusing on innovation, strategic partnerships, and geographic expansion. Some key players include: Enphase Altenergy Power System Inc. (AP Systems) Chilicon Power Deye Fronius International GmbH Hoymiles Power Electronics Inc. Siemens AG SolarEdge Sparq Systems Zhejiang Benyi New Energy Co, Ltd. Zhejiang HIITIO New Energy Co., Ltd These companies employ various strategies such as: Technological Innovation : Developing high-efficiency micro inverters with enhanced features, such as integrated monitoring and improved reliability. : Developing high-efficiency micro inverters with enhanced features, such as integrated monitoring and improved reliability. Partnerships and Collaborations : Collaborating with solar panel manufacturers and installation companies to offer bundled solutions. : Collaborating with solar panel manufacturers and installation companies to offer bundled solutions. Expansion into Emerging Markets : Entering markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa where solar adoption is increasing rapidly. : Entering markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa where solar adoption is increasing rapidly. Sustainability Initiatives: Designing eco-friendly products and adopting sustainable manufacturing practices. Key Growth Drivers Rising Demand for Solar Energy : Increasing awareness of renewable energy's environmental and economic benefits is driving the adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and micro inverters are a critical component of these systems. : Increasing awareness of renewable energy's environmental and economic benefits is driving the adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and micro inverters are a critical component of these systems. Efficiency and Flexibility : Micro inverters offer higher efficiency compared to traditional inverters. They allow each solar panel to operate independently, minimizing the impact of shading, dirt, or panel mismatches on overall system performance. : Micro inverters offer higher efficiency compared to traditional inverters. They allow each solar panel to operate independently, minimizing the impact of shading, dirt, or panel mismatches on overall system performance. Supportive Policies and Incentives : Governments worldwide are providing subsidies, tax credits, and feed-in tariffs to encourage solar energy adoption, boosting the demand for advanced technologies like micro inverters. : Governments worldwide are providing subsidies, tax credits, and feed-in tariffs to encourage solar energy adoption, boosting the demand for advanced technologies like micro inverters. Advancements in Technology : The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart grid technologies into micro inverters enhances their functionality, allowing users to monitor performance in real time and optimize energy consumption. : The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart grid technologies into micro inverters enhances their functionality, allowing users to monitor performance in real time and optimize energy consumption. Growing Residential Adoption: Residential solar installations are increasing due to declining solar panel prices and the rising popularity of energy independence. Micro inverters are particularly well-suited for small-scale installations, driving their demand in the residential segment. Request Customization to Get Tailored Insights for Your Business Needs: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=79108 Industry Trends Integration with Smart Home Systems : Micro inverters are increasingly integrated into smart home systems, enabling users to manage and monitor energy usage more effectively. : Micro inverters are increasingly integrated into smart home systems, enabling users to manage and monitor energy usage more effectively. Focus on Energy Storage : The growing adoption of battery storage systems has created opportunities for micro inverters that support hybrid setups, combining solar generation with energy storage. : The growing adoption of battery storage systems has created opportunities for micro inverters that support hybrid setups, combining solar generation with energy storage. Compact and Lightweight Designs : Manufacturers are focusing on reducing the size and weight of micro inverters, making them easier to install and maintain. : Manufacturers are focusing on reducing the size and weight of micro inverters, making them easier to install and maintain. Increased Reliability and Durability : Advances in materials and design are enhancing the lifespan and performance of micro inverters, reducing maintenance costs. : Advances in materials and design are enhancing the lifespan and performance of micro inverters, reducing maintenance costs. Cost Reduction: Economies of scale and technological advancements are driving down the cost of micro inverters, making them more accessible to a broader customer base. Opportunities Emerging Markets: Countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa present significant growth opportunities as solar adoption rates continue to rise due to their abundant sunlight and supportive policies. Retrofitting Existing Systems: Upgrading older solar installations with micro inverters offers a substantial market opportunity, particularly in developed regions. Energy Independence Trends: With increasing electricity prices and concerns about grid reliability, more consumers are investing in solar systems with micro inverters for greater energy autonomy. Government Initiatives: International commitments to reduce carbon emissions, such as the Paris Agreement, are expected to boost the deployment of solar systems equipped with micro inverters. Market Segmentation The Solar Micro Inverter Market can be segmented based on type, application, connection type, and region: By Type: Standalone Micro Inverters : Independent devices used for individual solar panels. : Independent devices used for individual solar panels. Integrated Micro Inverters: Inverters built directly into solar panels for ease of installation. By Application: Residential : Small-scale installations for homes. : Small-scale installations for homes. Commercial : Medium-scale installations for businesses, offices, and public buildings. : Medium-scale installations for businesses, offices, and public buildings. Industrial: Large-scale solar installations for factories and industrial facilities. By Connection Type: On-Grid Systems : Micro inverters connected to the main electrical grid. : Micro inverters connected to the main electrical grid. Off-Grid Systems: Inverters used in standalone systems with battery storage. By Region: North America : A mature market with significant adoption in the residential and commercial sectors. : A mature market with significant adoption in the residential and commercial sectors. Europe : Driven by stringent renewable energy targets and high electricity prices. : Driven by stringent renewable energy targets and high electricity prices. Asia-Pacific : Emerging as a major market due to high solar potential and government support in countries like China, India, and Australia. : Emerging as a major market due to high solar potential and government support in countries like China, India, and Australia. Rest of the World: Includes regions like Latin America and the Middle East, where solar adoption is steadily increasing. The Solar Micro Inverter Market is set to grow significantly as the world shifts towards renewable energy solutions. Key growth drivers include rising solar adoption, technological advancements, and supportive policies. 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